Big I Wny

What Big I Wny does

Big I Western New York (Big I WNY) is a regional, member-funded trade association that supports independent insurance agencies and agents in the Western New York market, with an operational base in Orchard Park, NY. The organization is affiliated with the state-level Big I New York and the national Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA), and serves approximately 100 member agencies alongside a base of corporate sponsor partners including Arthur J. Gallagher, RT Specialty, XPT Specialty, Great American Insurance Group, and Philadelphia Insurance. Its stated mission is to represent independent agents who place coverage with multiple carriers, in contrast to captive or direct channels, and to deliver advocacy, professional development, and community programming.

Core programs include the NeXtGen initiative for young insurance professionals (under 40), the Project Invest high-school education pipeline operating across four Western New York high schools, continuing-education (CE) classes delivered with the Big I NY education team, the annual Roger M. Gurney Memorial Golf Outing, the Pioneer Award recognition program (dating back to at least 2010), legislative advocacy events, and a member portal. Underlying technology is limited to a standard association-management platform with member portal, event registration, and email/social communications.

The business model is non-dues-diversified: annual membership dues from independent agencies (subscription), event-based transaction revenue from golf outings, CE classes, holiday luncheons, legislative breakfasts, and NeXtGen events (with member/non-member pricing tiers), and tiered annual corporate sponsorships (Bronze through Diamond/Elite, ranging from $100 to $3,000). Marketing reaches members and prospects through the website (bigiwny.com), monthly email newsletters, Facebook and LinkedIn groups, in-person events, and the national Trusted Choice "Find an Agent" consumer directory. Day-to-day operations are lean, run by a single Executive Director (Jeanne E. Hellert) supported by an elected officer and director board drawn from member agencies.

Name

Big I Wny

Legal name

Big I Western New York

Website

https://bigiwny.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1841

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Big I Western New York is a regional trade association supporting approximately 100 independent insurance agencies in Western New York through membership, continuing education, legislative advocacy, networking events, and the NeXtGen and Project Invest youth-development programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Orchard Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for independent insurance agents and agencies. Members receive access to CE credits, advocacy representation, networking events, and industry resources.
2. Event Revenue: Registration fees for golf outings, CE classes, holiday luncheons, legislative breakfasts, and networking events. Events include both member and non-member pricing tiers.
3. Annual Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors pay annual fees at various tiers (Elite, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) for visibility at events and recognition as supporters of the independent insurance agent community.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Big I Western New York is a regional nonprofit trade association that supports independent insurance agents and agencies in Western New York through membership services. It delivers advocacy at state and national levels, continuing education credits, networking events, professional development programs such as NeXtGen, and educational outreach such as Project Invest. Memberships are available to agent and affiliate members, and corporate sponsors fund events through tiered annual sponsorship packages.

Product overview

Big I WNY is a regional trade association serving independent insurance agents and brokers in Western New York. The organization operates as a single unified offering centered on membership services that provide access to multiple insurance carriers, professional development, advocacy, and community networking. Key products include the NeXtGen Program for young professionals, Project Invest educational outreach to high schools, CE class offerings, the Pioneer Award recognition program, and annual events including the Roger M. Gurney Memorial Golf Outing and Legislative Breakfast events. Member services are delivered through a member portal with resources, networking opportunities, and industry advocacy support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Project Invest: High school insurance education program teaching students about the insurance industry and providing scholarships
• NeXtGen

Products and services

• Agent Membership Annual membership for independent insurance agencies in Western New York, providing access to multiple carrier representation support, advocacy, CE credits, networking events, and industry resources via a member portal.
• Affiliate Membership Annual membership for insurance carriers, wholesalers, and service providers seeking access to the Western New York independent agent distribution channel.
• NeXtGen Program Professional development and networking program for insurance professionals under 40 or new to the independent agency channel, offering CE credits, networking events, and community involvement.
• Project Invest Educational program presented to high school seniors in the Academy of Business & Finance, introducing insurance industry basics and career pathways, with scholarship opportunities supported by the annual golf outing.
• CE Class Offerings Continuing education classes covering insurance law, ethics, diversity and inclusion, and flood insurance, taught by Big I NY education team experts for members and non-members.
• Annual Golf Outing (Roger M. Gurney Memorial) Annual golf tournament supporting the Project Invest Scholarship Fund, with multiple sponsorship tiers and community networking opportunities for members, sponsors, and agents.
• Legislative Advocacy Events Events connecting members with legislators to discuss issues critical to the independent insurance industry, including market conditions and regulatory matters.
• Pioneer Award Annual recognition program honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to the association and the insurance industry in Western New York.
• Trusted Choice Find an Agent Directory Listing Consumer-facing directory placement that connects insurance buyers with Big I WNY member agencies through the national Trusted Choice brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Independent agencies placed 61.5% of all U.S. property/casualty insurance in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, key and major.

• Big I New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent state-level organization. Big I WNY is affiliated with Big I NY and the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA). Big I NY provides state advocacy, CE resources, cyber resources, and industry news.
• Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization. Big I WNY is affiliated with IIAA alongside Big I NY. Membership connotes professionalism, community involvement and a clear commitment to clients.
• Trusted ChoicecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational marketing brand created exclusively for Big I members to help consumers understand the value of independent agents. Provides the Find an Agent directory for consumer referrals to member agencies.
• Project Invest (National)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program that educates high school and community college students on insurance, financial services and risk management topics. Local program includes Clarence, Depew, Hamburg, and Lakeshore High Schools.
• FeedMore WNYminorOthersLocal food bank receiving charitable donations from Big I WNY events. Raised $2,500 at December 2024 holiday luncheon.
• Be A Blessing BuffalominorOthersLocal nonprofit helping families in need, selected as NeXtGen Shop Till You Drop charity recipient.
• RT SpecialtykeyGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond sponsor for NeXtGen events and annual sponsor. R-T Specialty / Buffalo hosts events at their Depew location and provides sponsorship support.
• XPT SpecialtykeyGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond annual sponsor and NeXtGen event sponsor. Major supporter of association events and programs.
• Gallagher (Arthur J. Gallagher)keyGTM or Marketing PartnerElite annual sponsor and frequent event sponsor. Multiple Gallagher employees serve on the board (Patrick Erickson - President, Laura Bunting - NeXtGen Chair).
• Great American Insurance GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold annual sponsor and NeXtGen event sponsor. Provides sponsorship support for various association events.
• Philadelphia InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold NeXtGen event sponsor supporting young professional development programs.
• Weed RossmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold NeXtGen event sponsor and installation event sponsor.
• Erie InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWill Salter from Erie Insurance coordinates Project Invest volunteer opportunities. Silver sponsor for golf events.
• LawleymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard member (Melissa Ragona), NeXtGen planning committee member (Ashley Engl), and event sponsor for Speed Networking.
• W.H. Greene & AssociatesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold annual sponsor and golf event sponsor. Board member Kyle Burch.
• Carstar CollisionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum annual sponsor and golf event sponsor.
• Walsh InsurancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum annual sponsor. Leslie Konter serves as Treasurer and NeXtGen planning committee.
• Specific SolutionsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold annual sponsor and event sponsor for golf outings and installation events.
• Genesee Patrons Cooperative Insurance CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver annual sponsor supporting association programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IIAAWNY
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bigiwny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big I Wny