ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 14, 2012 — Robert “Bobby” Bramlett has been inaugurated as the new chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”), with Tom Minkler as chairman-elect, David Walker as vice chairman and Vaughn Graham as an at-large executive committee member. The new officers began their terms at the conclusion of the board meeting held in conjunction with the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference this past weekend in Atlanta.
“The Big ‘I’ is excited that such distinguished professionals will be among its leaders,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Bobby Bramlett, Tom Minkler, David Walker and Vaughn Graham, along with the rest of the executive committee and officers, are a remarkable team of industry leaders, and we are positioned well for a productive year.”
Bobby Bramlett is president & CEO of the Bramlett Agency in Ardmore, Okla. He began his insurance career with The Bramlett Agency in 1975 and has served as its president and CEO since 1983. He purchased the agency from his parents, Jim and Janie Bramlett. The agency celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2008. He is past president of Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma (IIAO) most recently served as vice-chairman of IIABA. In 2008, Bramlett received the IIABA’s highest Government Affairs award, the Sydney O. Smith National Legislative Award. He was also given IIAO’s highest award, The Eagle of Excellence Award, in 2009. In his community, he serves as a Director of First National Bank and Trust Company, Trustee of The Glen Foundation, and as a Trustee of St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy. Bramlett is a graduate of St. John’s Military Academy in Delafield, Wis., and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma. Bobby and his wife Nanette are proud parents of son, Jake, who now works in the agency, daughter-in-law, Jennifer and grandson Bryce.
Tom Minkler is president of the Clark-Mortenson Agency in Keene, N.H. Minkler is a past chairman of the New Hampshire Association of Insurance Agents, past New Hampshire director on the Big “I” national board and past president of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents. At the national association level, Minkler has championed the Consumer Agent Portal (CAP) project since 2009 and is past chairman of the Big “I” Government Affairs Committee. He has also served on various other Big “I” committees including the Professional Liability Committee, the Agents Advocacy Fund, the IIAA Agency Administrative Services board of directors, and the Captive Study Committee. He is a frequent speaker for the insurance industry and has provided testimony before the U.S Congress on behalf of the Big “I” on a variety of topics. Minkler is active in his community and serves on numerous boards for charitable organizations and civic groups. He resides in Keene, N.H. with his wife, Heather and step-son Mike, and has three grown children.
David Walker, CIC, AAI, LIC, is president of Hartland Insurance Agency in Hartland, Mich. He began his insurance career in 1979, joined Hartland Insurance Agency as a producer and rose through its ranks. Walker has served on the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) Young Agents Council, Education Committee, Legislative Affairs Committee and Agency-Company Relations Committee. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors and as president of MAIA and the Genesee County Independent Agents. At the national level, he has served on the boards of the Big “I”, CAP and Big “I” Advantage, and as a member of the Big “I” Professional Liability Committee. Walker has received numerous MAIA awards, including the W.O. Hilderbrand Award in 2006 for his lifetime service and achievement in the insurance industry and MAIA. Walker is active in his community, having served on the board of directors for the Harland Area Chamber of Commerce and as a trustee and president of the Fenton Area Public Schools. He is also a founding member of the Hartland Rotary.
Vaughn Graham is president of Rich & Cartmill, Inc. headquartered in Tulsa, Okla. He is a past chairman of the IIAO and has served on the Big “I” national board of directors. Graham was recognized in 2012 with IIAO’s highest honor, The Eagle of Excellence Award. At the national association level, since 2009 Graham has chaired the IIAA Member Services Board, served on the Big “I” Advantage Board, was a Trustee on the InsurPac Board, and was a member of the Agents & Brokers Roundtable. Graham remains active in his community with charitable and civic organizations. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and resides in Tulsa, Okla. with his wife, Candace. They have two children, Hayden and Vaughn, Jr.
The 2011-2012 Big “I” chairman,
Mike Donohoe, who will serve on the committee as immediate past chair for one year, is principal of the James R. Weir Insurance Agency in Mankato, Minn.
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 approximately a quarter of a million 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. ###