PLEASANTON, CA, Sept. 8, 2022 – Former IIABCal CEO Clark Payan has been chosen to receive IIABCal’s most prestigious award for his years of service to California’s Independent Insurance Agency System. The Ramsden/Sullivan Memorial Award will be presented to Payan at the IIABCal Installation Celebration on Nov. 10th at the Los Angeles Marriott, Burbank Airport Hotel.
The Ramsden/Sullivan Memorial Award, named after P.S.W. Ramsden and Eugene J. “Gene” Sullivan, was created in 1995 -- following the merger of the Western Association of Insurance Brokers and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California (now IIABCal) – to honor industry giants of the past by recognizing impactful leaders of today. The Ramsden/Sullivan Memorial Award is the highest honor IIABCal bestows on an individual and presented only when a person merits such recognition.
In presenting the award, the IIABCal Executive Committee members recognize Payan’s outstanding and meritorious service and exemplifies the highest caliber of contribution to IIABCal, the Independent Agency System, the insurance industry, and the community.
"Clark’s impact on our industry was felt during his many years of professional service," IIABCal President Bob Teshima said. "From his beginning with the association in the mid-1980s as product director to his role as Chief Executive Officer, Clark's signature can be found among the many accomplishments of California's independent insurance agency system.
“Clark guided IIABCal with a steady hand through an unprecedented time of business and association challenges resulting from economic downturns, market disruptions from catastrophic fires, massive consolidation in the agency ranks through mergers and acquisitions, burdensome legislation and regulations, and the COVID shutdown.”
Payan grew up within the Independent Insurance Agency community. His father, Jack Payan, had a long history of industry service to the Big I of Illinois as well as the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, which he served as national president.
A graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Clark has some 44 years of experience in the insurance industry. He began his insurance career in 1979 with his family’s independent insurance agency located in Palos Heights, Illinois. He subsequently held positions in the Underwriting and Marketing Departments of Aetna Life & Casualty PFSD in Denver, Colorado.
In 1986, Clark relocated to San Francisco, California and started his first tour of duty with the state association. Clark returned to the family agency in 1988 and after serving many years as President and Chief Operating officer, returned to the Bay Area and the state association in January 1999. At that time, Clark took over duties as President of the association’s for-profit subsidiary. In September 2004, Clark assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer for the state association which he held until June 2022.
Clark is a charter recipient of the Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) and the Associate in Management (AIM) professional designations. Clark and his wife, Terry, live in Pleasanton, California. They have two sons: Cole, is a graduate of Chico State University and Jack, is a graduate of San Diego State University.
For more information on attending the installation celebration to honor Payan and to see the 2023 Officers and Directors installed, click here.