I had the privilege to attend the IAIP Regional Conference in Louisville, Kentucky and wow! What an event! This year our Region participated in the first ever HUB Regional, of which 5 regions participated. Each region had their own regional conference the day before the international convention began and was held at the same venue. Our Region VII meeting began with a business session and the Confidence While Communicating Speak-off, where I competed against a member from the Honolulu Association, Mark Coberly. Afterwards we enjoyed a joint regional luncheon and ended the day with our second business session which concluded with the announcing of the Region VII award winners.

See the below list of Region VII Award Winners!  
E.C. Smith Jr. Memorial Award for Community Action
(Given in recognition of a local association’s commitment & activities in supporting their community/Volunteer work) 
San Diego Association of Insurance Professionals
Roy Pasini Memorial Award for Public Relations
Honolulu Association of Insurance Professionals
Jeffrey Nordhaus Memorial Award for Education
No Submissions
Association of the Year 
No Submissions
Member of the Year 
Keri Herlong, CPCP, CIC, CRM, CISR, ACSR, AIM, CIIP, CLP, DAE - Las Vegas Ins. Professionals
Hall of Fame 
Annette Ing-Firmeza - San Francisco Insurance Professionals
Rookie of the Year 
Lou Ohki - Insurance Associates of Fresno
Claims Professional of the Year 
Jenny Scahaffer, ARM, CIC. CLP - San Francisco Insurance Professionals
Client Service Professional of the Year
Kim Cameron, CPIW, CLP - Insurance Associates of Fresno
Professional Underwriter of the Year 
Brooke Lesniak, CLP, CRIS, CIIP - CA Member at Large 
Risk Management Professional of the Year
Allison Holmes, AIS, AINS, CPIW, CLP, DAE - Insurance Associates of Fresno
Young New Professional
No Submissions
Confidence While Communicating 
Mark Coberly - Honolulu Association of Insurance Professionals
Insurance Professional of the Year 
Regina Lemanowicz, CLP - San Diego Association of Insurance Professionals

A BIG thank you to our Region VII Sponsors – Insurance Professionals of Helena and Imperial PFS. As well as all of our award sponsors & volunteers. This event couldn’t happen without you!

Immediately following regional was the IAIP 81st Annual International Convention occurring 6/10/2022 - 6/12/2022. 

The convention began on Friday with a rocking keynote Speaker, called Marvelless Mark, and we all received our own drum sticks to continue being rockstars! Afterwards we had our traditional & thrilling Confidence While Speaking International Speak-Off competition, followed by some excellent Education Sessions which included classes on Industry Trends (CE) & Career Development. Of course who could forget the First Timer’s Happy Hour, Welcome Reception, Luncheon & super fun YNP, Young & Professional, family feud event! And that was just day 1 of the IAIP conference! Day two started with Breakfast with the Sponsors, part two of the education classes for Industry Trends (CE) & Career Development. As well as new classes such as the Leadership Bootcamp & a variety of short 30min classes offered through the Community Café. There really was something for everyone! That afternoon the IAIP international award winners were announced over the Luncheon, always an exciting time! Please see the list of winners!!!

INTERNATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
Past Officer Council Scholarship
Nicholas Duncan, CRIS, AAI, AINS, CLP, PWCAM - Region V
Young New Professional
Melissa Rageth, AIC-M, AIM, AINS, CISR, CLP - Region V
(Award Sponsor: Donegal Insurance Group)
Rookie of the Year 
Harold Tracy, CIC, CLP, MLIS, CRIS, TRIP, SBCS - Region II
(Award Sponsor: Momentous Ins. Brokerage)
Risk Management Professional of the Year
Alison Holmes, AIS, AINS, CPIW, CLP, DAE - Region VII 
(Award Sponsor: CMR Risk & Ins. Services)
Client Service Professional of the Year
Kim Cameron, CPIW, CLP - Region VII 
(Award Sponsor: Lockton Companies)
Claims Professional of the Year 
Vikki Angelo, AIC, CLP, CPIW, ITP, CCA, CLC - Region IV
(Award Sponsor: The Cincinnati Ins. Companies)
Professional Underwriter of the Year Brooke Lesniak, CLP, CRIS, CIIP - Region VII
(Award Sponsor: Vermont Mutual)
Confidence While Communicating 
Gayla Martin, CISR, MLIS, CIIP, DAE, CLP - Region V
(Award Sponsor: Johnson & Johnson)
Insurance Professional of the Year Sue Quimby, CPCU, CPIW, DAE, AU, CIC - Region I
(Award Sponsor: Binder Family Trust)

Also announced were the 2022 NAIW Legacy Foundation Scholarship & Grant Recipients; please click on the following link to see the full list; https://www.internationalinsuranceprofessionals.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1564757&group=

This convention brought the largest crowd in five years with almost 250 registered attendees. If you missed it this year, be sure not to miss it next year! While the location details are still TBD for the international convention, we do know the Region VII conference will be in Hawaii!!! That’s right next year, April 27-29, 2023, Region VII members will be in Waikiki at the stunning Hawaii Prince Hotel!!! Want to know how you can come? Since this is a members only event, you must be an IAIP member to attend, so join SDAIP today & stay tuned for more info to follow on this exciting conference! 

In Fellowship,
Christina Hernandez, CIC, AAI
SDAIP - President
Region VII