Alexandria, VA – Sept. 13, 2018 – InVEST, the insurance industry's premier classroom-to-career education program, has appointed Lindsey Shank, CIC, as the new chair of its national board. She is vice president and regional agency operations manager for McGriff Insurance Services, Inc. (a subsidiary of BB&T Insurance Holdings) in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Shank started learning about insurance through the InVEST program at St. Petersburg Catholic High School in Florida where she was an InVEST student her junior and senior years. She began working at Iler Wall & Shonter (now McGriff) a week after her high school graduation and she continued to rise through the ranks at the agency throughout her college career. Shank earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of South Florida.
She previously served on the InVEST board from 2012 to 2015 as an agent member and returned for another term in 2016. She was also on the Florida Association of Insurance Agents board of directors from 2014 to 2017.
“As an InVEST student back in 1999, I would have never imagined my path would have led to a successful career in insurance, as well as the opportunity to serve as an InVEST board member and now InVEST board chair," says Shank. “Being selected as InVEST board chair is an incredible honor. I am excited to move the organization in its new strategic direction to bring new talent into the independent agency force."
Shank also brings the perspective of volunteer teacher to her new role, as she currently teaches the InVEST program at Northeast High School where she helps to mentor students on insurance education, business and life skills. She peviously served as the Florida state InVEST committee chair and received InVEST's National Volunteer of the Year award in 2005 and 2010.
“Lindsey brings enthusiasm and a unique personal experience to the InVEST board of directors," says Deborah Pickford, InVEST executive director. “We look forward to harnessing her energy to grow the InVEST program and have her lead efforts to develop strong career pathways into the insurance industry and our independent agencies."
Founded in 1970 and based in Alexandria, Virginia, 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. As a 501(c)(3) educational trust, InVEST benefits from the support of numerous insurance organizations, hundreds of agencies, brokers and volunteers.
The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I") was founded in 1896 and 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 and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products.
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