Watts Named 2019 Emerging Leader of the Year

Sam Watts, CIC, MLIS, from NAMIC Insurance Agency in Indianapolis, Ind. is the recipient of the 2019 Big I Indiana Emerging Leader of the Year Award. This award recognizes the involvement and commitment of a Big I member licensed retail agent who qualifies as an Emerging Leader, (a licensed producer under the age of 41 or in the insurance industry for fewer than 6 years), and recognizes his or her commitment to the Indiana Emerging Leaders Committee and the parent association Big I, and his or her strong performance in the industry.

Watts is the director of operations at NAMIC and manages six team members. He is currently the past-chair of the Indiana Big I Emerging Leaders Committee and served as its chair in 2017 and 2018. Although he leverages technology to benefit his agency, he also thinks there are timeless tools any agent can use. “Dedication, diligence, persistence, and perseverance are characteristics of success at any age, experience level, or climate,” he said. “I hold that a new agent learning and applying these skills, especially in the first two years, would help lay the foundation for future success.”

He believes one hurdle many agents face when they enter the industry is being perceived as not having enough knowledge and experience. He encourages agents to establish credibility by "knowing the market, understanding a prospect’s risks and exposures, and being able to provide solution-oriented products to meet the prospect's coverage needs.” To accomplish that, he suggests continuing your industry education. “I think earning designations emphasizes these abilities and displays a committed work ethic toward a better understanding of policies and risk management,” Watts said.