leadership profiles: Kent anthony & Cindy Hower
kent Anthony
cindy hower
First Group Insurance, Inc.
Sterling, Kansas
Kellerman Insurance, Inc.
Holton, Kansas
Newest Leadership Achievement:
Helped secure the latest ISO changes on homeowners, considered the
biggest changes to homeowners in 40 years
Newest Leadership Achievement:
Selected to serve as Chairman of InVEST, which is a joint effort of
insurance agencies and companies to improve insurance literacy in the
classroom and to brand insurance as a career choice.
How long have you been an agent? 38 years
What do you enjoy most about being in the insurance industry?
Helping to make sure people are protected when things go wrong.
Knowing that I have helped get them back to the condition they
were before and protecting their assets from perils and from liability
exposures, and helping to solve their problems.
Why do you belong to KAIA? They are the voice of the agent,
the advocates for our industry. They look after our interests from a
legislative and sometimes legal point of view.
What role(s) have you had at the national level? I served six years
for the National Consumer and Technical Affairs Committee, three
of those years as the chairman. We met with ISO on policy forms,
problems and solutions to the current policies. I currently serve as
Chairman of the Mid-America Insurance Conference, which is a
sounding board for agents who want to help improve the technical
side of the insurance industry.
What prompted you to get involved at the national level? This was
my way of giving back to the industry that I love, to try and make a
difference.
What would you tell a young agent who is contemplating getting
more involved with KAIA? I joined years ago to give back to our
industry. But the truth is, when you get involved you receive more
than you will ever give. You learn more, you become a better agent,
and you find the networking will be invaluable in your future as you
continue to work in our great industry.
Editor’s Note:
For more information about the Mid-America Insurance
Conference that Kent is involved with, visit www.
MATCinsurance.com.
For information on InVEST, which Cindy will begin chairing
later this year, visit www.investprogram.org.
How long have you been an agent? I have been an agent for so
long I don’t remember not being one. I began in the agency in 1981
and got licensed in 1982.
What do you enjoy most about being in the insurance industry?
Being able to help people. Contrary to the public opinion of insurance
we have seen many people’s lives restored because of the benefits of
insurance. Insurance provides a valuable peace of mind.
Why do you belong to KAIA? We have always belonged to the
agents association, now KAIA, in our agency. They are a fantastic
resource for information to help our agency. I appreciate the advocacy
they provide for state insurance regulation as well as within the Kansas
legislative environment. Educational classes including CE have always
been a huge benefit to me personally as well as to our agents. I hardly
ever have taken CE classes outside of what the association has provided because of the top-notch quality. I learned the hard way once.
I love being able to socially interact at KAIA functions and have met
many lifelong friends through association activities.
What role(s) have you had at the national level? My first committee
was Virtual University which, at that time, focused on online education
and promoting usage of the VU. The VU which I might add is one of
the best resources any a