Pat Taphorn, president of The Unland Companies, has been appointed as the new president of Big I Illinois during the association’s annual convention in Peoria.
Taphorn’s one-year term will focus on guiding the Big I Illinois’ strategic direction and serving as its representative at both state and national gatherings.
Taphorn began his career at Unland Insurance & Benefits shortly after graduating in 1989, initially working in accounting and operations before moving into sales in 1994. By 2005, he became a partner, and in January 2016, he took on the role of president.
Now overseeing six agency offices across Illinois in Pekin, East Peoria, Metamora, Macomb, and Farmington, Taphorn leads Unland’s comprehensive range of insurance solutions, which includes commercial and personal property & casualty, life & health, employee benefits, and financial services. Alongside his executive role, he maintains direct client relationships.
Throughout his career, Taphorn has been actively involved in Big I Illinois, serving in multiple positions such as regional director, at-large director, chair of the government relations committee, vice president, and president-elect. Outside the insurance field, he is also a dedicated assistant basketball coach at Pekin High School.
Big I Illinois CEO Phil Lackman expressed confidence in Taphorn’s vision for the organization, noting: “On behalf of the Big I Illinois board of directors and staff, we look forward to Pat’s leadership in the coming year. He has set significant goals for both volunteer leadership and staff, including fostering member engagement, promoting careers in insurance, educating agencies on political advocacy, and exploring new programs and opportunities for the association’s growth.”
