Association Aims to Attract Young Agents, Brokers to Vegas

Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West is aiming to hit the jackpot with the industry’s younger set, by moving its annual IBA West’s Young Brokers & Agents conference to Las Vegas in 2008. The professional conference is scheduled for June 5-7 at the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino.

According to IBA West’s Young Brokers & Agents Committee (YBAC), which organized the conference, it decided to move locations from California to Las Vegas in hopes of serving more professionals across the West, and making the event larger and more regional.

“There are no other young, independent agent groups in nearby states like Nevada and Arizona,” explained Patty Lombard, communications consultant for IBA West. “In moving the conference to Las Vegas, we’re hoping it might grow larger and more regional, and provide added value for nearby states,” she said.

Young agents generally are age 40 or younger, or have spent less than 10 years in the industry. “But when it comes to our events, we do not ask nor require attendees to be young agents,” said Joel Geddes III, IBA West’s YBA Committee chairman.

Among the YBA Conference highlights are networking opportunities and a professional educational curriculum. Last year, a Professional Development Curriculum Track was developed exclusively for the YBA conference that consists of a three-year curriculum. At the end of the three years, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Producer Training. Each year the Professional Development Track offers seminars on the essential principles to become a successful insurance professional.

This year, the YBA conference will offer Professional Development Track 1, which was offered last year, and Track 2 for those continuing on from the first year. The classes run concurrently with the continuing education track developed by Insurance Skills Center for the YBA conference.

“We designed this conference to give young agents and brokers excellent resources for professional development,” Geddes said.

For more information on the educational tracks or to register, visit www.ybac.net.

IBA West is a producer association in the West for insurance brokers and agents, representing more than 1,000 firms and more than 14,000 professionals.