IIABL Celebrates the ‘New Louisiana’; Installs Officers at Annual Convention

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana celebrated the “New Louisiana” in Destin Fla., June 26 – 29, 2005, at the association’s 103rd annual convention and trade show.

Louisiana’s agents apparently had much to celebrate, as reforms to the state’s tort and insurance regulatory systems designed to encourage the interest of insurers seem to be working. According to recent media reports, several insurers new to the state have begun writing homeowners policies there and others that were already operating in Louisiana have expanded their coverage options.

The resurgence of the market is expected to stay on track as long as the state doesn’t sustain major hurricane damage. So far so good this year, but with six named storms already and three months to go before the Atlantic hurricane season plays out, it’s anybody’s guess what will
happen.

The IIABL had a good crowd with which to celebrate-more than 800 industry professionals were on hand for the educational seminars, social events and business meetings. On June 29 the association installed new slate of officers for the coming year.

H. Lee Schilling Jr., of Schilling & Reid Insurance Agency Inc. in Amite, was elected president. Also installed were President-elect John R. Smestad, of Eagan Insurance Agency Inc. in Metairie; and Secretary-Treasurer Jeffrey Mohr, of Lewis Mohr Real Estate & Insurance Agency Inc. in Baton Rouge.

Two individuals were newly elected to IIABL’s 23-member Board of Directors: James J. “Jay” Brien Jr., with A.J. Gallagher d/b/a Sternfels Insurance Agency in Plattenville, La.; and David R. Dethloff, of Dethloff & Associates in Shreveport.

Schilling previously served as IIABL’s president-elect, and secretary-treasurer, and has been a member of the IIABL Board of Directors for eight years.

In 1977 Schil-ling began working in his agency, then known as Schilling Insurance Agency. He was elected to the IIABL Board of Directors in 1997, during which time he served four years as Legislative chairman. He was recognized in 2000 with IIABL’s Outstanding Chairperson Award.

Schilling has served eight years on the Amite City Council, the last four as mayor pro-tem, and has served as chairman of the Tangipahoa Parish Industrial Development Board. He is a past president of Amite Kiwanis Club and Springview Country Club. Schilling presently serves on the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors.

President-elect John Smestad was first elected to the IIABL Board of Directors in 1995 and has served in a number of leadership positions. He has been active on the Technical Affairs and Education Committees,and previously served as secretary-treasurer of IIABL. He is presently a member of the IIABL Executive and Finance Committees. Smestad earned IIABL’s Outstanding Service Award in 2002 in recognition of his contributions and service to the association.

Smestad has served as past chairman of the Better Business Bureau in New Orleans, past president of Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Greater New Orleans, and past president of Deep South Chapter CPCU.

Mohr, the association’s new secretary-treasurer, has served on the IIABL Board of Directors since 1998 and has held leadership positions on the Finance, Technical Affairs and Education Committees, and the Independent Agents Service Corporation, and is presently a member of the IIABL Executive Committee. He is past president of Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Baton Rouge, and served on the Louisiana Department of Insurance Education Advisory Council.

New Board member Jay Brien has served on the IIABL Technical Affairs Committee and is a former president of the Louisiana AMS Users Group.

Dethloff, also new to the Board of Directors, is past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Shreveport/Bossier, a past Board of Director of Northwest Louisiana Goodwill Industries, Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club, and Shreveport Little League.

Outstanding Service Award

Brad Bourg, of Bourg Insurance Agency Inc., located in Donaldsonville and Prairieville, was presented with the IIABL’s Outstanding Service Award. In honoring Bourg with the award, IIABL recognized his efforts as chairman of Louisiana’s InsurPac, the association’s national Political Action Committee, as well as for his outstanding work managing the Independent Agents Junior Golf Classic for the past several years.

First elected to the IIABL Board of Directors in 2001, Bourg has served in a number of leadership positions, including Young Agents Committee, and is presently serving as the state chair for the IIABL Junior Golf Classic, vice chairman of the Government Affairs Committee and InsurPac chairman.

The Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana is a professional trade association with approximately 400 member agencies representing over 3,500 insurance agents throughout Louisiana. The mission of IIABL, working in the public interest, is to be the unrelenting advocate for independent insurance agents and to meet the education, political, and business needs of IIABL member agents.

Topics Agencies Louisiana Training Development