Get to Know Dave Newell
Modified: January 18, 2023
Article
Author: FAIA Newsroom
Every FAIA agency member is assigned a Member Advocate (MA) to be their direct point of contact at the association. No matter what your question, our MAs can help. Dave Newell, a father of three and Jacksonville, FL native, is our Vice President of Membership and Industry Relations. We sat down with Dave and talked to him about the best parts of his job, his favorite FAIA event, and two things people are often surprised to learn about him.
Dave Newell
Vice President of Membership & Industry Relations
Years with the association: 14 years
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is problem-solving. We have built a really great team that gets to the heart of solving any problem an agent may have.
What do you wish more members knew about FAIA?
We’ve got an awesome team. I wish more people knew how beneficial it is to use our team as a resource. We do a good job of supporting independent agents in every aspect.
What’s your favorite FAIA Event?
My favorite event is Convention. It’s a busy time for us all at FAIA but the time is well spent being around our members and helping them be the best they can be.
In your opinion, what is the most valuable skill that an agent can have?
Being flexible. A successful independent agent must keep up with changes with carriers, compliance, and the market, so they need to be flexible.
Who has made the biggest impact on your career up to this point?
My former professor at UNF because he’s the reason I got into the insurance industry. He was a retired FBI agent, and when I struggled to make progress toward that career path, I asked him for advice. He encouraged me to try insurance because some of the things adjusters do, like working with the law and investigating claims, mirror some of the work in the criminology field. Once I started my career as a claims rep, I kept going and didn’t look back.
What do you do for fun?
My fun is family and frequent trips to the beach.
How would your best friend describe you?
Intense.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Tardiness is my biggest pet peeve.
What is one thing people are surprised to learn about you?
Two things: 1) People are often surprised to find out that I played high-school basketball. 2) I have been married to the same person for 37 years.