ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 3, 2007—The National Young Agents Committee (YAC) of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) presented its most prestigious annual award to the Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina at the 2007 Young Agents Leadership Institute this past weekend.

In recognition of its outstanding efforts on behalf of the independent agency system to cultivate and inspire the next generation of industry leaders, the North Carolina YAC was honored as the Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts made by North Carolina’s Young Agents in the areas of political involvement, membership development, communications, state committee project and young agents meeting, as well as a committee’s promotion of the independent agency system.

The runner-up in the Outstanding Young Agents Committee Award category was The Young Agents Committee of the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents Association.

Five other national awards of excellence recognizing the leadership of Young Agents committees in state associations were presented

Outstanding Political Involvement Award–The Young Agents Committee of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, for outstanding achievement in promoting young agent participation in the legislative process.

Outstanding Young Agents Meeting Award–The Young Brokers and Agents Committee of the Insurance Brokers &Agents of the West, for excellence in providing and promoting an annual Young Agents meeting.

Outstanding State Committee Project–The Young Insurance Professionals of the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers, for outstanding achievement in a state committee project that benefits the community, the insurance industry, and/or the independent agency system.

Outstanding Membership Development Award–Young Agents Committee of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois for excellent achievement in recruiting and maintaining Young Agents participation in association activities.

Outstanding Communications Award–The Young Agents Council of the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents, for outstanding achievement in maintaining a communications campaign dedicated to young agents.

            The 2007 Young Agents Leadership Institute, a three day conference held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, featured breakout sessions focusing on membership development, communications and political involvement. Attendees heard from a panel of vendors, consultants and agents on latest technology trends. They were also able to network with peers and Big “I” leaders, learn new strategies for agency management and develop valuable professional and personal contacts. Along with The Young Agent Committee Awards being announced at this event the committee welcomed new chairperson Joey O’Connor, and thanked outgoing chairman Keith Riley for his service to the committee.

Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 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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