PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Big I - Farewell to 2022!

BIG I - FAREWELL TO 2022!

By: Lyndsay Kooistra

Big I Oregon President

LaPorte Insurance This is my last article as your Big I President and I’m struck with nostalgia. I think back to my first Big I Convention 18 years ago and I never would have ever dreamed where we are today.

First off, children scared me, and now I have two lovely children and my husband continues to put up with me.

Second, we’ve done so much this year including but not limited to: Forecast Breakfast, Educate & Connect Symposium at the Coast, Lobbying in DC, Legislative Lunch & Learns and then …

Third, WOW, what a Convention! Our Big I Team didn’t forget a single detail. The food was amazing, Sunriver superb, and the events fun to the max! Lastly, our Board Meeting and President’s Dinner were wonderful.

One of the items we discussed at our Board Meeting is expanding committee involvement. Each committee is chaired by a current Board Member, but committee members can be any agency member of our association and is an excellent way to get involved. You can join a committee no matter what part of the state you live in, as meetings can be held virtually when in-person isn’t practical. What are the Committees you ask? Well, here you go! Agency/Company Relations: Committee promotes productive dialog between carriers and agents, plus coordinates the annual Agency/Company Forum.

Convention Advisory: Committee works with and assists the staff in planning and promoting the Annual Convention.

Education: Committee assists in developing education programs, selecting speakers and promoting the association’s continuing education.

Finance: Committee works to establish annual budget and evaluate sources of revenue for the association.

INSURPAC/OIPAC: Committee helps raise funds for the IIABA national political action committee (PAC) and our local PAC OIPAC. Legislative: Committee monitors legislative activities, analyzes legislation and develops positions for the IIABO.

Membership: Committee helps promote and retain members for the association and assure member satisfaction.

NextGen: Committee seeks to aid young agents develop their skills and promotes professional programs to assist agents new to the industry.

Procurement: Committee reaches out for donations for events with fundraisers and giveaways.

Products & Services: Committee helps make policy decisions about products and services to offer members.

To sign up for a Committee please contact Tyra Dressel at Tyra@bigioregon.com.

I hope 2022 has inspired you to get involved and become more active with Big I. We’ve had a great year and we welcome your involvement!

For over 40 years Iroquois has helped agencies grow their revenue and strengthen their independence.

Visit IroquoisGroup.com to explore what we can design for your agency.

Denise Moore, CIC

Regional Manager | Oregon & Idaho

(503) 396-2225 dmoore@iroquoisgroup.com iroquoisgroup.com

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2022 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

LYNDSAY KOOISTRA President LaPorte Insurance Portland, OR 20 Years

MARK ATKINSON Immediate Past President Atkinson Insurance Group Portland, OR 39 Years JENNIE WEILAND Vice President HUB International Northwest Portland, OR 21 Years

RUSS SCHWEIKERT President-Elect Ashland Insurance, Inc. Ashland, OR 28 Years

TIM CUNDARI Finance Chair Cundari Insurance Portland, OR 27 Years ED DAVIS National Director Maps Insurance Services Salem, OR 57 Years

TYRA DRESSEL Executive Director Big I Oregon Portland, OR 29 Years

bigioregon.com

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

TJ SULLIVAN Legislative Chair BH Insurance Salem, OR 25 Years

KAITY BLACKSHER NextGen Chair Atkinson Insurance Group Portland, OR 17 Years MICHELLE GALLARDO NextGen Immediate Past Chair The Partner’s Group Portland, OR 18 Years

DALLAS ROSS Timmco Insurance Portland, OR 9 Years

TRISH FULWILER J.D. Fulwiler Insurance & Co. Portland, OR 25 Years DEBORAH MOHR Assured Partners Forest Grove, OR 26 Years

MARTY KANTOLA Nicholson and Associates/ Portland Division Portland, OR 38 Years

STEVE LACESA Oak Tree Insurance Lake Oswego, OR 38 Years

MATT PIDCOCK Valley Insurance LaGrande, OR 18 Years

KRISTON CORRELL JUUL Insurance Agency North Bend, OR 24 Years

BOB ROSSON Timmco Insurance Portland, OR 28 Years STEPHEN SMELLEY Goldfinch Consulting Beaverton, OR 35 Years