Ross and Phillipp Honored by IBA West Young Brokers

The Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) Young Brokers and Agents presented two awards for young professionals in the insurance industry. The Anthony J. DiBuduo Award went to Derek Ross of C.M. Meiers of Woodland Hills, Calif. The Harlan Miller Scholarship went to Melissa Phillipp of Phillipp & Associates Insurance Services Inc. in Chatsworth, Calif.

Ross received the Anthony J. DiBuduo Award for his record of exemplary service to his community or association and through participation in IBA West or IIABA political action programs. He has attended the IIABA National Legislative Conference seven times and is an active participant in meetings with federal, state and local elected representatives, as well as fundraisers for candidates. He is also active in his community participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Ventura County Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team, Thousand Oaks Police Department Disaster Assistance Response Team, and the American Red Cross. 



Ross served as past president of the IBA San Fernando Valley local association and has served on the IBA West Strategic Planning Council as the young agent representative.

The Anthony DiBuduo Award is presented in memory of Anthony J. “Cheech” DiBuduo, founder of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group, and a longtime business, industry and trade association leader at local, state and national levels. Throughout his distinguished career, DiBuduo was a champion and mentor of young agents and brokers. He also set a standard of unparalleled commitment to the political action programs of both IBA West and IIABA.

Phillipp won the Harlan Miller Scholarship for her outstanding dedication to the political grassroots program of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA). Phillipp attended the IIABA National Legislative Conference four times and has been an active participant in meetings with federal and state elected representatives. Phillipp served as past president of the IBA San Fernando Valley local association, and 2001 IBA San Fernando Valley Young Agents committee chair. She also served as chair of the IBA West Young Brokers and Agents Committee at which time she was instrumental in creating and organizing the first annual YBA Political Summit which brings young agents from throughout California to Sacramento to meet and learn from their state elected officials. 


The scholarship honors Harlan Miller’s exemplary record of service to his community and his association. Miller was president of Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California, now IBA West, in 1985-86, and of IIABA, in 1994-95.

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