CEO COLUMN
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day,
and I’m feeling good!
NAILBA is growing…
and we are growing
because of so
many fantastic
contributions by
industry professionals
in and around
the independent
distribution space.
Dan LaBert, CEO
NAILBA
[email protected]
NOVEMBER 2019
Welcome to NAILBA 38!
4
Perspectives
Q4 2019
Who doesn’t love awards? They make us feel like we’ve accomplished great things and they
validate our hard work. They can also be a great marketing opportunity and add value in the
form of prestige and messaging for small businesses, individuals and of course, social media
profiles. NAILBA recently announced the ID 20 Awards. ID stands for Independent Distribution.
20 has nothing to do with age or years of experience but instead, the number of award
recipients.
NAILBA has been known and will continue to be known for the Douglas Mooers Award for
Excellence, the industry’s most coveted and prestigious award. However, NAILBA is growing…
and we are growing because of so many fantastic contributions by industry professionals in
and around the independent distribution space.
Recognizing trailblazers
I’ll admit it, I’m greedy, especially when it comes to recognizing people in our profession
who simply get the job done and are a pleasure to be around. We all have these colleagues in
our rolodex (yes, I said rolodex!). The people who when they email or call you, you are happy
to see their name, hear their voice or read their insight because you know, they make you
better as a person and a professional.
NAILBA’s ID 20 Awards is an exciting campaign for us. With the continued growth of
independent distribution, we can now honor twenty of the trailblazers, change-makers
and everyday contributors who maintain a passion to improve our profession year after
year. Anyone from the independent space is eligible, from business leaders to techies, to
marketeers and operations gurus within BGAs, Carriers, and vendor companies that support
independent distribution. These awards celebrate heralded and unheralded contributions by
insurance professionals who inspire us with their intelligence, creativity, and leadership.
Do we really need more awards?
The performance of individuals plays a pivotal role in the growth and mobility of the
independent space. Agencies, carriers, advisors and various support organizations continue
to face increasing challenges due to the growth of global competition or the disruption they
do not know (outside influence). In the pursuit of consistent improvement, awards celebrate
those who have achieved remarkable results.
As we all know, the NAILBA Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of independent life
brokerage agencies. From member agency principals and staff, to insurance and financial
carrier executives, and senior leadership teams from more than 100+ sponsors and exhibitors
who provide BGA technologies and services, NAILBA’s Annual Meeting is where the brokerage
industry meets. It is where relationships are built. It is where business gets done! There is no
better event to launch the inaugural ID 20 Awards.
Time to celebrate
By the time you read this column, the NAILBA ID 20 Awards will be announced and we’ll be
gearing up to honor the first year of award winners. I ask you to join with us and celebrate the
20 award winners who define impact. In the words of Nina Samone’s “Feeling Good” (later
remade by Michael Bublé) — “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, and I’m feeling good!”