ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 6, 2010 – The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) presented insurance carriers Central Insurance Companies and Travelers with the prestigious Best Practices Award of Excellence at the recent education convocation in San Francisco.
The awards recognize those companies that have made imaginative, outstanding and unique contributions in advocating Best Practices philosophies that enhance the independent agency system. The Big “I” Best Practices program provides performance benchmarks and business strategies that serve as a guide to improving agency performance.
Support for the Best Practices program by the Central Insurance Companies came as agents requested help from their company partner to grow their personal lines books of business. Central used the Best Practices studies and, through consultations with Reagan Consulting, developed and implemented a Best Practices plan. The feedback was positive and the program has been a success. Central communicates the value of the resources through agent education and business consulting, its website and monthly agency newsletters.
“Central Insurance Companies promotes the philosophies of the Best Practices through materials in agent education, business consulting and numerous innovative efforts,” says Madelyn Flannagan, Big “I” vice president of agent development, education and research. “We applaud Central’s leadership for demonstrating that they believe the program builds better and stronger independent agents.”
Since Best Practices was launched in 2001, Travelers has been recognized each year and has demonstrated that its support of the program continues to grow stronger. Travelers is committed to making a difference by communicating the value of the resources and working with agents to help them grow their agencies. Working with thousands of agencies, presenting keynote sessions that incorporate Best Practices topics and resources, dedicating a monthly article in the company newsletter and presenting “Lunch and Learns” are just some of the many ways Travelers is working to help educate agents on the value of the Best Practices program. Travelers also provides materials for select agencies and dedicates staff time and resources through participation on the IIABA Council for Best Practices. In 2010, the company nominated more than 170 agencies for participation in the Best Practices program, helping to cull the very best agencies this critical industry resource.
“We are proud to announce that for the ninth year in a row, Travelers is to be commended for its continued support and dedication to the Best Practices program,” says Flannagan. “Through numerous efforts, Travelers continues to demonstrate their commitment to Best Practices and to making a difference by communicating the value of the resources and working directly with agents to help them reach their goals.”
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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