AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Combined Agents of America, LLC (CAA) announced that Lauri Benefiel, CIC, has joined the Texas-based managing general agency as the new agency manager of its CAA Insurance Services (CAAIS) division. With 47 members based in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, CAA is a MGA committed to strengthening the independent insurance agency system through profitable growth and exceptional service for its member agencies. 

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"Lauri's background in brokerage operations has empowered her to jump in with little training," says Bill Martin, second vice president of CAA and president of Grona Boles Martin Bloxsom Insurance, San Antonio, Texas. "She walked through our doors with already having managed and grown a department to some 40 employees for Heffernan Insurance Brokers. We are excited about the new talent and energy she brings to CAAIS."

Benefiel, who has a background as an operations manager for a large insurance agency, will report directly to CAA's second vice president Bill Martin. Before joining CAA, she worked for Heffernan Insurance Brokers in northern California. Benefiel began her career at The Hartford in underwriting, sales, and finally management in their Select Customer Insurance Center. 

In 2007, CAA opened the doors to CAAIS, a closed brokerage exclusively for member agencies of CAA. This brokerage was developed to provide a solution and a marketplace for many classes of business that cannot be placed with an agency's current carriers. In 2011, CAAIS generated more than $5 million in annual premiums.

About Combined Agents of America, LLC
Founded in 1997, Combined Agents of America, LLC (CAA) is based in Austin, Texas, and is comprised of 47 independent insurance agencies located throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. By funneling the agencies' combined premiums, CAA brings larger volume commitments to insurance companies, while empowering its members to realize greater benefits from insurance companies, vendor discounts and other incentives. In 2011, CAA generated more than $505.8 million in annual premiums, and currently works with 18 of the largest US insurance companies. CAA experienced more than 20.5% growth in written insurance premium in 2011, compared to the $419.9 million it wrote in 2010. All CAA member agencies remain independent and are recognized by insurance companies as a key component to their future growth and goal commitments. Additional information is available at www.combinedagents.com.

CAA member agencies include: Aars & Nelson Insurance Agency, Barnard Insurance Agency, Bartlett, Baggett & Shands, Benchmark Insurance Group, Benton-Luttrell-Brown Company, Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts Insurance Agency, Bibby-Brilling & Associates, BRIA Insurance & Risk Consultants, Bridges Group Inc., Bosworth & Associates, Bryan Insurance Agency Ltd., Brownrigg Insurance Agency Inc., Cravens-Warren & Co., Crockett Insurance Service, Duncan-Fraser & Bridges Insurance Agency Inc., Ed Berrong Insurance Agency, Ed Weeren Insurance Agency Inc., EFGI Insurance & Bonds LLC, Elliott Insurance Group, Evans-Ewan & Brady Insurance Agency Inc., First Insurance Services, First Texas Insurance Services LC, Henry Norris Insurance Agency, Inc., HC&H Insurance Group, Garrett Insurance Agency, Inc., GBS Insurance Agency Inc., Grona Boles Martin & Bloxsom Insurance, Hill County Insurance Agency, Insurance Associates of Texas, Insurance Net Inc., JHC Insurance Agency Inc., J. S. Edwards & Sherlock Insurance Agency, McCorkle Commercial Insurance Agency, Mims & Smith, Mr. Insurance Agency, Inc., NTX Insurance Group, Inc., Pierson-Fendley Insurance, Pinnacle Insurance Group Inc., Porter Insurance Agency Inc., Purifoy & Company, The Shropshire Agency Inc., Siegeler Insurance Agency, Inc., Walthall-Sachse & Pipes, Inc., The Weatherby-Eisenrich Inc., Wellmann Insurance Agency, Inc., Western Insurance Agency, and Whorton Insurance Services.

Press Contact:
Courtney R. Holder
Tel: (512) 627-0779
courtney@combinedagents.com

SOURCE Combined Agents of America, LLC