Insurance Business America 9.08

Page 36

SPECIAL REPORT BUSINESS STRATEGY

5-STAR AWARDS: NETWORKS AND ALLIANCES

THE BENEFITS OF BEING CONNECTED THERE’S STRENGTH in numbers – and for a small agency or brokerage looking take the industry by storm, the extra resources and support offered by an insurance network or alliance can be vital. The advantages of being part of a network are readily apparent to TechAssure and Iroquois Group, two winners of IBA’s inaugural 5-Star Awards for networks and alliances. “We are the only broker network in the world solely focused on insuring the innova-

“Having an extensive, highly experienced field force means we can create more personal interactions and develop deeper relationships with our member agencies” David Ward, Iroquois Group

HOW SATISFIED ARE BROKERS WITH THEIR NETWORKS?

6%

2% OK

Good

92%

Excellent

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tion ecosystem,” says Garrett Droege, executive director of TechAssure, which has 35 member brokerages representing $10 billion in premium placements. “And being global allows us to deliver multinational insurance programs to our members and their clients. Finally, being invitation-only allows us to maintain the highest-caliber roster of members – which, in itself, is attractive to those looking to learn from and with their peers.” David Ward, a managing partner who covers an eight-state territory in the Southeast US for Iroquois Group, says his network’s field team of 50 regional managers and managing partners sets it apart from other networks. “Having an extensive, highly experienced field force means we can create more personal interactions and develop deeper relationships with our member agencies, as well as support and represent our carrier partners more effectively,” he says. Droege believes agents and brokers who

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