NU Online News Service, Aug. 20, 3:36 p.m.EDT

Mike Menath, the new chairman of the Nevada IndependentInsurance Agents, said improving agency efficiency will be theassociation's primary goal as members continue to battle againstrecessionary headwinds.

Mr. Menath, a 28 year veteran of the insurance business, ispresident and owner of Mike Menath Insurance, based in InclineVillage and Reno, Nev. His firm, founded in 1981, provides auto,home, commercial and health insurance in Northern Nevada andNorthern California.

Mr. Menath said in an interview that during his tenure with theassociation, NIIA will focus on three subjects: improvingindependent agent's use of technology, recruitment of new membersto the association and bringing younger agents into theindustry.

While all agents use technology to some degree, many agents arenot taking full advantage of its capabilities, said Mr. Menath. Acommittee is being set-up to work with the Agents Council forTechnology and identify agency inefficiencies. Working with ACT andcarriers, the aim will be to drive efficiency in the future.

Mr. Menath pointed out that while NIIA has a healthyrepresentation of independent agencies in the state, theassociation will be working to extend its reach and work to informmany of the smaller agencies in the state of the value ofmembership.

On the third subject, recruitment of young agents, he admitted,"All of us are getting older," and there is a growing need to bringnew blood into the agency ranks.

Nevada's high rate of foreclosures and the standstill in theconstruction industry has also seriously affected the property andcasualty revenues of many independent agents, he said.

Revenues at most agencies are off an average of 20 percent, heestimated, and some have faired worse. However, he noted that thestate's agents are continuing to look for ways to grow despite thetough economy.

"Everyone is hanging in there until things get better," said Mr.Menath. "It will be lean for a lot of agencies until conditionsimprove."

Besides naming Mr. Menath chairman during its recent meeting inLake Tahoe, Nev., the association named Paul Richied, owner andpresident of Richied & Associates Inc. in Reno, chairman-elect.Joe Hernandez, president and chief operating officer of Branch,Hernandez & Associates of Las Vegas, was named vicechairman.