September is back and so is school. With education in mind, Irecently asked agents and brokers whom they considered majorindustry influences. The responses were as varied as therespondents. Some cited recognized industry leaders; othersnominated family members who guided them in thebusiness. 

Here are just a few. If you're interested in seeing more, visitmy blog at propertycasualty360.com.

Jeff Yates: Big I's ACT executive director wasthe top choice for many. Jeff's fans consider him, in the words ofone fan, a “tremendous asset to the insurance industry (who) workstirelessly to help agents and carriers and vendors work together toimprove technology to enhance profitability and provide a betterconsumer experience.”

E.J. Leverett: Founder of the University ofGeorgia's Risk Management and Insurance Program, Leverett wasUniversity of Georgia's strongest proponent of risk and insurancemanagement for almost 30 years. He also is credited for more than100 articles and several textbooks in the field, and has ascholarship in his name. 

Peter W. Nauert: Chairman and CEO of AccessPlans USA, a nationwide distributor of health insurance andnon-insurance healthcare programs for the uninsured andunderinsured, Nauert was a well-known philanthropist, publicspeaker and published author in the insurance industry who died in2007. One fan wrote, “He was controversial, opinionated andenthusiastic. What else could you ask for?” 

Gray Nester: The senior vice president/IT ADSgroup services manager at BB&T Insurance Services is “anexample of a business-oriented CIO getting involved with thecommunity at large,” wrote James McGovern, and has “a remarkableway of getting involved and getting to the heart of the matter. Hetoo works tirelessly for the industry as a whole,” Tina Claysaid.

Lloyd “Skip” Daigle: AVP, agency development atTravelers, who died in 2010, was a major supporter of personallines growth in the independent agency system. “His 'proceduresmust match philosophy' was and still is a strong statement,”Marilyn Barker said.

And my own personal influences?

Nick Shuman: Former Chicago Sun-Times editorand my journalism teacher in college, whose first comment to me wasthe laconic and pragmatic, “Can you type?” He helped me land aninternship and a job after graduation. He died in 2009.

Kathryn J. McIntyre: The editor and publisherof Business Insurance, Kathryn knew and loved both reporting andinsurance. I remember her editing my stories, chain smoking andpeppering me with questions. At a time when insurance was really abusiness for old white men, she was one of a kind. She's now afarmer in New Zealand.

Sam Friedman: Kathryn's counterpart at NUP fromway back when. But you already know and love him.