November 7, 2024 Bristol Event Center Bristol, CT
PROGRAM Sponsored by Big “I” Employee Benefits Managing Your Book in 2025: What’s to Come Sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group Who: Kelly Donahue-Piro, Chief BFF Officer, Agency Performance Partners PANEL | Mastering Submissions: Insights from Top Underwriters Who: Underwring leaders from Uca Naonal, Chubb and Selecve and moderated by Big I CT President, Lisa Lounsbury 9:40 - 11:30 AM MORNING PROGRAM (Approved for 1 LRE & 1CE) 8:45 - 9:30 AM REGISTRATION & INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE OPEN Welcome coffee & refreshments provided by InsurBanc 9:30 - 9:40 AM KICK OFF! Best-in-class soluon providers stand ready to solve your challenges! Refreshments provided by Selecve Cash prizes sponsored by Liberty Mutual/Safeco 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE 11:30 AM 125TH ANNIVERSARY GALLERY OPENS Sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway GUARD & Big “I” Employee Benefits Join us in celebrang 125 years with networking, learning, special guests, past presidents, and the presentaon of the first ever 1899 Pinnacle Agent Award, along with insights from IIABA President & CEO Charles Symington. 1:00 - 2:30 PM 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION LUNCHEON 2:30 - 3:30 PM HAPPY HOUR (Including Industry Marketplace & 125th Anniversary Gallery) Sponsored by Travelers Special thanks to ePayPolicy for sponsoring the Trailblazers & Rising Stars Tickets
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GOLD SILVER A.I.M. Mutual AmTrust North America Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Cincinna CNA CRC Group The Hanover Insurance Group The Harord Main Street America Insurance Philadelphia Progressive Insurance RT Specialty Satellite Agency Network Group Selecve Swiss Re The Restoraon Operators Union Mutual Uca Naonal Vermont Mutual Workers’ Compensaon Trust XPT: S&H Underwriters
1899 Pinnacle Agent Award This inaugural award was created in honor of Big I CT’s 125th Anniversary and named to recognize the year of our founding. It honors a member whose dedicaon to others and the independent agency system has made a lasng and posive impact. We are excited to present this award for the first me ever today at CONNECT!
Local boards formed and membership in local group is required to be a member of the state associaon. Charter President John C. North was elected president of the Naonal Associaon. President Holzer called for the first Fire Prevenon Day, which has grown to Fire Prevenon Week. No Fault Auto adopted into law; associaon was strong advocate since 1967. CAIA held educaonal meengs for the public, ran newspaper ads, and sent direct mail inserts to consumers. The associaon takes a stand that expiraons of policy holders are the property of the agent, rather than the company insuring. Posion of Naonal Councilor is created. James L. Case is the first CT Naonal Councilor (posion later changed to Naonal Director). TIMELINE Name changed to Conneccut Associaon of Insurance Agents. The Conneccut Associaon formed.
Mary Pursell, CPCU becomes first woman President of the associaon. Name changed to Big I Conneccut. Worked with the Insurance Department on a program called Openline to help people get homeowners insurance when they did not meet underwring requirements (later taken on by the FAIR plan). Name changed to Independent Insurance Agents of Conneccut, Inc. (IIAC). CT’s own Spencer Houldin becomes Chair of the Board of IIABA (our naonal associaon). Agency Development Program launched – ran through the mid-90s. First Youth Golf Classic Tournament.
OUR PRESIDENTS John C. North Edward W. Beardsley Orange Merwin George E. Boyd William L. Hatch Wilbur H. Squire Charles L. McNeil Edwin S. Cowles Phillip L. Holzer Dale D. Butler John F. Fisher Frederick F. Small James L. Case Tracy B. Warren J. Richard North Charles W. Puffer Donald G. North Thomas D. Faulkner Louis H. Arnold Ennis Mallee Herbert H. Loewith Frank W. Brodie Walter C. North Harold W. Hatch Thomas A. Sturgess Leonard F. Whelan Henry L. Baily, Jr. Edwin S. Cowles, Jr. William H. Wiley William J. Dodd 1899 - 1900 1900 - 1902 1903 - 1904 1905 - 1906 1906 - 1907 1907 - 1908 1908 - 1909 1909 - 1910 1910 - 1911 1912 - 1913 1913 - 1914 1914 - 1915 1916 - 1918 1919 1919 1920 - 1921 1922 - 1923 1924 - 1925 1925 - 1926 1927 1927 1928 - 1929 1930 - 1931 1932 - 1933 1934 - 1935 1936 - 1937 1938 - 1940 1940 - 1943 1943 - 1945 1947 - 1948 David A. North 1947 William W. Hatfield Paul L. Avery Philip Bliss F. Chandler Moffat Edgar H. Clarke G. Burgess Fisher III Valmore H. Forcier Walter E. North Albert F. Ridinger Anthony W. Erdman Walter C. Shannon Jr. 1948 - 1949 1949 - 1950 1950 - 1951 1951 - 1952 1952 - 1953 1953 1953 - 1955 1955 - 1956 1956 - 1957 George W. Haynor 1957 - 1958 Eben Learned Jr. 1958 - 1959 Nelson I. Beers 1959 - 1960 Steston Ward 1960 - 1961 Rutherford G. Huizinga 1961 - 1962 John B. Crosson, CPCU 1962 - 1963 John F. Phelan 1963 - 1964 Herbert R. Bland, CPCU 1964 - 1965 William J. Murray 1965 - 1966 Harold N. Polis 1966 - 1967 Bernard J. Burns 1967 - 1968 Abbo Abercrombi 1968 - 1969 1969 - 1970 1970 - 1971 1971 - 1972 1972 - 1973 David E. Ashton E. Robert Zenke Harold S. Hodgdon Jr. John W. Maloney John W. Boynton 1973 - 1974 Charles P. Mahon 1974 - 1975 1975 - 1976 1976 - 1977 A legacy of service
John P. Basse Charles S. Watson, CPCU, CLU George K. Clarke Gerald Greger John F. Coyne Jr. John F. Burbank Robert J. Gerardi Jon L. Norris, CPCU Thomas G. Wylie John E. Pinkney, CPCU, ARM Albert F. Lennox Edward R. Fitzgerald, CPCU Allan F. Tibbits William H. Morgan, CIC H. Dean Thorndike Paul L. Jones Frank W. Ridley James P. Murray Richard Bellemare Garret Ratcliffe J. Ralph Murray 2000 - 2001 Patrick Mahon Daniel Clock Charlie Wilson Jr. John Scanlon 2004 - 2005 Spencer Houldin Mary Pursell, CPCU Jay Byrnes III, CIC Craig Dawley, CIC Bill Pierz, CIC 1977 - 1978 1978 - 1979 1979 - 1980 1981 - 1982 1982 - 1983 1983 - 1984 1984 - 1985 1985 - 1986 1986 - 1987 1987 - 1988 1988 - 1989 1989 - 1990 1991 - 1992 1992 - 1993 1993 - 1994 1994 - 1995 1995 - 1996 1996 - 1997 1997 - 1998 1998 - 1999 1999 - 2000 2001 - 2002 2002 - 2003 2003 - 2004 2005 - 2006 2006 - 2007 2007 - 2008 2008 - 2009 2009 - 2010 Kurt Baey 2010 - 2012 Thomas Wilson 2012 - 2014 Michael Gergler, CIC 2014 - 2016 James Suzio, CIC 2016 - 2018 Kim McGillicuddy, CPCU 2018 - 2019 Jared Carillo 2019 - 2021 Michael Rivers 2021 - 2023 Melissa Gao 2023 - 2024 Bob Jones 2024 - Present Danielle Brown The Conneccut Associaon of Local Fire Insurance Agents 1913-1948 The Northern Conneccut Associaon of Insurance Agents 1955-1957 Conneccut Associaon of Insurance Agents Presidents’ Gavel 1956-1963
LOGOS 4 5 1 2 6 3
MINUTES FROM OUR FOUNDING MEETING July 12, 1899
ADVOCACY ‘89 SCAN TO For 125 years, Big I Conneccut has championed independent insurance agents, advocang in Harord and Washington, D.C., to protect and advance our industry. From securing supporve legislaon to blocking harmful measures, our advocacy has been unwavering. We connue this legacy today, ensuring our members’ voices are heard and they’re able to best support their communies. Support InsurPAC InsurPac, the non-parsan Polical Acon Commiee of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA), raises funds to support Federal candidates, playing a crucial role in IIABA’s Government Affairs program through lobbying, legislave analysis, grassroots engagement, and long-term polical relaonships.
1 2 ‘66 ‘68 ‘70 ‘67 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS Here’s a glimpse at some of our previous winners. Harord Associaon Fire Safety Award Ben Hendricks (le) Stanford Associaon Highway Safety Award Don Crosscup (right) Agent of the Year Award Awarded to Louis Follis (le) and presented by Bob Zenke (right). The John C. North Memorial Award 1 Awarded to Joe O’Neil (right) and presented by Harold Polis (le). 2 Awarded to Paul Troy (right) and presented by Abbo Abercrombi (le).
The John C. North Memorial Award Kay Spiers (le) New Haven Associaon Public Relaons Award Bob Zenke (right) Local Associaon Award Awarded to Curt Andrews (le) and presented by Bob Zenke (right). Harord Associaon Fire Safety Award Paul Mathieu (le), Bob Zenke (middle), and Harold O’Connell (right). ‘70 ‘70 ‘70
Convenons in the insurance industry offer a chance to learn from experts, engage in meaningful discussions, and explore soluons to emerging challenges. They provide aendees with insights on regulatory changes, customer trends, and new products. ‘84 Coming together to engage with peers, soluon providers, and industry experts has always been, and will always be, the focus of our CONNECT convenon. ‘91 ‘88 ‘87 ‘90 ‘91
‘88 ‘67 ‘89 ‘69 Lorem ipsum Women in the insurance industry are no longer the excepon; they are leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are transforming the sector.
Their ability to balance risk management with customer care is driving companies forward in an increasingly compeve market. With more women taking the lead, the future of insurance is poised for even greater growth and inclusivity.
CT Winery Visit 9.19.23 Our NextGen group was created to bring together young insurance professionals dedicated to networking, skill development, and giving back to the community. Our dynamic 40(ish) and under group are rising leaders in the insurance industry, ready to expand business connecons, grow friendships with like-minded individuals, and make a difference in their community. Travelers Field Trip 2.8.24
Ryan, 15 Cancer “I wish to go to Europe” Delaney, 10 Nervous system disorder “I wish to go on an African safari” “I wish to go to Europe” Gianna, 13 2015 2016 “I wish to go to Hawaii” Kayli, 17 2013 “I wish to see how my favorite video game is made” Ryan, 11 2017 2018 Make-A-Wish® Conneccut grants wishes to children with crical illnesses, helping them find joy and strength when they need it the most. Big I Conneccut has been supporng the incredible work Make-A-Wish does for more than a decade because of the profound impact it has on the children, their families, and the enre community.
Interested in finding other ways to help this great cause? SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE
GOLF,GOLF& M OR EGOLF! Tunxis Country Club Farmington, CT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, Big I Conneccut golf tournaments have brought our community together, fostering relaonships that last well beyond the greens. From Blackledge to Tunxis, win or lose, this tradion of friendship and networking connues to be a cornerstone of our legacy.
E&O Website Review Virtual E&O Audit Operaonal Agency & Consulng Evaluaon Technology For Your Agency Consulng Services Cindy Scharf Agency Consultant & Corporate Project Manager cscharf@bigict.org 860.563.1950 EXT: 232 Our Services IAS is the Member Services Division of Big I CT BigICT.org/Consulng OPERATIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES
Personal Umbrella (RLI) it RLI’s stand-alone Personal Umbrella Policy offers up to $5 million in addional liability coverage without minimum volume requirements or access fees, making it ideal for hard-to-place accounts. Big I CT members earn 10% commission on new and renewal business. Independent Market Soluons (IMS) IMS provides Big I CT members of any agency size with direct market access and standard commissions, allowing new and small agencies to start wring policies immediately, while enabling larger agencies to serve niche client needs without addional minimums or added risk. Access to IMS is available at no charge to Big I CT members. 2024 E&O Loss Control Seminar Join our annual E&O Loss Control seminar with expert Howard Kronberg, IAS President Brian Bixby, and special guests to review E&O claims, prevenon strategies, and insights on using AI safely in your agency. Members can qualify for a premium reducon credit if they meet the current aendance criteria and your E&O coverage is wrien by Swiss Re/Westport Insurance Corp. or Allianz through IAS. Only two sessions le for 2024! November 19th 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM December 5th 9:00 AM- 12:00 PM BigICT.org SCAN THE QR CODES TO LEARN MORE
LET’S STAY CONNECTED Follow us on social media! @BigICT Interested in becoming a member? Visit our website at BigICT.org #BigICTProud