Press Releases
Applied Systems runs Facebook campaign to benefit InVEST®
Goal to raise awareness of insurance education for students
University Park, Illinois – July 6, 2011 — Facebook fans of Applied Systems are helping the insurance technology company support a nonprofit industry program that provides insurance education and training for high school and college students considering careers in insurance.
Beginning today, for every person who logs in at http://www.facebook.com/appliedsystems and clicks the "Like" icon, Applied Systems will donate $1 to InVEST® (Insurance Vocational Education Student Training). The company’s goal is to donate $15,000. Applied Systems is a longtime InVEST supporter, also donating agency management software for use by students enrolled in the classes.
In addition to the monetary target, Applied Systems aims to raise awareness of InVEST and its programs. Darcy Waddell, Applied Systems’ director of educational services, said it’s important for insurance professionals to support InVEST.
"The insurance industry’s work force is getting older, and many longtime professionals are retiring or leaving the field," Waddell said. "InVEST gives students a chance to explore a career opportunity by offering practical programs, technology, mentoring and education. Those programs reach more than 7,000 students annually."
InVEST curriculum is in more than 200 high schools and community colleges throughout the United States. The program was created in 1970 in California by insurance agent Stephen R. Dach, who wanted to attract and train high-school and college-aged students to become informed insurance consumers and the next generation of insurance professionals. InVEST provides education, training and on–the-job experience.
Robert Rusbuldt, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA), which administers InVEST, said the program counts on financial support from the insurance industry.
"As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, InVEST is funded solely by contributions from insurance carriers, vendors, organizations and individuals," Rusbuldt said. "Applied Systems’ effort to raise money and awareness through social media is an excellent and needed campaign. As the average age of an insurance professional is around 54, and more baby boomers are retiring every day, the InVEST program is crucial in replenishing our workforce."
Applied Systems, Inc. develops, sells and supports insurance agency and broker management systems and provides services for accounting, customer, policy, claims management, and all related agent and broker functions. More than 130,000 users in 11,000 agencies of every size and complexity level use Applied Systems solutions built around insurance agency software – TAM®, Epic™, Vision® and DORIS™. In addition, Applied Systems is recognized as a pioneer in advancing agent-carrier communication, continuing its longstanding work to promote download and real-time technology. www.appliedsystems.com
InVEST® promotes insurance education to attract students to pursue a career in the insurance industry. Each year, the program prepares thousands of students for insurance-related careers with a hands-on curriculum taught in high schools, adult education centers and community colleges. The high school curriculum is a business-education program that uses a hands-on approach to prepare students for various careers and create more knowledgeable insurance consumers. At the college level, InVEST is an information-intensive curriculum of risk management and financial services. www.investprogram.org.
Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big I) is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees. Members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. www.iiaba.net.