The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America honored two agent leaders and one of its state associations for their legislative accomplishments at the Big I National Legislative Conference and Convention in Washington, D.C., in early April.

o Tom Minkler of Clark-Mortenson Agency in Keene, N.H. was presented the Sidney O. Smith Award.Minkler, currently serving as chairman of the government affairs committee, has testified numerous times before both House and Senate committees on national issues important to independent agents and brokers, including insurance regulatory reform. He has been a member of the Agents Advocacy Fund Committee since 2005, and he participated in the NAIC Advisory Committee on Producer Licensing in 2007. He served as the InsurPac chairman for New Hampshire.Named in honor of a Big "I" past president and Georgia agent, the Smith award is given annually by the Big "I" and the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia to an individual agent or broker for outstanding service to his or her peers and the national association in the field of government affairs.o The Florida Association of Insurance Agents was honored with the Maurice Herndon Award for its great work in a difficult legislative environment in 2007. The FAIA eclipsed its 2007 contribution goal to InsurPac by $17,000. Agents have relationships with every member of Congress in their state delegation, creating a valuable grassroots network used by the national and state association. FAIA has continued to improve the insurance marketplace despite their catastrophe exposure and difficult legislative environment. The association has been a constant voice in the insurance marketplace debate and has voiced the concerns and views of independent agents and the consumers they serve.Named after the former head of IIABA's government affairs operation, the annual Herndon Award is given to the state association whose legislative achievements the previous year on behalf of the IIABA and its members have been deemed the most outstanding.o Vinny Alba received the Barney Burns Award for his work as the New York InsurPac chairman. Since Alba took over as chairman, New York has more than doubled its support of InsurPac. He implemented a charitable matching funds campaign to increase InsurPac participation.The Barney Burns award recognizes outstanding work for InsurPac. The award is named after former Big "I" president and InsurPac founder Barney Burns.For more information, visit www.independentagent.com.