ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 26, 2011 — The National Young Agents Committee (YAC) of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) presented its most prestigious annual award to the Young Agents Council of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents.
“The Big ‘I’ is pleased to announce that in recognition of their outstanding efforts on behalf of the independent agency system to cultivate and inspire the next generation of industry leaders, the Young Agents Council of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents is the 2011 Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year,” said Mike Miley, the 2010-2011 Big “I” chairman and an account executive with Gibson Insurance Group in Plymouth, Ind.
The Michigan Young Agents have received this award for three consecutive years and their members are also active on national issues.
“The Big ‘I’ Young Agents Committee is proud of our young agents across the country who continue to promote the independent agency system, especially in the areas of political involvement, membership development, communications, state committee project and young agent meetings,” says Andy Beauchamp, Big “I” National Young Agents Committee immediate past chairman and vice president of Beauchamp McSpadden in Wabash, Ind.
Six other national awards of excellence recognizing the leadership of Young Agents committees in state associations were presented:
Outstanding Membership Development Award: The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana, Inc., for excellent achievement in recruiting and maintaining Young Agents participation in association activities.
Outstanding State Committee Project: The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina, for outstanding achievement in a state committee project that benefits the community, the insurance industry, and/or the independent agency system.
Outstanding Communications Award: The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West for achievement in establishing and maintaining an excellent communication vehicle for the Young Agents in their state.
Outstanding Young Agents Meeting Award: The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia for excellence in providing and promoting an annual Young Agents meeting.
Outstanding Political Involvement Award: The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois for outstanding achievement in promoting young agent participation in the legislative process.
Outstanding First-Time Award: The Young Agent Committee of the Nevada Independent Insurance Agents for outstanding efforts of a committee that has not submitted for a young agents ward in the last three years.
Miley presented the awards at the recent 2011 Young Agents Leadership Institute in Minneapolis, Minn. Representatives from the award winning states participated in a panel discussion to share their success stories with other state committee leaders. Attendees were also able to network with peers, Big “I” leaders and company representatives to develop valuable professional and personal contacts.
“The young agents are our lifeblood and we are so proud of all they do for the independent agency system,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Their hard work and numerous cutting-edge efforts help cultivate future association and industry leaders.”
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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