TSLA Gears Up for Legislative Session with New Officers, Political Agenda

Taking over as the new president of the Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc., Marshall Leicht, executive vice president and marketing manager of Leicht General Agency, told attendees at TSLA’s 48th Annual Meeting that their “participation is required, both in time and money” in order to confront the issues that surplus lines agents now face.

In his installation speech at the Nov. 15 meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Leicht listed some of those issues: insurance and tax reform in the Legislature; agency audits and electronic filing at the stamping office; rate rollbacks in homeowners insurance; and the Marsh McLennan “bid-rigging” allegations.

Underscoring the importance of TSLA’s legislative connection, Leicht encouraged members to become active in the process. “Meet your local legislative members. Pick up the phone; write a letter. You’ll be absolutely amazed at how little it takes to become a face they recognize,” he said.

Also important, Leicht said, “is your money. We want it, and you need the TSLA PAC to have it. Over the last few years TSLA has become a very recognizable entity at the Legislature. Campaign contributions play a large part of that. It should be relatively easy to write the check. Just pretend like your livelihood depends on it.”

In addition to Leicht, who succeeds Banos Georgiou of Burnett & Company, TSLA installed its other officers for the coming year: Vice President Don Etheredge, managing partner, Texas Commercial Insurance Facilities, Tyler; and Secretary-Treasurer Len Kaplan, executive vice president and CFO, Delta General Agency, Houston.

New directors are Rob Arnold, Myron F. Steves & Co.; Shannon Dahlke, McClelland & Hine of Houston LLP; and Monte Stringer, U.S. Risk Inc., who were all elected for three-year terms.

TSLA’s continuing directors are Gay Aulenbacher, Leicht General Agency; Michael Berry, Specialty Insurance Managers Inc.; Lorrie Cheshier, McClelland & Hine Inc.; Lana Parks, The Parks Group Inc.; Paul Rainey, RSI International Inc.; and Kathy van Eeten, Crump Insurance Services Inc.

During the business meeting, TSLA presented the “President’s Award” to Len Kaplan, who served as chair of the Regulatory Liaison Committee for many years. The “Don King Committee Member of the Year” award was presented to Rosemarie Marshall, Heath Insurance Brokers of Texas, for her service on the Regulatory Liaison Committee.

The Avrohm Wisenberg scholarship recipients were Terah Casey, Specialty Insurance Managers Inc., and Karen Grubbs, RSI International Inc. Casey received a CIC scholarship and Grubbs a CISR scholarship. Both recipients will receive a cash prize of $100 upon course completion. The scholarships were donated by the Society of CIC.

London American Risk Specialists Inc. won the full ACSR scholarship donated by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas.

Topics Texas