Washington, D.C. - Mr. Van Hollen. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Louise “BeBe” Canter, CPCU, ARM, who is completing her term as president of the nation’s largest insurance association—the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA)—this October in Orlando.
Louise was elected to IIABA’s Executive Committee in October 1998 and was installed as this great organization’s president last September. She is executive vice president of Patterson/Smith Associates of Falls Church, Va. and resides in Bethesda, Md. with her husband, Bob, and their two sons, Christopher and Matthew.
Louise has enjoyed a distinguished career as an independent insurance agent that has been highlighted by her tireless service and dedication to her clients, community, IIABA, the Metropolitan Washington Association of Independent Insurance Agents (MWAIIA) and her colleagues across the country.
Louise’s service to her peers began with her involvement with the Metropolitan Washington Association. She served as MWAIIA’s president and as the organization’s representative to IIABA’s National Board of Directors. In recognition of her outstanding service, MWAIIA named her its 1991 Agent of the Year.
Louise also served as chairman of the Southern Agents Conference, an annual conference of agents from several states, including Maryland.
In addition to her position on the IIABA Executive Committee, Louise also serves as a member of the Association’s Large Agents & Brokers Roundtable.
Her other industry volunteer work includes service as a member of the D.C. Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters’ Board of Directors and the Standard & Poor’s Agent Advisory Council, and chair of the CNA Branch PACER Agent Panel and the Southern Agents Conference.
A highlight in Louise’s community involvement is her service as a member of Howard University’s Scholarship Committee.
I applaud Louise for her tireless leadership of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America and for the numerous accomplishments achieved for all independent insurance agents and brokers during this past year.