Meet the Big ‘I’ Cap Hill Team

The Big “I” Capitol Hill team tirelessly advocates for independent insurance agents, brokers and their customers. The association also enjoys a politically astute and involved membership, both locally and nationally. Agents get involved by visiting their legislators at home, supporting InsurPac (which at press time is only about $300,000 short of reaching its $2-million goal for the 2013–2014 election cycle) and coming to the Big “I” Legislative Conference each year. This “one-two punch” of agent political activism at home and professional representation in Washington, D.C., makes the Big “I” the pre-eminent producer trade association on government affairs issues.

The bipartisan lobbying staff puts impressive credentials and significant experience to good use representing independent agents in the nation’s capital. Here’s a rundown of the Big “I” bipartisan lobbying staff.

Charles Symington is Big “I” senior vice president of external and government affairs and has headed the Capitol Hill team since 2004. He joined the Big “I” from the House Financial Services Committee, where he served as senior counsel and focused on insurance issues, including congressional efforts to assess state insurance regulation. During his time with the Financial Services Committee, Symington was instrumental in drafting the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, the Financial Services Anti-Fraud bill, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 and other legislative proposals. Before joining the Financial Services Committee, Symington worked as a majority counsel for the House Committee on Energy & Commerce, where he concentrated on health care policy and the panel’s oversight responsibilities. Before his tenure on Capitol Hill, the Syosset, New York, native was in private practice as an attorney specializing in insurance defense litigation. Symington graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in history and earned a Juris Doctorate from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta. He manages all government affairs programs as well as political and grassroots operations, and oversees media and communications.

John Prible is Big “I” vice president of federal government affairs. He joined the Big “I” team as assistant vice president for federal government affairs in 2006 and was promoted to his current post in 2009. Prior to joining the Big “I” team, Prible was the director of government affairs for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts. He also worked for former Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.) and former Rep. Jim Davis (D-Fla.). The Niceville, Florida, native earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from the University of Florida. As the senior legislative assistant to Rep. Hooley, Prible helped draft several key pieces of financial services legislation. He primarily oversees the association’s relationships with Democrat congressional offices and serves as lead on the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and agent licensing reform (NARAB II).

Jen McPhillips is Big “I” senior director of federal government affairs. McPhillips previously served as senior director of political affairs and was in charge of the association’s grassroots program and assisting with the management of the Big “I” political action committee, InsurPac. She first joined the Big “I” team in 2006 after working for Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) and moved up through the ranks. A native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, McPhillips earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Providence College in Rhode Island. She primarily serves as a liaison to Democrat congressional offices and is the lead on a several Big “I” legislative priorities, including insurance regulatory reform and the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

Wyatt Stewart is Big “I” director of federal government affairs and joined the Big “I” staff in July. Stewart previously served as advisor for policy and coalitions for former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). He worked for Leader Cantor in various capacities since January 2009. Prior to his work on Capitol Hill, Stewart worked for the Republican Party of Virginia. The Washington, D.C., native earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Richmond. He primarily serves as a liaison to Republican congressional offices and is the lead on health care, terrorism insurance and tax reform.

Wes Bissett serves as Big “I” outside senior counsel for government affairs. Bissett previously served as the association’s top in-house state lobbyist. As a consultant to the association, he assists on a wide range of issues at both the state and federal level and serves as the primary Big “I” liaison to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, National Conference of Insurance Legislators and other state groups.

Nathan Riedel is Big “I” vice president for political affairs. Prior to joining the association, Riedel managed the National Mining Association’s political action committees. The Grass Valley, California, native also previously served as a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s finance team during the 2000 elections and worked for then U.S. Rep. John Ensign (R-Nev.) who went on to serve in the Senate. Riedel earned a Bachelor of Arts at Pepperdine University and heads InsurPac and the association’s political relations.

Katherine Douglas is Big “I” political affairs and grassroots manager. She previously worked as a press aide for Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.). The Pierre, South Dakota, native earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of South Dakota. Her primary responsibilities are managing the association’s grassroots efforts and working on fundraising efforts for InsurPac.

Margarita Tapia is Big “I” director of public affairs.