WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 2, 2017—The Hill, a leading political newspaper, has named Bob Rusbuldt, Big "I" president & CEO, and Charles Symington, Big "I" senior vice president of external, industry, and government affairs, among the top trade association lobbyists in Washington, D.C. 

The Hill piece noted the Big "I" was "a force to be reckoned with" as it battled for a wide array of flood insurance legislation in 2017, including a long-term extension of the National Flood Insurance Program. 

"Recognition from a leading political newspaper highlights the strength of our government affairs team," says Vaughn Graham, Big "I" chairman and president of Rich & Cartmill, Inc., headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "Thanks to the hard work of president & CEO Bob Rusbuldt, Charles Symington and the entire government affairs staff, the Big 'I' is consistently named one of the most influential associations in the country." 

Congressional leaders regularly tap the Big "I" federal government affairs team for its political acumen including sitting on congressional steering committees, raising campaign dollars, hosting political events, and strategizing to help members of Congress better serve their constituents and advance top issues. A vital component of the association advocacy efforts is InsurPac, the Big "I" political action committee. It routinely raises well over $2 million each election cycle and disburses that money across the aisle to U.S. Senate and House campaigns that are supportive of the independent agency system. 

"The Big 'I' government affairs staff stood out as the only group listed that represents insurance agents and brokers," says Angela Ripley, Big "I" government affairs committee chairman and president VW Brown Insurance Service in Columbia, Maryland. "We're fortunate to have such a well-respected team representing the agent and broker community on Capitol Hill." 

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.  

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