Six Agencies Named Top Performers

Six insurance agencies were named the “Top Performing Agencies” and included in the recently released Best Practices Study,

A report from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America has awarded the title of Top Performing Agencies on six companies.

The report naming the six was the IIABA Best Practices study prepared with Atlanta-based Reagan Consulting.

The six were singled out for their operational excellence, financial results, and overall management achievement in their respective revenue-size categories.

IIABA described the firms as follows:

o Bridges Group, Inc. of Norton, Kan. that has been serving northwest Kansas since 1894. It is a full-lines insurance agency with significant agri-business insurance. It has offices in Oberline and Norton, Kan.

o Ed Berrong Insurance Agency of Weatherford, Okla. The concern is a family-owned full lines agency now in its 59th year of business doing business throughout Oklahoma and in surrounding states. Its focus is in the oil and gas industry and is a surplus lines broker for its clients.

o B.H. Gold Insurance Agency of San Diego, Calif. Established in 1920, B.H. Gold is a state leader in low cost auto and homeowners insurance. The agency also specializes in affordable health, life, business, and workers' compensation insurance. The agency has a second office in Ventura County, Calif.

o Swingle Collins & Associates of Dallas is one of the largest property-casualty agencies in the area targeting mid-market customers. Having just celebrated its 25th anniversary, the firm is committed to remaining independently owned.

o Puckett Scheetz & Hogan Insurance Agency, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Formed in 1980, with a vision of writing coastal insurance, Puckett and Scheetz of Greenville, S.C., opened a branch in Myrtle Beach led by Mike Hogan. In 1989, he purchased the agency. A week later Hurricane Hugo struck. Despite this setback, the agency has grown to be the largest independent agency in the area. Today, with 48 employees, the agency's focus is customer service whose primary market is condominium insurance associations.

o McGriff Seibels & Williams, Birmingham, Ala., was founded over 100 years ago. MSW operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of BB&T Insurance brokerage, retaining its name, management team and corporate philosophy.

Every three years, the IIABA and Reagan Consulting join forces to select “Best Practices” firms throughout the nation for outstanding management and financial achievement in six revenue categories ranging from under $1.25 million to over $25 million.

More than 800 independent agencies and brokers of varying sizes across the country were nominated to take part in the study. Only 195 agencies, the top thirty to thirty-three in each of six revenue groups, qualify for selection.

Further information about the Best Practices Study can be obtained by contacting Madelyn Flannagan of IIABA at (800) 221-7917 or Shirley Lukens of Reagan Consulting at (404) 233-5545.