Industry Awards
Recognizing Outstanding Individuals in Georgia's Independent Insurance Community
IIAG Annual Industry Awards
Nominations are OPEN for 2025 Awards!
As your association, we are pledged to champion the independent agency system's reputation and future growth. As part of that pledge, we feel it is crucial to recognize those independent insurance professionals who look beyond the bounds of their own business to help our mission of elevating independent insurance agencies.
Our Industry Awards recognize peer-nominated members who have leveraged their resources to solve problems, advance the industry and professional performance, kick-started innovation, and improved their communities.
We know independent insurance professionals wear a lot of hats as small business owners, employers, consumer advocates, industry professionals, and civic leaders. IIAG's Annual Insurance Industry Awards are one way to recognize and promote the valuable roles that Georgia insurance professionals fulfill on the local, state and national levels.
You are invited to nominate independent agents and company representatives for one or more awards! Nomination forms are brief and nominations may be made anonymously.
Awards Process
- To be eligible for an IIAG Industry Awards, nominees must be a IIAG Member in good standing at both the time of nomination AND when awards are announced at IIAG Annual Convention.
- Past award winners are ineligible for nomination in the same category for a period of three (3) years after winning. Nominees who did not win may be nominated again in any award category.
- Multiple/repeat nominations do not increase the chances of winning an award. IIAG determines the winner of each award category.
- Nominees do not have to be present at IIAG Annual Convention to win.
2024 Award Recipients
Young Agent of the Year
Ragan Blankenship, Ragan Insurance
Past President's Award
Will Wilson Jr., Oakbridge Insurance
Edgar Dunlap Award
Mike Kaplan, Sanford Insurance
Ted Carleton Award
Jerome Guiney, Hanover Insurance
Hagler Haas Award
GA Senator Steve Gooch
Agency Staff Person of the Year
Bret Urban, The Insurance Gurus
Presidential Commendation
Ashley Ellis, BBWH Insurors
Presidential Commendation
Kayla Marie Jones, IIAG
Presidential Commendation
Steven Hall, Blanton & Griffin
Awards Descriptions & Nomination Forms
Young Agent of the Year
Outstanding Involvement by a Young Agent
Recognizes a young agent (under age 40 or less than five years in the business) who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, motivation, and dedication on behalf of the industry and/or association.
Agency Staff Person of the Year
Outstanding Service by Agency Staff
Recognizes a CSR/Account Manager or individual in an Agency Service role who promotes the importance of agency staff, contributes a positive impact and leadership within their agency.
Edgar Dunlap Award
Community Service by an IIAG member agent
Recognizes an IIAG member agent who has made outstanding contributions to the community through volunteering, with continued work or single project. Named in honor of IIAG's 10th president, Edgar Dunlap.
Ted Carleton Award
Outstanding Company Representative
Recognizes individuals working at an insurance company who has been a proponent of IIAG and its member agencies, enhancing the vital partnership between agents and companies. Named in honor of Ted Carleton, who during his long career exemplified that partnership in both his personal life and professional career.
Past Presidents Award
Service to the Association by a member agent
Recognizes IIAG member agents in leadership roles for their dedication and service to the association. Nominees include IIAG member agents, active or retired, excluding current IIAG Officers.
Hagler Haas Award
Service to the Association by a non-member agent
Recognizes an industry colleague who is not a member agent, but has played proactive roles to improve the industry for all. Named in honor of IIAG's 28th President, Herman Haas, and Gould Hagler, IIAG Lobbyist and CEO.