A Personal Message to Agency Principals
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Do you remember when you first got into this profession? The opportunities were limitless and yet there had to be some trepidation over the responsibilities that lie within our industry and profession. Might you also have felt that it would have been nice to meet with other professionals your age to exchange ideas and experiences that likely you couldn’t share with others?
If you can remember those days and have a young or new professional to the industry working in your agency, you owe it to them, and yourself, to send them to the IIAV Young Agents Conference.
The IIAV Young Agent Conference is one of the most vibrant and enlightening conferences held by the association and I try not to miss them – and I could hardly be considered a "young agent.” Personally, one of the reasons I like to attend is because it gives me confidence in the longevity of our industry. I can see the leadership of our industry into the next decade and it’s something of which to be proud.
At EVERY conference I have attended, I have seen numerous examples of young agents networking with each other not as competitors but gaining associations with which to use for future business referrals. The young agents who attend the conference have the business confidence in themselves and act like "knowledge sponges” to soak up the experiences, expertise and motivation from others. They are universally ambassadors to the insurance industry being a GREAT profession and their excitement level is contagious. Seriously, I get a pick-me-up at every conference that I attend.
Every Young Agent Conference is designed and scheduled by the young agents themselves. It’s not my job to interject on what they want to learn and who they want to hear speak. It’s a program designed by young professionals for young professionals. Who better to design such a conference?
At our recent board meeting, Dennis Winfree – our 1st Vice Chairman with Horizon Insurance – urged other board members to attend the conference. "It shows respect,” he asserted and I couldn’t agree more. Young professionals are not only looking toward each other for the networking opportunities but also the opportunity to gain from the experience of the seasoned professional.
In short, if you have a young professional associated with your agency, I would love to know why you would NOT invest in their future and not send them to the conference – especially if there are scholarship opportunities available supported by our company partners (a further indication of the investment in the future by our company partners and information is available from Carter Lyons – clyons@iiav.com).
The conference is October 11-13 at the Norfolk Downtown Marriott and details can be found at www.iiav.com. I urge you to invest in your agency and invest in the future of our profession.
Bob Bradshaw
IIAV President & CEO
