BIP Summer 2024

NABIP Engagement

NEW MEMBERS January 230 February 239 March 283 April 186

A passion for connection fuels NABIP membership After roughly 20 years in the field, including positions at Aon Hewitt, Conduent HR Services, and Buck, Leslie Ferguson, now vice president of broker relationships at Allstate Benefits in Atlanta, Georgia, joined NABIP in February. The industry veteran shared what led her to become a member and why she intends to stay.

to meet everyone in person and connect on a personal level. It was so exciting to be a part of it. It’s always good to join and then have a live, in-person experience right after that to tether your enrollment to a real life event. What would make you certain to renew your membership?

How did you learn about NABIP?

access insurance and care. With NABIP, I have a voice on Capitol Hill. That’s an easy dot to connect to to say if I want to spend time somewhere within the industry, this is a great place to do it. I’m a wife and mother of three children, ages 5, 8 and 11. My time is at a premium. So when I sign up for something, it needs to pack a punch, and it has to make sense quickly. I’m comfortable with saying if something is not the right fit, but it felt so natural in this case. It felt great. I attended my first event with NABIP this spring here in Atlanta, and I got

I’m friends with Jessica [Brooks Woods, NABIP CEO]. Last year, she invited me to the BenefitsPro conference, where I was introduced to NABIP as a vendor. I had just transitioned to my role with Allstate Benefits. So, I wanted to get into the job, see what I needed to do, and then consider ancillary opportunities to contribute to the space. What led you to join? Who I am as a person, I tether passion to my profession, and that also bleeds into purpose. In my profession of insurance, I want to be connected to an organization that speaks directly to how others

I’ve already experienced it. At this year’s BenefitsPro conference, I took the NABIP Voluntary Worksite Certification Course. So as I continue to experience how NABIP is creating value for me from a career perspective, it makes me think, yes, this is definitely something I can stick with and be part of.

Where in the World is NABIP?

Christoper Renkar, owner of Renkar Insurance Agency in Glen Allen, Virginia, took the magazine with him on a trip to Bonaire, part of the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. The longtime member shared what NABIP means to him. “I drank the Kool-Aid long ago after attending my first Capitol Conference, around 2010. I’ve served in multiple local, state, and regional positions over the years, mostly centered around legislative endeavors. This association is a fantastic platform for networking and professional development, along with advocacy to move the healthcare needle in the correct direction. The education available through this association is top-notch. It has consistently prepared me for whatever may come my way.”

48 bip magazine Summer 2024