Sattler Insurance Included in
"IIAA's Best Practices Study Group"

Lewiston, Idaho, September 22, 2003 -- Sattler Insurance has been included as part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA) "Best Practices" Study Group. This is the third consecutive year Sattler Insurance has received this award!

Over 180 independent agencies throughout the U.S., thirty in each of six revenue association or an insurance company must first nominate the agency which then must qualify based on outstanding customer services, growth, stability and financial management.

The Best Practices Study was initiated by IIAA's Commission to Enhance Agency Value in 1993 as the foundation for efforts to improve agency performance. The annual survey and study of leading independent insurance agencies documents the business practices of these "best" agencies and urges others to adopt similar practices.

To assist agencies in adopting Best Practices, IIAA has developed a family of products, services and workshops known as the Best Practices Implementation Series. The series includes materials such as the Agency Self-Diagnostic Tool, Agency / Company Joint Planning Tool, Quality Customer Service Idea Book, Five Practices of Effective Leaders handbook, and Top Producers: Discover, Train, Reward. Additional studies included the Best Practices of the Leading Sales Organizations, Best Practices of Business Perpetuation and Management Succession, and Making Money the New Fashioned Way.

In addition to the written materials, hundreds of workshops and seminars have been conducted at various producer association functions, company sponsored agency meetings, and national automation users group conventions.

Last year the IIAA launched the Best Practices Gateway, a section of their website that provides executive summaries of the annual Best Practices Studies, the Best Practices Quick Check interactive comparison tool, and samples from the various Best Practices tools. The Gateway was made possible in part through the financial sponsorship of various insurance companies.

The Sattler Insurance Agency was founded in 1941 and can offer insurance products from a number of different companies including Recreational Coverages. For further information on the Best Practices Study, contact Jennifer Becker at IIAA, 800-221-7919.

IIAA founded in 1896, is the nation's oldest and largest association of independent insurance agents, representing a network of more than 280,000 agents and agency employees nationwide. Its members are small businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance - property, casualty, life and health.