ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 29, 2015 – InVEST, the insurance industry’s premier classroom-to-career education program, is pleased to announce that Cynthia Hower, CIC, has been appointed as chair of its national board. Hower is president of Kellerman Insurance, Inc., a Trusted Choice® independent insurance agency in Holton, Kansas.
“InVEST is pleased to announce that Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Hower has been selected by the Big ‘I’ executive committee to head its board of directors as chair,” says Diane Mattis, CPCU, AFIS, AIAM, InVEST executive director. “Cindy has made tremendous contributions during her tenure on the InVEST board and in numerous leadership capacities within the industry. We are excited about this new chapter for InVEST and look forward to working with her and drawing from her expertise.”
Hower joined Kellerman Insurance in 1981 to work with her father, Dale Kellerman. The 52-year old business continues to be family-owned and operated. She also manages Kellerman Real Estate with Roger Hower, her husband, as the firm’s managing broker. Hower has been involved in industry relations for 30 years, including having served as an agent council representative for Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company and Columbia Insurance Group. Hower is a past president of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents (KAIA), past chair of the Big “I” Virtual University committee, and continues to serve in leadership roles. Prior to joining the InVEST board of directors, Hower served on the Big “I” Virtual University committee.
“InVEST is vitally important for the future of the independent agency system and the insurance industry as a whole,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) president & CEO. “Educators, volunteers and independent agency leaders, like Cindy Hower, are key to the success of this program as it continues to grow and expand into more schools. We applaud and thank her for her commitment to this critical program and the independent agency system.”
As a 501(c)(3) educational trust, InVEST benefits from the support of numerous insurance organizations, hundreds of agencies, brokers and volunteers. The program provides the insurance industry with motivated, talented and intelligent professionals through a support structure of state associations, board members, national staff, teachers and the many industry professionals who work in the field as classroom liaisons.
Founded in 1970 and based in Alexandria, Va., InVEST promotes insurance education in order to attract individuals to pursue a career in the insurance industry. Each year, the program prepares thousands of students for insurance-related careers with a hands-on curriculum taught in high schools, adult education centers and colleges. These courses provide students with a working knowledge of the basics needed to pursue careers in the insurance industry. For more information, go to www.investprogram.org.
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.