THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER Thank you for attending Insurcon2022

By: Tyra Dressel

Executive Director of Big I Oregon

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING INSURCON2022!

As Executive Director of Big I Oregon, I had difficulty writing this quarter’s article following INSURCON2022 in late August…the event’s excitement made it challenging to keep to 600 words! Being together in person generates energy like no other and propels us in our endeavor to Build, Grow and Thrive!

We built a two-and half-day event to enhance our members’ ability to connect and engage. Attendees heard from Kasey Conners, VP of Marketing, Operations, Trusted Choice, Inc., and how our members are supported with immense resources, including financial assistance with branding and marketing. If you missed Kasey’s presentation, check out https://trustedchoice. independentagent.com for the plethora of ways Trusted Choice supports you. Gordon Zeller, an Advisor, and Greg Goodmanson, Advisor/Virtual Sales Manager of Incite Performance Group, shared their intellect and years of experience to help move your organization to the next level. During lunch, we heard from our “Future of the Industry Panel,” Kabir Syed, MBA, Senior Insurance Industry Executive & Thought Leader, Founder of Ennabl, Inc., Tyler Asher, President, Independent Agent Distribution, Liberty Mutual and Dan Ferrari, Sr Vice President, Independent Agent Distribution, Liberty Mutual. Stephen Smelley, Founder of Goldfinch Consulting, was our Panel Moderator and led the group with engaging and thought-provoking questions. We heard insight on everything from working remotely to how the independent agent is here to stay!

During our panel, Tyler Asher shared with the group how Liberty Mutual and Safeco partnered with the Big I to see how independent agents give back to their communities. The survey found that 96% of independent agents donate to charity, which echoes what we have seen in the fundraising efforts Big I Oregon has organized. Mallory Tyler, Vice President of Advancement, Make-A-Wish® Oregon, came to INSURCON2022 to share the fantastic news that Big I Oregon has raised $22,173.11 in the past year thanks to our generous members, and we raised another $1,257 during InsurCon2022! Our giving attendees also raised over $2,000, thanks partly to a matching grant from Trusted Choice of $1,000, at our Kentucky Derby night. During the event, we held a “Roses for Kentucky” fundraiser to support Marie Roberts-Caney Elementary decimated by the recent floods, and over 90% of the school’s families lost everything. In addition, we raised almost $3,000 for our state PAC, Oregon Insurance Political Action Committee (OIPAC). A $1,000 donation from Mark Atkinson, the winner of the Exhibitor Blackout Bingo, shared his entire winnings to OIPAC. And if that wasn’t enough, those attending an alternate activity during the Golf Tournament also gave back as they competed in the Great Backpack Relay that provided $1000 worth of backpacks full of food to the Bend K-12 Food Pantry. As we were proud to hear Tyler’s survey results, we were not surprised, as our members continually give in this way. Thank you to everyone for their generosity… together we are stronger!

INSURCON2022 not only had great content and superb exhibitors, but our Director of Fun, LeeAnn Smelley, delivered! Whether betting on horses during our Kentucky Derby night, golfing the beautiful Meadows course, rolling the dice at casino night, putting with the NextGen, giving back during the Great Backpack Relay, or tossing a bag in the cornhole tournament, fun was had. There was something for everyone and networking opportunities galore! The excitement is already building for INSURCON2023, so don’t miss out and mark your calendars for August 2022 at the spectacular Sunriver Resort. I can’t wait to see you there!

INSURCON2022! Thank you for attending

NEXTGEN PUTTING TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS: ANGELA WILLIAMS, KAITY BLACKSHER, TYLER ROSS, TODD BLACKSHER, LYNDSAY KOOISTRA THE YOUNGEST NEXTGEN, BOSTON ROSS

ROB FUNK, K.P.D. & MATT GLENN, MARKEL SPECIALTY

NEXTGEN PUTTINGTOURNAMENT NICK MALONE, BELFOR, LAURA FITZGERALD, GREAT AMERICAN, TYLER COOK, TRAVELERS, JULIE TREMBLAY, SAIF

THE GREAT BACKPACK RELAY GIVEBACK WINNERS! DAVID MARKEL, ELODEE CHAPMAN & ANGELA WILLIAMS 1ST PLACE TEAM! NATE BAUER, KENT BERGSTEDT, TIM KENNEDY & ERIK FINROW CORN HOLE CHAMPS! PATTY BRANT WALDO & DELLAS WALDO, FIELD WALDO INSURANCE AGENCIES, INC.

LINDA LACESA, STEVE LACESA, OAK TREE INSURANCE, ADRIENNE LITTLE, SAFECO, MOLLY SMITH, SAFECO

GETTING INTO KENTUCKY DERBY NIGHT MARY BAUER OPRA & CRAIG OPRA, R BAUER INSURANCE INC KELLY REESE & DEBBIE FLORES

KIM KROGH, OREGON MUTUAL INS GROUP, ROB HAMBLETON, BBSI & CHELSEA ROSSITER, THE PARTNERS GROUP

STEPHANIE CRAVEN, DENISE MOORE & SARAH LINDSEY BIG WINNERS! JIM HARTH, JENNIE WEILAND, STEPHEN SMELLEY, MATHEW ROBERTSON, LINDSAY ROBERTSON & KABIR SYED

PRESIDENTS’ DINNER

FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY PANEL. STEPHEN SMELLEY, FOUNDER OF GOLDFINCH CONSULTING - PANEL MODERATOR, KABIR SYED, MBA, SENIOR INSURANCE INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE & THOUGHT LEADER, FOUNDER OF ENNABL, INC., TYLER ASHER, PRESIDENT, INDEPENDENT AGENT DISTRIBUTION, LIBERTY MUTUAL AND DAN FERRARI, SR VICE PRESIDENT, INDEPENDENT AGENT DISTRIBUTION, LIBERTY MUTUAL

KASEY CONNORS ENLIGHTENING US ON THE WAYS TRUSTED CHOICE SUPPORTS OUR MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TYRA DRESSEL WITH HER FAMILY, HUSBAND BROCK DRESSEL & THEIR SONS, STERLING & DONOVAN CASINO NIGHT GLAM! LYNDSAY KOOISTRA, LAPORTE INS, LINDA SCHELLENBERG & STEPHANIE CRAVEN, SENTRY INSURANCE

DIRECTOR OF FUN, LEEANN SMELLEY, WITH HER DAUGHTERS, DALLAS ROSS & ELODEE CHAPMAN AND FRIEND LINDSAY ROBERTSON

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

Acuity Insurance Chubb Mid Valley General Agency Mutual of Enumclaw Sublimity Superior Underwriters Western National XPT Partners, LLC