CROP INSURANCE RESEARCH BUREAU, INC
201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Suite C5 • Washington, DC 20002
For more information contact Paul Horel at (202) 544.0067.
January 13th, 2009
CIRB to relocate to Washington, DC
UPDATE: July 1st, 2009
The Crop Insurance Research Bureau office in Overland Park, KS has relocated effective July 1, 2009. CIRB has entered into an agreement with Michael Torrey Management Group to operate the administrative functions of the association. That agreement begins officially on October 1, 2009 but the new Washington, DC office is now receiving all CIRB correspondence and phone calls. Michael Torrey Associates will continue to represent CIRB as its federal affairs representative. I will be working with MTMG during the transition process and will continue to be available through December 31, 2009. CIRB’s website will remain www.cropinsurance.org.
PAUL HOREL, President
Phone: 913.522.1755
Email: paulh@cropinsurance.org
CIRB’s official contact information:
Michael Torrey, Executive Vice President
Crop Insurance Research Bureau, Inc.
201 Massachusetts Ave, NE Suite C-5
Washington, DC 20002
Ph 202.544.0067 Fax 202.330.5255
Email: mtorrey@torreydc.com
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS - Paul Horel, president of Crop Insurance Research Bureau, Inc. (CIRB) has informed the association's Executive Committee that he will be stepping down as president of CIRB at the end of 2009. Mr. Horel's decision prompted the committee to consider CIRB's future direction. As a result, the committee has decided to move the association's offices to Washington, DC and make key changes in the association's administrative structure.
In recent years it has become apparent that CIRB has needed to place more emphasis on its presence in Washington. The recent Farm Bill debate and the need to be engaged on an almost daily basis brought this to the forefront. According to Mr. Horel "not only is it important to continually educate and interact with members of Congress and their staffs, increasingly regulatory issues require greater interaction at the Washington level as well."
After several months of discussion and debate the Executive Committee determined that it was necessary to close the Overland Park office at the end of its lease on June 30th, 2009 and move operations to Washington, DC under the leadership of Michael Torrey. Mr. Torrey will continue as CIRB federal affairs representative but, under a separate arrangement with CIRB, he will manage the association's administrative affairs as well.
CIRB's outside counsel Kurt Henke will increase his involvement in order for the association to deal with a number of current and anticipated regulatory changes. Mr. Henke's over twenty years of experience make him uniquely qualified to provide the type of solid guidance on legal and regulatory matters the association requires. Additionally, CIRB will lean more heavily upon his expertise as it prepares to assist members in a new round of negotiations on the Standard Reinsurance Agreement.
Mr. Horel will be working with Mike Torrey during the transition in the months to come. CIRB's management arrangement with him will take effect officially on October 1, 2009 but Mr. Horel will continue to work with Mr. Torrey through the end of 2009 to assure the transfer is smooth and seamless.
Mr. Horel added that there are great challenges ahead for crop insurance and CIRB stands ready to do its part to meet those challenges and provide the strong leadership it has since the association's inception in 1964."