Six insurance agencies were named the “Top Performing Agencies”and included in the recently released Best Practices Study,

A report from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers ofAmerica has awarded the title of Top Performing Agencies on sixcompanies.

The report naming the six was the IIABA Best Practices studyprepared with Atlanta-based Reagan Consulting.

The six were singled out for their operational excellence,financial results, and overall management achievement in theirrespective revenue-size categories.

IIABA described the firms as follows:

o Bridges Group, Inc. of Norton, Kan. that has been servingnorthwest Kansas since 1894. It is a full-lines insurance agencywith significant agri-business insurance. It has offices inOberline and Norton, Kan.

o Ed Berrong Insurance Agency of Weatherford, Okla. The concernis a family-owned full lines agency now in its 59th year ofbusiness doing business throughout Oklahoma and in surroundingstates. Its focus is in the oil and gas industry and is a surpluslines broker for its clients.

o B.H. Gold Insurance Agency of San Diego, Calif. Established in1920, B.H. Gold is a state leader in low cost auto and homeownersinsurance. The agency also specializes in affordable health, life,business, and workers' compensation insurance. The agency has asecond office in Ventura County, Calif.

o Swingle Collins & Associates of Dallas is one of thelargest property-casualty agencies in the area targeting mid-marketcustomers. Having just celebrated its 25th anniversary, the firm iscommitted to remaining independently owned.

o Puckett Scheetz & Hogan Insurance Agency, Myrtle Beach,S.C. Formed in 1980, with a vision of writing coastal insurance,Puckett and Scheetz of Greenville, S.C., opened a branch in MyrtleBeach led by Mike Hogan. In 1989, he purchased the agency. A weeklater Hurricane Hugo struck. Despite this setback, the agency hasgrown to be the largest independent agency in the area. Today, with48 employees, the agency's focus is customer service whose primarymarket is condominium insurance associations.

o McGriff Seibels & Williams, Birmingham, Ala., was foundedover 100 years ago. MSW operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary ofBB&T Insurance brokerage, retaining its name, management teamand corporate philosophy.

Every three years, the IIABA and Reagan Consulting join forcesto select “Best Practices” firms throughout the nation foroutstanding management and financial achievement in six revenuecategories ranging from under $1.25 million to over $25million.

More than 800 independent agencies and brokers of varying sizesacross the country were nominated to take part in the study. Only195 agencies, the top thirty to thirty-three in each of six revenuegroups, qualify for selection.

Further information about the Best Practices Study can beobtained by contacting Madelyn Flannagan of IIABA at (800) 221-7917or Shirley Lukens of Reagan Consulting at (404) 233-5545.