Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
None

Leadership Academy

Button



ASK YOURSELF...


Are you an undiscovered star or current manager ready to move to the next level?

Do you have a future leader in your agency, but don’t have the time and resources to help them reach their full potential?


LET US HELP YOU!

Join the Big I Connecticut Leadership Academy and learn to lead your agency to success.







Cliff, April, and Jim create an environment that these folks would feel very comfortable talking about real-life things amongst each other, and I think that was part of the success that we had.

David boyce cpcu, tompkins insurance agencies president/ceo

Overview

The Leadership Academy is a 6-day (1-day a week for 6 weeks) intensive program designed to elevate the leadership abilities of team members within an agency. Participants will engage in dynamic sessions covering communications, vision, goal planning, team development, and real-world leadership, focusing on identifying individual strengths and growth areas. By the end of the program, participants will be equipped with the essential tools and skills necessary for effective leadership, ready to inspire their teams and drive the agency toward continued success.




 Now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 cohort (starting April 10th) 

*Fall 2025 cohort begins on September 17th.





Don't just take our word for it. Hear from grads...

 

 

 

 



Don't wait. this is your moment.

 Sign me up 
 I want to nominate an employee


Day 1 | April 10: Levels of communication, principles of connection, diversity and inclusion, agency communication

Day 2 | April 24: Vision, direction, & inspiration; types of goals; goal planning; goal management

Day 3 | May 8: Setting expectation; structure; management vs. leading; motion and inspiration; case studies & questions

Day 4 | May 22: Team projects; ideal presentations; team building process; PowerPoint skills 

Day 5 | June 5: Leadership in the real world; the power of caring; candid coaching; real world leadership

Day 6 | June 19: Team projects, course wrap-up, awards ceremony; course evaluation

$2900 for Big I NY members; $5000 for non-members.

The course requires a workbook, included in the tuition cost.

  • Championship structures 
  • Managing vs. leading
  • Team development
  • Diversity, equality, and inclusion
  • Levels of Leadership
  • Communication styles
  • Goal setting
  • Expectations and accountability
  • They could be the person who pays for your retirement through agency perpetuation
  • You don’t have the time/format to adequately train your next rising star
  • You have a manager who could use some coaching to really excel in their position
  • You’ll give your employee exposure to running an agency that they don’t get on a day-to-day basis
  • You’ll end up with a more professional, more productive employee
  • If your employee writes one large commercial account because of the skills gained at the Academy, you’ll likely offset the cost of tuition


 Sign me up


 I want to nominate an employee


Meet Your Instructors

We’ve put together a top-notch team of expert coaches to guide and train in core leadership skills.


cliff.jpg

CLIFF D’ANGELO

has always had a passion for coaching people. He’s enjoyed a successful career in sales and management for nearly 30 years, working at three multimillion dollar, industry-leading companies: Moore Business Forms, Kohler Plumbing Products, and Ferguson Enterprises.

He is an Og Mandino Habit Finder Certified Coach, and finds those writings and principles the keys to selling and coaching success. He also coaches high school football and girls lacrosse in Florida.


april-headshot.jpgAPRIL BALLESTERO

has decades of experience in sales, leadership, management, and training. She holds a Masters of Leadership from William Jessup University, an Og Mandino Leadership and Habit Finder Certification, and an Abelson Disc and Emotional Intelligence Certification.

Her clients have used her services to double their revenue; grow strong, healthy, and connected teams; and to increase productivity, value and opportunity through her customized coaching experiences. 


tim.dodge.jpgJIM LOMBARDO

has been in the insurance industry since 1982. He previously has worked for Utica National, Merchants, Met P+C and National Grange Mutual.

He became licensed and worked for a large independent agency in Central NY until 2002 when he started his own firm. For the past 17 years, he ran an insurance agency and a Registered Investment Advisor for one of the largest credit unions in New York. He joined Big I NY in 2019 as The AVP of Learning and Development.

He has a B.S. in Management Science from SUNY Geneseo and an M.B.A. from SUNY Empire State.  Jim truly enjoys teaching insurance and “giving back” as an adjunct instructor for Utica College, Mohawk Valley Community College and LeMoyne College. He is a certified pre-licensing instructor for the New York State Department of Financial Services.

QUESTIONS?

Ask Jim!

Jim Lombardo, CPCU, AAI, AIM, MBA
AVP of Learning & Development
jlombardo@biginy.org
800.962.7950 EXT: 226

SCHEDULE A MEETING

What a leader has to say...