PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE All In at InsurCon 2022

All In at InsurCon 2022

By: Mark Atkinson

Big I Oregon President

Atkinson Insurance Group Even though we’ve had to cancel this year’s Insurcon2021. I chuckled a bit when I saw that “All In” was the theme. If my family and friends were asked to describe me, they would use that exact phrase. Over the years my excitement for certain pursuits may have given them ample reason.

The “all in” mindset started early for me. In grade school, my desire for a small aquarium turned into a business. I was soon raising tropical fish and selling them to the local pet store. You might say my hobby scaled overnight. It seemed that whatever I was interested in through my childhood years, I couldn’t rest with just the normal level of interest or involvement. It didn’t stop as I grew up. During the pandemic, I thought that a travel trailer would be a great way to relax and explore sights unseen. Well, even though I am not fond of camping and never towed a trailer, I found myself with a new truck and trailer and all the equipment one might need to fully enjoy this new experience. Most recently, my wife and I have moved to a property with five acres. Having the opportunity to raise chickens, I am now in the midst of building the mother of all chicken coops. Yes, it is the Chick Mahal. I am going all in for these egg layers.

There have been many opportunities over the years to exercise the same strategy at my agency. Just one example is when looking at automation options a number of years ago, it didn’t make sense to do anything other than to go all in.

But just as we were in the midst of planning for the “All In” experience, we’ve had to switch gears due to the state of Covid-19 and double down and prepare for InsurCon2022. I am excited that we will be convening at Sunriver Resort, August 21-23, 2022. Having to pivot last year to a digital convention experience and now this year’s cancellation, I know we will all be more than ready to pivot back to the in-person, look-someone-inthe-eyes and shake-a-hand experience. InsurCon 2022 stands to be the greatest opportunity for us all to connect over the past 2 years. I look forward to restoring relationships and being challenged with some great insights world-class presenters.

I encourage you to clear your calendar and register today. Let’s all go “All In.” See you at InsurCon 2022.

Aspera specializes in hard-to-insure risks for small and mid-sized businesses.

Response in hours, not days. Making the

hard-to-insure

Aspera delivers quotes within 48 hours easy to please 75% of the time.

www.asperains.com

2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MARK ATKINSON President President, Atkinson Insurance Group Portland, OR 38 Years LYNDSAY KOOISTRA President-Elect Shareholder, LaPorte Insurance Portland, OR 19 Years

RUSS SCHWEIKERT Vice President Ashland Insurance, Inc. Ashland, OR 27 Years DEBBIE FLORES Immediate Past President KPD Insurance, Inc. Springfield, OR 35 Years BOB ROSSON Finance Chair President Timmco Insurance Portland, OR 27 Years

ED DAVIS National Director Maps Insurance Services Salem, OR 56 Years TYRA DRESSEL Executive Director Big I Oregon Lake Oswego, OR 28 Years

2021 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TJ SULLIVAN Legislative Chair BH Insurance Salem, OR 24 Years

KRISTON CORRELL JUUL Insurance Agency North Bend, OR 23 Years TIM CUNDARI Cundari Insurance Portland, OR 26 Years

MARTY KANTOLA Chet Hill Insurance Ashland, OR 37 Years STEVE LACESA Oak Tree Insurance Lake Oswego, OR 37 Years

BRETT SLATER Slater & Associates Insurance, Inc. Tualatin, OR 28 Years STEPHEN SMELLEY Goldfinch Consulting Beaverton, OR 34 Years MICHELLE GALLARDO NextGen Chair The Partner’s Group Portland, OR 17 Years DALLAS ROSS Timmco Insurance Beaverton, OR 7 Years

TRISH FULWILER J.D. Fulwiler Insurance & Co. Portland, OR 24 Years GREG HORNER Insurance Partners, LLC Portland, OR 31 Years

MATT PIDCOCK Valley Insurance LaGrande, OR 17 Years JOHN POWELL Hopp Insurance Newberg, OR 11 Years

JENNIE WEILAND PayneWest Insurance Beaverton, OR 20 Years