Thank you for taking a look at Western NC Insurance Professionals (WNCIP). This is an exciting time for our association. We’ve only existed for two years but we have big plans for the coming year and beyond. These plans include informative monthly meeting topics to help our members develop personally and professionally. We also feel it’s important for us to give back to the community and will provide opportunities for member involvement in various projects.

My interest in the National Association of Insurance Women began about four years ago. I’d had my CISR designation for three years and I was searching for other ways to enhance my career. I searched the internet for a local association. I found out the closest in the area was Unifour Association which met in and around Hickory. That was too far so I considered becoming a Member At Large which had NAIW’s benefits but it wouldn’t provide me local support. I decided I’d just wait until somebody started an association in the Asheville area. A couple of years passed and no local association magically appeared.

One day I realized, "If it is to be, it is up to me" and I inquired about how to start a local association. Thankfully, the state president at the time, Kimmie Ross, connected me with a transplanted NAIW member, Robin Bennington, and two NAIW members who had retired from insurance but now lived in the area, Billie Sleet and Jo-Anne Esposito. Their enthusiasm and knowledge plus the commitment of over a dozen other insurance professionals enabled us to form WNCIP. Our association was officially chartered August of 2006.

The benefits of belonging are as varied as our members. I feel WNCIP and NAIW have taught me valuable leadership skills and are constantly adding to my network of industry and community contacts. I know that my experiences in the association have made me a better employee.

Our association meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 6pm. The location sometimes changes so each month it will be posted here on the website. Why don’t you come see for yourself what WNCIP has to offer?

Hope to see you soon,

Tracy L. Brown, CISR

WNCIP President-Elect, Public Relations Chair and Founding Member