Independent agents and their staff in California will benefit from an educational program established by the Western Insurance Agents Association for its members and now supported by two independent agent carriers.

The WIAA said its Education and Research Foundation, founded in 2007, is now receiving educational support from the Hartford School of Insurance and Travelers.

The Hartford School of Insurance began providing training sessions focused on commercial lines earlier this year. Recently, Travelers made a commitment to the foundation to offer courses through its producer school training.

The first continuing education course the Travelers program will offer to WIAA members will be held later this year. The course will address the role of the agent in an automated environment.

The courses are available to WIAA members and their associates.

“The WIAA Education & Research Foundation is a natural extension of our association's mission,” Alan A. Smith Jr., WIAA president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Mr. Smith added, “We continue to strive to deliver the tools, information, market access and knowledge to help independent agents grow and prosper. The foundation allows us to raise the bar on education offerings higher than it's ever been for this association.”

The association is also in the process of completing its scholarship program. The grants offered by the foundation come from donations by WIAA Insurance Services in the name of three longtime insurance professionals who made significant contributions to the growth of WIAA and its general agency.

The scholarships will posthumously honor three former board members:

o Bruno Meniccuci of Meniccuci Insurance Services in Las Vegas, Nev.

o Richard Beedle of Arroyo Insurance in Arcadia, Calif.

o Bill Bates from the WIAA Group based in Rancho Cordova, Calif.

Additional information is available at www.wiaagroup.org.

Special Reports /

Travelers Partners With WIAA Education Foundation

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