The Hill, a prominent political newspaper, has once again named Bob Rusbuldt, Big “I” president & CEO, and Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of external, industry and government affairs, among the top trade association lobbyists in Washington, D.C. this year.

As in previous years, the Big “I” was the only insurance agent/broker group to make the list.

In its announcement this morning, The Hill stated the criteria for the recognition. “Not all of those honored on this list are formally registered as lobbyists,” the newspaper reported with its list. “But the people below are all at the top of their game — and the ones the nation’s biggest companies, labor unions and associations turn to when they want their voices heard in the nation’s capital.”

“The Big ‘I’ is proud to have its government affairs team recognized, once again, by one of the premier political newspapers in the country,” says Jon Jensen, Big “I” chairman, and president & CEO of Correll Insurance Group, Spartanburg, South Carolina. “We are grateful to Bob Rusbuldt, Charles Symington and the entire government affairs team for the hard work, meaningful relationships and dedication that consistently result in our association being named among the most influential in the country.”

Congressional leaders regularly tap the Big “I” federal government affairs team for its political acumen for sitting on congressional steering committees, raising campaign dollars, hosting political events and strategizing to help members of Congress better serve their constituents and advance top issues. A vital component of the association’s advocacy efforts is InsurPac, the Big “I” political action committee, which has disbursed approximately $1 million this election cycle to congressional campaigns on both sides of the aisle that are supportive of the independent agency system.

Sue Nester is Big "I" vice president of communications.