Head Of Agent Group Seeks More Washington Clout

The new chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America said among his goals for the group is strengthening its voice in Washington.

Robert E. Fulwider outlined the aims of his one year term as chairman of the Alexandria, Va.-based association inn an interview today with National Underwriter

After this week's IIABA Leadership Conference in San Diego, the association modernized its constitution. Among the revisions was a change in title for executive committee heads from president to chairman.

Among his goals, Mr. Fulwider said is a strengthening of the group's government affairs division.

He said state associations have strong advocacy at their level. However, with a number of major issues, such as modernization of the insurance industry, terrorism reinsurance, natural disaster, tax reform, crop insurance and other issues, the government affairs division needs to be in a position to effectively fight for the interests of independent agents and their customers.

He said also that the association's branding initiative, Trusted Choice, will take the next step in its evolution. Having grown in recognition among agents and companies, it is now time for agents to “live the brand.”

Mr. Fulwider explained the aim now will be to get agents to use the brand in their dealings with customers so the brand now becomes a fixture in the consumer's mind and helps increase agent's market share.

He said Real Time, the push to get agents to use company technology offerings of SEMCI (Single Entry Multiple Company Interface), will continue. Mr. Fulwider underscored the importance of advancing this cause noting that if more agents do not utilize what companies have invested so far, companies will not be inspired to make additional investments and upgrades in the future.

The IIABA, during his term, he said, will take a deep look at its sources of revenues for the next 20 years and try to find new ways to deal with future cost while minimizing the use of agent's dues to the association.

Mr. Fulwider said the association's financially healthy, but the review is to make sure it remains healthy well into the future.

Among other items on his agenda are improved relationships between agents and their companies, an opening up of the association to other groups to add more opportunity for outside membership, and enhancing the work of existing IIABA organization to work better with state associations.

He would like to close what he termed internal communication gaps by working more closely with state executives.

Mr. Fulwider is principal and president of the Ray Wuestenberg Agency, Inc. in West Liberty, Iowa; the Fulwider Agency Inc. in West Branch, Iowa; and president of Bob Fulwider and Associates, life and health, financial planning agency in Eastern Iowa.

The IIABA also named C. Brett Nilsson as chairman-elect and J. David Daniel as vice chairman. Alex Soto is now past-chairman.

Mr. Nilsson is senior vice president for The Buckner Company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mr. Daniel is president of Daniel & Eustis Insurance in Baton Rouge, La.