PIA National President Robert P. Page of Houma, Louisiana, left, congratulates Kenneth A. Bowles, CIC, CPIA, CISR, PLCS, CLCS, the winner of the 2008 PIA National Professional Agent of the Year award. Bowles is a principal of the Rogers Agency, Inc. / The Archer Agency located in Kingsport, Tennessee.

WASHINGTON, March 1, 2008 — Kenneth A. Bowles, CIC, CPIA, CISR, PLCS, CLCS, has been named the 2008 PIA National Professional Agent of the Year by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents. The award was presented during a luncheon on March 1, 2008 in Arlington, Virginia.

Bowles was honored for his tireless work on behalf of professional insurance agents, his commitment to the highest standards of professionalism in his industry, his active leadership in PIA and his dedication to his community.

“Each year, PIA National honors one of our best and without a doubt, Ken Bowles is one of PIA’s best,” said PIA National President Robert Page, who presented the award, the association’s highest honor to an individual agent. “He has demonstrated a deep level of commitment to our industry and his fellow PIA members. He personifies what it means to be a professional, independent agency owner.”

Bowles is owner of The Archer Agency/Rogers Agency of Kingsport, Tennessee. He formed The Archer Agency from scratch in 1991 and purchased the Rogers agency in 2003.

Bowles is an insurance educator who teaches a wide array of continuing education courses for the PIA of Tennessee along with PIA of Nebraska and Iowa and has written several of the courses that he teaches. Bowles is a senior instructor for Commonwealth Academy of Professional Education. He is a member of the Insurance Liaison Committee of Middle Tennessee State University and also serves as a member of the selection committee for the Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame at MTSU.

A firm believer in the importance of insurance education, Bowles is adamant that his employees are among the best educated in insurance in his area. He requires each of them to attain a professional designation of their choice which he pays for in its entirety.

Bowles was the recipient of the 2007 PIA of Tennessee Professional Agent of the Year Award.

Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses. PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America (SM). PIA’s web address is www.pianet.com.