Big “I” Installs New Leadership

Big “I” Installs New Leadership Team Michigan’s David Walker as Chairman, Louisiana’s Randy Lanoix as Chairman-Elect, Connecticut’s Spencer Houldin as Vice Chairman; Jon Jensen of South Carolina Joins Executive Committee

ALEXANDRIA, Va.— David Walker was inaugurated as the new chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”), with Randy Lanoix as chairman-elect, Spencer Houldin as vice chairman and Jon Jensen as an atlarge executive committee member. The new officers begin their terms at the conclusion of the board meeting held in conjunction with the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “The Big ‘I’ is pleased that such a distinguished group of professionals will be among the association’s leaders,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” President & CEO. “David Walker, Randy Lanoix, Spencer Houldin and Jon Jensen, along with the rest of the executive committee, are an outstanding team of industry leaders who position us well for a productive year.”

David Walker, AAI, CIC, LIC, ARM, CRM, is president of Hartland Insurance Agency in Hartland, Michigan. He began his insurance career in 1979, joined Hartland Insurance Agency as a producer and rose through its ranks. Walker has served on the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) Young Agents Council, Education Committee, Legislative Affairs Committee and Agency-Company Relations Committee. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors and as president of MAIA and the Genesee County Independent Agents. At the national level, he has served on the boards of the Big “I”, CAP and Big “I” Advantage, and as a member of the Big “I” Professional Liability Committee. Walker has received numerous MAIA awards, including the W.O. Hilderbrand Award in 2006 for his lifetime service and achievement in the insurance industry and MAIA. Walker is active in his community, having served on the board of directors for the Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce and as a trustee and president of the Fenton Area Public Schools. Currently, he serves as Tyrone Township Trustee and on the board of the Michigan Basic Property Association. Walker is also a founding member of the Hartland Rotary. He and his wife Barbara live in Fenton, Michigan and have two grown children and two grandchildren. Randy Lanoix is president of Lanoix Insurance Agency in Lutcher and Brusly, Louisiana. Lanoix has been active in the independent agency system, serving as president of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Louisiana (IIABL) in 2001 and as the Louisiana representative on the Big “I” national Board of Directors from January 2005 to September 2010. He is a recipient of the Lou Daniel award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the IIABL. Lanoix is also a past recipient of the “Mr. Chairman” award for his work as Louisiana’s legislative chairman and his work with the Louisiana state legislature. On the national level, Lanoix has served on the Professional Liability Committee, the Trusted Choice® Board of Directors, numerous task forces, and two terms on the Government Affairs Committee, where he was chairman of State Government Affairs. He and his wife Nell have two grown sons who work in the family agency and two grandchildren.

Spencer M. Houldin is president of Ericson Insurance Services, LLC, a secondgeneration insurance agency with offices in Litchfield County, Connecticut and New York City. From 2008-2011, Houldin served as chairman of the Big “I” Government Affairs Committee and testified before numerous Congressional committees on behalf of the association. He also represented the state of Connecticut on the IIABA Board from 2006 to 2011. In 2004, Houldin served as Independent Insurance Agents of Connecticut president. He has held seats on agent advisory councils for several insurance companies. Houldin is active in his local community, serving on the executive committees of The Western Connecticut Health Care Network, a multi- hospital organization. He is also past president of the local rotary. Houldin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Lafayette College. He resides in Roxbury, Connecticut, with his wife and two children. Jon Jensen, AAI, AIP, is president of Correll Insurance Group, headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. As an industry leader, he has served on committees of the South Carolina Department of Insurance and as the chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of South Carolina. Jensen is the immediate past South Carolina national director for the Big “I”, is a past national chairman of the IIABA InsurPac Board of Trustees, and is past chairman of the National Government Affairs Committee. He was awarded the IIABA National Chairman’s Award in 2009 and the Sydney O. Smith Award in 2010, which is the highest legislative award given by the National Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. He also serves on various boards including the Spartanburg Regional Health System Foundation – Cancer Division, SRHSF Grants and Allocation Committee, and is a founding member of its Legacy Society. Jensen is a graduate of Appalachian State University’s Insurance Executive Program.

The 2013-2014 Big “I” chairman, Tom Minkler, who will serve on the committee as immediate past chair for one year, is president of the Clark-Mortenson Agency in Keene, New Hampshire.