NU Online News Service, Sept. 23, 3:14 p.m.EDT

Michael “Mike” R. Donohoe was named the new chairman of theIndependent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America thisweek.

Donohoe is owner of the James R. Weir Insurance Agency, anindependent insurance agency in Mankato, Minn.

His installation came during the association's LeadershipConference this past week in Minneapolis, Minn.

“Mike has led by example and is a true champion of theindependent agency system in his home state of Minnesota,” saysRobert Rusbuldt, IIABA president and chief executive officer. “TheBig 'I' is proud that he will now head the association's leadershipteam as the chairman of the executive committee.”

In an interview with National Underwriter, Donohoe sayshe is humbled by his selection, referring to himself and his13-person agency as “typical” of the leadership that has precededhim.

During his term, he says he wants to emphasize the roleindependent agents play in their communities beyond justbusinessmen and women.

“We are the T-ball coaches, the mayors and city councils, thechurch trustees and the fundraisers,” says Donohoe. “There is aquality that is hard to quantify in most of the agents who aremembers. There is more that drives us than what you may see inprint. We are advisors, counselors and problem solvers. For somereason, people are drawn to us and comfortable with asking us foradvice on all kinds of things outside of selling insurance. I wantto make consumers understand what we do.”

He indicates that during his one-year term he would like to seethe IIABA membership grow by making the producer communityunderstand that together they can have a greater influence onlegislation, branding, identifying and dealing with threats to theproducer community, and finding educational opportunities.

“We have a lot to offer agents in the small to mid-size rangeand they might not even know it,” Donohoe says.

“Re-selling what we have and why [independent agents] shouldbelong is important to me and something I think we can make someprogress on,” he says. “My goal is to let people know what we doand that we do it well.”

Donohoe has served as president of the Minnesota IndependentInsurance Agents & Brokers and represented the state on theboard of directors. He was twice named Minnesota Young Agent of theYear and was named Minnesota Agent of the Year in 1994.

He was elected to the IIABA's executive committee in 2006 andhas been instrumental in the success of the Big “I” VirtualUniversity and served as chairman of its task force from 2001 to2006.

Donohoe was a founder of the Big “I” Eagle Agency, anindependent agency for association members. He was awarded theWoodworth Memorial in 2005.

The association also named Bobby Bramlett chairman-elect.

He is president and CEO of the Bramlett Agency in Ardmore, Okla.He began his insurance career with The Bramlett Agency in 1975 andhas served as its president and CEO since 1983.