Koches Receives Spirit of Education Award

Sharon A. Koches is the inaugural winner of the Spirit of Education Award presented by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”), honoring her commitment to delivering quality education to Big “I” members.

Koches, regional marketing director with the American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America, has worked closely with Big “I” leadership for two years on the Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) designation program, a joint educational effort between the Institutes and the Big “I”.

Madelyn Flannagan, Big “I” vice president of education and research,
said the Spirit of Education Award was created by the Big “I” Education and Research Department to acknowledge the generous contribution of time, energy, expertise, and patience necessary to make an education program or professional development offering successful.

“Sharon Koches’ willingness to assist in every aspect of the program,
from curriculum revision to order resolution, has ensured that the program will remain the preeminent training program in the nation for agency CSRs,” Flannagan said. “We could not have achieved the success we have seen without her constant ‘can do’ attitude and innate ability to understand the needs of the program participants.”

Under Koches’ leadership, the ACSR designation has become an important professional development program for customer service representatives and account managers working for independent agents, offering high quality professional education. ACSR completers often go on to pursue additional industry credentials such as the Institutes’ Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) designation.