Highlights and Memories from 50 Years of AIA

Highlights and Memories from 50 Years of

1976 - 2026

E.R. Kinnebrew, III AIA President

1977 - 1978

The Birth of AIA by Butch Kinnebrew

d Flying Adjusters, Gordon’s Vodka, Bill Alderman and Rivermont Club. What do these entities have in lieve it or not, they all were involved in the birth of the now known as the Aviation Insurance Association.

l meeting on September 17, 1976, I was elected President ed on the name Association of Independent Aviation IAI. All agents, lawyers and adjusters were invited to join members.

this name until 1983 when it we decided to adopt the anks to many fine supporters, the AIA of 2006

ur industry in all areas. It’s fun to think it all started in a a with a cocktail onion.

Excerpt from The Binder article (2006)

Founding Fathers of AIA

TerryPitron,BillEason,DavidBrown,MichaelPowell,GeneSaxon,ButchKinnebrew, FredBegy,RobinSkevington,JoeBenero,JohnLeighandTonyAvery

1979 Conference in San Antonio TX

AIAI Becomes AIA

Memories from our Past Presidents

Nancy Gratzer

AIA

President - 1996

ended my first AIA conference in 1984 at the Opryland Hotel in ennessee. The weather that year was anything but —severe thunderstorms rolled through the area, accompanied by tornado warnings that kept everyone on edge. I ecall driving past what I assumed was a large river beside tion hotel, only to discover later that it was actually the flooded parking lot of the neighboring Opryland theme park.

e the stormy start, the experience itself was exceptional. I had the opportunity to connect with fellow aviation insurance pr essionals from across the industry, forming relationships that would last throughout my career. That first conference marked the beginning of a meaningful tradition: I went on to attend 35 annual AIA conferences before my retirement in 2019.

1984 Conference in Nashville, TN

From a social event to an educational meeting: By 1990, the AIA annual conference was considered one of the most valuable aviation insurance industry events, bringing together key stakeholders.

1990 Conference in Memphis, TN

Although the fun continued... Caption in The Binder: Sue Henningsgard, Ed Jamison, and unidentified collapsed person contemplate “life after the convention.”

1993 Conference in San Antonio, TX

Thomas P. Fry

AIA President 2004 - 2005

Memories from our Past Presidents

Butch Kinnebrew, Dorothy Kimmel, and Tom Fry (left to right) at the 1998 Conference in San Antonio, TX.

Thomas P. Fry

AIA President

2004 - 2005

Memories from our Past Presidents

AIA Board of Directors holds an ad hoc board meeting at Lloyd’s of London on November 7, 2000.

Since the first CAIP designations were conferred in 2000, more than 160 aviation insurance professionals have achieved this prestigious designation.

In an effort to enhance the CAIP designation, the CAIP Gold designation was created in 2009

More than 30 individuals ha achieved the CAIP Gold designa

Paul Herbers

AIA President 2018 - 2019

Memories from our Past Presidents

The AIA band started as an idea during the Lake Las Vegas conference in 2012. Our first performance was at the Colorado Springs conference in 2015. The group never rehearsed or practiced before the show, and we blended into the local pro band who let us join them. We were christened “Smooth Limits” by Past President Paul Leonard.

The first members were Paul Leonard on guitar, Larry Kaplan on keyboards and vocals, Past President Greg Sterling on drums and vocals, Past President Paul Herbers on trombone, Jack Harrington on bass guitar, and Karen Sales with the golden voice as lead singer, along with Karen and David Sales’ son on guitar who had just turned 21 and had his first drink there! We were a Hit and after that we added a few new members each year.

Smooth Limits Throughout the Years

Greg Sterling AIA President 2022 - 2023

Memories from our Past Presidents

After a two-year pause due to COVID, the AIA Annual Conference re-started in 2022 in Nashville. It was my first conference as AIA President, so I was understandable hopefully that things would go smoothly. As is often the case, they did NOT.

First, came a kitchen fire that caused the evacuation of the hotel. Luckily, no one was injured and, as they say, the show must go on.

But the fun wasn’t over just yet.

Greg Sterling AIA President 2022 - 2023

Memories from our Past Presidents

The following day one of the guest room towers lost all power. I was told that room temperatures on the upper floors topped 90 degrees (which explains why the lobby bar (despite our warning to stock heavily) ran out of beer.

Through it all our superb AIA Staff (lead by the unflappable Mary Gratzer) pulled together and made the show an outstanding success. Standing on the stage of the Wild Horse Saloon with our AIA Band Smooth Limits I looked out at the crowd singing and dancing – having the time of their lives. It was one of our most memorable conferences of all time. Thanks again Mary!