Sidelights
CAA Producer Named IIAT’s 2009 ‘Young Agent of the Year’
AUSTIN—Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA)
producer Mark Bridges, of Edmond,
Deaton & Stephens Insurance Agency (Amarillo,), was named the André P. Juneau Young Agent of the Year by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) at its 112th Annual Conference & Trade Show. Edmond, Deaton & Stephens Agency is owned by the Duncan, Fraser & Bridges agency (Pampa).
“In my 27 year membership with IIAT,
Mark Bridges
I do not remember a “Young Agent of
the Year” more active in our industry than Mark,” said Roger Luttrell, CAA member and president of Benton-Luttrell-Brown Company. “Most impressively, it’s been my privilege to watch Mark dream, design and implement a young producer program for CAA. Creating a program that is supported by forty-one independent business owners requires imagination, courage and outstanding communication skills.”
The IIAT’s ‘Young Agent of the Year’ annual award is bestowed upon a young producer that demonstrated service to the industry, his or her professional trade associations and community in an exceptional manner for a person of his/her age. Nominations are solicited each January, and announced during the IIAT’s annual conference.
The award was named after André P. Juneau, senior vice president of Nieman Hanks Puryear, a division of Frost Insurance Agency, Inc., Austin, and former president of the IIAT, whose career, family life and community involvement stand as brilliant examples of what a young agent can strive to be. He died early at the age 47 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Upon accepting the reward, Bridges — a third generation insurance agent — was able to pay special tribute to his late grandfather, Randall Bridges, who entered the insurance industry in the 1940’s and spent his life working in it. Bridges stated that his father and he would not be in insurance if not for his grandfather’s profound influence.
Bridges currently serves as the president of the Panhandle
on the business and the people in it
Independent Insurance Agents Association for 2009/2010. As a graduate of IIAT’s Producer Development School, Bridges is also on track to complete the CIC designation this year. He received a master’s degree in Business Administration from Texas Christian University and a bachelor degree in Business Administration with a major in Insurance from Baylor University. Bridges and his wife reside in Amarillo with their four children. He recently became a principal partner at Walthall, Sachse & Pipes, Inc. this April.
BC&BST Gives $30,000 to ADA
DALLAS—Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas recently donated $30,000 to the American Diabetes Association’s prevention and management programs geared toward Hispanic and African-American communities within North Texas.
The programs, Por tu Familia and Live Empowered!, each will receive $15,000, the highest sponsorship level available.
“Blue Cross is pleased to strengthen its alliance with the American Diabetes Association,” said Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, vice president and chief medical officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, “especially by joining efforts to convey the importance of diabetes prevention and to reduce the rates of diabetes among Latinos and African Americans, two groups with higher prevalence rates of diabetes.”
Live Empowered!, geared towards African-Americans, includes two major events: Project POWER, a faith-based program targeting churches, and Choose to Live, a workshop designed to educate African Americans about cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes. The program has successfully reached over 50,000 individuals.
Por tu Familia, “For your Family”, is designed specifically for the Hispanic/Latino community. Activity-based classes teach prevention and management both in English and Spanish. There is also a Latino Health Fair in September that offers free screenings. The program reaches 50,000 individuals.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 40,000 physicians and 400 hospitals to serve four million members in all 254 Texas counties. For more information, visit www. bcbstx.com. Founded in 1940, The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization providing diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Phone 1-800-DIABETES, or visit www.diabetes.org.
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