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2025 Ron Von Haden Agent of the Year: Steve Albinger The Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin (PIAW) is proud to announce Steve Albinger of Couri Insurance Associates in Waukesha as the 2025 recipient of the Ron Von Haden Agent of the Year Award! This prestigious award, named after the late Ron Von Haden, a long-time…

Tech, Transparency, and Teamwork: Keys to Agency Growth in 2026 Deloitte’s 2026 Insurance Outlook points to a shifting environment where property/casualty carriers are balancing margin pressure, technological transformation, and distribution realignment. For independent agents, the message is clear: adaptation and partnership will define success. The report notes that rising claims costs and moderating premium growth…

Annual Meeting Notice and Nominations Committee Report The Annual Meeting of the Professional Insurance Agents of Wisconsin, Inc. will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. At that meeting, the Nominations Committee will place the following names in nomination for election to the Board of…

Member Alert: Support Assignment of Benefits Reform! Assignment of Benefits (AOB) contracts allow policyholders to assign their rights under an insurance contract to a third party, such as a contractor. Unfortunately, this creates opportunities for abuse, inflated claims, and can disrupt the ability for an insurer to work with their insured directly. The negative effects…

Using Dashboard Cameras and Driver Qualification Files to Strengthen Fleet Management Brought to you by: Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of work-related deaths in the U.S. West Bend’s recent blog explores how combining dashboard cameras and well-maintained driver qualification (DQ) files can significantly improve fleet safety and regulatory compliance. Cameras provide objective, real-world…

Celebrating Our Supporting Members: Partners Investing in Agents This past June, PIA had the pleasure of hosting PIA Partners Appreciation Day in beautiful Door County. It was a day designed to simply say thank you to the valued partners who make the work we do at PIA possible. Attendees enjoyed a relaxing boat ride on…

Beyond the Brew: What Craft Beer Can Teach Insurance Professionals September 7 marks National Beer Lovers Day—a celebration for aficionados and casual sippers alike. But beyond the pints and the cheers, there’s a surprising kinship between the craft beer movement and the world of insurance professionals. Drawing inspiration from brewmasters around the world, let’s explore…

Acquisition Loans with SBA vs. Traditional Financing Thinking about buying another insurance agency or expanding your own? The right loan can make or break your growth plan. Two common financing options are Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and traditional bank loans. But before signing on the dotted line, it’s important to understand how each aligns…

Working Outdoors & Staying Cool During Summer Brought to you by: Prolonged exposure to hot weather, including working outdoors for long hours, can be detrimental to a person’s health. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps, and rashes can quickly occur and become serious, if not treated promptly. Heat stress can also lead to conditions like…

Vision Zero: A Promise Worth Keeping By: Octavio Padilla, PIA Vice-President On July 1, 2025, I had the honor of standing beside Mayor Cavalier Johnson as he officially signed Milwaukee into the Vision Zero program one of the most meaningful, forward-looking efforts our city has embraced in years. As Vice President of Wisconsin PIA, I…