NAAIA Seeks To Grow

By Mark E. Ruquet

NU Online News Service, Sept. 22, 4 :19p.m. EDT, LasVegas--Leaders of the Washington, D.C.-based NationalAfrican-American Insurance Association said they plan to grow theirorganization into an influential voice for all African-American'sworking in the insurance industry and to be as equally influentialin the communities they serve.

Opening the associations' conference here last week, Jerald L.Tillman, NAAIA's founder, led a workshop to discuss leadershipwithin the association and how the group is seeking to developchapters throughout the country.

The history of the association goes back to 1978, when he beganto fulfill his vision of creating an organization that would bringmore African-Americans in the insurance industry together, Mr.Tillman. The reason, he said, was because he saw few minorityagents engaging with national associations.

Over the years, the group has grown from its fledglingbeginnings in Cincinnati, where Mr. Tillman's agency, J.L. Tillmanis based. The group now has 350 members.

NAAIA recently announced the launch of its Chicago chapter.

Mr. Tillman said NAAIA is looking to grow "quality" chaptersthrough reaching out to individuals and helping them to recognizethe benefits of creating a national voice.

The association, he said, is looking to reach out to existingorganizations, local African-American agent associations and largerassociations, such as the Independent Insurance Agents &Brokers of America, Inc., to form partnerships with them. The NAAIAand IIABA shared conference space this year, as they have in thepast. The NAAIA held its conference just prior to IIABA'sInfoXchange conference here.

"We are looking to connect with others," said Mr. Tillman."That's the main reason why we are here."

He noted that percentage of African-American's working in theinsurance industry is small compared to the rest of the industryand "the numbers need to be improved. We want to impact thosenumbers."

To accomplish this, he said, the association must start at thegrass roots, by encouraging younger people to get into thebusiness. This means, he said, that those minorities already in thebusiness must visit high schools and talk to students about theindustry and get them to consider it as a career.

"Few minorities know about insurance," observed Mr. Tillman. "Itis incumbent upon us to share what we know of this business withothers. It is about what you can accomplish and what youbelieve."

"Why is it tough to recruit minorities to the insuranceindustry?" he asked. "Because they don't know enough about theinsurance industry."

He said there are a number of other African-Americanprofessional associations, but no high-profile national insuranceassociation to promote a positive image to others ofAfrican-Americans in the industry and make a commitment toimproving their communities.

"I've always asked why African-American's in insurance have notgotten together as a whole and do things for their community," hesaid. "Let's get together to succeed."

He, and other association officers attending the workshop,emphasized that NAAIA is not exclusively an association of agents,but is looking to get all members of the industry involved.

"We are not happy where we are today," said Mr. Tillman speakingto those in the room. "We want to push our association to the nextlevel and we need your help to take us to that next level."

Roosevelt Haywood III, NAAIA chairperson, said African-Americansin the insurance industry need to feel "the spirit" of building anational association and understand "what we are doing forourselves," in growing a strong voice within the insuranceindustry. Mr. Haywood, who is also president of Haywood &Fleming Associates in Gary, Ind., said the only way to accomplishthis is by building the association, "chapter by chapter," adding,"We have the mechanisms in place."

One thing chapters do need in the very beginning to succeed, heemphasized, is committed people.

"We have tremendous opportunities here," he said, noting thatthe pool of African-Americans joining the industry is growing.

To further promote that voice, NAAIA has met with theCongressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., to discuss mattersof concern to African-American insurance agents and theAfrican-American community on a number of issues such as redlining,affordability and availability.

According to Eileen A. Frank, NAAIA board member and presidentof J.P. West Inc. Insurance & Risk Management in New York City,the association is seeking to develop a political action committeeto increase its voice with the Congressional Black Caucus andensure those issues of concern continue to be heard.

More information about NAAIA, including registration, isavailable at www.naaia.org.