Continued from page 2
President’s Column: Generational leadership
Dad sold the agency to Allen and me in 2000. He was diagnosed
with leukemia in 2003 and died six weeks later. I was very
fortunate to work side by side with my dad for 16 years. He was a
past State President of the Kansas Association, had been a State
National Director and is mentioned a few times in the IIABA book
“Soaring with Eagles.” He ran unsuccessfully for the Executive
Committee in the mid-1980s. There is not a day that goes by that I
don’t think of him.
Allen and I have grown our agency over the last 28 years from a
small six-person shop, into a decent-sized business with six locations
scattered across Kansas. We are about 70 percent commercial, 20
percent personal, and 10 percent benefits with the benefits being our
fastest-growing segment.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with
several past IIABA chairmen. I first got to know Tom Ahrart and
Alex Soto when we served together on the Trusted Choice board.
When I became chairman of that board, I worked closely with
three other chairmen – David Daniels, Mike Miley and Mike
Donohoe – as well as their executive committees. As I came to know
these fine individuals and understood more of what leading the
IIABA involved, I became more intrigued with how my leadership
experience and style could have a positive impact on of our
association.
So that’s how the idea of running for this position began. However,
over the last 12 months, having talked directly with nearly all
of you or your predecessors, the real reason I want to be on the
executive committee became clear to me. I’m running because I
want to listen to you all – the Directors – and be your voice on
the Executive Committee. There are 51 of us sitting around this
horseshoe, and each of us is highly capable, extremely bright, and
well prepared to serve on the Executive Committee. In fact, in
this election, regardless of who you choose, you can’t go wrong. In
visiting with you individually and collectively, your passion for
serving our industry and this association came through loud and
clear. Listening to you and coming to understand your priorities,
concerns and interests led to my personal epiphany. I’m running
not because I alone can have an impact, but because my skills as a
listener, facilitator and leader can foster the kind of collaboration by
all of us to better strategically position our association for the future.
As we’ve been discussing yesterday and this morning, the Big I has
some real challenges ahead. The implementation of our strategic
plan, TrustedChoice.com, our governance policy and our budget
issues just to name a few. I believe that the National Association
needs to look at itself in the mirror and do a top-down examination
of our programs and services. We need to focus on and deliver to
our State Associations the programs and services that will enable
them to bring new members into the fold. This will require us to
listen to them and they in turn must listen to their members. We
must be proactive in our ability to provide what’s needed and
requested in order to ensure our future viability.
We need to make difficult decisions as to how to increase revenue
and decrease expenses, while at the same time being nimble,
responsive and prepared to take some risk along the way.
I pledge to you this, if elected to serve I will do my best. I will
continue to listen, I will be open to all ideas, and I will work hard
every day on your behalf. I believe we can harness the creativity,
strategy and strengths represented in this room and working together
make true the saying, The Best is Yet to Come.
Just as Bob Fee committed to do at the National Association
level, your Kansas leadership is committed to be your voice
and to work hard every day on behalf of all agents in Kansas.
Together, we can truly make a difference for all of our
agencies, our employees, our communities and our industry.
Thank you, Bob, for your commitment to the National
Executive Committee on our behalf!
More Kansans serving in national roles
Lyle Davidson, The Davidson Agency
Rick Elliott, Elliott Insurance
Cindy Hower, Kellerman Insurance
Stephanie Mullholland, KAIA
Greg Renn, Renn & Company
SueAnn Schultz, IMA Kansas
Kerri Spielman, KAIA
Crop Insurance Task Force
BIRC Board of Trustees
Chair, InVEST Board of Trustees
Co-Branded Website Task Force
Trusted Choice Big “I” National Golf Committee
Agents & Brokers Roundtable
Big “I” Advantage Board of Directors