South Central Agencies Recognized by Big ‘I’ for ‘Best Practices’

Two independent agencies from South Central states were among the six insurance firms from across the country recognized in January 2008 as “Top Performing Agencies” by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) and Reagan Consulting, an Atlanta-based management consulting firm.

Dallas-based Swingle Collins & Associates and the Ed Berrong Insurance Agency of Weatherford, Okla., were cited as top performers by the Big “I.” Texas-based Brady, Chapman, Holland and Associates Inc. was a runner up top performer in a separate revenue category.

They were joined by other agency members of the Big “I” organizations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas that qualified as Best Practice agencies in their respective revenue categories as part of the 2007 Best Practices Study released in October.

The top performing agencies were singled out for their operational excellence, financial results, and overall management achievement in their respective revenue-size categories.

Swingle Collins & Associates is led by Independent Insurance Agents of Texas President Frank Swingle. Swingle Collins is the largest property-and-casualty-only insurance agency in the Dallas area. Having just celebrated its 25th anniversary, the firm is committed to remaining independently owned. The agency targets mid-market customers and strives to offer the best market representation and relationships available in Texas.

The Ed Berrong Insurance Agency is a family-owned firm now in its 59th year of business. Located along the mid-west I-40 corridor, the agency does business throughout Oklahoma and in surrounding states. The agency is a full-lines insurance agency with a focus in the oil and gas industry and is a surplus lines broker for its clients.

Agencies from the South Central states that were recognized are:

Arkansas
Mark V. Williamson Co. Inc., Little Rock

Texas

• Bigham Kliewer Chapman Watts Insurance Agency, Killeen
• Brady, Chapman, Holland & Assoc., Houston
• Bryan Insurance Agency, Graham
• Dean & Draper Insurance Agency, Houston
• GEM Insurance Agencies LP, Houston
• Hibbs-Hallmark & Company, Tyler
• Insurance Alliance, Houston
• Lynn, Kiecke, Lackey Insurance Group, Bellville
• McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP, Dallas
• Pierson & Fendley Insurance Agency LLC, Paris
• Swingle, Collins & Associates, Dallas
• Trimble-Batjer Insurance Associates LLP, San Angelo
• Weatherby-Eisenrich Insurance Agency, Andrews

Louisiana

• Eustis Insurance Inc., New Orleans
• Knox Insurance Group LLC, Lafayette

Oklahoma

• Ed Berrong Insurance Agency, Weatherford
• North American Group, Oklahoma City
• Professional Insurors Agency LLC, Oklahoma City

Every three years, the Big “I” and Reagan Consulting join forces to select “Best Practices” firms throughout the nation for outstanding management and financial achievement in six revenue categories: Under $1,250,000; Between $1,250,000 and $2,500,000; Between $2,500,000 and $5,000,000; Between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000; Between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000; and Over $25,000,000.

More than 800 independent agencies and brokers of varying sizes across the country were nominated to take part in the study. Only 195 agencies, the top thirty to thirty-three in each of the six revenue groups qualified for selection. The agencies were nominated by either a Big “I”-affiliated state association or an insurance company and qualified based on operational excellence.

Eleven insurance companies and three industry vendors provided financial support for the research and development of the study: Applied Systems, Central Insurance Cos., Chubb, EMC Insurance Companies, Encompass Insurance, Hanover Insurance Group, Harleysville, Imperial AI Credit Companies, InsurBanc, Liberty Mutual, Main Street America Group, MetLife Auto & Home, Safeco and Zurich North America.

Source: Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America

Topics Texas Agencies Oklahoma