Burbank Area Ins. Cos. Install New Boards
Dozens of insurance brokers and agents gathered Sept. 25 at Oakmont Country Club for an evening of fine dining, good friends and official business when the Insurance Brokers and Agents of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena held their annual Installation Banquet.
The evening, which featured fine wines and an hour of cocktails before dinner, mixed business and pleasure with a lighthearted program officiated by new IBA-BGP President Rick Dinger of Crescenta Valley Insurance in La Crescenta. After a welcome to the guests, The James T. Armitage Scholarship was presented to high school junior Kristen Wright, who was chosen for the honor due to her 3.8 GPA, outstanding community service, and dedication to academics. Although still in high school, Wright has been attending El Camino Junior College and dedicates a considerable amount of personal time to volunteer work.
Outgoing IBA-BGP President Mary Boales presented John Hatton of Bolton & Company in Pasadena with the Outstanding Member of the Year Award.
“He is a man with remarkable follow-through,” said Boales, who said that Hatton was known as a good husband and father of three in addition to being a good businessman.
Following the acknowledgment of the service of the 2002-2003 board and a presentation of thanks to outgoing board member Blake Longo of A.J. Longo & Associates in Pasadena, Glendale Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Haney took the opportunity to thank the IBA-BGP for their contributions to a fire safety program administered to local fifth graders.
“Your money is well spent,” said Haney, who explained that the one-semester class has been highly effective in training the fifth graders with good fire safety skills. “It is one of our most well-received programs.”
At the conclusion of the program, the 2003-2004 board was installed by IBA-West Director Teresa Todd, who flew in from San Jose for the event. Dinger concluded the evening by presenting his theme for the year. Having originally thought that the theme should focus on how the organization offers support from the top down, Dinger changed his mind.
“This organization really works from each individual up to the national level,” Dinger said. “So our theme is Bottoms Up!”