WASHINGTON, D.C., May 7, 2017 —The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) bestowed two inaugural awards for membership development at the annual Big “I” Legislative Conference.
The Independent Insurance Agents of North Dakota (IIAND) is the 2017 Big "I" Membership Growth Award recipient. This award recognizes the state association that gained the highest percentage of net new members in the previous year.
“For its tremendous efforts and results, the Big ‘I’ is proud to present the inaugural Membership Growth Award to the Independent Insurance Agents of North Dakota,” said Spencer Houldin, Big “I” chairman, who presented the awards. “In the past year, IIAND has increased membership by 14.8%, started a new young agents program and gained 10 new agency members as a direct result of the young agent events.”
The Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska (IIAN) is the 2017 Big "I" Membership Champion winner. This award recognizes a state association’s exemplary membership recruitment and retention initiatives and success.
“For its creativity and dedication, the Big ‘I’ is excited to present the inaugural Membership Champion award to the Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska,” continued Houldin. “In the past year, the IIAN team has increased its membership by 12.9% by launching an effective marketing campaign that uses email, office visits, and employee training and onboarding components.”
Houldin, who is also president of Ericson Insurance Advisors headquartered in Washington Depot, Connecticut, has made member recruitment and retention a cornerstone issue for his chairmanship.
“The Big ‘I’ commends the focus of Chairman Houldin on membership at the state and national levels,” said Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO. “Spencer’s dedication and hard work have yielded great results and energy to the association. To recognize the state associations that have gone above and beyond in their membership initiatives, the Big ‘I’ has created these two new awards.”
The awards were presented during the recent Big “I” Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or 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.
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