Special AAMGA Section
Getting the message out
Communication subcommittee speaks and listens to improve AAMGA brand
By Phil Zinkewicz
In today’s realities of uncertainty and emerging risk exposures, insurance professionals like you want reliability, creativity, continuity and service they can trust. The times demand tried and tested expertise forged by a heritage of professionalism and integrity. Since 1926, members of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) have earned the respect of their customers and the trust of their markets by delivering positive results.
Those are the opening remarks from a new flyer created by the AAMGA, a flyer whose purpose is to describe how the association works, how it develops young leaders, how it offers its members broad-based accreditation and designations, how it monitors and deals with regulatory issues, and more.
Mark Maucere, senior vice president of AmWINS Transporta-tion and co-chair of the AAMGA Communication subcommittee of the association’s Marketing Committee, says that the flyer gives insight into the way AAMGA works. “It is a branding mechanism for the association,” he says. “Soon, we will be turning it into an electronic format for wider distribution. Also, we intend to publish a quarterly newsletter.”
Promoting this flyer is, of course, only one of the tasks of the Communication subcommittee. “One of our most important challenges is to get the message across to the public, the press, regulators and legislators that the association’s members pride themselves on their expertise and trust. And trust is vitally important to the people with whom we do business. The AAMGA has a Code of Ethics that each member must follow, which includes meeting all financial obligations, such as debts owed, premiums due companies, and returns due to sub-producers and to policyholders on a timely basis.
“The Code of Ethics also has enforcement provisions. If a member MGA is found guilty of violating state or federal criminal laws, that MGA can be expelled from the organization. It is our committee’s mandate to let those who deal with our members or who regulate them know that the association’s members are professionals who know their business and who act in a professional manner.”
The Communication subcommittee fulfills this mandate by writing articles, press releases and reports; contributing to trade media articles; and answering the questions of the media, regulators and legislators. “Our purpose is to improve the reputation of the entire AAMGA membership,” says Maucere.
The AAMGA is also conducting a new survey of its membership, according to Maucere. “We want to find out what our members want and need over and above what we already provide,” he says.
In addition, Maucere points to a recently updated AAMGA Web site that describes all the committees and subcommittees of the association and provides informa-tion about upcoming meetings. “The Web site has been constructed so that our members find it user friendly. We’re very proud of our new Web site.”
Asked how he would sum up the benefits of the AAMGA to its members, Maucere again refers to the flyer:
• A Dependable Support Network of Industry Colleagues
• Fostering Relationships and Networking
• “Best in Class” Professionalism
• Enabling Young Insurance Professionals
• Access to Insurance Industry Thought Leaders
• World Class Meetings
• Continuing and Professional Education
• Accreditation and Professional Dedications
• Leadership on Legislative, Regulatory and Industry Issues. *