Honoring PIA Oregon Lobbyist Lana Butterfield

PIA Oregon lobbyist, Lana Butterfield has retired after 34 years as the association’s representative in the Oregon Legislature and in Oregon politics. PIA Western Alliance Executive Vice President Kim Legato said she will be missed and very hard to replace.

“Lana has spent her entire career advocating for independent agency community for PIA of Oregon,” she said. “Her commitment, passion and dedication are powerful qualities that have significantly amplified the impact from her advocacy. We send her best wishes for her well deserved retirement.”

When asked if she’s going to miss lobbying after all that time, the answer isn’t all that surprising, yet it is surprising. .

“I've had my fill of talking to the legislatures,” she told Weekly Industry News in an interview last week. “I will always appreciate politics itself. I'm interested in what happens. I watch the news two hours every night. But I’m not going to miss working with politicians and legislatures.”

You’d think a lot would have changed in the 34 years that she served the PIA. Not so, she noted and said not much has changed.

“In Oregon it’s always been a legislature run by the Democrats. We were always fighting an uphill battle. So nothing has changed that much,” Butterfield noted. “There was a time when the two parties were equal and they had to share chairmanships. That was a good time because no legislation got passed unless both sides agreed. Since Insurance industry doesn't want some legislation passed, that was great.”

Butterfield said most of the negative legislation that will impact independent insurance agents and insurance companies is brought by trial attorneys.

“What they want in their legislation often goes to the bottom line,” she said. “So far they haven't been successful with their bad faith legislation. Sometimes you just get lucky But some years I had to fight very hard against bad faith legislation. Some years were worse than others but over the years, not much has changed and we [the PIA and the insurance industry] have prevailed.”

One reason is a hard working association with involved members like those of the PIA. She pointed out that constituents — including individual insurance agents — have far more power than they realize. 

“The PIA is one of the main grassroots arms in the insurance industry in Oregon,” she said. “Knowing a PIA member who knows a legislator is really helpful when it comes to having an impact on votes that can hurt the industry. You need to have that kind of voice shaking up the legislature.”

She also had lots of help from the PIA Government Relations Committee. They worked really hard to help her help the association.

“The current members are Patrick O'Keefe, Kelsey Wood, Wendy Abel-Hatzel, Doug Hartley and Paul Haulbrook. I’d like to thank them individually ” she said and noted there are many, many others past and present who have stepped forward to help her help the PIA.

As for the PIA government relations committee membership and some of the members she mentioned, they loved working with Lana Butterfield as much as she loved working with them.

Here are some of their comments.

“It has been great to work with you all these years, Lana, “committee chair Patrick O’Keefe of Bend, Oregon’s InsZone Insurance Services said. “You have a natural gift for taking the hype out and keeping us on track. I've learned a lot from you in the time we have spent together. Enjoy this next season of your life!”

Kelsey Wood of Gordon Wood Insurance and Financial Services agrees and also said he’ll miss working with her.

“Thank you for your dedicated and effective service to the PIA as our lobbyist,” Wood said. “And thank you for being my personal and family friend. You will be missed.”

Wendy Abel-Hatzel of Abel Insurance Agency said she’ll also miss working with Lana.

“Thank you so much Lana!” Abel-Hatzel said. “You will be missed and I’m not sure if it is even possible to replace you. You have done so very much for our organization. Wishes for a time of rest and healing are much over due.”

Like the other committee members, Doug Hartley of Hartley Insurance in Silverton, Oregon wishes Lana the best in retirement.

“Lana, thank you for representing the PIA through all these years,” he said. “I learned a lot from you through the years and enjoyed working with you. Your insight provided me a different view of the industry. Just wishing you the best.”

She ends her relationship with the PIA with some sage advice to the PIA Oregon membership. That advice? Stay involved.

“We are a powerhouse so continue to be a voice for the PIA, the insurance industry and the independent insurance agent and agency. And give money to the PAC (political action committee). The PIA doesn't do that so well.”

In the end, Butterfield said she will miss working with, and for, the PIA Oregon

“The PIA has always been one of my favorite clients,” Butterfield said. “I started lobbying in 1986 and started with the PIA 34 years ago in 1990. Being a part of the insurance lobby has been an honor and we [the PIA membership and management] worked together very well.”

A lobbyist of Lana Butterfield’s skill level is rare. Her advice, her hard work, and her dedication to the association will — as Wendy Abel-Hatzel said — be nearly impossible to replace. And with that, we — the membership and management of the PIA — thank her for her hard work on our behalf, and we all wish her a happy, and fulfilling retirement.