The 1752 Club recognized two members during PIA of Louisiana’s president’s reception and awards presentation held July 18 at the PIA of Louisiana’s Annual Convention, in Point Clear, Ala.

Leeann Manalla, SageSure Insurance Managers, is the 2021 recipient of the 1752 Club’s Insurance Woman of the Year award.

Manalla, senior territory sales manager for SageSure Insurance Managers, began her insurance career over 31 years ago when she went to work for Action/Reserve, a company which rented insurance replacement automobiles. After Action closed down, she went to work for Home Masters, a restoration company.

She later worked for Central Claims Service, where she and a co-worker implemented an adjuster leasing program. After her time at Central Claims Service, Manalla worked for a Florida company which also did adjuster leasing. When that company withdrew from Louisiana and wanted her to move to Florida, she took a job with Crawford and Company. The Crawford and Company job lasted until after Hurricane Katrina when the adjusting firm no longer needed a sales person in Louisiana to market its services.

Still in marketing, Manalla’s next job was with Occidental Insurance Company. She joined SageSure in 2013, which represents Occidental and other insurance companies.

Manalla is a past president of The 1752 Club and the New Orleans Claims Association, and is active with the PIA of Louisiana, the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Louisiana, (IIABL), the Young Insurance Professionals (YIPs) and the Young Agents Committee of IIABL.

She is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in marketing. In addition, she has the CPIA designation.

In 2017, The 1752 Club presented Manalla with the Jim Herndon Company Representative of the Year award.

Her boss at the time at SageSure said, “She stops at nothing to ensure our clients are successful.”

The former director of Louisiana operations for IAT Insurance Group, David Cruikshank said, “Through my 46 years of working in our industry I have traveled with many marketing people, but you were the best. …What I observed firsthand was you often knew everyone in the agency, but more than that truly cared about everyone’s well-being. People can trust you, and it is this trust that has made us, and you, successful in Louisiana.”

She is a past recipient of the Inspire Optimism award from SageSure Insurance Managers.

Manalla’s award was presented by her daughter, Lyndsey Manalla Graham, ServPro of Metairie.

Baylie Babin, Imperial PFS, was the recipient of the Jim Herndon Company Representative of the Year award.

Babin, district sales leader for Imperial PFS, began her insurance career six years ago after graduating with her masters’ degree in business administration from Southeastern Louisiana University.

She serves on the board of directors for YIPs and is also active with The Insurance Professionals of Greater New Orleans, where she serves as co-chair of the arrangements/registrar committee.

Babin received the Rookie of the Year award from the Insurance Professionals of Greater New Orleans and subsequently won the Rookie of the Year award from The International Insurance Professionals Region VI.

She is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in marketing. In addition, Babin has the CISR and CPIA designations.

Babin’s award was presented by 1752 Club President Shay Robinson, UPC Insurance/Family Security Insurance.