Florida Agents’ Association Installs Laurie as Chair; Honors Gunter

The Florida Association of Insurance Agents installed its new officers and board members for the 2012-2013 at its 108th Annual Convention and Educational Symposium.

John C. Laurie has been named as the new FAIA chair for 2012-2013. Laurie has previously served on FAIA’s board of directors and was the chair of the association’s property insurance task force in 2006-2007.

Laurie is vice president and agency manager for Bradenton, Fla.-based BB&T Wyman, Green & Blalock Inc. He has received numerous awards and served on several state and volunteer boards and was a business columnist for the Bradenton Herald.

Samuel B. Rodgers was selected as FAIA’s new chairman-elect. Rodgers, a 30-year veteran of the insurance industry, is the CEO of the Tallahassee-based Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance Inc. He has served FAIA in numerous capacities as a member and chair of its educational council, finance committee, and insurance program committees.

Jeff Schlitt, vice president and head of the commercial department with the Vero Beach-based Schlitt Insurance Services Inc., was selected as FAIA’s new vice chair. Schlitt is also president of the InsurCorp Agency Alliance.

The association also named three new board of directors including Brendan Lynch, owner of the Plastridge Insurance Agency, Nicole Williams, personal lines manager with Waddell Insurance Group, and Frank Kowalski, president of the Koski & Company Insurance Agents.

FAIA also awarded Bill Gunter its prestigious Mitchell Stallings Award.

Gunter began his career in 1959 as one of the founders of the Rodger, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance Inc. In addition to a long career of service with FAIA, Gunter served as a member of the Florida Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and was the state’s treasurer and insurance commissioner from 1976 to 1988.

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