| PRESIDENT’S PAGE |
Thanks to All Who
Attended Rural & Small
By the Numbers: The Results of This Year’s Conference
would like to thank everyone who attended
the 2019 Rural & Small Agents Conference
for making this event a success. Moving a
conference of this size to a new venue is not an
easy task, but our committee did a fantastic job of finding
a location that met not only our hotel room needs, but
also our conference space requirements. The Rural &
Small conference utilizes over 550 sleeping rooms and
30,000 square feet of meeting space. Overall, our numbers
were up this year for attendance and we received excellent
feedback from our members and exhibitors. Here’s a final
breakdown for this year’s conference:
LEE GLEASON
I
• 570 ATTENDEES: Overall attendance from company
representatives and agents were up this year. Our
conference remains the highest attended in the
Midwest for Independent Agents.
• 75 EXHIBITORS: Networking with vendors continues
to be one of the top reason’s agents attend the
conference. This year our vendors brought new
products, services and tools to our agents. Some even
offered discounted pricing to KAIA members.
• 3 WILD ANIMALS: Among the many attractions and
activities exhibitors brought to the conference this
year, Quomation Insurance Services stirred up lots of
interest with the animals they brought along to the
trade show, including a penguin, porcupine and sloth
from Tanganyika Wildlife Park.
• 40 INDUSTRY PARTNERS: Our Industry Partner
program is a critical component of our membership.
Each year they support the association and industry by
participating in our exhibit hall, hosting a hospitality
room or attending the event.
• 39 AFIS ATTENDEES: Offering a designation program
to Rural & Small through AFIS, Agribusiness Farm
Insurance Specialist, proved valuable to our members. Not
just to those pursuing designations, but for those seeking
an update or agribusiness related education session.
• 18 TOTAL HOURS OF CE: Rural & Small has prided
itself as bringing 12 hours of CE to a two and a half-
day event. This year’s attendees had the option of
attending up to 18 hours of both Kansas and Missouri
continuing education.
• 15 QUALITY CLASSES: Each of the instructors
this year are truly experts in their field. These
individuals (Will Larson, Kent Anthony, Bill Wilson,
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Bettye Buffington,
KAIA PRESIDENT
Casey Roberts and Sam
Bennett) are valuable
resources to the industry.
60 YOUNG AGENTS THROWING AXES: This year’s
Young Agents outing was held at Blade & Timber where
future leaders discussed their day-to-day experiences
and tried their hands at throwing axes. In addition,
the outing recruited 50 individuals as Young Agent
Members.
70 CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANTS
(ONLY 2 CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS): Each team
contributed $40 to split between the winning team
and InsurPac, our national political action committee.
In 2018 our Young Agents met their contribution goal
and this event provided them a great start to meeting
the 2019 goal.
11 HOSPITALITY SUITES: If you’ve never attended the
hospitality rooms at Rural & Small, you’re missing out
on an expanded networking opportunity. Although
space was a little tight this year, I believe everyone
enjoyed some great food and conversation. It sounds
like the committee already has a solution to the space
issue for 2020.
2 DUELING PIANOS: After Hours entertainment was a
chance to continue to keep our conference attendees
together throughout the evening. Folks were able to
two-step on the dance floor or enjoy the music over
drinks and conversation.
9 KAIA STAFF MEMBERS/CONSULTANTS:
I appreciate the KAIA staff and I know that they
were thankful to be with members and listen
for new ways to meet your ever-changing needs.
Without an active membership like ours, none of
this would be possible.
We hope to see you at the next KAIA event, President’s
Classic on May 12th & 13th, but remember, the value
we provide to our members goes far beyond our events.
KAIA offers year-round resources to meet your business
needs through market access, protecting your agency or
advocating on your behalf. Most importantly, we’re here
to listen to the needs of our members and constantly seek
out new ways to add value to your agency. Think of your
association first when a need arises and let us know how
we can help you grow your business.
KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER | January - February 2019 |