NAILBA Perspectives - April 2016 - (Page 9)

ceo insights Perspectives is published for the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies 11325 Random Hills Road, Suite 110 Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 383-3081 www.nailba.org NAILBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Honoring the Past George C. Van Dusen IV Chairman James Sorebo Chair-Elect Jeffrey D. Mooers Secretary/Treasurer David Long Immediate Past Chairman Joseph Bosnack Brittany Cross Jason E. Lea, CFP Seixas Milner III Ben Nevejans Myra Palmer NAILBA EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL Scott Blumberg Michael Cohen, CLU Christi M. Daughenbaugh Sheri Leaders John McWilliams Melinda S. Meyer Jeffrey D. Mooers Lori Payne Laurie B. Prevette Thomas Riekse, Jr., ChFC, CEBS Michael Tessler NAILBA STAFF Jack Chiasson, CAE Chief Executive Officer Kathy Allison Director, Membership and the Foundation Susan D. Haning, CEM, CMP Director, Business Development Susan Klemmer Deputy Chief Executive Officer Meredith Maslich Administrative Coordinator Sarah O'Hanley, CEM Manager, Exhibits, Sponsorships and Advertising Annette M. Suriani, CMP Manager, Meetings and Education John Tong Director, Administration and Operations Editor: Susan Klemmer sklemmer@nailba.org Advertising: Susan Haning, CEM, CMP shaning@nailba.org Design and Production: Blue House www.bluehouse.us Creative Director: Elinor van Dyck elinor@bluehouse.us Designer: Laura Indingaro JACK CHIASSON, CAE NAILBA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER I t's springtime in metropolitan Washington, DC-the best time of year to be here. I have written in this space before about how spring is the time for renewal (not your membership, although if you HAVEN'T yet renewed...well, you know the rest), for refreshing your outlook (not your email inbox-that is ALWAYS being refreshed), and for reviving your spirits after the long winter (no, not a trip to the liquor store!) OK-there's your pep-talk (and hopefully a chuckle or two). I'm going to take a little detour from my usual type of column this time around. A few things have happened in recent months that have affected me-both personally and as the leader of this organization. So, humor me a bit if I get a little emotional. As many of you know, Chuck Rumbarger-NAILBA's first Executive Director-passed away in January after a series of illnesses. What you probably DON'T know, however, is that I worked for Chuck a long time ago-before I came to NAILBA. Chuck owned and operated an association management firm (Association Management Group-AMG), and that is where we met. NAILBA was the first client of that firm, and was managed by AMG for a number of years before striking out on its own in 2002. Although Chuck had turned over the reins of NAILBA by that time, he remained involved and interested in NAILBA's success. His dedication to NAILBA for all those years resulted in his being named as the Mooers Award recipient in 1999, an honor he richly deserved, and one he highly prized- although he would never say so out loud (which is SO "Chuck"). I left AMG in 2001, but kept in touch with Chuck in a variety of ways, mostly through our separate involvement in the American Society of Association Executives. Over the years, Chuck became a mentor- always very giving of his wisdom and talent, and never expecting anything in return. I came to NAILBA in April of 2004, and when my predecessor left NAILBA in 2007, Chuck came back to NAILBA as the Interim Executive Director. On his first day in the office, he convinced me that I should apply for this position. He was a VERY hard man to say no to! The rest, as they say, is history. Once I got the job, Chuck was never more than a phone call or an email away, and never refused any of my requests for advice or counsel. We met regularly for lunch, and he helped me to navigate the ins and outs of my first CEO position-Board and volunteer relations, financial management and governance, strategic planning, staffing, legal issues, whatever- all the things that any association executive deals with on a day-to-day basis. I couldn't have done it without him, and I will miss him terribly. Since then, as news of Chuck's passing circulated throughout the NAILBA community, I kept hearing-sometimes directly, sometimes through a third person-"who was he?" And THAT bothered me for a number of reasons. Sure, I had a little bit of an advantage (having worked for him before), and was probably a bit more familiar with NAILBA's history than most people- after all, you all have been allowing me to be part of this great organization for a long time now. But those words got me thinking about how we shouldn't forget our history. As an association guy, we always learn (through required continuing education opportunities-yes, I have to maintain a professional credential just like so many of you do!) that forward thinking is the key to any association's continuing success. If we forget about HOW we got here, we miss an opportunity to recognize and honor the struggles that our fore-fathers went through to make this-or any association-a reality. Do any of you remember the day when there WAS no NAILBA? Or when your organization was just starting out- and meeting the payroll was a weekly challenge? Or when you wanted nothing more than to be seen (and heard) as a respectable method for the distribution of life insurance (and other) products that mean so much to the safe futures of the American family? NAILBA became the way that you were all able to do this, and to grow your businesses to the successes they are now. What YOU do every day is a result of the efforts that people like Mike Flynn, Mende Lerner, Doug Mooers, Chuck Rumbarger, and so many others put in all those years ago. Let's never forget where we came from, but, rather, let's honor those "big names" in the industry by continuing the work that they began back in 1981. It's what I try to do every day, and what your leaders do every time we meet. By doing this, we continue to move forward without forgetting to look back once in a while and say "thank you" to those who got us where we are today. Thank you, Chuck. www.nailba.org 9 http://www.nailba.org http://www.bluehouse.us http://www.nailba.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NAILBA Perspectives - April 2016

NAILBA Perspectives - April 2016
Contents
Chairman’s Corner
CEO Insights
Can You Tell If Your Agency is a Success? Measuring Your Results
NAILBA Charitable Foundation
Life Happens
Member Profile
Agency Successor Networking Group
Calendar of Events

NAILBA Perspectives - April 2016