IBA West Installs New Officers, Acordia’s Sawyer Named President

IBA West recently installed new officers and directors at its 2006 Annual Business Meeting and Installation Luncheon in Los Angeles.

Elected to the 2005 Executive Committee were:

*President – Stewart Sawyer III, vice president and actuary, director of market security for Acordia Inc. in Seattle;
*President-Elect – Paul F. Bystrowski of John O. Bronson Co. Inc. in Sacramento, Calif.;
*Secretary-Treasurer – H. Scott Kerns, Bay Risk Insurance Services of Alameda, Calif.; and
* IIABA State National Director – Andrew J. Valdivia of White & Co. Insurance Inc. in Santa Monica, CA.

Elected to the IBA West Board of Directors were:
*Northern California Regional Director – William E. Ryan of Sweet & Baker Insurance Brokers Inc. in San Francisco;
*Southern California Regional Director – Karen Oxman of GNW-Evergreen Insurance Services Inc. in Encino, Calif.;
*IBA West Director at Large – Tim Manaka of FIA Insurance Services in Pasadena, Calif.; and
* Returning Directors – Betsey L. Brewer of The Rule Co. in Pasadena, Richard E. Dinger of Crescenta Valley Insurance in Glendale, Calif., M. Stuart Nelson of Point West Insurance Associates in Sacramento, Clifton E. Thomas of Chubb & Son in San Francisco, and Steven J. White of Smith & Feek in Bellevue, Wash.

Sawyer presented a “state of the association” address, during which time he told the group he was committed to continuing to expand and improve IBA West’s insurance products. He also said he hoped to develop ways to increase the number and diversity of young talent entering the industry. And he would like to find a way to share the professional expertise of the association’s members with the news media to help consumers.

“As professional practitioners we know that you are more credible than paid public relations professionals. We want to share that expertise with the news media so we can help consumers with insurance issues,” he said.

“I am committed to making sure that IBA West provides you with the very best value for your membership,” he added. “Our goal is to help you do your job. I look forward to being the steward of your association for 2006.”