The Gold Standard for a Family-Run Agency with Jackson Rollo
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Jackson Rollo, president of Rollo Insurance in College Station, Texas.
Culture
Setting a New Standard for Women in Insurance with Marissa Winkelman
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Marissa Winkelman, managing partner of Webb + Winkelman in Grove, Oklahoma. Winkelman entered the insurance industry in 2012 as a receptionist at Webb Insurance and quickly realized the role wasn’t the right fit. After transitioning to a back-office position, she focused on learning the business and working her way up. By 2023, Winkelman became a…
Declaration of Independents: Marrissa Winkelman
Marrissa Winkelman entered the world of insurance in 2012 when she started as the receptionist at Webb Insurance. Understanding quickly that the position wasn’t the right fit for her, she moved to the back office, where she focused on insurance and working her way up.
Hiring Smart: How Independent Agencies Can Compete for Talent
On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jennifer Becker, Big “I” executive director of research and education, is joined by Claudia St. John, founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors. During the episode, they explore how small independent insurance agencies can compete with large corporations for talent; whether artificial intelligence (AI) is helping agencies address staffing shortages or simply adding another layer of complexity; and what agency owners…
How the Insurance Industry Is Tackling the Talent Crisis
To address the talent shortage, here are five successful, replicable strategies already in motion to recruit the next wave of insurance talent in 2026 and beyond.
7 Unwritten Rules for Running an Independent Insurance Agency
Every agency has its own “unwritten rules”: those lessons, bits of wisdom or do’s and don’ts that may not show up in trainings or be written down anywhere but make all the difference in running a successful business
Meet 7 Best Practices Agencies
Independent Agent magazine speaks with an agent from each revenue category about their experiences with the Best Practices Study and how their business operates.
Stress Fracture: Identifying and Preventing Burnout at Independent Agencies
Employee burnout takes a toll on health, productivity and ultimately an agency’s bottom line.
Reflections From The 2025 Inclusive Agency Roundtable
In April, the Big “I” Diversity Council hosted the Inclusive Agency Roundtable, which brought together independent agents, company partners and industry leaders to discuss actionable strategies for creating more inclusive agencies.
Her Story: Meet the New Big ‘I’ Chair
Angela Ripley, president of VW Brown Insurance in Columbia, Maryland, brings two decades of agency leadership, eight acquisitions and a passion for mentorship and inclusion to the role of Big “I” chair.
