Lisa Lounsbury, CAE, AAI, AIS, serves as President & CEO of Big I New York and Big I Connecticut, where she champions the success of independent insurance agents across both states. With over two decades of leadership in the insurance and association sectors, she is also the Co-Founder and President of the Board of Directors at Catalyit, an organization dedicated to helping agencies navigate and leverage technology effectively.
Lisa’s career began at Great American Insurance, where she held various roles in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. In 1999, she joined the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York (IIABNY), progressing through key leadership positions before being appointed permanent CEO in 2017. Her strategic vision focuses on enhancing member services, embracing technological innovation, and advocating for the independent agency system.
A graduate of Miami University of Ohio with a degree in finance, Lisa earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives in 2008 and the Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI) designation in 2009. She is actively involved in her community, having served on the Cazenovia Central School District Board of Education and the Onondaga-Madison School Boards Association.
Recognized for her dedication to the industry, Lisa received the Bob Morris Award from the Tri-County Independent Insurance Agents Association in 2015, honoring her commitment to professionalism and service. She resides in Cazenovia, New York, with her husband and children. Lisa’s leadership continues to inspire innovation and growth within the independent insurance agency community.
In March 2023, Lisa delivered a TED-style talk titled “Agents are KEY in the Insurance Ecosystem” at the InsurTech NY Spring Conference: Competing on Collaboration, highlighting the indispensable role of agents in the evolving insurance landscape.
She also serves as a recurring mentor in the InsurTech NY Match Program, providing guidance to growth-stage insurtech startups alongside industry leaders such as Michelle Bothe, CEO of Finsure, and Solen Soya, Director of Strategy, Marketing, and Project Management at Zurich Insurance Group.
