Donna Biles Retiring July 1

It saddens us to announce that after 11 years of service at IIAT, and 47 years in the insurance industry, Donna Biles, will be retiring from IIAT at the end of the month. As an IIAT Advantage Markets Specialist, Donna has travelled the state and visited hundreds of agencies to provide assistance to members and learn about their needs.

“Donna’s enthusiasm for independent agents and dedication to the insurance industry is unmatched. We will miss her infectious personality and her willingness to go above and beyond to serve independent agents,” said IIAT President & Executive Director Marit Peters.

Donna will be at INSURCON, so please make sure to stop her and say hello.

Congratulations Donna! We’ll miss you.

Please make sure to reach out to Donna at [email protected] to thank her for her service and the impact she’s made during her professional career.

Donna Looks Back at Her 47 Years in the Insurance Industry

Lots of things have changed since I entered the insurance industry 47 years ago. At the time, there were few women underwriters, few women company marketing reps and few women agency principals.

And that’s not all! Correspondence and policies were prepared on typewriters using carbon paper, mail rooms were staffed, the Telex machine was replaced by the newest communication invention – the fax. Every office had rows of file cabinets, rotary dial and push button desk phones with cords. There were no computers, no internet, no email, no cell phones – an on, and on.

The need for speed and technology changed everything. However, there is one constant: the emphasis on developing personal relationships in our industry.

I was fortunate to have great mentors and have made sure to “pay it forward” along the way. Education was a top priority for me having obtained my Bachelor’s degree at night while working full-time as a Commercial Lines Underwriter at The Hartford. In 1988 I earned my CIC- Certified Insurance Counselor designation and have maintained it for 33 years.

Having the opportunity to work in various roles throughout my career, including rating, underwriting, marketing, agency principal and producer sales, helped prepare me for service with IIAT. Serving IIAT members for the last 11 years has been a privilege and an honor. My sincere thanks to Marit Peters and the entire IIAT leadership for their support allowing me the opportunity to contribute to such an amazing organization!

I’ve had the incredible experience of traveling our beautiful state meeting with dedicated and talented insurance principals and their staff who generously gave of their time. One thing is certain: Agents want to take care of their clients and take care of their staff.

I’ve learned so much from our agency members, and hopefully, my contributions and guidance have made a difference to them.

Thank you to IIAT’s Advantage Markets Partners, Lead Sponsors and Associate Members; they are the backbone of IIAT’s market resources helping agents to meet their agency goals. I value the relationships I have built with our Associate members and the tremendous work they do in supporting our agents and the IIAT staff.

Most importantly, I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to my fellow IIAT colleagues. My friends at IIAT are among the most dedicated and talented group of insurance professionals I have had the pleasure of working and collaborating with. They are the best and I am humbled to have been a part of the team.

I will miss you all!