Alexandria, VA, April 29, 2021—Invest SM, the insurance industry's premier classroom-to-career education program, today announced that Diane Wagner, the chief operations officer of First Choice Agents Alliance (FCAA), has joined the Invest Board. Based in North Carolina, FCAA is one of the largest insurance agency networks in the country.
Wagner was appointed by Craig Welsh, Westfield's chief distribution and marketing officer, because of her strong commitment to attracting young people to career opportunities in the insurance industry. She has been involved with Invest, a Big “I" affiliate, for many years—starting with a speaking engagement at a local business school early in her career. She taught an Invest class in 2015, which led to placements of several interns at South Carolina insurance agencies.
Wagner started her career immediately after high school in central New York and spent the first 20 years working her way up through multiple mergers & acquisitions in the insurance industry. She eventually moved to the Carolinas in 1996 as an insurance company marketing representative. Since 2001, Wagner has been involved with several insurance start-ups, including FCAA.
“Diane brings experience and enthusiasm to the Invest board and she will be instrumental in helping us to expand our programs into more classrooms as well as assist us in launching our agency apprenticeship program pilot in Maryland," says Deborah Pickford, executive director of Invest.
“Insurance is such a great business and an excellent path for so many young people," Wagner says. “I have had wonderful mentors in my career, and I plan to continue to mentor the next generation with the hope that they find their place and their purpose. Careers in our industry have been the best kept secret for too many years."
About Invest
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. For more information, visit investprogram.org.
About the Big 'I'
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.
About Westfield
Westfield was founded in 1848 by a small group of hard-working farmers who believed in the promise of the future and the power of the individual. Today, as one of the nation's leading property and casualty (P&C) companies, we remain true to their vision and are dedicated to your protection and prosperity and to the progress of our community. Learn more by visiting westfieldinsurance.com.
About First Choice Agents Alliance (FCAA)
FCAA is an insurance agency network created to assist our members in securing top level company contracts and developing business plans to help them grow their revenue streams. Learn more at fcaalliance.com.