| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’ S PAGE |
You Get What You Give
F or nearly twenty years I’ ve served independent
agents across the country as part of the Big“ I” national association. And now I join the KAIA to lead your organization in meeting the needs of our member agents across the state. I am thrilled to be here and honored to have this opportunity.
With each passing year my appreciation of the insurance industry and independent agents continues to grow. The insurance industry offers such a diverse set of career opportunities in the areas of sales, marketing, data analytics, workflow process management, legal services, investment management, technical writing, and technology development. The insurance industry is complex, challenging, and rewarding and it’ s OUR INDUSTRY!
What makes being part of this industry and the Association so great are the people. I’ ve met hundreds of agents across the country and they are intelligent, humble, and hardworking. Agents care deeply about the customers and the communities they serve and they strive to do what is best for their customers at every turn. That is not always the case in other industries.
I’ m constantly amazed at the amount of energy and time the volunteer member agents devote to leading their Association. They spend hours traveling to and participating in meetings to provide strategic direction for the organization. Every volunteer agent that I’ ve ever asked about why they devote so much time to the association has simply said,“ I’ ve gotten way more out of the Association than I’ ve ever given.” The relationships you build, the business contacts you make, and the information you learn make it being part of KAIA special.
Like many things in life,“ you get what you give”. When it comes to maximizing the benefits of being part of KAIA this holds true – whether as a member or an Industry Partner. So I have several things I’ d like everyone to do to maximize the value of their membership:
1. Contact Information: Make sure we have accurate contact information, including current email addresses, for EVERYONE in the agency from clerical staff to producers. Effective communications take up-to-date data so we can make sure our message is reaching the right person. This
DAVID HULCHER KAIA Execuitve Director
will allow KAIA staff to be sure we are communicating with the right person to highlight applicable association benefits.
2. Volunteer / Participate: There are numerous committees in which to participate on and the first step is getting more involved. Volunteering is not just for principles, anyone can get involved. Getting younger agency staff involved will help their careers blossom and their perspectives will help give direction to the future of our Association. Get your staff to a KAIA event so they can benefit from the networking.
3. Keep Learning: While a factor, CE should not be the driving force behind your educational plan. CE is the minimum agency staff needs. Work with the Association to develop a long-term plan and consider getting a designation such as AFIS or CRIS. KAIA is an exclusive provider of these services.
4. Stick Together: Ben Franklin said,“ We must hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” We can achieve more together than we can on our own. Whether it’ s having a strong voice with state lawmakers or a market-leading E & O program, embracing what KAIA has to offer can help us all achieve our goals.
I look forward to meeting all of you in the near future. Please be patient with me these first several months as I get my bearings. I would like to extend a standing invitation to all member agents and our company partners to visit the office any time. Just contact the office and we’ ll get something on the calendar. Until then, your KAIA staff will be working hard day-in and day-out on your behalf. Thank you for your continued support.
4 KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER | JULY- AUGUST 2016 |