ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 9, 2016—Big “I” independent insurance agent associations in 29 states were recently recognized by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) with Excellence in Insurance Education (EIE) Awards at the association’s Education Convocation in Chicago.
“The Big ‘I’ Excellence in Insurance Education awards recognize the outstanding contributions by Big ‘I’ state associations through extraordinary efforts to promote quality insurance education,” says Sue Knobeloch, past chair of the Big “I” Virtual University committee and executive director of Association of Risk Mangers Northwest in Seattle, Washington. “Through a variety of traditional and cutting edge educational programs, recipients of this award have proven their dedication, passion and commitment to education. We are honored to recognize 29 state associations that have taken on the challenge of providing quality education programs to our member agents.”
The EIE awards celebrate and recognize state associations and staff who have made significant contributions to education for their members and the industry in the key area of class offerings, continuing education (CE), professionalism, designation offerings, industry collaboration, planning goals, marketing, resources and more. Each entrant is scored based on a state’s overall educational offerings in a variety of areas and a short essay detailing its overall education programs. The 2015 EIE awards were presented as follows:
Diamond:
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Arizona
• Florida Association of Insurance Agents
• Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois
• Kansas Association of Insurance Agents
• Maine Insurance Agents Association
• Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents
• Michigan Association of Insurance Agents
• Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska
• New Hampshire Association of Insurance Agents
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey
• Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York
• Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina
• Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Oregon
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina
• Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Washington
• Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin
Gold:
• Alabama Independent Insurance Agents
• Insurance Agents & Brokers of Delaware
• Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky
• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana
• Independent Insurance Agents of Maryland
• Insurance Agents & Brokers of Pennsylvania
• Independent Insurance Agents of Texas
• Vermont Insurance Agents Association
Bronze:
• Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa
“The Big ‘I’ greatly appreciates the hard work by our state associations to develop, promote and implement so many outstanding professional education programs,” says Madelyn Flannagan, Big “I” vice president of agent development, education and research. “These continuing education programs are critical to our independent agents, brokers and the thousands of customers they serve.”
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, and health—as well as employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
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