ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Oct. 5, 2016–InVEST, the insurance industry’s premier classroom to career education program, recently announced that Barbara Walker, CAWC, has joined its national board as an agent member. Walker is vice president of Hartland Insurance Agency, Inc., in Hartland, Michigan.
“InVEST is proud to announce Barbara Walker has joined our distinguished board of directors,” says Cindy Hower, InVEST board chair and president of Kellerman Insurance, an independent agency in Holton, Kansas. “Barbara brings decades of experience and association leadership to the InVEST board of directors and we look forward to continuing to work with her to improve the program.”
Walker has more than 35 years of experience in the independent agency system. She joined Hartland Insurance in July 1981 and currently serves as vice president responsible for the management and sales. Walker has also been active in the state and national association levels. She currently serves on the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) board of directors, is chair of the MI Future board and is a recipient of two prestigious MAIA awards, the Ashom Education Award and the Henry Forsetlund Award. At the national level, Walker has served on the IIABA Virtual University Committee.
“InVEST is critical for the future of the independent agency system and the insurance industry as a whole,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) president & CEO. “Educators, volunteers, and independent agency and industry leaders, like Barbara Walker, are key to the success of this program as it continues to develop and expand. We applaud Barbara and thank her for her commitment to this vitally important endeavor.”
As a 501(c)(3) educational trust, InVEST benefits from the support of numerous insurance organizations, hundreds of agencies, brokers and volunteers. The program provides the insurance industry with motivated, talented and intelligent professionals through a support structure of state associations, board members, national staff, teachers and the many industry professionals who work in the field as classroom liaisons.
Founded in 1970 and based in Alexandria, Virginia, InVEST promotes insurance education in order to attract individuals to pursue a career in the insurance industry. Each year, the program prepares thousands of students for insurance-related careers with a hands-on curriculum taught in high schools, adult education centers and colleges. These courses provide students with a working knowledge of the basics needed to pursue careers in the insurance industry. For more information, go to www.investprogram.org.
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.
###