NEWSLINE October 15, 2026

Pat Owens Big I PAC Golf Classic Recap

The Pat Owens Big I Pac Golf Classic in September was a HOT one! But that did not stop the fellowship, competition, fun and excitement of the day. Held in Calera at the lovely Timberline Golf Club, more than 40 teams hit the links for a two different rounds – one morning and one afternoon.

All proceeds go to the Big I Alabama political action committee that is dedicated only to state candidates and elections.

A strong presence in Montgomery and Washington, D.C., is essential to creating a better insurance and business climate at both the state and national levels. Advocacy is not only about advancing good legislation—it is also about preventing harmful legislation and regulatory actions that could negatively affect our members’ daily business operations.

Our industry must also pay close attention to the courts and their Judicial decisions and civil court rulings can have a significant impact on the insurance marketplace, ultimately affecting the cost and availability of coverage.

It is all connected. Legislation, regulation and the courts' judgements continually shape the environment in which we do business. That is why Big I Alabama and Big “I” National remain actively engaged—monitoring issues, representing you and your business.

We appreciate all of teams, sponsors, volunteers and more – y’all truly make this a great event! Be on the lookout in 2027 as we'll be making some changes to this event.

2026 Tournament Winners

AM – A Division

1^st Place – Peak Insurance Team

Blake West, Will Swift, Karlin Aultman, Will Kahlstorf

2^nd Place – Berkley Southeast Insurance Group Team

Malcolm Messer, Daviston Payton, Tyler Hickman, Mason Biberstein

3^rd Place – Associated Insurance Administrators Team

Brian Tolomeo, Patrick Albrecht, Madison North, Drew Armstrong

AM - B Division

1^st Place – National General Team

Robert Bruce, Jay Hopper, Tyler Clements

2^nd Place – Individual Players

Ronnie Young, Patrick Sellar

3^rd Place - Progressive / Reliance Partners Team

Justin Simmons, Jake Campbell, Brandon Lee, Bren Anderson

Straightest Drive – Kirby Sasser

Closest to the Hole – Tyler Hickman

PM WINNERS - A Division

1^st Place – Peak Insurance Team
Blake West, Will Swift, Karlin Aultman, Will Kahlstorf

2^nd Place - Schutz Team
David Schutz, Sam Wilkes, Christopher Simon, Patricia Gilmore
3^rd Place - FORAY Team
Jace Mills, Phil Snyman, Kevin Myrick, Todd Roberts

B Division
1^st Place - Summit Team
Derek Sinclair, Richard Coletta, Cash Young, Oliver Young
2^nd Place - Larry Burkman Agency Team
Larry Burkman, Brian Burkman, Bass Wallace, Tim Bradford
3^rd Place - Yellowhammer Roofing Team

Matt Holden, Mike Healy, Joe Sottolano, David Stout

PM Straightest Drive - Phil Snyman
Closest to the Hole - Blake West

Mulligan Winners - Jake Bicksler (AM) and David Stouts (PM)

GOLF SPONSORS - THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR SUPPORTING BIG I PAC

TEE BOX SPONSORS

Alabama Retail Comp / ARC, APAIA, Berkley Southeast Insurance Group, Best Insurance Group, Bluefire Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Capital Premium Financing, Conour Insurance, Cousins Insurance Agency, Denson and Fuller LLC, First Insurance Funding, Haulers Insurance Company / HICI, Horton’s Insurance Agency, Insurance Center of Tuscaloosa, Insurance Office of America, Jim Murphree Insurance Agency, National General, an Allstate Company, Rux Carter Agency, SafePoint Insurance, Small & Rural Services, Inc., South Shore Insurance Underwriters, The Foxworth Agency, Universal Property & Casualty, YRP Birmingham

HOLE SPONSORS

Hole #2 – SERVPRO

Hole #7 – FORAY Specialty

Hole #10 – Imperial PFS

Hole #13 – AmWINS

Hole #16 – Columbia Insurance & Yellowhammer Roofing

Straightest Drive, Hole #14 - EMC Insurance

Closest to the Pin, Hole #7 - WorkersFirst CompFund

VOLUNTEERS
AmWINS Team, Norman Barfoot, Kim Barton, Courtney Bentley, Karen Boyd, Lura Denson, Andy Fookes, Rob Grechow & SERVPRO team, Loren Gibson, Nancy Gothard, Teal Hagler, Alexis Hamilton, Michael Havernek, Dana Johns, Ed & Teresa Kocherans, Kimberly Marshall, Jace Mills, Rebecca Miller, Kay Norton, Ellie Norton, Joanne Reed, Michael Richards, Elizabeth Roth, Emily Sanders, Kirby Sasser, Anna Stephens, Christy Stewart, John Thomason, Angie Waggoner, Tracy Wilson, Yellowhammer Roofing.

View & Download Big I PAC Golf Images

Register Now for the Fall Education Conference & Trade Fair
November 4, 2026

Fall Education Conference & Trade Fair

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | Big I Alabama Headquarters

Join us on Wednesday, November 4, at Big I Alabama headquarters for the Fall Education Conference & Trade Fair — a full day of learning, engagement, continuing education and networking. We’re bringing together outstanding speakers and insurance company exhibitors for a day designed to provide practical ideas, valuable connections and meaningful professional expansion.

The schedule includes dedicated breaks throughout the day to give attendees plenty of opportunities to visit with exhibitors, connect with peers and build industry relationships. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Morning Session

Arthur Gonzales of Cypress Consulting Group, LLC will present “Your Best Year Ever: Sales Techniques That Get You There”. This engaging session will focus on practical sales techniques and strategies designed to help insurance professionals reach their goals and make the coming year their best yet. Continuing education credit is pending approval for this session.

Afternoon Sessions

Shegun Otulana of Harmony Venture Labs will take a practical look at one of today’s most talked-about topics with “AI After the Hype,” exploring what artificial intelligence means for business beyond the buzz.

Melisa Zwilling, Attorney at Carr Allison in Birmingham will close out the education sessions with “Runaway Verdicts: Surviving Social Inflation and Nuclear Judgments in E&O and EPL Litigation” . This session has been approved for one hour of continuing education credit and will examine the growing impact of social inflation and nuclear verdicts on E&O and EPL litigation.

Register today at www.aiia.org and make plans to spend the day with Big I Alabama. You won’t want to miss this valuable opportunity!

New State Laws, Effective 10/1

Thanks to 49 County News, the state of Alabama is implementing many new laws that are effective, October 1, 2026.

Several laws have proactive impact on insurance.

Source: 49 County News, Facebook
Marion County, Alabama

Link to News Post

infographic on newly effective alabama laws

Alabama Brings Home Education Award!

Big I Alabama is proud to be recognized for Excellence in Insurance Education Elite Achievement, honoring our commitment to providing meaningful, high-quality education to insurance professionals.

Congratulations to our Amazing Education Team: Ted Kinney and Tangerie Underwood!

Big I Alabama and Ted Kinney were recognized at the Excellence in Insurance Education Awards Luncheon at the Education Convocation in Baltimore, Md.

This achievement reflects the dedication of our education team to strengthening industry knowledge, building professional expertise, and preparing our members for continued success.

Most importantly, this recognition reflects our commitment to you, our members. We’re proud to provide the education, resources, and opportunities you need to grow professionally, better serve your clients, and succeed in an ever-changing insurance industry.

two men with an award in front of a balloon art piece

2027 Budget Planning?
Remember to Choose The Alabama Independent magazine to advertise your company!

Put your company in front of the people who make insurance decisions across Alabama.

Big I Alabama Magazine reaches independent insurance agency owners, producers, employees, company partners and other key decision-makers throughout the state. As Alabama’s only magazine dedicated exclusively to the independent insurance industry, it also reaches state and federal lawmakers, judges and the Alabama Department of Insurance. Advertising with Big I Alabama is an opportunity to build brand recognition, to promote products or campaigns, or just to strengthen agent relationships and to keep your company top-of-mind with the professionals you want to reach.

Put your company in front of Alabama’s independent insurance community—in print and online. Each issue of 1,000 magazines is distributed as a traditional printed magazine and is also published digitally on the Big I Alabama website, where advertisements can include click-through links that take readers directly to your website. It’s a powerful combination of lasting print visibility and convenient digital engagement, keeping your company in front of Alabama’s independent insurance industry system.

See our issue library online at
Alabama Independent Magazine - Alabama Independent Insurance Agents, Inc. (IIABA)

Click here to access the 2027 Alabama Independent Magazine Contract.
Questions? Contact Alison at aray@aiia.org or call 205.326.4129, ext. 108.

EDUCATION
CALENDAR

2026 Full Calendar PDF
Register @ www.aiia.org

OCTOBER

15th
CISR Life & Health Essentials

19th - 23rd

Property & Casualty Licensing School, in-person Birmingham

27th
CISR Insuring Personal Residential, webinar

NOVEMBER
4th
Fall Education Conference & Trade Fair, Big I HQ, Birmingham

5th
CISR Advanced Lecture Series, webinar

10th
CISR Insuring Commercial Property, webinar

11th -12th
CIC Ruble Graduate Seminar
Hybrid*

24th
CISR Other Personal Lines Solutions, webinar

ABEN COURSES

Only need an hour or two of CE? Check out the short courses available to also have new webinars for ABEN at https://aiia.aben.tv/

A New Twist on a Holiday Tradition!

The Birmingham Independent Insurance Agents Christmas & Hanukkah Open House will look a little different this year — and we hope you’ll join us for a late afternoon and evening of celebration, giving and fun! We hope you will stay for the Young Agent Bingo Night that will begin at 6 pm.

Wednesday, December 2, 2026

4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Big I Alabama Office

Join BIIA from 4:00–6:00 pm for heavy hors d’oeuvres, holiday fellowship and our annual celebration. We will present $1,000 donations to several deserving local charities and officially install our 2027 BIIA officers.

This year, we ask you to be a part of the big BIIA celebration with a Toy Drive benefiting Circle of Love Foundation. Guests are encouraged to bring a new toy, shop directly from the Circle of Love Amazon Wish List below or make a monetary donation to help provide Christmas gifts for children in need.

But don’t leave at 6:00!

The celebration continues as the Big I Alabama Young Agents take over for BINGO NIGHT from 6:00–8:00 pm! Bingo Night will continue fundraising and the toy drive for Circle of Love, with plenty of fun and some great prizes along the way.

Help Us Fill the Toy Drive!

Shop the Circle of Love Amazon Wish List:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3W4XBEUABSLGW

Make a monetary donation to Circle of Love:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZAYAFKRKBWZWW&source=url

QR codes for the Amazon Wish List and monetary donations will also be available at each event.

Come celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah, support our community, welcome our 2027 BIIA leadership and stay for Bingo Night with the Young Agents.