Matt Speight of Scott Agency in Montgomery City was recently honored as the Insurance Person of the Year by the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA). Speight, of Auxvasse, was presented with the award during the association’s annual Missouri Agents Connection (MAC) Summit, hosted at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach.

Speight has been an active member of MAIA since his insurance agency career began in 2007, having served on the Trusted Choice Missouri Big I Championship Junior Golf Committee and the MAIA Young Agents Committee. He is also chairperson of the MAC Summit Committee and currently serves on the Executive Committee.

Speight joined Scott Agency in 2007, where his mother and father have both worked since 1977 and where his grandfather had been since 1951. His father has said he acquired his cold-calling skills from his grandfather as he is not hesitant about approaching almost anyone about their insurance program.

Speight received his Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Missouri-Columbia, was a diehard student Tiger fan, being the first member of the Zou Crew in 1999. He was also a member of Delta Sigma Pi, a college business fraternity. He worked part-time during his college years at Columbia Insurance Group and became a full-time employee there upon graduation in 2002 as a home office claims specialist. He acquired his Associate in Claims designation in 2006.

Speight is a graduate of the MAIA’s Elite Force Sales Training School and regularly attends the association’s Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City as well as Big I’s National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
He is an active member of two communities – one where his children attend school and another where his family’s insurance agency main office is, the town in which he grew up. He has served as president of the Montgomery City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Montgomery City Kiwanis Club. For several years, he has also served as a regional steering committee member of the Greater Montgomery County Economic Development Council, of which his father, Brent Speight, is board president.

Speight has spent countless hours being active in his children’s community activities by serving as the president of the North Callaway Youth Football Club, as well as the North Callaway Little League commissioner. He has coached his own kids and many children in many sports – soccer, baseball/softball, football, and basketball. When attending an event in the community, players have to say hi or offer a hug to “Coach Matt” as he has left a lasting impression on their lives. Speight is a committed fan of many sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and his beloved Missouri Tigers. He is an avid deer hunter.

Speight has been married to Sara for twenty years. She is a registered nurse at the North Callaway School District. They have three children, Brandon, Lauren and Tyler. His entire family is very proud of his tireless work habits and his commitment to his fellow man.

The Insurance Person of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has significantly contributed to the American Agency System within the state of Missouri and is an award only presented when an MAIA member has gone above and beyond in serving the association and the independent insurance population overall.