Big I Advantage Promotes Ginny Pierson to Assistant Vice President

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 21 -- Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America issued the following news release:

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Big I Advantage unit has promoted Virginia "Ginny" Blake Pierson, CPCU, ARM, AU to assistant vice president. Pierson will lead the department's marketing initiative with emphasis on Big "I" state association relationships and the Big "I" Flood program with endorsed WYO carrier Selective.

"Ginny has tirelessly served the Big 'I' with distinction, leadership and utmost professionalism for more than 11 years," says Paul Buse, CPCU, ARM, Big "I" Advantage(R) president. "We are pleased to promote Ginny to Big I Advantage(R) assistant vice president where she will continue to develop and expand services for our members. Ginny has worked closely with the 51 Big 'I' state associations and her expertise is instrumental to our team."

Pierson has been with the Big "I" since 2006 when she joined the team as state marketing manager. She quickly rose through the ranks and served as director of state marketing and flood. Prior to joining the Big "I" team, Pierson was financial service specialist at Zurich North America. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Western Illinois University and the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Risk Management and Associate in Underwriting designations from the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters.

Big I Advantage is a for-profit subsidiary of IIABA and wholly owned holding company that operates a nationally licensed insurance agency administering the Big "I" Professional Liability program, Big "I" Markets and a number of other well-known member benefits including personal umbrella and flood programs, and providing oversight of $138 million in retirement assets. Big I Advantage seeks to unite the 51 IIABA state associations in pursuing IIABA's mission of creating a sustainable competitive advantage for members by deploying member agency buying and distribution power to develop innovative, member-exclusive and profitable products while supporting the advocacy efforts of IIABA.

Founded in 1896, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big "I") is the nation's oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of approximately a quarter of a million agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance--property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.