Stuart Powell

Stuart has been personally involved in the insurance business for over 50 years. He joined the staff of IIANC as

Director of Education in 1995.  In 2004, Stuart became Vice President of Insurance Operations and Technical

Affairs for IIANC.  In 2014, he served briefly as Interim CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of North

Carolina, Inc., IIANC Member Services, Inc., and the North Carolina Association of Insurance Agents, Inc.  As VP of Insurance Operations, he managed the designated insurance agency for the State of North Carolina, placing all coverages that the State does not self-insure, was the administrator of the IIANC Errors and Omissions Insurance program of agents, and managed the insurance benefits operations for members of the Association.  In 2016, Powell retired from IIANC and became an Executive in Residence at the Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University, where he taught courses to majors in Risk Management and Insurance for a year.

While at Appalachian State University, he contributed to a peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Insurance Regulation on rebating. In 2017, Powell semi-retired and began doing independent insurance and risk management consulting. Stuart continues to teach and write, is a frequent speaker on insurance matters, and is a technical resource for 700+ agencies and 7,000+ agents that are members of IIANC. He served for 5 years as consultant for the National Park Service, a division of the U. S. Department of the Interior, and the

Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA). He also serves as an expert witness on insurance coverage matters and insurance agents’ standards of care. In 2024, Mr. Powell assumed the Adjunct Professor of Insurance and Risk Management role at the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, Campbell University, where he co-instructed a graduate-level course alongside Dr. Michelle Osborne and teaches undergraduate courses in insurance and risk management.

Stuart began his insurance career working in The Powell Agency, Inc. of Reidsville, NC, a family agency whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s.  He has frequently taught insurance courses on a state and national basis.  Stuart is on the National Faculty for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC).  He has taught at various CIC institutes and graduate seminars.  He is the author of numerous articles on insurance and related matters.  He is also a past president of the Piedmont North Carolina Chapter and a past board member of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Society of CPCU.  Stuart served on the National Producer Advisory Council for Commercial Union Insurance Company from 1979 to 1981.  In 1991, he received the IIANC Ernest F.

Young Education Award.   In 2014, IIANC endowed a scholarship in Insurance and Risk Management at East

Carolina University in Stuart’s name.  Stuart has been a member of the Advisory Board to the Ketner School of

Business at Catawba College, the Advisory Board for the Insurance and Risk Management Program at East Carolina University, and the Brantley Center for Risk and Insurance Advisory Board at Appalachian State

University.  He is a past member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Community College Foundation, Inc. In 2016, Stuart was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Pat McCrory, the highest citizens’ award bestowed by the Governor of North Carolina. In 2016, he was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by IIANC. Currently, Stuart serves on the Board of Visitors for Catawba College.

Stuart graduated from Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, with a Bachelor of Arts in 

Religion and Philosophy. He received a Master of Arts degree in Religion from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, where he was the recipient of a Graduate Scholarship and Fellowship. Stuart is married with two children and four grandchildren. He is an accomplished sailor and former commercial and instrument-rated pilot who enjoys building custom fishing rods, fly fishing, sailing, and studying classical languages.  

Last updated: April 2026