IIAV 124th Annual Convention Concludes with Professional Recognitions
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| Chris Swain, Priscilla Hottle, and Tyler Hancock |
The IIAV 124th Annual Convention concluded last week with the presentation of the Golden Eagle Award to Tyler Hancock of the Ford & Thomas Insurance Agency in Richmond, and Chris Swain with Progressive as the Company Person of the Year. Tyler, a past chairman of IIAV, was recognized for his long-standing support for the industry and IIAV having served in virtually every volunteer position available while guiding his successful full-serve agency since 1982. And Tyler is keeping the commitment going with his daughter Laura Hancock, joining the agency, getting her AAI and being installed this year as the Young Agent Committee Chairman. Tyler received a long and boisterous applause upon his recognition as IIAV’s Golden Eagle Award winner by current IIAV Chair Priscilla Hottle.
Chair Priscilla Hottle also recognized Chris Swain, Progressive’s Field Sales Development Specialist, as IIAV’s Company Person of the Year. With Progressive for over 17 years, Chris has generated a fan club of agents — and young agents — by his attention to customer/agency service and involvement in IIAV Young Agent Committee and Convention Committee. A representative of one agency noted, “Not all insurance company marketing and territorial representatives are created equal. Chris truly rises above many of his peers and is always there to assist whenever the need arises.”
Convention attendees were treated with a HUGE sold out trade show of over 80 industry representatives and a wide range of speakers. The first days keynote speaker, Robert Stevenson, engaged attendees with practical leadership and entrepreneurial experiences to advance efficiency and production ideas for agents. One insurance leader indicated, “I’ve been in this profession for over 40 years and have bought only two books from convention speakers — and Robert Stevenson’s is one of them.” Solid testimony on the reception that Stevenson received.
The convention's second day keynote speaker, Peter Van Aartrijk, amazingly received the 2022 Icon Award the previous week from the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association (www.imcanet.com). Peter presented a wide range of amusing marketing/branding missteps as he espoused the need to make sure agencies don’t forget branding and urged attendees to “treat your brand like a sports car!” He noted that strong agency brands can indeed impact the financial bottom line of an agency.
Insurance Commissioner Scott White presented an industry update and recognized the cooperative relationship the Bureau has with the IIAV. He welcomed IIAV member input and outlined a wide range of concerns that has the attention of the Bureau of Insurance.
For those interested in reviewing the comments of the keynote speakers, IIAV was again privileged to receive the video services sponsored by Jackson Sumner & Associates. View the video here.
Additional presentations included Spencer Houldin with Ericson Insurance Advisors on creating the remote agency; IIAV General Counsel Doug Palais on a legal update of the industry; Eric Moberg with the Moberg Group on agency website E&O landmines; and Juan Rodriguez with the Bureau of Insurance on agency/agent regulation issues, aka: staying out of trouble.
And in this day and age of agency mergers and acquisitions — including financial events of the year — a convention favorite InsurBanc President Dave Tralka had attendees taking notes on a wide range of financial issues, none the least of which is getting the agency financial house in order.
Attendees once again enjoyed the VAIA Silent Auction of fhemed baskets, which generated over $3,000 in scholarship and education funding for VAIA.
IIAV wants to thank all our convention sponsors, industry partners and exhibitors for making this convention and overwhelming success. Now, get ready for IIAV’s 125th Anniversary!
