NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 21—Independent Insurance Agents in Alabama and New Mexico were recognized today for their outstanding commitment to education as the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) presented the two state associations with the L.P. McCord National Education Award.
The award, presented during IIABA’s National Board of State Directors (NBSD) meeting held immediately prior to the New Orleans InfoXchange, is annually bestowed upon the state associations, in two size categories, that have provided their members with the best opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the insurance profession. The state associations are evaluated according to innovation in education, single-best seminar, and non-seminar education services.
In the category of “Less Than 250 Members,” the honor went to the Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico (IIANM). The association’s Director of Education Marit Peters and Education Chair Patty Padon accepted the award on behalf of New Mexico’s agents.
IIANM set itself apart by most effectively presenting a wide variety of diverse educational topics that promote ways to raise their members’ level of insurance knowledge. IIANM has been a leading provider of insurance education in New Mexico for many years and continues to strengthen its educational portfolio by recognizing and meeting the diverse needs of their member agencies. While many of its educational offerings are created for their member agencies, IIANM has successfully drawn a significant number of non-member students to its educational programs, including life and health agents and company personnel.
In the “More Than 250 Members” category, the award was presented to the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents (AIIA). Victor McCarley, the association’s director of education, accepted the award on behalf of Alabama’s agents.
AIIA was selected for its impressive and comprehensive curriculum design and presentation format. The association continues to offer new and innovative programs that showcase a variety of topics and strengthen
Alabama agents’ knowledge of insurance while enhancing their business skills. AIIA is premiering its newest course, Claims From the Darkside II, This Time It’s Personal …(Lines)! as a workshop at the New Orleans InfoXchange. The course is just one example of the innovative education programs offered by AIIA.
The New Orleans InfoXchange, IIABA’s showcase meeting, features an exclusive reception and lunch for Trusted ChoiceSM agencies and company/strategic partners; a compelling company CEO panel; a wide variety of innovative continuing-education (CE) classes offering 19 CE credits; several prominent guest speakers; one of the largest exhibit halls in the insurance industry; numerous networking opportunities; and many other exciting events. The event runs through Tuesday.
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.
###