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…
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.
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…
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.
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
Independent Agent magazine speaks with an agent from each revenue category about their experiences with the Best Practices Study and how their business operates.
Employee burnout takes a toll on health, productivity and ultimately an agency’s bottom line.
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.
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.
“It takes a lot of work to do this job,” says young agent Yuliya Karpov. “This profession provides an opportunity to find harmony, to learn about yourself and what you need, then reflect and adjust accordingly.”
