What began in 1997 in Cincinnati, Ohio as one man’s vision has grown into a national organization across the United States, and is poised for continued growth. “Leaders of the Washington, D.C.-based National African American Insurance Association said they plan to grow their organization into an influential voice for all African Americans working in the insurance industry and to be as equally influential in the communities they serve.”

J. L. Tillman and Donald W. Davis After 21 years of building an organization in Ohio called the Ohio Association of Black Insurance Professionals, NAAIA was established and chartered in 1997 in Cincinnati, Ohio by its founder, Jerald L. Tillman, LUTCF. Agency principal of J. L. Tillman Insurance Agency in Cincinnati, Mr. Tillman saw a need to “create a platform for the growing population of minority insurance professionals to network and share information for career development and business opportunities”. Said Tillman, ”The whole purpose of why we (NAAIA) are here today is to do what we can to diversify this fantastic, magnificent industry.”

African American trailblazers of insurance go as far back as 1787 when the “Free African Society,” the first North American insurance enterprise for the care of the sick and poor of the black community, was founded in Philadelphia by free blacks.

Today, although minority representation in the insurance industry is small, NAAIA is following in the footsteps of African American insurance trailblazers to make an impact on society as a whole through professional development/ education, consumer awareness, scholarships and community service.

Growing annually, NAAIA seeks to empower African American insurance professionals, promote the interest of minorities in the expanding marketplace of the insurance industry. Said Tillman, “This is a fascinating industry…Everything stands on the insurance industry.”

To learn more about NAAIA, visit www.naaia.org.