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Forrester Research Vice President/Principal Analyst to Address Big "I" Special Joint Event

Dr. James L. McQuivey will discuss the latest in creating enhanced client relationships taking advantage of available technologies Sept.15

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 4, 2011 — The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s Agents Council for Technology (ACT), Education Convocation and Young Agents Committee will host a presentation by James L. McQuivey, Ph.D., Forrester Research vice president and principal analyst. McQuivey’s presentation, titled “Welcome to the Era of Experience: How You’ll Have to Adapt to a Hybrid Digital/Personal Customer Relationship,” will occur Sept. 15 at 8:30 a.m. CT as part of the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference in Minneapolis, Minn.

            McQuivey is a leading researcher in how an increasingly online and technology-driven world is changing consumer expectations and how businesses can take advantage of these trends to create stronger client relationships and a more powerful brand. The special event will also feature break-out discussions where Young Agents, ACT participants, state education directors and other carrier and agent executives will sit together to discuss how the independent insurance agency system distribution system can best take advantage of the “Era of Experience” and what tools independent agents will need.

            “We hope every agent and carrier executive attending the Big ‘I’ Fall Leadership Conference will take advantage of this special opportunity to hear Dr. McQuivey and to meet together to discuss how independent agents can take the experience they offer their clients to the next level,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “The strength and success of independent agencies lies in the personal relationships they establish with their clients, but consumer expectations are changing and now they expect more.”

            Another highlight of the special event will be a presentation by Tom Minkler, Clark-Mortenson Agency and Big “I” executive committee member, discussing how the Big “I” will be able to help independent agencies strengthen their online presence and brand, using the association’s consumer agent portal and marketing resources and the Trusted Choice^®brand.

DATE:            Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011

TIME:             8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Central

ATTENDANCE:
                        Free; all conference attendees encouraged to attend

LOCATION:
                        Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
                        Nicollet D2/D3 Ballroom, Main Level
                        1300 Nicollet Mall
                        Minneapolis, Minn.

            McQuivey analyzes television and media technology and specializes in the future of the moving image, including digital video recorders, HDTV, video on demand, Internet-based video, and the business implications of each of these disruptive technologies or movements. He previously served as a vice president and research director, running Consumer Technographics^® North America, and was a senior analyst and founding member of the online retail strategies practice at Forrester. He also served on the Boston University College of Communication faculty and he consulted for such clients in the media and entertainment space as PBS, Current TV, and others to help them understand the future of television distribution and the role of consumer-generated video content. McQuivey earned his Ph.D. in mass communication research at Syracuse University and also holds an M.B.A. with an emphasis in marketing.

Other highlights of the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference include association leadership and committee meetings; Big “I” Young Agents Leadership Institute including the Young Agents CEO breakfast, ACT and ACT State Technology Liaisons meetings, The Education Convocation and appearances by numerous other high-profile speakers discussing important trends, challenges and opportunities confronting agents and brokers. The events will take place Sept. 13-17 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, Minn.

For registration and hotel information, go to www.independentagent.com and select the “Events and Conferences” link. Journalists interested in attending, please contact Margarita Tapia, director of public affairs, at (800) 221-7917 or margarita.tapia@iiaba.net for media registration.

            Established in January 1999 by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (the Big “I”), ACT provides a candid, action-oriented forum to address the critical workflow and technology issues facing the Independent Agency System. ACT helps participants understand the perspectives of the other stakeholders in the process and provides excellent networking opportunities with the participants who are shaping the future for the industry on these issues. For more information about ACT visit www.iiaba.net/act.

            The Big “I” National Young Agents Committee (YAC) encourages young agents – those under 40 years of age or with less than five years of experience in the industry—to network, learn and get involved at all levels of the independent agency system.

            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, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.

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