THE DIRECTOR’S CORNER
By: Tyra Dressel Executive Director of Big I Oregon
“We are stronger together than we are alone.” - Walter Payton
STRONGER TOGETHER
As I reflect on the many things we’ve accomplished this past year, one phrase continues to ring true, “Stronger Together.” It is the collective effort of everyone who touches this association. The hard work, commitment, positive attitude, flexibility, resourcefulness, and creativity of everyone affiliated with this organization make us shine, especially during challenging times. At our October Board Meeting, we were happy to report all the gains we have made as an organization. We indeed have been “turning lemons into lemonade,” which I said was Big I Oregon’s mantra in our previous magazine. It continues to be true. We have been making strides in every area and all during a tumultuous time. Our membership is up, new partnerships have formed, E&O remains robust, adaptive & competitive, virtual events have become even more engaging, and we have had in-person events again! The Ugly Sweater Holiday Party in December was the perfect way to start back face to face and “uglier than ever”! It was great to see everyone and reminded me just how much I love the interactive nature of our association. 10 | Q1 2022 |
One of the key elements to our success as an organization has been the incredible resources that we can utilize. Not only is it the contributions of our local partners, but we have help available to us all around the country. One of my goals is to make sure we are taking advantage of all the available tools. This has been an exciting part of my job as I realize how much stronger we are when we bring fresh ideas to our association. We have taken ideas that have proven successful in other associations and implemented them for our members. In return, other states have learned from us, making us all Stronger Together. Here is a quick recap of some of what we have been working on over recent months: • Premier Partners: 2021 proved to be a record year with our newly formed Premier Partner Program in 2020. Once again, we are breaking records with our 2022 partners committing to the “year of the independent agent.” Our agents and partners are ready to get back in person. Their desire to grow, innovate and thrive within the independent agency system is nothing short of inspiring.
