Penny Dugas, BXS Insurance, was installed president of the Insurance Professionals of Acadiana May 18 at Fezzo’s Seafood, Steakhouse and Oyster Bar in Broussard.

Dugas, a 17-year veteran of the insurance industry, has been a senior commercial lines account manager for BXS Insurance for the last three years.

Dugas got her start in the insurance business with American Life Insurance Company as a producer in Employee Benefits. “I had a friend approach me about the job, and it intrigued me,” she told the Reporter. “I liked getting to know the different aspects of the different businesses that I called on,” she added.

At that time she had her health and life license, and then she received her property and casualty license in 2011.

In addition to her life and health and property and casualty licenses, Dugas has a Transportation Risk Insurance Professional designation. “When I went to work at BXS Insurance, I was assigned to a transportation producer, and I felt like I needed to know more about the transportation industry,” she told the Reporter.

She has been active with the Insurance Professionals of Acadiana for the last three years. In 2019, she received the Rookie of the Year award. She has served as a board member and president-elect before taking office as president.

As with most associations since Covid started, Dugas said membership has dwindled for the Insurance Professionals of Acadiana. One of her goals for the association for the coming year is to increase membership in the association. In addition, she would like to do more in the community since the Covid restrictions have eased.

The association’s golf tournament is up and running again, and this will support an as yet to be named charity and scholarships at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for students in the Risk Management program.

According to Dugas, there are numerous benefits to being a member of the Insurance Professionals of Acadiana. The association provides educational opportunities through continuing education and the opportunity to achieve designations. In addition, the association provides leadership training. “I felt like my membership in the association was an investment in my career,” Dugas said. “The association is not just about the monthly meeting, we have all developed relationships with each other through our involvement in the association,” Dugas added.

International Association of Insurance Professionals Region VI Vice President Joycelyn Polumbo, Hub International, installed the officers and directors.

Officers installed with Dugas are Daphne Thibodeaux, McGriff Insurance, vice president; Shanetria Colligan, Globe Life/Liberty National, secretary, and Tracy Romero, Hub International, treasurer. Assuming positions on the association’s board of directors are Kelly Broussard, Dwight Andrus; Tina Dupree, Dwight Andrus; Linda Ray, BXS Insurance; Arliene Romero, Hub International, and Polumbo.