The National Alliance began as a request by a small group of independent agents in Texas. It has grown to become the nation's leading professional insurance and risk management education resource. From the inception of the very first CIC institute, conducted in 1969 in Austin, Texas, we have had two very simple goals:

• To provide excellent programs of practical value to the best insurance and risk management practitioners, and
• To continually work to bring greater recognition and value to their achievements.

For almost four decades , The National Alliance has set the standard for quality continuing education and for delivering what insurance and risk management practitioners want. I am proud that almost 130,000 successful and respected people have used and continued to use our programs as the foundation upon which they have built and continue to build their careers and businesses.

These participants are unique - they work for success and honestly strive to meet their goals. They know that integrity and character are earned by the action they take when no one is watching. They know that it's not the longest run, the last-minute pass, the fastest lap, the "play of the day," the final victory, or the building exploding that allows us to understand what really happened during the game, race, or history.

They know that no one will do business with them just because they need the business - they must provide value . The programs and designations offered by The National Alliance present a clear picture of value to clients, colleagues, and co-workers.