The Independent Insurance Agents of Delaware and the Insurance Agents and Brokers of Delaware have agreed to merge their memberships.
"Our members have clearly told us that they want a single organization to represent their interests in Delaware, and our two boards have agreed that we can better serve our members by merging," said Jeff Good, president of IIAD.
Mr. Good said the new organization will maintain affiliations with both the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America and the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents.
"We're very excited about the new organization," said Kevin Nemith, chairman of IAB of Delaware's board of directors. "Our new voice will be stronger and clearer, and our shared strength will create a better package of products and services for our membership."
Mr. Nemith said both organizations are already at work on a myriad of details associated with bringing the two organizations together. Due diligence is underway as well as work on a final governance structure, which will be presented to both memberships for a vote in the next few months.
"Understand though," Mr. Good said, "that this was not a vote to test the waters. Our two boards are fully committed to making this merger successful for the benefit of all independent insurance agents in Delaware."
The respective leaderships said the combined organization will be a strong voice for independent agents in legislative, regulatory and industry affairs, and would offer a variety of products and services designed to make agents more successful.
A representative said the two organizations have yet to come up with a new name for the combined group.
In response to the news, Donna Pile, president of PIA National, said in a statement that "agents in Delaware who are currently only members of the IIABA will now benefit from everything PIA has to offer–uncompromising advocacy for agents, full rights to use the innovative PIA branding program to market their agencies, access to PIA's Perpetuation Central, and the many products and services available exclusively to PIA members."
"We have always believed that speaking with one voice creates a stronger advocacy group for an agents association," said Robert A. Rusbuldt, chief executive officer of IIABA. "At the national association we have always been very pro-merger in order to create efficiencies and one voice for independent agents. We think when states merge and speak with one voice and they represent the same group of people, that's a positive."
He said there were also financial benefits for agents who no longer need to pay dues to two organizations in order to access the benefits of two associations.
Other advantages to having one association, he said, are improved efficiencies in lobbying and fund raising, and a clear message that can be sent to the state capital with the power of one voice and one clear position.
"We have for decades believed this is better for the agents," said Mr. Rusbuldt, noting that IIABA has surveys indicating the vast majority of agents believe there should be one association and one voice for agents. "We think this is a win for agents, and that is what we are here to do–to represent independent agents and brokers."
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