People – South Central

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) elected Rick Dudney of TCOR Management in New Braunfels to serve as chairman for 2017-2018 during IIAT’s 120th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Fort Worth.

Dudney entered the insurance business in 1997 as a producer and network administrator for a three-branch agency in south Texas. In 2001, he joined Brooke Insurance in Beeville as a commercial lines manager, became operations manager in 2004, and joined Cory and Brannon Brooke as a partner in Brooke’s successor agency, TCOR Management, at its inception in 2006.

As managing partner for TCOR, Dudney oversees all departments and all affiliated agencies, including its three newest, MS&B Bonds and Insurance in San Antonio, TIA-TCOR in San Antonio, and Legacy Insurors Group in Tyler.

Dudney’s professional focus is on clients in the energy sector, from upstream operations to midstream, as well as related manufacturing operations. His knowledge of the oil and gas industry comes from 18 years of experience managing risk in the oilfield.

He is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Licensed Risk Manager (LRM), and Certified Risk Manager (CRM).

Other newly elected IIAT officers for 2017-2018 include Chair-Elect Jeffrey L. Brady of Brady, Chapman, Holland & Associates in Houston and Vice Chair Mark Ray of Borden Insurance in Corpus Christi.

William Page of Wortham Insurance in Austin, Brad Hempkins of Hempkins Insurance in Allen, and Nathan Sawyer of Sawyer & Associates in Monahans to were elected to IIAT’s board of directors. The three new directors will each serve three-year terms.

IIAT also named Tyler Spears of BKCW in Austin as the Andre P. Juneau ELITExas Young Agent of the Year.

This award is given annually to a young insurance agent in Texas who has achieved success through hard work, community engagement and industry participation in a manner that would be considered exceptional for a person of his or her age.

Spears began his insurance career at BKCW in 2009 and became an accomplished producer for large commercial property casualty and benefits accounts. In 2016 he was named a managing partner at BKCW, which has been named a “Best Practices” agency each of Spears’ years as managing partner.

He has served on the founding advisory council for the Emerging Leaders of Insurance in Texas (ELITExas) and as the Combined Agents of America NetVu Chapter Chair.

Tyler is a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Austin (IIAA), the Austin Association of Health Underwriters and Benefit Advisors Network.

Cheryl Rogers of K&S Insurance in Rockwall was selected as IIAT’s Customer Service Representative (CSR) of the Year.

This award is given annually to a CSR in Texas who exemplifies outstanding leadership and service to the independent agency system and to the public.

Rogers is an account manager at K&S Insurance in Rockwall and holds the designations of Accredited Customer Service Representative, Texas Independent Insurance Adviser, Certified Account Manager and Construction Risk Insurance Specialist.

Her colleagues say Rogers excels at serving her clients and making them feel appreciated. She is known to resolve conflicts and handle difficult situations with remarkable patience and admirable tact.

With nearly 1,600 member agencies in 225 counties, IIAT is the largest state association of independent insurance agents and professionals in the U.S.

Houston-based Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP has promoted Stephen B. Smith to executive vice president, chief operating officer and limited partner over its group of agencies.

For the past year Smith has served as executive vice president of Soules Insurance Agency LP, a Dean & Draper company.

Smith’s wide-ranging responsibilities include operations, mergers and acquisitions, risk management, marketing and advertising, as well as internal training and development programs. He is nationally recognized for his knowledge and proficiency in directors/officers and construction industry risk management.

Smith holds the CPCU professional designation.

Former Texas Public Insurance Counsel and former Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Rod Bordelon has joined Austin-based Granite Public Affairs where he will lead the firm’s insurance and regulatory affairs practice.

An 11-time gubernatorial appointee, Bordelon has more than 30 years’ experience working with consumers, regulators, legislators and stakeholders.

As workers’ comp commissioner, Bordelon’s accomplishments included the implementation of reforms that resulted in significant market performance improvements and cost savings, a 50 percent drop in rates of insurance premiums, and increased performance within the agency.

As Texas public insurance counsel, he negotiated numerous regulatory reforms and was instrumental in implementing flexible file-and-use rate and form procedures in property and casualty lines of insurance, reducing regulatory delays and increasing competition in the insurance marketplace.

Bordelon most recently served as policy director of Texans for Free Enterprise, where he advocated for price competition in the title insurance market.

He also has served on several boards and commissions, including the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Legislative Oversight Committee, Texas Surplus Lines Stamping Office, Interstate Product Regulation Commission, Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, and Texas Certified Self-Insurance Guaranty Association.

Ron Lockton, who has served as global insurance broker Lockton Inc.’s vice chairman for the past two years as part of the succession plan, is expanding his role to become president and chief executive officer of the firm.

He succeeds Glenn Spencer, who has resigned as president and CEO for personal reasons. Spencer was named president and CEO in May after 11 years with the broker serving as chief operating officer and president of U.S. operations and executive vice president of operations.

Ron Lockton will work with Chairman David Lockton, U.S. President Peter Clune, International CEO Neil Nimmo, and Lockton leaders around the world.

Ron is the son of Lockton Inc.’s late founder, Jack Lockton, and is David’s nephew.