Both the MAIA and the Young Agents Committee were recognized at this year’s national conference
At this year’s Big “I” Conference, the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) recognized both the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents and its Young Agent’s Committee with two separate awards highlighting the work they have done on behalf of their members. The annual conference, this year held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, recognized the MAIA as with a Diamond-level Excellence in Insurance Education (EIE) Award during the association’s Education Convocation.
An EIE award recognizes those state associations as well as their staff for their excellence in providing class offerings, continuing education courses, designation offerings, industry collaborations, planning goals, market resources to their members. In order to be recognized, a state association is measured overall for the level of education offerings it provides, the level of industry collaboration it engages in as well as the effectiveness of their planning goals and marketing campaign outreach. In addition, a state association must submit a brief essay outlining the breadth and success of its education program. A Big “I” panel then reviews and rates each state.
“The Big ‘I’ Excellence in Insurance Education awards honor the outstanding contributions made by Big ‘I’ state associations through extraordinary efforts in education,” says Cindy Hower, chair of the Big “I” Virtual University curriculum and research committee and president of Kellerman Insurance in Holton, Kansas. “We are greatly pleased to recognize so many state associations that have taken on the challenge of providing quality education programs to our member agents.”
Diamond:• Florida Association of Insurance Agents• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New Jersey• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Washington• Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia• Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska• Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina• Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia• Kansas Association of Insurance Agents• Maine Insurance Agents Association• Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents• Michigan Association of Insurance Agents• New Hampshire Association of Insurance AgentsGold:• Alabama Independent Agents Association• Insurance Agents & Brokers of Delaware• Insurance Agents & Brokers of Pennsylvania• Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma• Independent Insurance Agents of New Mexico• Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin• Vermont Insurance Agents AssociationBronze:• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana• Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Oregon• Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois
“The Big ‘I’ greatly appreciates all the hard work by our state associations to develop, promote and implement education programs,” says Madelyn Flannagan, Big “I” vice president of agent development, education and research. “These continuing education programs are vital to our independent agents, brokers and the clients they serve.”
In addition to the EIE award, the MAIA’s Young Agent Committee was also recognized for its work with the 2014 Outstanding Communications Award. Over the last few years, the MAIA has revitalized its Young Agents Committee by launching a newly designed website as well as a busy social calendar of networking events aimed at helping young Mass. agents build relationships within the Massachusetts insurance industry.
