Posted on Wed, Sep 17, 2008
Dean Draper Insurance Agency has been selected for the second year (2008) to be part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) "Best Practices" Study Group.
Only 195 independent agencies throughout the U.S. qualified for inclusion in the Best Practices Study. An IIABA affiliated state association or an insurance company must first nominate the agency which then must qualify based on outstanding customer services, growth, stability and financial management.
The Best Practices Study was initiated by IIABA in 1993 as the foundation for efforts to improve agency performance. The annual study of leading independent insurance agencies, which is conducted for IIABA by Reagan Consulting of Atlanta, GA documents the business practices of these "best" agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices.
To assist agencies in adopting Best Practices, IIABA has developed a family of products, service and workshops known as the Best Practices Implementation Series. The series includes materials such as the Agency Self-Diagnostic Tool, Agency/Company Joint Planning Tool Quick Step, Customer Service Made Simple, Five Practices of Effective Leaders handbook and Top Producers: Discover, Train, Reward. Additional studies and tools are added periodically. The publications include guidelines, worksheets, and case studies to help agents apply the information contained in each report.
In addition to the written materials, hundreds of workshops and seminars have been conducted at various producer association functions, company sponsored agency meetings, and national automation users group conventions.
The IIABA and Reagan Consulting jointly maintain the Best Practices Gateway website (http://bp.reaganconsulting.com) that provides executive summaries of the annual Best Practices Studies, the Best Practices Quick Check interactive comparison tool, and samples from the various Best Practices tools. The Gateway, as well as the annual study, is made possible in part through the financial sponsorship of various insurance companies and industry organizations.
The 2008 Best Practices Study sponsors include: Applied Systems, Central Insurance Companies, Chubb, EMC Insurance Companies, ENCOMPASS Insurance, Harleysville, Imperial AI Credit Companies, InsurBanc, The Hanover Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual, MetLife Auto & Home, Safeco, and Zurich.
Founded in 1896, IIABA is the nation's oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance - property, casualty, life and health-as well as employee benefit plans and retirement precuts. Web address: www.independentagent.com.
-Kyle Dean
Posted on Thu, Jul 12, 2007
Washington, D.C. - The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced this week that Mr. Robert F. Dean of Houston has been selected as a recipient of the 2005 Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal.
U.S. Representative Tom Reynolds (R-NY), Chairman of the NRCC, stated, "Mr. Dean has long supported Republican ideals, like debt reduction and tax reform as they related to the growth and stability of small business in this country. I look forward to Mr. Dean's continued participation as a key member of the Committee and offer my congratulations on the award."
Those who are selected to receive the Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal are invited to participate in periodic strategy briefings to provide input on economic and tax issues, as well as how to build broad-based support for conservatives initiatives within the business community. Recipients are also permanently listed in the ranks of the Republican Honor Roll at the NRCC headquarters in Washington.
The NRCC is a political committee devoted to building a lasting Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Business Advisory Council, established in 1995 by the National Republican Congressional Committee, is a group of conservative businessmen and women who advocate a progressive, conservative, pro-business agenda. The Washington-based organization pools the expertise of business leaders from across the United States to ensure small business issues remain a priority among government leaders.
Download Press Release
Business Advisory Council
National Republican Congressional Committee
-Dean & Draper
Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2007
Houston, Texas-based Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP announced that the firm has won the America First Insurance Company's "President's Award" for 2006. This is the second year in a row that the agency has received this award.
The America First President's Award is given annually to agencies that have achieved superior performance goals and demonstrated outstanding professionalism and customer service, providing the foundation for mutual success.
America First Insurance is part of Liberty Mutual Agency Markets, a business unit of Liberty Mutual Group. Agency Markets consists of property and casualty, and specialty insurance carriers that distribute their products and services primarily through independent agents and brokers.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2006/04/04/67027.htm
Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2007
Read the article here:
http://www.intownmag.com/archives/06-05-may-2006/thumbs.htm
-Tracey Wallace
Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2007
Insurance Journal released its third annual Top 100 Property Casualty Independent Agencies list late last month and one of the nation's largest networks of retail agencies came in as number one.
Leading the pack of the nation's largest privately-held P/C agencies is the Hampton, N.H.-based Strategic Independent Agents Alliance with reported 2005 P/C premium volume of $4.1 billion. Founded in 1983, SIAA has over 1,900 independent agencies in its network and operates in 48 states.
Coming in at number two on the IJ Top 100 list is Lockton Companies Inc. based in Kansas City, Mo. Founded in 1969, Lockton wrote $2.2 billion in 2005 P/C premium and $600 million in non-P/C premium last year. The firm currently employs more than 2,000 employees and represents more than 100 insurers.
Alliant Resources Group Inc. in Newport Beach, Calif., took the number three spot with $1.1 billion in 2005 P/C premium and $634.9 million in non-P/C premium last year. Founded in 2000, Alliant has 785 employees.
Mesirow Financial - Insurance Services Division, based in Chicago, Ill., came in at number four with $916.5 million in 2005 P/C premium. Mesirow, founded in 1972, employs 303 employees.
Rounding out the top five in IJ's Top 100 Privately-Held Property/Casualty Agencies list for 2006 was Keystone Insurers Group based in Northumberland, Penn. Keystone's agencies wrote $744 million in 2005 P/C premium and $121.1 million in non-P/C premium last year. Founded in 1983, Keystone employs 1,000 workers.
Other privately-held independent agencies in the top 10 of IJ's Top 100 list in 2006 include: The Leavitt Group (6) in Cedar City, Utah; Hylant Group Inc. (7) in Toledo, Ohio; Keenan & Associates (8) in Torrance, Calif.; Insurance Office of America (9) in Longwood, Fla.; and The IMA Financial Group Inc. (10) in Wichita, Kan.
IJ's Top 100 list ranked agencies based on their 2005 P/C premium volume that was submitted directly to Insurance Journal. The information was collected from voluntary online submissions from agencies, brokerages and best estimates based on other public information sources. There are agencies that would be eligible for listing but for which no information was received or located. Also, submitted data was not independently verified. Insurance Journal thanks all those companies that were willing to share their information. For more information contact: Andrea Ortega-Wells at awells@insurancejournal.com
To purchase a copy of the complete Top 100 Property/Casualty Independent Agencies list, visit: http://www.insurancejournal.com/100agencies/purchase.php
-Tracey Wallace
Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2007
Houston, Texas-based Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP announced that Deborah Foster Ware, the founder and owner of Deborah S. Foster & Associates, has joined the team at Dean & Draper.
Foster brings with her over 38 years experience in the insurance industry.
The company said Bob Dean, Dean & Draper's president and founder, is focused on growing the agency through the production of new business, acquisitions and mergers, and working with other professional agents within the agency.
"We are always looking for leaders in the insurance industry with strong professional expertise, like Foster, and she will make an excellent addition to our team," Dean stated.
Representing over 200 insurance companies, Dean & Draper provides both personal and commercial insurance with a strong market share in Houston and in other Texas locations of Navasota, College Station and Sulphur Springs. Dean & Draper has grown to over more than $85 million in premiums and 80 agents and employees.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2006/03/06/66168.htm
-Tracey Wallace
Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2007
Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP announced that Ben H. Moore Insurance Agency has joined the Alpha Omega Insurance Group LP, a Dean & Draper Company.
Ben H. Moore started the Houston agency in 1939, and his son, Bill Moore, took over operations in 1974.
"I have searched extensively," Moore stated, "and I feel that this affiliation best fits how we have done business in the past. Our clients will be able to receive the same level of service they have always received but with the added value of the strength and support of being part of a much larger agency."
Alpha Omega Chief Operating Officer Gary Norris affirmed, "The merger of Moore's Agency with Alpha Omega enhances our on going success and strong market presence in North Houston."
Alpha Omega Insurance Group LP became an equity partner of Dean & Draper in 2004.
Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP represents over 200 insurance companies, and provides both personal and commercial insurance with a strong market share in Houston and in other Texas locations of Navasota, College Station and Sulphur Springs. In business for over 25 years, Dean & Draper has grown to over more than $85 million in premiums and 80 agents and employees.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2006/03/06/66208.htm
-Tracey Wallace
