PIA Washington TOPGOLF: An Editorial and There is Still Time to Register and Attend

I am Gary Wolcott, the editor of Weekly Industry News. When most of you read this there will be one to two days to register to attend the August 15th, PIA Washington TOPGOLF event in Renton, Washington.

I’ve been writing and editing this publication for over 20 years. The first four was as an employee of the PIA, and the last over 16 years doing it via a contract. Doing this publication has been one of the most satisfying jobs I have ever had.

Insurance is about people. And people are infinitely interesting. And some of the most infinitely interesting people I’ve ever known and independent insurance agents and company representatives.

Early in my PIA career I attended many several day conferences and conventions. To put it in a restrained way, they were a total blast. No individuals or groups have more fun than insurance agents and the company personnel involved in the PIA and who serve our agents.

These days most PIA events are just a day. They’re still as much fun as the multi-day events. All that means is you get to cram a lot of fun into a shorter space of time.

The 20 or so years of attending the PIA conferences and conventions has brought me some of my most treasured memories. Lots of laughs. Lots of wonderful discussions about insurance. That’s all good, and as a journalist, it has helped me learn a lot about the business and the triumphs and struggles of those in the industry.

Yada, yada. But what I remember most, and what I have found most important, is talking about life and what’s good, and decent in hundreds of conversations with some of the most fascinating people I have ever known.

One thing that always sticks with me are to stories of agents stepping out and taking care of clients devastated by disaster.

Heidi Duncan, of Duncan & Associates Insurance Brokers in Olympia, has served the PIA Washington in dozens of ways. She grew up in insurance and when I was helping her craft her acceptance speech as president of PIA Washington many years ago, Heidi talked about her father’s career.

She called him a super hero.

Many nights a phone call to the home ended up with him leaving to help someone in a crisis. This is akin to being called to the ministry, or to teach, helping others was his calling; his passion, and it became hers. She, like her father, dawned a cape and became a super hero.

So did many of you, and you do it daily.

You also can’t top the moment when Red Shield’s Jim Brown was awarded Agent of the Year in Oregon a dozen or more years ago. For years Jim — who is one of the nicest people on the planet — was one of the most popular of all the company personnel attending any PIA event. 

He’s now the executive director of the Oregon Surplus Lines Association. If you don’t know Jim, you’re missing one of life’s great treats. Jim cares, and has a passion for people, and for insurance agents, agencies and the insurance industry, and because, like many of you, Jim is simply a wonderful human being. 

When he received that award, the room shook as a couple of hundred people rose as one and gave him a standing ovation that lasted over five minutes. That’s the kind of impact one man or woman can have on others, and it is the kind of impact that many you now have, and that many young agents are now developing.

It’s the electronic age and we do everything these days by text, or email, or phones. Sadly, we have forgotten how critical it is to connect one-on-one with others. This is especially true of a people business like the PIA.

Here’s an example. Continuing education no longer needs a classroom. You can do it online. But what you miss, and what is desperately needed to really learn, is that personal connection with the instructor and the people sharing the classroom with you.

That’s where you really learn. The same thing applies to an event like TOPGOLF, or a longer conference. You connect with others sharing similar successes and challenges.

I have many more stories but so little space, and many more reasons why these events are so important to the business you all share. So I will conclude. If you are new to this, you — all of you — need the making new friends, story-swapping and life-learning that can only be found at an event like TOPGOLF.

It’s just one day, not all that expensive, and it’s a way for you to build the kind of memories that I have built in my 20 or so years attending PIA events. So if you haven’t registered yet, do so.

If you are older, experienced, and a seasoned professional, then these younger people need to meet and get to know you, and grow those all important insurance community connections.

Here’s a link: https://bit.ly/46NUg5A