IIAT’s ‘Oscars’: Association Bestows Awards, Celebrates New Leadership

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas 106th annual convention, held recently in San Antonio, was a huge success, with record attendance and lots of networking and educational opportunities for attendees. The event was made even more festive with the presentation of the Drex G. Foreman, Young Agent of the Year and ACSR of the Year awards, and the installation of the association’s new leadership. It almost seemed like “Oscar Night at the IIAT.”

Matt Berry Sr. of the William Gammon Agency in Austin was named winner of the 2003 Drex G. Foreman Award.

“This prestigious award, the association’s highest honor, recognizes exceptional contributions to the independent agency system, the Texas insurance industry and local community and no one is more deserving than Matt,” said André Juneau, IIAT president. The award is named for Drex Foreman, who served as executive director of IIAT for 30 years.

After working for several years as a top aide to the director of the Texas Commission for the Blind, Berry began his insurance career as a life agent earning the Chartered Life Underwriter designation. Not long afterward he joined the Gammon agency, which sold property and casualty insurance.

Berry was elected to the IIAT Board of Directors in 1985 following two years as a member of the IIAT Services Board. He served as president of the association’s board in 1991 and as IIAT’s representative of the national association during 1993-98.

During his service to the national association he was recruited to serve on several key committees including three years as chairman of the planning committee.

Berry rejoined the IIAT leadership three years ago as chairman of the services corporation.

“Matt has been instrumental in expanding IIAT’s offering of endorsed insurance markets to members, and he also serves as IIAT’s liaison to the Texas Mutual Insurance Company,” said former IIAT president Ken Kapelka, who presented the award.

In addition Berry has held a number of key offices in civic groups and his church. As if his professional accomplishments weren’t enough, Berry and his wife have reared not one but two different sets of children.

Garry Kaufman of Galveston Insurance Associates, received the Young Agent of the Year Award for 2003.

“This year’s winner has set the bar very high, not only for young agents, but for agents everywhere, of any age,” remarked Clyde Fitch, president of Travelers agency operations of personal lines and presenter of the award

After a seven-year stint in the pharmaceutical industry, Kaufman moved into the insurance world where he has distinguished himself in a number of areas. He has held leadership positions as a board member of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and as a member of both the governing committee and board for the Texas Fair Plan Association.

In addition to being a successful agency principal with a strong history in sales development and management, Kaufman has served as president of the local insurance association. He has also served IIAT as a member of the IIAJC Golf Committee, as a regulatory liaison, as chair of the Agency Management Resources Committee, and as an instructor for the Producer Development Program.

He has also been chair of his community’s school board, planning board and chamber of commerce; plus he has served on the boards of economic development and the Rotary Club.

Vicki Griffis, owner of Celeste Insurance Agency, was named IIAT ACSR of the Year.

“The 2003 ACSR of the Year has come a long way in the insurance industry. Vicki began working at an agency in 1978 as a CSR, and the agency owners in those days provided no education, so she had to learn through trial and error. Today she owns the agency,” said Fred Steves of the Myron F. Steves Agency and presenter of the award.

When the agency Griffis worked for as a CSR was sold in 1988, the new owners encouraged her to obtain the ACSR designation. She received the commercial lines designation in 1990. What she learned during her course of education with ACSR helped give her the confidence and courage to buy that agency in 1993.

Today her primary focus is still making sure her customers recieve service that goes beyond what’s expected, or as she has said, “my customers have become more than a way to make a living; they have made living worthwhile.”

The ACSR of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding accredited customer service representative among IIAT member agencies. Griffis is now automatically nominated for the National ACSR of the Year Award, presented by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.

ACSR is a respected professional designation for customer service representatives in independent insurance agencies. Developed by the IIABA in 1988, the ACSR program has 13,000 designees in the United States, with more than 3,000 in Texas. IIAT offers the only ACSR training program in the state.

The IIAT also installed new officers for 2003-2004 at the convention.

Jim Berger, president of Houston-based Insurance Alliance, was elected president. Berger, whose term begins Sept. 1, is a founding partner of Insurance Alliance, serving as president since its inception in 1992.

“Jim brings to IIAT and the Texas independent agency system a solid measure of sales growth and management successes that will move the state’s insurance industry to new levels,” commented David VanDelinder, IIAT executive director.

Berger has logged a number of accomplishments as a long-time active member of IIAT and its various committees. He formerly served as president-elect of the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston. Berger is a strong advocate of the independent agency system, and has participated on a wide variety of company advisory boards.

Bill Harrison Jr., president of Coleman Company Insurance Services in San Antonio, was elected president-elect. Harrison has been a longtime member of his local, state and national independent insurance agents associations, serving as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio, as chairman of the IIAT membership committee and as a member of the IIAT finance committee. He was named IIAT’s Young Agent of the Year for 2000.

Randy Reynolds, managing partner of Texas Associates Insurors in Austin, was elected vice president. Reynolds, president of the Insurors Group, an alliance of insurance agencies located throughout Texas, began his insurance career with the American General Fire & Casualty Co., where he worked for six years. He served as regional marketing manager before entering the agency business in his hometown of Odessa.

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