First Connect

We're live at IIANC InsureEXPO in Winston-Salem, NC. Jake Lewin and Tom Finch are on the floor ready to talk all things carriers, growth, and what First Connect can do for your agency. You'll find us at booth #613 all day.

American Agents Alliance 2026 is one of the biggest events of the year for independent agents, and First Connect will be there. Join us September 24-26 in Palm Desert, CA at booth #519 and find out how we help agencies do big things: 150+ carriers, technology built for how agents actually work, and real human support every step of the way.

The people behind First Connect make the difference. These eleven team members are the ones picking up the phone, solving problems, and showing up for agents every single day. Shoutout to our September Monthly Rockstars. We're grateful for each of you.

First Connect is hitting the road this fall, stopping at American Agents Alliance, ITC, and WISA. We can't wait to see you there.

Between managing clients, working quotes, and running your business, you don't always have time for formal training. First Connect University was built around that exact reality.

Every course inside FCU is self-paced and on demand, so you can start one this afternoon and pick it up Thursday morning. There's no required order, no live session to schedule around, and no timeline to hit. Plus, FCU is mobile-friendly, accessible from your phone or tablet whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

Courses include insurance fundamentals like property, commercial, cyber, flood, and E&S to hands-on platform training that walks you through the First Connect agent portal step by step.

Not a First Connect agent? Join and start learning today.

👉 https://bit.ly/4diCf1v

First Connect. Built for this.

First Connect is heading to Winston-Salem for IIANC InsureEXPO on September 17th. If you're attending, come find us at booth #613 and let's talk about what better market access can do for your agency.

Earn President's Club status this year and you'll be on your way to Punta Cana!

We added five more President’s Club spots for 2027, so the top 35 agencies in 2027 will join us at Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana, June 3 – June 6, 2027.

Read about the trip and check out our Rewards Program to learn more!
👉 https://bit.ly/3SS1L6Y

Wishing you and yours a well-earned day off. Happy Labor Day from the First Connect team.

For Rachelle Alba Cobarrubias, insurance was never just a career choice. It was a calling.

This month, we're proud to feature her as our September Agent Spotlight.

Rachelle grew up watching her mother build a thriving insurance in a traditionally male-dominated industry. That front-row seat helped Rachelle find her own purpose. More than 30 years later, she leads MEA & Associates Inc., an independent brokerage in Southern California serving more than 10,000 clients across 39 states.

"Don't be afraid to take up space," she says. "You earned your seat at the table." That sentiment shapes how she leads her team and mentors newer agents:

She encourages them to focus on relationships, not transactions. "Your reputation is your greatest asset," she says. "Take care of your clients and treat every opportunity as a chance to build a long-term relationship."

MEA is the only agency to have earned First Connect President’s Club recognition for five consecutive years, an achievement Rachelle says more about her team than any production number. First Connect has been part of making that possible, giving the agency broader market access, a more efficient quoting and submission process, and resources that have helped her agents grow in confidence.

Outside of work, Rachelle organizes Coffee and Connections gatherings for local business owners and leads Empower Her, a women's event built around igniting passion and lifting others up. She says her family anchors it all.

Rachelle, thank you for sharing your story with the First Connect community.

For Rachelle Alba Cobarrubias, insurance was never just a career choice. It was a calling.

This month, we're proud to feature her as our September Agent Spotlight.

Rachelle grew up watching her mother build a thriving insurance in a traditionally male-dominated industry. That front-row seat helped Rachelle find her own purpose. More than 30 years later, she leads MEA & Associates, an independent brokerage in Southern California serving more than 10,000 clients across 39 states.

"Don't be afraid to take up space," she says. "You earned your seat at the table." That sentiment shapes how she leads her team and mentors newer agents:

She encourages them to focus on relationships, not transactions. "Your reputation is your greatest asset," she says. "Take care of your clients and treat every opportunity as a chance to build a long-term relationship."

MEA is the only agency to have earned First Connect President’s Club recognition for five consecutive years, an achievement Rachelle says more about her team than any production number. First Connect has been part of making that possible, giving the agency broader market access, a more efficient quoting and submission process, and resources that have helped her agents grow in confidence.

Outside of work, Rachelle organizes Coffee and Connections gatherings for local business owners and leads Empower Her, a women's event built around igniting passion and lifting others up. She says her family anchors it all.

Rachelle, thank you for sharing your story with the First Connect community.