Reflections on a Great Year and Thinking Ahead to the Future

How can it be summer? Our Annual Conference in Branson, Missouri, at Big Cedar Lodge was a huge success! It was a bit out of the box, but it was good to do something different. You may not be aware, but our fiscal year end is June 30 so we start our “new year” on July 1. We have a few things that we’re going to try that we’ve never had before. Keep an eye on your calendars for the following newly developed events that will meet your needs in Technology, Perpetuation, Women, and Leadership. It’s all geared with YOU in mind!

As we close out our year, there are so many people to thank. Your BigIOK staff is BEYOND compare! Each person on our small staff of eight regularly goes above and beyond expectations. We continue our growth mindset, and I must say, we have exceled in so many areas! A special thank you to Josh, Sara, Shania, Jeanette, Jerry, Cindy and Katie. I’m so pleased that Oklahoma remains on the cutting edge of Association business.

I’m also very pleased to be part of an incredible group of member AGENTS. I have people all around the state who I can contact for legislative issues and other matters. Our goal at the Big “I” of Oklahoma is to make agencies better. We are always looking for ways to give our agents more information that will assist them in their day-to-day business while also helping them pave a better way into the future. We can help with that!

Our Partner Program is beyond belief. The relationship that has been forged between the Association/agents and companies have helped ensure that each and every event we hold is successful. Our Partners are truly that… PARTNERS! We are always looking for ways to work together, whether it be a Young Agents function or one of our conferences, which are an integral part of the entire organization.

Our Board of Directors is an incredible group to work with. This is a group that changes every year, yet they manage to stay focused on what we need to do to make our Association better. The board concentrates on the needs of our member agents and understand the importance of our Company Partners.

Most of all, I appreciate the way the board works with me. Jerrad Coots has been such an inspiring chairman; he is super-intelligent and keeps me on my toes. He and Kory have been such fun to work with – we’ve spent a lot of time laughing. The Coots are the cool couple –and their girls are cool, too! I’ve enjoyed the year that I’ve spent with them.

Stewart Berrong will roll off the board after many years of service. His leadership and contributions have not gone unnoticed – and in fact, I plan to continue to draw on his factfinding skills for years to come. Our incoming chair, Vaughn Graham Jr. (yes, another Vaughn Graham!), is fully capable of stepping into this vital role. His background in insurance, bonds and banking has already been of great benefit to me. I “use” his brain a lot – and am looking forward to the next year of working with him.

Also, a big thank you to all our board members. Please note: this is a group of people who generously give their time and talent to our Association and industry. I encourage each of you to look for ways to give back to our industry as well – the industry certainly has certainly been good to us!

As always, we appreciate the dedication of those who serve and of those we serve. As we look to our “new” year, I am expecting great things.

As always, feel free to contact me with questions or comments at denise.johnson@bigiok.com.

OKPac is BIGiOK’s state political action committee. It provides financial support for state elected officials who will provide support for or have shown support of issues affecting the insurance industry and to those who share our business philosophies. Only individuals or partnerships can make contributions to OKPac. Under Oklahoma law, OKPac can accept no contributions from corporations.

2023 Contributors

InsurPac is BIGiOK’s national political action committee. It pools the voluntary and individual financial contributions of thousands of independent insurance agents to help elect candidates to Congress who share BIGiOK’s business philosophies. InsurPac is the largest property-casualty insurance industry PAC in the country.

2023 Contributors

Jonathan Baggs

Wes Becknell*

Travis Brown

Debbie Burton

Jeff Burton

Mark Carlin

Vicky Courtney

Vaughn Graham

Vaughn Graham, Jr.

Austin Greenhaw*

C. Ross Harris

Alan Hodges

Tony Holmes

Denise Johnson

Patrick Mandeville

Mark McPherson

Kathy Reeser

Arthur “Drew” Rickets

T.J. Riley

Benjamin Seth Robbins

Michael Ross

See more information and quantifiable examples of contributions by going to: OKPac - BIGiOK.com/OKPac InsurPac - BIGiOK.com/InsurPac

Is your name not on the list? Make contributions today at BIGiOK.com/pac Contributions