CAA Immediate Past Pres. to Serve as IIAT Director

Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) announced that its immediate past president Bill Bridges, CIC, will serve for a 3-year term on the board of directors of The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT), known as the Big I. His term begins Sept. 1.

Bridges, the executive vice president of Duncan, Fraser & Bridges (Pampa, TX), will continue to serve on CAA’s newly-elected Management Committee. CAA is a managing general agency (MGA) committed to strengthening the independent insurance agency system through profitable growth, quality and service for its member agencies.

"We're extremely proud that Bill Bridges will continue to serve, steer and strengthen the insurance industry in Texas in big ways by serving both on the Big I board of directors and CAA's Management Committee," said Don Jones, CAA president and president of Crockett Insurance Service, (Crockett, TX). "CAA continues to attract members of the highest caliber who impact the independent insurance agency system with strong leadership and deep pools of industry knowledge."

CAA applauds the other six CAA member agencies – Barnard Insurance Agency, Bartlett, Baggett & Shands Inc., GBS Insurance Agency Inc., LLP, Pierson-Fendley Insurance Agency LLC, Pinnacle Insurance Group Inc., and Whorton Insurance Services – that actively help IIAT meet industry challenges by contributing their best people to serve on IIAT committees and in local leadership roles across Texas in 2008.

IIAT is the nation's largest state association of Trusted Choice agencies. Its board consists of four officers, the immediate past president and nine board members. Alongside Bridges, another CAA member, Curtis Fendley, CIC, managing partner of Pierson-Fendley Insurance (Paris, TX) will continue serving out his third year on the IIAT board. Steve Davis of GBS Insurance (Houston ,TX) -- another CAA member agency – will be rotating off the IIAT board this fall.

“I look forward to working with Bill Bridges, one of three new directors on our board,” said IIAT President-Elect Garry Kaufman. “The year ahead will present many new challenges and opportunities. With the guidance of this board, IIAT will meet those challenges head on.”

Bridges has been reappointed to the IIAT Budget & Finance Committee, where he has served previously, for the next year. He also serves on the Texas Mutual Agents’ Council and the Travelers' Regional Agents Council. He previously served as president of the Panhandle Independent Insurance Agents Association and on Republic’s Commercial Lines Council.

The following CAA board members and their top producers will hold IIAT leadership roles in 2008:

Bill Barnard, CIC, partner at Barnard Insurance will serve on the IIAT Budget and Finance Committee for a one-year term starting this August and continue to serve for a second year as regional vice president of the Insurance Men and Women’s Political Action Committee of Texas (Impact) Committee. Barnard will also serve as the immediate past president of the Big I Wichita Falls local association. A family owned and operated agency, Barnard Insurance is headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas and was founded in 1930.

Bill Bartlett of Bartlett, Baggett & Shands is regional vice president for IIAT IMPACT. Bartlett, Baggett & Shands has served the insurance needs of East Texans for over half a century since 1932. Founded by Bill's grandfather, E. L. Bartlett, as Bartlett Insurance Agency, the agency expanded to Bartlett, Baggett & Shands in 1954.

Brent Borgstedte, CAA chairman and president of GBS Insurance is the treasurer of the Big I Houston local association. GBS Insurance is a full-service insurance agency located in Bellaire, Texas and serving Texas since 1946.

Curtis Fendley, CIC, managing partner of Pierson-Fendley Insurance, is serving his third year on the IIAT board. Pierson-Fendley Insurance, has served Paris, Texas and its surrounding areas since 1955.

Don SoRelle, senior producer at Pinnacle Insurance Group is the president of the Big I Central Texas local association. Pinnacle Insurance Group operates in Waco, Texas and was founded in 2003 by Wayne Peel, CIC, CPCU.

Mark Bridges, son of Bill Bridges, will serve as the new president of the Panhandle Independent Insurance Agents Association for 2008-09. Mark is a producer with Edmond, Deaton & Stephens agency ( Amarillo, TX) which is owned by CAA member agency Duncan, Fraser & Bridges.

Michael Whorton, CIC, producer at Whorton Insurance Services, will serve as the new president of Big I Austin local association for 2008-09. Michael will also serve as the IIAT Legislative Leader Team and on the IIAT Trusted Choice Media Team. His father, Jim Whorton, founded Whorton Insurance in 1972 and it continues to operate in Austin, Texas.