MARCH 2010 - The National Capital Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP) recently hosted its 13th Annual Professional Night. The evening event, held at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, Va., drew insurance and financial service professionals from throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. for networking with others in the profession. Keynote speaker for the event was Tucker Carlson, TV political commentator and journalist. Photos are of event attendees.

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October 2009 -- Young agents from all over Virginia came together in Fredericksburg, Va., for the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia Young Agents Conference. Participants took part in seminars, a trade show and a variety of networking opportunities during the two-day event. Photos are of attendees, speakers and trade show exhibitors.

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OCTOBER 2009 - The Professional Insurance Agents of Virginia held its annual Fall Conference at the Hospitality House in Fredericksburg, Va. Agents from all over the state attended, drawn to the expert agents panel on protecting profits in the recession, an errors & omissions loss prevention seminar, a laws and regulations luncheon, trade show with vendors and bingo to support Special Olympics. Pictured are attendees, trade show vendors and speakers.

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OCTOBER 2009: The Greater Washington Association of Health Underwriters (GWAHU) held its 13th annual charity golf tournament in October at Norbeck Country Club. The event raised funds for CureSearch, also known as the National Childhood Cancer Foundation/Children’s Oncology Group. More than 90 golfers were greeted by beautiful weather and a pristine golf course, and treated to lunch and dinner. Tony Covington, director of corporate relations for CureSearch and former defensive safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks (also standout player for the University of Virginia Cavaliers), spoke to the gathering about the CureSearch organization. Photos are of golfers and other attendees.

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September 2009 -- Hundreds of agents, brokers and carrier reps from throughout Virginia and the mid-Atlantic convened on Virginia Beach, Va., in mid-September for the Virginia Association of Health Underwriters’ (VAHU) annual convention. The theme for VAHU’s conference was “Changing Tides,” in reference to changes to the health insurance industry being proposed by Congress and President Obama. Adam Brackemyer, director of state affairs for NAHU (National Association of Health Underwriters), gave the gathering an update on legislation pending before Congress, and what it could mean for the industry and the nation. In addition, VAHU and its sponsors offered continuing education seminars on topics that included: underwriting medical stop loss, challenges of health cost management, tax deductibility of LTCi premiums for small businesses, and voluntary benefits. Photos are of attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers.

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SEPTEMBER 2009 -- David R. Wise (fifth from left) was elected as president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – Central Virginia for 2009-2010. Wise is a 13-year member of the association and a 15-year employee of Farm Bureau Insurance in Buckingham County, Va. New officers pictured are (pictured left to right): Harold T. Morris Sr., owner/agent with the Morris Insurance Agency; Greg L. Leffler, an agent with State Farm Insurance; Joseph B. “Skip” Platt, owner/agent with Platt Financial; Albert J. Vargas, who will serve as secretary; David Wise; Charles H. "Chic" Craddock Jr., president-elect and treasurer; Philip G. Frazer, an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance; Harry C. Gill, agency manager with Farm Bureau Insurance; James M. "Jay" Garnett, an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance; and John A. "Tony" Martin, an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance. Board Members not pictured: Gary Albert, an agent with State Farm Insurance; Gregg A. John, professional development and LUTC chairperson; Paul J. Ward, owner/agent with Maloney & Ward Insurance Agency; and April L. Martin, owner/agent with The Benefit Planning Co.

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JUNE 2009 -- The Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia (IIAV) presented several awards during its 2009 IIAV Annual Convention held June 14-16, 2009 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Virginia

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JUNE 2009 -- Agents from all over Virginia attended the Professional Insurance Agents of Virginia & D.C. annual convention at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Roanoke, Va. In addition to continuing education and networking opportunities, attendees attended awards presentations and some participated in a golf tournament. Photos are from the trade show Sunday afternoon and the reception that followed.

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MAY 2009 -- Freedom Broker Services recently held its annual golf tournament to benefit the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a group that helps soldiers injured in recent wars. The regional brokerage agency, with offices in Vienna, Va., and Towson, Md., had 52 golfers take to the course at the River Creek Country Club in Leesburg, Va. The event raised $2,500 for the coalition through a putting contest and other donations. Pictured (from left to right) are Lcpl. Joel Klobnak, Airman Laura Narvaez, Freedom Broker Services President Kevin P. Conley, and Specialist Robert "B.J." Jackson.

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MARCH 2009 - The Washington, D.C., chapter of the CPCU Society, the National Association of Insurance Women and the Metropolitan Washington Association of Independent Insurance Agents held their annual Capital I-Day in Washington, D.C., in March. Among the events for agents was a morning mock trial, "Poof, It's Gone!" dealing with massive corporate identity theft and material misrepresentations in an application for D&O Insurance, presented by the Budow and Noble law firm. In addition to a trade show and door prizes, attendees also heard from luncheon speaker Kevin Quinley, a self-described insurance racaunteur. During the afternoon sessions, agents learned about D&O liability insurance claims and coverage issues from Nancy Adams of the Boston office of the law firm of MIntz Levin; flood insurance from Annette Winston, flood territory manager for Selective; insurance fraud for agents from Fred Wharton of North American Training Group; and ethics for insurance producers by Jim Ehrich of Client First Brokerage Services.

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Matthew Finn has recently been awarded the Associate of The Year from Guardian Disability Insurance Brokerage, a regional disability insurance brokerage based in Rockville, Md.

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JANUARY 2009 - Alan Meltzer (left), CEO of The Meltzer Group, was congratulated for becoming Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company’s (MassMutual) “2008 Agent of the Year” by Stuart Reese (center), MassMutual Chairman and CEO, and Jim Van Eperen, CEO of The Washington Group of MassMutual. Meltzer has won the agent of the year award from MassMutual for 17 years. In 2008, Meltzer led the company in overall first-year commissions and life insurance first-year commissions, achieving this honor 16 times in his career.

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MAY 2009 - Guest speakers Daniel Corrigan, Van Mueller and Michael Keenan were among the presenters at the 74th annual convention of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Virginia, held May 17-19 at the Cavalier Resort Hotel and Beach Club Convention Center in Virginia Beach, Va. In addition to the present’s reception, a trade show and Hall of Fame Banquet, the event featured the “Million Dollar Round Table Experience ’09,” featuring the three speakers. Pictured are attendees, speakers, exhibitors and others.

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MARCH 2009 - The National Capital Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP) recently hosted its 12th Annual Professional Night. The evening event, held at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, Va., drew insurance and financial service professionals from throughout Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. for networking with others in the profession. Keynote speaker for the event was George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC’s This Week Sunday morning talk show, and former staff member in the administration of President Bill Clinton. Photos are of various attendees from the event.

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JANUARY 2009 – Members of the Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia, along with the Virginia chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, recently held their annual Day on the Hill at the Downtown Richmond Marriott in Richmond, Va. The afternoon began with a session on surving in uncertain times, led by Steve Peterson, director of research and senior risk officer for the Virginia Retirement System, and Joan T. Garton, assistant vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Later in the afternoon, a session addressing bills before the Virginia General Assembly was led by the IIAV’s Robert Bradshaw and VAIFA’s lobbyist, Gerald Milsky, and featured Thomas C. Koonce, assistant vice president for federal government affairs for the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Gary A. Sanders, vice president of securities and state government relations for VAIFA, and Jill Ahart, young agents grassroots chairwoman and an agent at Ahart, Frinzi & Smith Insurance in Alexandria, Va. The legislative primer was followed by a legislative reception where agents and financial service professionals networked and talked with members of the Virginia Senate and House. The following morning, members heard from Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling in a keynote address, prior to making visits to many legislators’ offices to lobby on behalf of a number of bills affecting the industry. The two-day event was sponsored by Progressive, Jackson-Sumner Associates and Insurance & Financial Advisor.

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