Awards
Every year the IIABAZ recognizes outstanding individuals in the insurance industry and the awards are presented at the Convention. Nominations may be submitted throughout the year.
Deadline for consideration is May 1 for CSR of the Year and July 1 for all others. Please take a moment to nominate a deserving individual.
2025 Award Recipients
Arizona Insurance Hall of Fame
The highest honor the IIABAZ can bestow on an Arizona insurance professional is to induct them into the Insurance Hall of Fame. This is an all-industry award given in recognition of the individual’s lifetime contributions to the business of insurance and whose participation and activities are such as to lend dignity, distinction and credence to the industry.
2025 Inductees – None
Independent Agent Career Achievement Award
The Paul H. Jones Career Achievement Award was established in honor of Big I Past President Paul Jones in 1960. A high honor given to a member agent of the IIABAZ in recognition of their achievements and activity in the insurance industry on a local, state and national level, leadership, education, community service and politics.
2025 Recipient – Tim Woodruff with Woodruff-Leavitt Insurance Agency, Inc.
Lanny Hair Insurance Leadership Award
The award honors an agent member or company representative in Arizona who is a leader, advocate and mentor. The individual has demonstrated a quality of leadership and willingness to mentor those new to the industry. Established in 1989 as the Archie Mendelsohn Memorial Award and renamed in 2022 in recognition of Lanny Hair’s contributions to the industry as a leader and mentor.
2025 Recipient – Deanna Chew, CPCU, ARM, CRIS with Willis Towers Watson
Agent of the Year
Known as the Charles W. Traubel Memorial Award, this service award is given in recognition of a member agent’s contributions of time and efforts to further the interests of the Association and its Members.
2025 Recipient – None
Committee Chair of the Year
Recognizes outstanding work by an individual State Committee Chairperson selected for their drive and efforts to their duties by the IIABAZ Executive Committee.
2025 Recipients – Shannon Austin with Secura and Joseph Cook with The Arizona Group
Associate of the Year
The Steve Welker Associate of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has provided outstanding support to the independent insurance agents and brokers and to the American Agency System. The honor is for those affiliated with the insurance industry and not member agents.
2025 Recipient – Deborah Swindall with Imperial PFS (Ret)
Outstanding CSR of the Year
Each year, an exceptional insurance professional is selected to represent their state and then compete to become the National Outstanding CSR of the Year presented by The National Alliance. This prestigious award recognizes the contributions and commitment of those who serve clients within the insurance industry. To be eligible candidates must submit an essay on a topic chosen by The National Alliance. Click here for details.
2025 Arizona Recipient – Angela Gentry, TRIP, CRIS, CLP, ARM, DAE, AFIS, ACSR, CPIW, AINS, with Reliable Risk Management LLC
Past Recipients
Arizona Insurance Hall of Fame Recipients
1968 C.W. “Bill” Bond
1969 Geo. H. Amos, Sr., Harry W. Nason and Kenneth Nehring
1970 B.L. Udell
1971 Verland Haldiman
1972 Gordon Shoaf
1973 Ray Rohwer
1974 Conde Withers
1975 Paul Jones, CPCU
1976 Thomas E. Downey and Charles G. Sullivan
1977 Chester Long and William F. Harrelson
1978 Frank Middleton and Don Mahoney
1979 Albert W. Gibson
1980 Virginia V. Batey and L.H. “Dick” Marlar
1981 Edward H. Bringhurst
1982 Robert L. Jackson
1983 Richard Hance, R.D. Gibson and O.M. “Jack” Cleveland
1984 Emil Barberich
1985 Morton A. Solot, CPCU
1986 Frank Bradley
1987 Frank Smith
1988 D.M. “Mac” Lovitt, CPCU
1989 Archie Mendelsohn and John Howard, CPCU
1990 Jack Cabossel and Lester Curtis
1991 Robert J. Lehan, CPCU and Arthur A. Nehring
1992 Don Oliver, CPCU
1993 Milo LeBaron, Jr.
1994 Richard E. French and Raymond R. Ried, CPCU
1995 Robert A. Rovan
1996 R.G. Millstead and T.C. “Skip” Anderson
1997 Byron Davidson, CIC, CPCU
1998 Lynn Hester, Jay Stuckey and James “Jack” Trimble
1999 William Schaefer
2000 Glenn H. Luglan, Jr., CPCU and Everett J. Jones, Jr.
2002 Robert Cowie
2003 John McEvoy and William Pilcher
2004 J. Scott Wede
2005 Lawrence C. Carr, CPCU
2006 William R. Jones, Jr. and Robert L. Mueller
2009 Robert M. Shcolnik
2010 Roberta Hoffman
2011 Richard Gregson and Rolland L. Wiegers
2013 Lanny Hair, CIC, RPLU, ARM, AAI
2016 Mitch T. Childers
2019 Douglas C. Carr, CIC
2021 Joseph M. Binsfeld, CIC and Charlene Powers-Broadbent
2022 Jacqueline Wanta, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRIS
2023 Joni R. Fairbrother, CIC, RPLU
2024 Christopher Behymer and Paul Cyr
Committee Chair of the Year Award Recipients
1973 John W. McEvoy, CPCU
1974 Bob Dennis
1975 Jack Trimble, CPCU
1976 Lawrence C. Carr, CPCU
1978 Robert J. Lehan, CPCU
1979 Ray Ried, Jr., CPCU
1980 R.G. “Doc” Millstead
1981 Herb Caywood, CIC
1982 Roger Shields
1983 Sylvia Keppy-Dow, CPCU and Chris Obrock
1984 Larry Velasco and Bill Bloomquist
1985 Jim Jones and Joeseph M. Binsfeld, CIC
1988 Glenn Luglan, CPCU
1989 Frank S. Bradley
1990 Dewaine Ried, CPCU, CLU
1991 Jacqueline Wanta, CIC, CPCU
1992 Chris Edmonson and James Tope, CIC
1993 Roberta Hoffman
1994 Dennis Colgan, CIC
1995 Jim Tope, CIC
1996 William C. Bloomquist
1997 John K. French
1998 Len Dodwell, CIC
1999 Larry Beach, CIC
2000 Brenda Johnson, CIC
2002 Mitch Childers
2003 Wayne Syrek
2004 Jacqueline Wanta, CIC, CPCU, ARM, CRIS
2006 Steven R. Goble, CIC, CRM
2007 James V. Farmer
2008 Joeseph M. Binsfeld, CIC
2009 Jeanette C. Griswold, CPCU
2010 Peter J. Couture, CIC
2011 David Mitchell, CIC,
2012 David Mitchell, CIC,
2015 Beth Andrews and Matt Zollner, CIC
2016 Eric Hoelzen and Whitney Hoelzen
2018 Joe M. Binsfeld, CIC
2022 Zach Burton
2023 Shannon Austin and Dan Speas
2024 Steve Brown and Kody Houk
Independent Agent Career Achievement Award Recipients
1960 Frank L. Smith
1961 Morton A. Solot, CPCU
1962 William F. Harrelson
1963 Robert D. Olliver, CPCU
1964 Frank P. Middleton
1966 Roy Grebles
1967 John G. Howard, CPCU
1969 Donald J. Mahoney
1970 Albert W. Gibson
1971 Arthur A. Nehring
1972 Charles W. Traubel
1973 Edward J. Bubala
1975 Jack Trimble, CPCU
1976 L.M. “Pete” Jensen
1977 Lawrence C. Carr, CPCU
1978 Charles O. Bloomquist
1979 D.M. “Mac” Lovitt, CPCU
1980 John W. McEvoy, CPCU
1981 Everett J. Jones, Jr.
1982 Pierre Baffett, Sr.
1983 Milo LeBaron, Jr.
1984 Raymond Ried, Jr., CPCU
1985 Jack Cabossel
1987 Archie Mendelsohn
1988 James W. Jones, CPCU
1989 Robert M. Shcolnik and R.G. “Doc” Millstead
1990 Roberta Hoffman
1991 Glenn Luglan, Jr., CPCU
1992 Richard E. French
1993 Robert A. Rovan and Max Jones
1994 Douglas Bourne, CIC
1995 William C. Bloomquist
1996 J. Scott Wede, CPCU
1997 William C. Schaefer
1998 William Pilcher
1999 Byron D. Davidson
2000 Joseph M. Binsfeld, CIC
2001 Rick Gregson
2004 Robert Mueller
2005 Paul H. Jones, CPCU
2006 David M. Lovitt, Jr.
2007 Mitch Childers
2008 Steven R. Goble, CIC, CRM
2017 Jacqueline Wanta, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRIS
2022 Patricia Griffith
Associate of the Year Award Recipients
1990 Pamela Scruggs
1991 Steve Welker
1992 Dennis Duffy
1993 Beth Jacobson
1994 Lou Harrison
1995 Marc Adler
1996 Bill Arrowwood
1997 George N. Bell
1998 John Rohwer
1999 Dennis Burch
2001 George Mang, III
2003 Gerry Silver
2004 Curtis Anderson
2005 Pam Sanderson
2006 W.L. Richard
2007 Myles P. Hassett
2008 Elizabeth Escher
2012 Beth Andrews
2013 Jodi S. Roll and Carla Van Riper
2014 Breck Grumbles and Konnie Keaschall-Kiser
2015 Matt Zollner, CIC
2016 Katie L. Ball, CIC
2017 Brett Purcell, MBA, CPCU
2018 Barbara Camacho
2021 Shannon Austin, CPCU, ARM, AFIS, AU, AIM
2022 Steve Brown, CRIS
2023 Tyler Smith
2024 Konnie Keaschall-Kiser, CIC, ASLI, RPLU
Lanny Hair Insurance Leadership Award Recipients
(Archie Mendelsohn Memorial Award)
1989 Joseph Binsfeld, CIC
1990 Robert M. Shcolnik
1991 Sylvia Keppy-Dow, CIC, CPIW
1992 Steven Mendelsohn
1993 Lanny L. Hair, CIC, ARM, AAI
1994 Jerome L. Harris
1995 Joni R. Fairbrother, CIC and Richard E. French
1996 William Schaefer
1997 William C. Bloomquist
1999 J. Scott Wede
2002 Jackie Wanta, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRIS
2004 Dave Mitchell, CIC
2005 Rick Gregson
2007 Betty J. French
2008 Larry J. Beach, CIC
2013 Mitch Childers
2024 Cassandra Craig
Agent of the Year Award Recipients
(Charles W. Traubel Memorial Award)
1972 Jerome L. Harris
1973 Bob Dennis
1975 Lawrence C. Carr, CPCU
1975 John W. McEvoy, CPCU and Milo LeBaron, Jr.
1976 Bob Shcolnik
1977 Bill Schaefer
1978 Ray Ried, Jr., CPCU
1982 Archie Mendelsohn
1985 Frank Bradley
1986 Sylvia Keppy-Dow, CIC, CPIW
1987 William C. Bloomquist
1988 Joseph M. Binsfeld, CIC
1989 Roger Shields
1990 Richard E. French
1991 Dewaine Ried, CPCU, CLU
1992 Jacqueline Wanta, CIC, CPCU, ARM, CRIS
1993 Chris Edmonson
1995 Dennis E. Colgan, CIC
1997 Len Dodwell, CIC
1998 Gloria Kleist
2001 Mitch Childers
2004 Joni Fairbrother, CIC, RPLU and Richard Gregson
2006 C. Scott Crabdree, CIC
2007 Roberta Hoffman
2012 David Mitchell, CIC, MBA, MA.HR, SPHR
2017 J. Scott Wede, CPCU, ASLI
2024 Jeff Arnett
Arizona’s Outstanding CSR of the Year Winners
1993 Patricia Griffith
1994 Bette Ellen Gleason
1997 Patricia Offield, CISR, CPCU, CPIW
1998 Lynne Stipp
1999 Jody Hayden, CISR, CPIW
2000 Marcia Cox
2001 Kristin Gray, CIC, CRM, CISR, CRIS, MLIS
2003 Kelly Harding, CIC, AIS
2005 Arlene Yeskin
2006 Miriam Christensen
2007 Patricia Ramirez
2008 Marilyn Buzard, CIC, AU
2009 Anita Dee Alfson, CIC, CISR
2010 Kami Ishikawa, CISR
2011 Suzette Toole, CISR
2012 Julie Quiring, CIC, CRM, CISR
2013 Sharon Bowman, CIC
2014 Linda G. Ebling, CPCU, ARM, CPIW
2015 Maria Rosaortega, CIC, CISR
2016 Cynthia A. Munksgard
2017 Karen Cates, CIC, CISR
2018 Kathleen Dragan
2019 Kristin Paul, CIC
2021 Alyssa M. Canez
2022 Rose Griffith
2023 Tracy Miller