ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 14, 2016—The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) installed Joseph “Joe” P. Leahy of Northampton, Massachusetts, as the association’s vice chairman at the recent Big “I” Leadership Conference in Chicago. 

Leahy is co-owner and founder of Leahy and Brown Insurance + Realty, Inc., in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

“Joe Leahy continues to be a strong advocate on behalf of the agent community and small businesses in Massachusetts and at the national level,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “The Big ‘I’ is proud that he is now our vice chairman. We look forward to continuing to draw from his expertise and insight on our leadership team.”

Leahy and his wife, Frances, founded Leahy and Brown Insurance + Realty, Inc. in 1989. He previously served as chief of staff to Massachusetts State Sen. Martin T. Reilly (D-Springfield). At the state association level, Leahy was elected to the executive committee of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents in 2001 and served as chairman in 2005 and Massachusetts director on the Big “I” national board from 2008 to 2013. 

"During Joe Leahy's tenure as a leader of both his local association and the state association his advocacy on behalf of his fellow independent insurance agents was at the highest levels of commitment,” says Francis A. Mancini, Esq., MAIA president & CEO. “His knowledge and experience in the legislative and regulatory arenas was of critical importance to MAIA as we navigated some of the most significant changes in the regulatory structure of the insurance industry in Massachusetts in decades. Joe's commitment to his fellow agents has followed him to his new leadership position at IIABA."

At the national level, Leahy served on numerous Big ‘I” committees and task forces including the Government Affairs Committee, the Tax Task Force and the InsurPac board of Trustees. Leahy also serves on the board for numerous other professional and civic organizations in Massachusetts. He and his wife live in Northampton, Massachusetts, and have six children and seven grandchildren.

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