Cruger Ragland, owner of an insurance agency in Kilmarnock, Va., was installed as the chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia at its annual convention, held recently in Williamsburg, Va.

Cruger Ragland

Ragland, who owns Hubbard Insurance Agency, will serve as chairman of the professional association for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, which began on July 1. Ragland serves on the board of directors of both the IIAV and its subsidiary, the Virginia Financial Services Corp., and is a member of the Met Life Auto & Home Agents National Council.

Robert A. Yergey will serve the IIAV as chairman-elect. He started with Yergey Insurance Agency in 1993, starting in personal lines for the family owned agency and is now a partner in the firm, handling all commercial lines and splits management duties.

Yergey has been a member of several IIAV committees over the last several years, including as president of the Northern Virginia Independent Agents Association.

Serving as first vice-chairman for the next year will be John O. Watson, who has been with Hanckel-Citizens Insurance Corp. in Charlottesville, Va., for 28 years, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Watson has served as firm president for the past 16 years.

Thomas C. Via Jr., will serve as the IIAV’s second vice chairman. He has been in the insurance industry for 30 years and is currently president of Leonard L. Brown Agency, Inc., in Blacksburg, Va.