The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents has honored three insurance professionals for their work in the industry and passed a resolution reaffirming its opposition to the optional federal charter.

During a meeting this week in Arlington, Va., the association honored the following:

o Barb Markwell, naming her the 2008 PIA National Customer Service Representative of the Year.

o Bart Straka, naming him the 2008 PIA National Young Insurance Professional of the Year.

o Kenneth A. Bowles, naming him the 2008 PIA National Professional Agent of the Year.

Ms. Markwell was honored for her outstanding professionalism as a customer service representative. She works for a PIA member agency, Templeton Insurance of Spring, Texas.

Mr. Straka is vice president/commercial sales manager of TRICOR Inc., a PIA member agency in Lancaster, Wis. His award recognizes the outstanding achievement by an individual under age 40.

Mr. Bowles is owner of The Archer Agency/Rogers Agency of Kingsport, Tenn. He was honored for his work on behalf of agents, commitment to the highest standards of professionalism in the industry, his active leadership in PIA, and his dedication to his community.

He formed The Archer Agency in 1991 and purchased the Rogers Agency in 2003. He is an insurance educator who teaches continuing education courses for the PIA of Tennessee with PIA of Nebraska and Iowa and has written several of the courses that he teaches. He was the recipient of the 2007 PIA of Tennessee Professional Agent of the Year Award.

The association said today that during its board of directors meeting it reaffirmed its opposition to optional federal charters and reaffirmed its support of state regulation of insurance.

“Let there be no doubt: PIA is opposed to federal insurance regulation in any form,” said PIA National President Robert Page in a statement. “Specifically, PIA is on record in opposition to all proposals calling for optional federal charters and the creation of a federal insurance regulator.”

Special Reports /

PIA Honors Insurance Industry Professionals

Related Stories

Recommended For You