Outstanding Big ‘I’ Members Recognized
By Will Jones and Olivia Overman
This week in Washington, D.C., the 2026 Big “I” Legislative Conference set the stage for celebrating standout members who embody the very best of the Big “I.”
Honoring those who’ve gone above and beyond, the awards spotlight individuals whose impact stretches across the insurance industry, their communities, and the association itself.
*This page will be updated throughout the conference.
Here are this year’s winners:
- Young Agent of the Year Award: Miles Lee
- Inclusive Excellence Champion Award: Jeff Smith
- Maurice Herndon Award: Missouri Association of Insurance Agents
- Sidney O. Smith Award: Frank Jones
Young Agent of the Year Award: Miles Lee
During the Emerging Leaders Luncheon, Miles Lee, transportation insurance broker at McGriff in Savannah, Georgia, was presented with the 2025 Young Agent of the Year Award.
“Under his leadership, their Young Agents Committee reached extraordinary heights in advocacy and fundraising, raising over $58,000 for InsurPac, with nearly $20,000 coming directly from 61 Young Agents,” said Cash McMillen, national Big “I” Young Agents Committee chair and executive vice president of operations at The Cashion Company in Little Rock, Arkansas, as he presented the award.
“Each year, the YAC chair selects a charitable organization for the annual YAC golf tournament. Under his leadership, the event had a record-breaking year,” McMillen said. “The event raised $77,903, supported by 58 sponsors and attended by 215 participants, including 132 golfers—all the highest totals in the event’s history.”
“Professional development was another priority for Lee during his term. The YAC Sales & Leadership Conference drew 190 attendees, including 78 first-time attendees and 47 brand new agents, again setting records,” McMillen added. “We honor someone who didn’t just meet expectations but redefined them.”
Inclusive Excellence Champion Award: Jeff Smith
For his contributions to the Big “I” Diversity Council and advancement of diversity and inclusion initiatives, Jeff Smith, CEO for the Ohio Insurance Agents Association (OIA) with the 2025 Inclusive Excellence Champion Award.
Smith is a member of the Big “I” Diversity Council, Diversity Best Practices Work Group and a dedicated supporter of the Right Start Mentorship program, bringing both passion and action to advancing diversity and inclusion across the independent agency channel.
“He is not only a leader in title, but a mentor in action. He invests his time, shares his perspective, and helps guide the next generation of industry professionals,” said Peter Perlman, Big “I” Diversity board member and president of Perlman Insurance Agency in West Bloomfield, Michigan, as he presented the award. “His willingness to support others as they grow is a powerful example of what inclusive leadership really looks like.”
Herndon Award: Missouri Association of Insurance Agents
Yesterday, during the Big “I” Legislative Breakfast, Charles Symington, Big “I” president & CEO, presented the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) with the 2025 Maurice Herndon Award. The Maurice Herndon award is given every year to the state association that has done exemplary work on legislative issues and government affairs the previous year.
MAIA “has routinely increased its Legislative Conference participation and its InsurPac contributions,” Symington said as he presented the award. “It has members serving on both our Government Affairs Committee and our InsurPac Board.”
Notably, the association promoted the inaugural Insurance Campaign Institute—which encourages insurance professionals to seek public office—and provided technical expertise that led to a rollback of certain federal property insurance requirements. The association also played a role in successfully lobbying Congress to preserve the 20% pass-through deduction.
Sidney O. Smith Award: Frank Jones
During the Big “I” Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, Jim Murphree, Big “I” government affairs chair and president of Jim Murphree Insurance Agency in Oneonta, Alabama, presented Frank Jones, partner at Mints Insurance, Millville, New Jersey with the 2025 Sidney O. Smith Award.
Jones serves as a lobbyist for Big I New Jersey, spending countless hours developing relationships at the state and federal level. He is a consistent and longtime major donor to InsurPac and regularly advocates for its support. This week, Jones also participated in the first annual Insurance Campaign Institute with a goal of increasing the number of insurance professionals serving in public office.
This award “is a way of honoring someone who has displayed true leadership, for rolling up their sleeves and going to bat for our businesses in the area of government affairs,” Murphree said. “It’s easy to see that when it comes to government affairs, this person is all in!”
“I love this industry,” Jones said. “It is an amazing privilege to be there for people at the worst times of their lives. We are uniquely positioned to speak to what constituents need, and I’m honored to carry our voice with those in elected office.”
Will Jones is IA editor-in-chief. Olivia Overman is IA content editor.
