WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2015 —The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (IIABA or the Big “I”) has awarded Jim Armitage with the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the association bestows on one of its members, during the annual Big “I” Legislative Conference.
Armitage is vice president of Arroyo Insurance in Arcadia, California.
The Woodworth Memorial Award recognizes the meritorious and outstanding contributions of an independent agent or broker to the national association, to his or her Big “I” colleagues and to the insurance industry.
“The Big ‘I’ is proud to present Jim Armitage with the Woodworth Memorial Award for diligently serving the insurance industry at the local, state and national levels for almost 35 years,” said David Walker, Big “I” chairman. “His dedication to the independent agency community fully epitomize the very principles of this prestigious award.”
At the state level, Armitage was the first president of the Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West in 1995 (now IIABCal) after the consolidation of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California and the Western Association of Insurance Brokers. He served as chairman of the state association’s Speakers Bureau and Media Team Key Contact Program and received IIABCal’s Media Achievement Award. He is also the recipient of the Ramsden/Sullivan Memorial Award, IIABCal’s most prestigious honor, which recognizes a member’s service to the American agency system, the insurance industry and the community.
At the national level, Armitage has served in numerous roles including Big “I” National Director, representing California; Trusted Choice Board of Directors member; Big Young Agents Committee chairman; and InVEST Board of Directors chairman. He currently serves as the chairman of the Agents Council for Technology (ACT).
“Jim’s story is another inspiring success story in our industry,” continued Walker who presented the award. “He started his agency in 1986 and it has grown to more than 100 employees in 13 locations today. He continues to be extremely active in his community and to be mentor to young agents and emerging leaders in California and across the country.”
The Woodworth Award was established in 1925 in memory of C.H. Woodworth of Buffalo, N.Y., the second president of the association. It is awarded annually to the Big “I” member who best demonstrates outstanding service benefiting independent insurance agents and the entire insurance industry.
Founded in 1896, 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. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
###