2016 was a big year for Jana Schellin Foster, recipient of this year’s Maurice Herndon Scholarship: In June, after just two years in the Big “I” Young Agents program, she was recognized as Nevada Young Agent of the Year and assumed the position of vice chair of her state’s Young Agents Committee.

A major part of Foster’s efforts involved championing InVEST® for the first time in the state of Nevada at her alma mater, Carson City High School. “When I got involved, I didn’t know what InVEST was, but I reached out to the national program and hit the ground running,” she says. “We had not yet established InVEST in Nevada. When I saw how important it was, it just snowballed from there.”

Foster also implemented quarterly networking events for young agents all over Nevada. “Any opportunity we have to exchange ideas with other agents is great. We learn a lot, and Nevada has so much potential that we haven’t even tapped into yet,” she explains.

In addition to her leadership in the Young Agents and InVEST programs, Foster is a mom and co-owner of an agency that’s been in her family since the early ‘90s. How does she find time for all her commitments?

“Our membership is what motivates me,” Foster says. “When I see people get involved, the light bulb goes off, I see it click, and that motivates me to get another person on board. I look at all the great things we can do in our communities. Young agents are the leaders of the future.”

Foster co-owns the agency with her two brothers, and the trio’s dad still works there, too—a situation that could potentially complicate work/life balance. “But at the end of the day, it’s great to go home and be a mom,” she says. “We keep family life and work life as separate as we can.”

Presented each year to one young agent who is a first-time attendee to the Big “I” Legislative Conference, the Maurice Herndon Scholarship enables the recipient to attend the conference free of charge. The name of the award honors the former head of the 1949 Big “I” Washington, D.C. office, who built the association’s government affairs and grassroots operations.

After attending her first “day on the hill” in Carson City two years ago, Foster saw how important it is for agents’ voices to be heard. “We need to be a resource for our senators,” she says. “We encourage young agents to call them to get those grassroots efforts out there. Knowledge is power. At this year’s Legislative Conference, I’m just going to be a big sponge and bring tons of information back to my committee.”

Now, it’s as important as ever for agents to get involved, she adds. “In the insurance industry, as we’re switching gears into this new era of leadership, I feel like we need to remain relevant as times change. We’ve done a good job so far, but that mission isn’t complete. Young agents are going to be a huge part of that.”

Jordan Reabold is IA assistant editor.