Outstanding Young Agents Committee Awards.
Each year, the Big “I” National Young Agents Committee recognizes state Young Agents groups that are paving the way with innovative ideas and a passion for solidifying the future of the independent agency system. The goal is to help you as you cultivate and inspire the next generation of independent agent leaders and bring together a community of emerging leaders to share ideas, new opportunities, and innovative practices with your peers.
about the awards.
Outstanding Young Agents Committee Awards are presented in the following five categories:
- Community Service
- Workforce Development (formerly Invest Supporter)
- Membership Development
- Political Involvement
- Young Agents Meeting
- And of course, the coveted Outstanding YAC of the Year award!
Your state YAC can apply in as many or as few categories as you like. At the discretion of the National YAC, Breakthrough YAC of the Year and YAC Innovator may also be presented.
Success comes in all sizes so whether your group is just starting out or you have an established YAC with lots of help, we want to hear from you! The application is designed for you to showcase your state’s activities and highlight your greatest accomplishments from the past year. We encourage all states to apply!
The Arkansas Big I Emerging Leaders Committee
The Alabama Emerging Professionals
The Young Agents Committee of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents
The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina
The Young Agents Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia
The Young Agents of the Insurers of Tennessee
The Young Agents of the Insurers of Tennessee
The Young Agents of the Maine Insurance Agents Association
2024 Young Agents State Liaison of the Year
Presented to Megan Huebner, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina.
In recognition of a state liaison who has provided outstanding support and leadership to their state Young Agents program.
2024 Young Agent of the Year
Presented to Brock Elliott of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents.
In recognition of a young agent who provides exemplary service to their association, community and the industry. The Young Agent of the Year Award will be presented at the Legislative Conference during the Emerging Leaders Luncheon each year.
How to apply.
There are a few changes from last year’s application. They include:
- Character Limit: Each line is limited to 100 characters (spaces count).
- Attendance Required: If your state is a finalist in an award category, at least 1 person from your state is required to attend the State Idea Share at YALI. Failure to attend and present as a finalist will disqualify you from winning an award.
- Outstanding YAC of the Year: We added a page to the application where you can summarize reasons why you should be considered for YAC of the Year.
- In previous years, candidates simply checked a box to be considered. This year, a dedicated application page has been added, and completing the form is necessary if you’d like to be considered.
- Deadline for submissions is June 13, 2025.
- All activities should have been conducted between May 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025.
- Email your completed application to YoungAgents@iiaba.net. Please use the subject line [Your State] – YAC Awards Submission.
- Category award judges are members of the Big “I” National Staff and committees.
- Each judge is responsible for evaluating all entries received in one award category.
- Young Agents Platinum Sponsors are invited to judge Outstanding YAC of the Year.
- The Outstanding YAC of the Year recipient is ineligible to win any other awards.
- A state may win more than one category award, but only one Outstanding YAC of the Year award will be presented.
- The National YAC may present more than one award per category based on the judging criteria.
- Award winners are announced during a reception at the annual Big “I” Young Agents Leadership Institute (YALI) in September.
Applications are due no later than June 13, 2025.
Deadline for applications is June 13, 2025 but…
- Start the application EARLY! To truly leverage the application as a best practices tool, use the checklists throughout the year as you work towards your goals.
- Commit to a laser focus. Be strategic and choose one or two awards to focus on based on the passion of the committee. This can be an especially good tactic for a committee that is revitalizing.
- Develop an awards application process. Decide who on your committee will contribute to, draft, and review the application. Don’t wait until the last minute and have one person rush through the application. Assign specific tasks and set hard deadlines to keep everyone on task and on track.
- Share your story! Use your essay to your story. Share your successes and failures, your strategies and goals, and let us know what made your committee outstanding. Include testimonials and measurable metrics to elaborate on and support your story, and most importantly, BE SPECIFIC!
What is your state Young Agents Committee passionate about? Where and how does the group want to make an impact in your state, in your community, and in the industry? How many people do you have to share the workload? How much time does each individual have to dedicate to the projects at hand?
As your YAC develops its annual plan of action, refer to the best practices checklists included in the Outstanding YAC Awards application packet. These checklists can and should become part of your state YAC playbook!
- Political Involvement
- Workforce Development (formerly Invest Supporter)
- Membership Development
- Community Service
- Young Agents Meeting
And don’t forget to reach out to your National YAC for help throughout the year. These young agent leaders are here to help because when your committee succeeds, every member of the independent agency system succeeds.
- Each year, the National YAC is proud to present two individual awards:
- Young Agent of the Year
- State Liaison of the Year
- Young Agent of the Year: Presented to an agent who provides exemplary service to his or her association, community, and the industry. This award will be presented during the Emerging Leaders Luncheon at the Legislative Conference.
- State association staff, volunteer leaders, and other agency/carrier professionals are invited to submit nominations.
- Applications for Young Agent of the Year will open in November 2025.
- State association staff, volunteer leaders, and other agency/carrier professionals are invited to submit nominations.
- State Liaison of the Year: Presented to a state association staff person who has provided outstanding support and leadership to his or her state YAC and/or young agents activities. This award will be presented during the Young Agents Leadership Institute (YALI).
- Applications are now open!
- Young professionals, volunteer leaders, and other agency/carrier professionals are invited to submit nominations.
2024 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Alabama
Workforce Development (formerly Invest) ~ Kansas
Membership Development ~ South Carolina
Community Service ~ Georgia
Meeting ~ Tennessee
Breakthrough YAC ~ Tennessee
Innovator ~ Maine
YAC of the Year ~ Arkansas
Hall of Achievement ~ None
State Liaison of the Year ~ Megan Huebner, South Carolina
Young Agent of the Year ~ Brock Elliott, Kansas
2023 Winners
Political Involvement ~ North Carolina
Invest ~ Michigan
Membership Development ~ New York
Community Service ~ Georgia, Wisconsin
Meeting ~ Massachusetts
Breakthrough YAC ~ Maine
Innovator ~ Oklahoma
YAC of the Year ~ South Carolina
Hall of Achievement ~ None
State Liaison of the Year ~ Taylor Hendrickson, Florida
Young Agent of the Year ~ Ivie Isler, Alabama
2022 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Georgia
Invest ~ Massachusetts, New York
Membership Development ~ Michigan
Community Service ~ Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina
Meeting ~ Oklahoma
Breakthrough YAC ~ New York
Innovator ~ North Carolina, New Mexico
YAC of the Year ~ Kansas
Hall of Achievement ~ None
State Liaison of the Year ~ Shania Slavick, Oklahoma
Young Agent of the Year ~ Leah Robinson, Michigan
2021 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Kansas
Invest ~ Nevada
Membership Development ~ Florida
Community Service ~ Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan
Meeting ~ Oklahoma, South Carolina
Breakthrough YAC ~ Alaska, Arkansas
Innovator ~ North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin
YAC of the Year ~ Georgia
Hall of Achievement ~ Florida, Michigan
State Liaison of the Year ~ Katie Hines, Kentucky
Young Agent of the Year ~ Katelyn Aitken Meyer, Michigan
2020 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Kansas
Invest ~ Georgia
Membership Development ~ Massachusetts, North Carolina
Community Service ~ Massachusetts, Tennessee
Meeting ~ North Carolina
Breakthrough YAC ~
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
State Liaison of the Year ~ Mallory Cornell, Wisconsin
Young Agent of the Year ~ Ben Rathbun, Michigan
Young Agent Champion ~ Zak Morken, Lisa Lemanski
2019 Winners
Political Involvement ~ North Carolina
Invest ~ Michigan
Membership Development ~ Maine, Kansas
Community Service ~ North Carolina
Meeting ~ Michigan, Wisconsin
Breakthrough YAC ~Vermont
YAC of the Year ~ Georgia
State Liaison of the Year ~ Shannon Gorman, Maine
Young Agent of the Year ~ Jill Roth, Virginia
Young Agent Champion ~ Joe Hamilton
2018 Winners
Political Involvement ~ South Dakota
Invest ~ Georgia
Membership Development ~ Kansas
Community Service ~ Florida
Meeting ~ North Carolina
Breakthrough YAC ~ Oregon
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
State Liaison of the Year ~ Jeremiah Gudding, Nebraska
Young Agent of the Year ~ Jesse Konold, South Dakota
Young Agent Champion ~ Jana Foster
2017 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Kentucky
Invest ~ Florida
Membership Development ~ Massachusetts, Virginia
*Community Service ~ Illinois
Meeting ~ Alabama
Breakthrough YAC ~ not awarded this year
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
Hall of Achievement ~ Illinois
State Liaison of the Year ~ Rita LaMoreaux, Michigan
Young Agent of the Year ~ Ryan Teubner, Oklahoma
*formerly known as State Committee Project
2016 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Georgia
Invest ~ Georgia
Membership Development ~ Illinois
State Committee Project ~ North Carolina
Meeting ~ Illinois
*Communications ~ Rhode Island
Breakthrough YAC ~ Texas
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
Hall of Achievement ~ Georgia
State Liaison of the Year ~ Rachel Romines, Illinois
Young Agent of the Year ~ Kelly Hume, Michigan
*final year for this award
2015 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Michigan
Invest ~ Wisconsin
Membership Development ~ Michigan
State Committee Project ~ Alabama
Meeting ~ Indiana
Communications ~ Georgia
Breakthrough YAC ~ Wisconsin
YAC of the Year ~ Florida
State Liaison of the Year ~ Mike Orrick, California
Young Agent of the Year ~ Lisa Lemanski, Michigan
2014 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Florida
Invest ~ Florida
Membership Development ~ Rhode Island
State Committee Project ~ North Carolina
Meeting ~ Maine
Communications ~ Massachusetts
Breakthrough YAC ~ Rhode Island
YAC of the Year ~ Georgia
State Liaison of the Year ~ Lyra Roberts, Oklahoma
*Young Agent of the Year ~ Kelli Dean, Georgia
*first year for this award
2013 Winners
Political Involvement ~ North Carolina
Invest ~ Maine
Membership Development ~ Georgia
Communications ~ Georgia
State Committee Project ~ Arkansas
Meeting ~ Florida
Breakthrough YAC ~ South Dakota
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
State Liaison of the Year ~ Melissa Murphy, Massachusetts
2012 Winners
Political Involvement ~ IBA West
*Invest ~ Illinois Membership Development ~ Indiana
State Committee Project ~ Florida
Meeting ~ Arkansas
Communications ~ North Carolina
Breakthrough YAC ~ Massachusetts
YAC of the Year ~ Georgia
State Liaison of the Year ~ Shannon Churchill, Illinois
*first year for this award
2011 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Illinois
Membership Development ~ Indiana
State Commitee Project ~ North Carolina
Meeting ~ Georgia
Communications ~ IBA West
Breakthrough YAC ~ Nevada
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
State Liaison of the Year ~ John Carson, Georgia
2010 Winners
Political Involvement ~ North Carolina
Membership Development ~ Illinois
State Commitee Project ~ Georgia
Meeting ~ IBA West
Communications ~ Indiana
*Breakthrough YAC ~ Idaho
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
State Liaison of the Year ~ Steve Duff, Indiana
*first year for this award
2009 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Georgia
Membership Development ~ Kentucky
State Commitee Project ~ Indiana
Meeting ~ Indiana
Communications ~ Illinois
*YAC Runner-up ~ North Carolina
YAC of the Year ~ Michigan
**State Liaison of the Year ~ Dan Fulwider, Iowa
*final year for this award
**first year for this award
2008 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Georgia
Membership Development ~ Indiana
State Committee Project ~ Florida
Meeting ~ IBA West
Communications ~ Indiana
YAC Runner-up ~ Michigan
YAC of the Year ~ North Carolina
2007 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Illinois
Membership Development ~ Illinois
State Committee Project ~ Minnesota
Meeting ~ IBA West
Communications ~ Michigan
YAC Runner-up ~ Alabama
YAC of the Year ~ North Carolina
2006 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Kentucky
Membership Development ~ Illinois
State Committee Project ~ Maine
Meeting ~ Michigan
Communications ~ Georgia
YAC Runner-up ~ IBA West
YAC of the Year ~ North Carolina
2005 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Minnesota
Membership Development ~ Georgia
State Committee Project ~ Indiana
Meeting ~ IBA West
Communications ~ Kentucky
YAC Runner-up ~ Indiana
YAC of the Year ~ Illinois
2004 Winners
Political Involvement ~ Kentucky
Political Involvement ~ North Carolina
Membership Development ~ New Mexico
State Committee Project ~ Georgia
Meeting ~ IBA West
Communications ~ Michigan
YAC Runner-up ~ Michigan
YAC of the Year ~ Illinois
Who’s in the running for the Hall of Achievement?
- Alabama
- Achieved: Community Service, Meeting, Political Involvement
- Needs: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development
- Arkansas
- Achieved: Community Service, Meeting
- Needs: Membership Development, Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- California
- Achieved: Political Involvement, Meeting
- Needs: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development, Community Service
- Florida
- Achieved: HOA 2021
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development, Community Service, Meeting
- Georgia
- Achieved: HOA 2016; Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Political Involvement, Community Service
- Needs: Membership Development, Meeting
- Illinois
- Achieved: HOA 2017
- Needs: Membership Development, Meeting, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Political Involvement, Community Service
- Indiana
- Achieved: Membership Development, Community Service, Meeting
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- Kansas
- Achieved: Political Involvement, Membership Development, Community Service, Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- Needs: Meeting
- Kentucky
- Achieved: Political Involvement, Membership Development, Community Service
- Needs: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Meeting
- Massachusetts
- Achieved: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership, Community Service, Meeting
- Needs: Political Involvement
- Maine
- Achieved: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development, Community Service, Meeting
- Needs: Political Involvement
- Michigan
- Achieved: HOA 2021; Membership Development, Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- Needs: Political Involvement, Community Service, Meeting
- Minnesota
- Achieved: Political Involvement, Community Service
- Needs: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development, Meeting
- Nevada
- Achieved: Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- Needs: Political Involvement, Community Service, Meeting, Membership Development
- New York
- Achieved: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development
- Needs: Political Involvement, Community Service, Meeting
- New Mexico
- Achieved: Membership Development
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Community Service, Meeting
- North Carolina
- Achieved: Political Involvement, Community Service, Meeting, Membership Development
- Needs: Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- Oklahoma
- Achieved: Meeting
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development, Community Service
- Rhode Island
- Achieved: Membership Development
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Community Service, Meeting
- South Carolina
- Achieved: Community Service, Meeting, Membership Development
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest)
- South Dakota
- Achieved: Political Involvement
- Needs: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Community Service, Meeting, Membership Development
- Tennessee
- Achieved: Community Service, Meeting
Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Membership Development
- Achieved: Community Service, Meeting
- Virginia
- Achieved: Membership Development
- Needs: Political Involvement, Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Community Service, Meeting
- Wisconsin
- Achieved: Workforce Development (formerly Invest), Meeting, Community Service
- Needs: Political Involvement, Membership Development