It is my great pleasure to recognize the excellence of good friend Tori Van Dusen-Roos, recipient of the 2021 Chairman’s Award, bestowed by Chairman Jason Lea at the 40th annual National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) conference. The Chairman’s Award, created in 2009, was developed to recognize the efforts of a NAILBA volunteer who has performed “over and above” normal expectations during the Chairman’s term. Qualifications include outstanding service or efforts on behalf of NAILBA within the chairman’s term, as well as efforts and service over and above normal expectations, outstanding leadership of a NAILBA initiative or project, and significant contributions to NAILBA in the areas of technology, education, communications, or marketing.
Co-principal of Diversified Brokerage Services, Inc., (DBS), Minneapolis, MN, Tori formally joined the firm and the industry in 1993, although her presence at many marketing group meetings and industry conferences, along with her brother Chip and mom and dad Diane and George Van Dusen, prior to her plunge into the family business made her many friends and admirers—myself included. Tori currently serves as COO, responsible for overseeing its Director of Operations, Director of Finance, Director of IT, Chief Underwriter and Director of HR.
Active in the industry from the beginning, Tori currently sits on the Field Advisory Councils of several insurance companies as well as The Leaders Group, a broker-dealer. She is a member of NAILBA’s Executive Board where she serves as treasurer, and on the NAILBA Charitable Foundation Board of Directors as its current Grants Committee chair. She is a current LIBRA Insurance Partners board member and is also a past board member of LifeMark Partners, past president of LIFE, Inc., and has served on numerous NAILBA committees over the course of her career.
DBS was founded in 1969 by George Van Dusen III as a brokerage wholesaler representing multiple carriers serving the upper Midwest. Their goal was to provide a single outlet for insurance advisors to supplement the products provided by their primary carriers. Over time they developed a number of business relationships with national and regional distribution systems and by 1989 had become a national organization with licenses in all 50 states. It needs saying that NAILBA was formed in 1980, DBS was at the organizing meeting and has been active in NAILBA activities ever since.
The Van Dusen family has been a great friend to the Howards and Broker World since its inception. I remember many nights at industry conferences sitting around while my father and George swapped industry intel and amusing anecdotes with Tori, Chip and I just soaking it in. I’ve been blessed to have the friendship of the Van Dusens since my start in 1983 and none any more so than Tori—always quick with a great smile and a warm hug whenever our paths cross.
Congratulations Tori on an honor richly deserved for your great service to our industry and the countless families your efforts help to protect. [SPH]
