The Texas Surplus Lines Association held its 70th Annual Meeting on November 10, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. At the event, new officers and directors were announced, marking a fresh chapter for the organization.
Terence Babler, Vice President and Property Broker at Brown & Riding in Dallas, was named President. Billie Gorrell, President of Ashley Wholesale Brokerage in Conroe, will serve as Vice President. Hardy Nix, Executive Vice President and Casualty Broker at Awins in Dallas, was elected Secretary/Treasurer.
Three new directors began their three-year terms: Matthew Haushill from Jencap Group in Frisco, Kathryn Noser of Vintage Underwriters in Houston, and Josh Taylor from Novatae in Dallas. The existing board remains active with directors including Randy Doss of CRC Group in Houston, Stephen Gunn of Core Specialty in Asheville, N.C., Joe Taylor of RT Specialty in Houston, Morgan Whitt of Towerstone, Inc. in Dallas, Sharif Azim of Allied World Insurance in Dallas, Jennifer Brecht of Brecht & Associates in Grapevine, Lindsey Burton of Risk Placement Services in Austin, and Robby Moore of Towerstone, Inc. in Austin.
The Executive Committee is made up of these officers and the immediate past president, Robert McEwen from The Parks Group, Inc.
During the meeting, the association honored several members for their efforts. Jason Hayes, chairperson of the Education Committee from RT Specialty, received the Joe Howse President’s Award. Jim Devall and Gilbert Orozco were named Don King Committee Members of the Year for their work on the Host Committee and Membership Recruiting Committee, respectively.
The Texas Surplus Lines Association’s Texans Under Forty group also contributed to the community by collecting toys for Blue Santa, a program run by the Austin Police Department. The toys were delivered to a local firehouse to bring some joy to families during the holiday season.
This annual gathering not only confirmed new leadership but also highlighted the association’s ongoing commitment to education, member engagement, and giving back to the community.