Agency veteran Jeff Yates announced his retirement from theIndependent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. Yates hasserved the association for 39 years, most recently as AgentsCouncil for Technology (ACT) executive director.

“The Big 'I' is tremendously grateful to Jeff Yates for hisinnumerable contributions to the association and the independentagency system,” said Big “I” president and CEO Robert Rusbuldt.

Yates originally served in the general counsel's office from1975 to 1982 as executive vice president and general counsel. Hespearheaded the association's move from New York to newheadquarters in Alexandria, Va. in 1989, and 1998, he was promotedto CEO.

After his retirement in 2000, Yates returned to the Big “I” in2001 to lead the ACT program as executive director. Throughout histenure, he received numerous accolades and awards, including thecreation of a Big “I” lifetime service award, named in hishonor.

“Jeff has been an amazing leader, mentor and industrytrailblazer. His countless efforts, dating back to when he joinedthe association in 1975 as assistant general counsel to his serviceas CEO and his role in developing ACT, have been instrumental tothe independent agency system. We will greatly miss him on our teamand wish him happiness in his retirement,” said Rusbuldt.

Ron Berg, an active volunteer in ACT, is slated to succeedYates.

“Ron is the right person to lead this critical initiative intothe future,” Rusbuldt said.

“We are also delighted to have Ron Berg onboard to succeed Jeff.Ron has been working with Jeff on the transition for two months nowand is bringing passion, experience, dedication and fresh ideas tothe role to help take ACT to the next level,” said Jim Armitage,ACT chair and vice president of Arroyo Insurance in Arcadia,Calif.

“The ACT Committee and members want to thank Jeff for his yearsof leadership and for working with so many dedicated volunteers togrow ACT into such a great initiative