IBA West Pacific Northwest Chapter Joins Big ‘I’ Washington

Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) has disbanded its Pacific Northwest Chapter and joined forces with the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington (Big “I” Washington).

According to IBA West, “in light of continuing fiscal and operating challenges, in addition to limited membership growth potential, the IBA West Board decided it was necessary to disband the PNW Chapter.”

“Without question, 2009 was a tough year for both individual members and the entire association,” said the association’s outgoing President Rick Dinger of Crescenta Valley Insurance in Glendale, Calif. “A continuation of a slow economy and soft insurance market resulted in members taking a hard look at their bottom line and determining whether the value they received from their association was worth the price paid for admission.”

IBA West President Kevin Baker of Suhr Risk Services of California said 2009 was a “perfect storm,” in which independent agents and brokers faced an economic downturn, premiums were a fraction of what they used to be, unemployment and home foreclosure rates were up, and the association’s membership declined. He noted that one reason the association’s membership declined was that the organization is not in step with the local chapters, and that former PNW chapter members will be better served by the Big “I” Washington that will be dedicated to their needs.

Nevertheless, he said association membership was indeed worth the price.

“As an advocacy leader, we have achieved what few others have achieved, an in the process, we have enjoyed significant political power in Sacramento,” Baker said, noting the group’s lobbyist, general counsel and grassroots army of broker-agents that have relationships with legislators.

“Advocacy is expensive,” he said. “We’re not the low cost provider.”

Topics Agencies Washington