Committees
Looking for a way to become engaged in your association, network with fellow agents and give back to your industry? If so, then serving on an IIANC committee is a great place to start! This is a great opportunity to provide input that will help guide the initiatives of IIANC. Working together to combine talents and ideas, we can build a stronger IIANC to benefit members and the independent agency system.
Our committee sign up period typically opens during the summer for the following membership year (which runs September-August.) Below are the committees which accept volunteers and some FAQ on the committee process. If you are interested in serving on a committee, email
bfaulkner@iianc.com as there are sometimes available spots during the year.
Agency Technology Committee
Monitor industry developments and recommend new products and procedures to help agency members improve operating efficiency and customer service using technology.
Chairman & Board Liaison: Landon Bentham, MBA, TRA - Callahan & Rice Insurance Group - Fayetteville, NC
Staff Liaison: Mitchell DeHaven - Director of Digital Solutions
Meeting Format/Frequency: Quarterly; Majority (if not all) meetings will be held virtually
2024-25 Committee Members: Michael Becker, Will Cheek, Christian Evans, Kimberly Fox, Phillip Hejl, Rhonda Lanier, Michael Lawson, Jay McRoberts, George Robertson, Monty Ross and Brian Smith
Diversity & Inclusion Committee
This committee is charged with providing IIANC direction and suggestions on being a more inclusive organization and increasing minority participation within the association. Current initiatives of the Diversity Committee include the Diversity Scholarship and the HBCU Agency Internship Experience.
Chairman & Board Liaison: Raquel Tillman CPCU, ARM, AU - Tillman Insurance Advisors, Charlotte, NC
Staff Liaison: Aubie Knight - IIANC CEO
Meeting Format/Frequency: Majority (if not all) meetings will be held virtually
2024-25 Committee Members: Debra Hudson, Monty Ross, Ashley Spyropoulos and Amanda York
Government Affairs Committee
Assists in the development of IIANC's legislative program and recommends it for approval to the Board of Directors in a complete and timely manner. Committee members are active in lobbying efforts including the IIABA National Legislative Conference and
in the NC General Assembly as well as fundraising efforts for the association's PACs.
Chairman: John Bradford - Insurance Pawlicy, LLC
Vice Chairman: Stephen Roe - CAP Insurance Group, LLC
Staff Liaison:
Joe Stewart - IIANC Vice President of Governmental Affairs
Meeting Format/Frequency: Majority (if not all) meetings will be held virtually
2024-25 Committee Members: Sammy Anderson, Anna Bailey, Michael Betters, Wortham Boyle, Harry Bray, Jim Burgin, Will Cheek, Kevin Corbin, Jessica Cromer, Healther Emory, Christian Evans, Chuck Eyler, Joel Ford, Dan Gilbert, Steve Griffin, Kenneth Harper, Rick Heckle, Debra Hudson, Chris Humphrey, Jackie Ireland, Todd Johnson, Robby Jones, Andrew Kaiser, Patrick Laney, Kelly McMahan, Jessica Medlin, Graham Neville, Michelle O'Connor, Paul O'Neal, Rick Pierce, Stuart Powell, Darrin Rankin, Mark Rice, Monty Ross, Vickie Sawyer, Lisa Sharrard, Karl Sherrill, David Smith, Jason Smith, Steveo Stewart, Tim Ward, Craig Watson, and Lesa Williams
iLEAD (Young Agents) Committee
Actively recruits the involvement of iLEAD members (Young Agents) in the affairs of the Association and works to develop leadership and networking in the iLEAD community. This is an active, hands-on committee that helps plan, facilitate and recruit involvement for various iLEAD events and programs including the Young Agents Development Conference, IIANC Charity Golf Tournament, philanthropic activities, local networking events, etc. This iLEAD Committee is open to member agents and PARTNER company reps age 41 and under or with less than five years of industry experience.
Chairwoman: Merritt Tongen, AINS - LN Davis Insurance Agency, Waynesville, NC
Immediate Past Chairman: Daniel Rohrbaugh, TRA - Raleigh Insurance Group, Raleigh, NC
Staff Liaison: C.J. Hennighausen - Insurance Licensing Specialist, Anna Rebollar - Marketing Coordinator
Meeting Format/Frequency: Quarterly in-person meetings at IIANC office (virtual option is offered as well)
2024-25 Committee Members: Michael Betters, Christian Evans, Kimberly Fox, Yancey Hicks, Sarah Koolhof, Walker Ross, Ashley Spyropoulos
Membership Engagement Committee
Assists the IIANC staff in increasing association engagement among agency members. Committee members are asked to help during the onboarding of new members through a welcome ambassador program and will also help to increase engagement with current members through outreach programs via phone calls, email, events, etc.
Chairman: Will Cheek - WBC Risk Partners, Raleigh, NC
Staff Liaison: Jill Lewis - IIANC Director of Membership
Meeting Format/Frequency: Majority (if not all) meetings will be held virtually
2024-25 Committee Members: Anna Bailey, Krista Gonzalez, Phillip Hejl, Sarah Koolhof, Grace Shigley, Brian Smith, Heather Taylor and Amanda York
Women IA-Executives Network (WIN)
Designed BY and FOR women agency owners and executives, WIN provides the opportunity to build meaningful and mutually beneficial connections with peers, to pursue targeted professional development and to have open, honest discussions about agency management and career issues facing women…all in a safe, confidential space.
Chairman: Hadley Wilson - Insurance People of N.C., Inc., Durham, NC
Staff Liaison: Rebecca Shigley - IIANC COO
Meeting Format/Frequency: Majority
(if not all) meetings will be held virtually
2024-25 Committee Members: Martha Aycock, Nancy Bacilio, Anna Bailey, Julie Benfield, Cameron Bixby, Pamela Burgess, Lori Campbell, Cat Chakales, Melinda Collins, Marcela Connor, Miranda Cook, Michelle Corcoran, Lynna Coward, Victoria Crissman, Mareon Dawson, Lesha Dodson, Vicky Estela, Paulette Fairfax, Karen Fentress, Heather Gablehouse, Christine Gibson, Kim Godley, Becca Griffin, Lucy Gutierrez, Hayden Hall, Alysia Hancock, Paige Harris, Teresa Harrison, Dardi Jarman, Tina Johnson, April Jones, Kathy Lance, Alexandra Lysik, Nan McAden, Alanna Messimore, Kathryn Mlay, Adrienne Moore, Loni Morelock, Pam Morgan, Lori Morris, Kelley Moulton, Lisa Musselman, Vonda Norris, Michelle O'Connor, Andrea Parsons, Rhonda Potter, Shawn Principi, Ramonda Putman, Mandy Redwine, Karla Reid, Jill Richey, Kimmie Rogers, Julie Ross, Deirdre Rushin, Vickie Sawyer, Lisa Sharrard, Shonna Splain, Raquel Tillman, Merritt Tongen, Casey Tripp, Lisa Weatherly, Jamie White, Jessica Wilkins, Lesa Williams, Keyla Wilson, Nicole Wise and Jessica Yarbrough
Committee Info to Note:
- The committee service year runs from September - August.
- Committee service is open to IIANC member agents or IIANC PARTNER company reps only (in good standing).
- Committee sign up period is held during August. Info on sign ups are emailed to members and posted on IIANC social media channels and website.
- Anyone currently serving on one of the above committees who would like to be reconsidered for the next year must submit his/her name again.
- Meetings are usually held at the IIANC office in Cary and/or via Zoom/conference call. For in-person meetings, there is always the option to attend via phone.
- Committee members are expected to contribute annually to IIANC PACs to help protect your industry.
- Some committees may have additional expectations for committee member participation that will be communicated prior to committee appointment.
- Signing up does not guarantee committee appointment as space on committee may be limited for efficiency and/or budget constraints.
Questions? Please contact the respective staff liaison listed above for questions about a specific committee. Contact Brad Faulkner at bfaulkner@iianc.com with general questions on our committee structure or appointment process.