New board officers were inducted during IIAT’s Industry Excellence Awards Luncheon during INSURCON at the JW Marriot Hill Country San Antonio on June 16, 2026.
Tyler Spears, managing partner at BKCW in Austin, was elected IIAT Chair for 2026-2027. Kyle Dean, president and CEO at Dean & Draper in Houston, will serve as chair-elect, and Mark Perkins, VP of Marsh McLennan in Abilene, will serve as vice-chair.
Directors retiring from the IIAT Board were also recognized during the luncheon. They include Ben Patterson with Patterson and Associates Insurance in Dallas and immediate past chairman Tommy Dies with Bryan Insurance Agency in Graham.
2026-2027 IIAT Board Officers
Tyler Spears
Chair
BKCW, Austin
Tyler Spears joined BKCW Insurance in 2009 after graduating from The University of Texas McCombs School of Business. Under his leadership as BKCW's Managing Partner, Tyler has expanded the agency's footprint throughout central Texas with locations in Austin, Killeen, Temple, and Brownwood.
Tyler and his wife, Meredith, have two kids and live in Austin. He serves on various regional and national agent councils for Nationwide, Texas Mutual, and Liberty Mutual/Safeco. He was named the 2017 IIAT Young Agent of the Year and sits on the boards of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas and the Independent Insurance Agents of Austin. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys playing golf and going outdoors, especially to the mountains in the winter and summer.
Kyle Dean
Chair Elect
Dean & Draper, Houston
Kyle Dean is the President & CEO of Dean & Draper, a full-service independent insurance brokerage founded by his father more than 45 years ago.
Since joining the firm in 2005, Kyle has helped grow it from a local operation into a trusted national brokerage, guided by a commitment to integrity, accountability, and innovation. After his father’s sudden passing in 2013, Kyle stepped into leadership with a clear vision: to expand the firm while staying true to its founding philosophy—work hard, play hard, and treat each other like family.
Today, that same spirit drives a culture built on teamwork and the flexibility to meet clients' evolving needs. Born and raised in Houston, Kyle continues to live in the Bayou City with his wife, Kristen, and their two children. The family can usually be found on the go, navigating a busy sports schedule that includes baseball, basketball, soccer, and football.
Mark Perkins
Chair Elect
Marsh McLennan, Abilene
Mark Perkins is the Vice President of Business Insurance and Growth Leader for Perkins Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Agency in Abilene. He began working with Perkins Insurance Agencies in 2002 and continued leading the agency until its sale to Marsh in May 2024.
A longtime advocate for the independent agency system, Mark has been actively involved with IIAT throughout his career, serving in various advisory and leadership capacities and as a member of the IIAT Board of Directors for several years. He also served as president of SBMP, Inc. from 2017–2019.
Mark and his wife have three children, ages 21, 19 and 11. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and playing golf, where he describes himself as an avid yet very average golfer.
