The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) installed Maryland’s Angela Ripley, owner and president of VW Brown Insurance Service in Columbia, as its 2025-2026 chair during the association’s Fall Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ripley (pictured above) becomes the second woman to serve in the role. With more than 25 years of experience as an independent insurance agent, she has been active at the national level for the Big “I,” previously serving as chair of the Government Affairs Committee and as a member of the board of directors. She also chaired Big I Maryland in 2014 and served as the state InsurPac chair from 2011 to 2020.
Her leadership experience extends to several industry advisory groups, including the National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers (NARAB) board and the Federal Reserve board’s Insurance Policy Advisory Committee (IPAC).
Big “I” president and CEO Charles Symington said Ripley’s decades of service to the association and the broader insurance sector position her well to guide members through ongoing change.
As chair, Ripley has identified sustaining the independent agency system as a top priority. Her focus includes strengthening education programs, advancing technology adoption, and reinforcing the value of personalized service and relationship-building. She is also placing emphasis on inclusion and collaboration, leading a national initiative to support women in insurance.
Ripley said she is committed to supporting agents through innovation, inclusion, and advocacy, and plans to work closely with state associations and members to address challenges while building long-term resilience and opportunity.
Ripley takes the helm at a time of significant transition for the independent agency system. Consolidation among agencies and brokers continues to reshape distribution, while technology adoption is accelerating as clients expect more digital and data-driven solutions. At the same time, carriers are tightening underwriting and adjusting capacity in response to volatile loss trends, forcing agents to adapt to more complex placement strategies.
Industry analysts noted that the Big “I’s” priorities around education, tech enablement, and advocacy could play a role in strengthening the competitiveness of independent agencies. With increasing regulatory scrutiny at both state and federal levels, the association’s government affairs work is expected to remain a key focus under Ripley’s leadership.
Alongside Ripley’s installation, Greg Sandrock, owner of The Cornerstone Agency in Tampico, Illinois, was sworn in as chairman-elect, and Bryan Clinkscales, owner of Boone Ritter Insurance in Springdale, Arkansas, was named vice chair. Ripley succeeds Todd Jackson, owner and partner at McGowan Insurance Group in Indianapolis, who will remain on the executive committee as immediate past chair.
Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing more than 25,000 agency locations under the Trusted Choice brand. Its members offer a wide range of insurance products, including property, casualty, life, health, employee benefits, and retirement plans.
