2022 Year in Review

YEAR IN REVIEW

This year had uncertain beginnings. There was a collective desire for normalcy. However, the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, reverberations from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and soaring inflation threatened to disrupt daily life. And while these were global concerns, they impacted our industry, our businesses, and our clients throughout 2022.

At IA&B, we aimed to meet our member agencies where they were in this unstable time. We continued the vital work of legislative and regulatory advocacy. We gradually brought back in-person training and events. And we built upon burgeoning programs to develop and support young talent in the independent agency system.

The following is a snapshot of the year – providing highlights and offering a look at how we’re poised to support your agency in the year ahead and beyond.

January

JAN. 11 - Awarded insurance education scholarships for IA&B member agencies to send individuals to CIC, CISR, and CE courses. Plus, provided licensing study scholarships for aspiring insurance producers.

February

Advocated on IA&B members’ behalf in Harrisburg, Annapolis, and Dover while all three state legislatures were in session.

IA&B VP-Advocacy Claire Pantaloni meets with State Sen. Chris Gebhard (who is also an independent agent and IA&B member) at the Pennsylvania Capitol Building.

March

MARCH 4 - Hosted a Young Agents’ Virtual Roundtable for IA&B members to connect, trade ideas, and find camaraderie in small-group discussions.

April

APRIL 28 - Participated in the Big “I” Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., where IA&B members from Pennsylvania and Delaware met with federal lawmakers.

IA&B members and staff at the U.S. Capitol Building (l to r): Diana Hornung Hanby, Shayne McIntosh, Claire Pantaloni, John Savant, Mark Monroe, Valerie Gunn, and Greg Gunn

May

MAY 19 - Joined with Trusted Choice (the consumer-facing brand of the Big “I”) to support Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania & West Virginia’s 19th Annual Grapevine fundraiser.

IA&B members representing Trusted Choice (l to r): Katie Zurawka, Amber Patterson, Carina Burns, Kate Dawson, and Alexia Burns

June

JUNE 2 - Partnered with Awkward Insurance Podcast Host Dustyne Bryant to host “Match Made in Insurance: Producers & Their Account Managers” – a virtual discussion for young agents on how to build strong working relationships.

JUNE 8 - Protected insurance agents who do business with legal, cannabis-related establishments in Pennsylvania from criminal prosecution or regulatory penalties. IA&B worked directly with state lawmakers to draft legislation and then with Senate Insurance Chairman John DiSanto who filed the Cannabis Banking & Insurance Act as an amendment to House Bill 331. It passed and was then signed into law in early July.

(l to r): State Sen. John DiSanto, IA&B VP-Advocacy Claire Pantaloni, IA&B Government Affairs Director John Savant, and IA&B Member Andrew Enders

July

JULY 21 - Hosted 19 interns from seven member agencies and three carrier partners for IA&B’s inaugural Intern Day. The half-day event included a young agent panel discussion with IA&B Members Shayne McIntosh and Alexandra Yeity, as well as presentations on the cyber market from IA&B Member Matthew Knowles and the evolution of insurance from Agents Council for Technology Executive Director Chris Cline.

August

AUG. 9-10 - Hosted our first hybrid James K. Ruble Graduate Seminar, with in-person and live-streaming participants.

AUG. 23 - Hosted a live complimentary webinar for IA&B members – Interpreting P&C Insurance Trends – during which industry expert Paul Buse dissected the latest state-specific P&C Market Share Report. To view the report and webinar, go to IABforME.com/ member-resources.

September

SEPT. 15 - Received two Diamond-level Excellence in Insurance Education Awards from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”). This marked the sixth consecutive year that IA&B received this top-tier recognition.

(l to r): IA&B President & CEO Jason Ernest and IA&B Education Senior Director Jessica McWilliams

SEPT. 19 - Announced recipients of the fall 2022 IA&B Insurance Education Scholarships. These included individual scholarships for full CIC and CISR designations, as well as member agency scholarships for CIC and CISR courses, CPIA seminars, and CE webinars.

SEPT. 21 - Hosted IA&B Crab Feast after a two-year, pandemic hiatus. Nearly 100 attendees gathered at Boondocks Restaurant in Smyrna, DE.

(l to r): Lee Dotson, of Bellevue Insurance Services (DE), and Steve Burnett, of CBM Insurance Agency (DE)

October

Celebrated talent in the independent agency system by recognizing three Young Agent Award winners and six Young Agent Movers & Shakers. Learn more about the winners by going to IABforME.com/about/agent-award

Young Agent Award Winners Dave Rivell, of Element Risk Management (PA); Jennifer McClure, of Diversified Insurance Industries (MD); and Kyle Brasure, of Wilgus Associates Inc. (DE)

November

NOV. 3 - Hosted a complimentary webinar for IA&B member agency management – Trends Driving the Post- Pandemic Workplace. Karen DiGioia, IA&B’s contracted HR consultant, discussed how the pandemic impacted the office and changed workers’ priorities, as well as the resulting adjustments required by employers. To watch the webinar or view the slides, go to IABforME.online/HR.