Tamara, originally from Riverview, Michigan, is the Principal and Owner of the Champagne Agency. With over 22 years of experience in the insurance industry, she began her career on the financial side, helping educators secure retirement plans. Over time, Tamara expanded her expertise to offer insurance solutions, assisting her community in protecting their homes, autos, and lives. Her passion for connecting with clients and providing personalized solutions has been the hallmark of her career. Tamara’s deep-rooted commitment to her community extends beyond her profession. She is an active member of her local American Legion, where she volunteers and serves on the board, advocating for veterans and their families. Outside of work, Tamara enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband, children, and grandchildren and loves creating memories with them, especially during trips to northern Michigan.

Elizabeth is a content marketing manager with a deep understanding of the startup landscape. She specializes in driving impactful content strategies for early-stage companies. Having honed her skills within a dynamic small marketing agency environment, she has extensive experience across crafting compelling content and growing community engagement. Elizabeth Reed Content Marketing Manager @ Canopy Connect

Bobbie Collies is an insurance junkie that comes from an extensive background in the P&C insurance industry. She is currently the Chief Insurance Officer at Coterie Insurance and a passionate servant leader who loves to help drive strategy and execution. Bobbie has successfully led many teams in underwriting, marketing, distribution, technology, and user experience for multiple organizations.

She currently sits on the advisory board for the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh’s College of Business and is a champion for innovation, customer experience, and a change agent. In March of 2025, she was recognized as one of the top 25 Trailblazing Women in Insurance by Reuters Events.

Bobbie has been described as an “intrapreneur,” always looking for ways to improve the organizations she works with by bringing new ideas to the table, and more importantly, seeing those ideas come to life. Her passion for changing the paradigm in the insurance industry through technology and data drove her from working with traditional carriers to the insurtech world where innovation is prioritized.

Bobbie holds both AIS and CIC insurance designations and earned her BBA from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.

Mike joined Simply Business in April 2018 and is the Vice President of Insurance Panel & Partnerships and a member of the US Executive Leadership Team.  In his role, Mike is responsible for driving product growth with new and existing panel insurance carriers as well as expanding Simply Business’ distribution reach via strategic partners.  Collaborating with insurance carriers, Mike’s team helps bring new insurance products to market that benefit business owners while meeting the small business customer where they are via distribution partnerships.

Mike brings 20 years of commercial property & casualty experience to Simply Business, having had previous underwriting and distribution roles at Liberty Mutual Insurance.   Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Bentley University in 2003 and his CPCU designation in 2009.  In 2022, he authored an article for Carrier Management on his experiences modernizing small business insurance at Simply Business.  Mike resides in the Greater Boston area with his wife and two sons.

John joined NatGen in 2015 as a product manager in the northeast. John has spent the last few years as a rising leader, innovator and strategic thinker, forging a new path for NatGen through his promotion to Senior Vice President of Product Management. In the earlier years of his career, John was a Commercial Property Line Manager for Allstate—making his current leadership role a true “full circle.” He is excited to have re-joined the Allstate family and have the opportunity to leverage NatGen's technology and operational power with Allstate's reputation and financial stability. His goal is to build a system and culture centered around technology that offers an agent-focused experience for our partners and superior coverage for their insureds—he and his team are well on their way.

John graduated from Northern Illinois University with BS in Economics and an MBA. His hobbies used to include paintball and MMA, but now mostly involve nerdy things he can do from home. He lives just north of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.

Brenton joined Pie in April 2024 as VP of Product where he leads the product management, product design, and operational excellence teams. He brings nearly 15 years of leadership experience across product management, insurance, e-commerce, and market research. He was most recently a Sr. Director of Product Management for Global Supplier & Merchandising Platforms at Wayfair, where he led a team of 300+ technologists focused on the data, systems, and workflows that power a majority of Wayfair's end-to-end operations. Prior to Wayfair, he worked in innovation strategy and product management at Liberty Mutual Insurance, and led custom quantitative research engagements for many Fortune 100 clients with Kantar. He holds a B.A. in International Marketing and a M.S. in Resource Economics from UMass, Amherst.

As Chief Partnership Officer, Doug assumes responsibility for SIAA’s Revenue Manufacturing Department, focusing on working with the alliance’s Strategic Partners to build long-term relationships and drive multi-year distribution strategies. He is an accomplished executive with over two decades of experience in leadership roles across various industries and independent insurance distribution. Before his current role, Doug served as Executive Vice President, Head of Insurance Distribution at The Marketing Alliance, Inc., (TMA) responsible for driving top-line growth and profitability while managing its largest business unit. Under his leadership, the company successfully implemented solutions that resulted in premium growth, expanded distributor product offerings by negotiating the addition of life insurance and annuity carriers, and led company distribution expansion into Insurtech, FinTech, consumer-direct, and financial institution marketplaces. Before joining TMA, Doug worked at American Modern Insurance Group and the global reinsurance group Munich Re, where he led executive-level initiatives, including post-merger integration, strategic alliances, and operational efficiency-related initiatives. He also worked at the management consulting firm Accenture, leading teams that enabled clients to become high-performance businesses in various industries. In 2022, Doug received the ID 20 Award from the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA), honoring insurance professionals who are trailblazers, change-makers and architects shaping the future of independent distribution. In addition to his professional experience, Doug volunteers as a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach and serves as Assistant Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Team Coach for St. Louis University High School. He also provides on-ice instruction to blind hockey players at St. Louis Blind Hockey. Doug previously served as Vice President and Board Member of the NAILBA Charitable Foundation. Doug earned his MBA from the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame, graduating with Cum Laude honors, and his BS in Business Administration from the Richard T. Farmer School of Business with a Major in Finance and a concentration in Risk Management and Insurance from Miami University. Doug resides with his wife and two children in St. Louis, MO.

Dale Steinke leads the Agent for the Future Advisors team for Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance. Under his guidance, this crack team of small business consultants helps independent insurance agencies attract and retain more business. A skilled public speaker and a former journalist who enjoys discovering and sharing what works, Dale has more than 20 years of experience with digital- first marketing, sales enablement and other technology capabilities relevant to the independent agent channel. His specialties include agency technology, AI, business continuity and sales enablement strategies. When he’s not helping IAs thrive, you’ll likely find Dale on a long-distance bicycle trip or cooking something tasty for family and friends. https://www.agentforthefuture.com/advisor/dale-steinke/ Dale Steinke (pronounced Stein-key) Director, Agent for the Future Advisors Liberty Mutual Small Commercial | Safeco Insurance | State Auto Insurance he/him/his

James Amezcua is the Sales Director at Lift Local, where he’s spent nearly a decade helping insurance agents grow their books through marketing and lead generation strategies. With a passion for teaching and a deep understanding of the insurance industry, James has worked with thousands of agents across the country to attract, engage, and retain clients more effectively. When James isn't working he loves golf, boating, black jack and spending time with his friends and family.

Jack Hertvik started in the insurance industry in 2000 when he began working at the Hertvik Insurance Group. Jack became a third-generation owner of Hertvik Insurance in 2004. He also serves as President of SIA of Northern Ohio (an SIAA Master Agency). During his career Jack has also created and managed other joint ventures in the insurance agency space including Engineered Insurance Services and Spedience Insurance Group. Jack works and resides in Medina, OH.

With over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Jim is passionate about helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of risk management. Known for an entrepreneurial spirit that started at just 8 years old with a paper route, Jim has always been driven by a love for business. As a Certified WorkComp Advisor, Jim specializes in assessing underperforming workers’ compensation programs, identifying areas for improvement, and helping businesses reduce costs while enhancing coverage. His extensive insurance expertise, paired with a genuine interest in understanding the unique needs of business owners, allows him to develop tailored strategies that effectively manage risk and protect both assets and employees. Over the years, Jim has built a reputation for delivering exceptional customer service and thoughtful solutions that safeguard his clients’ personal and professional assets. When not working, Jim be found cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, enjoying a round of golf, or checking another MLB stadium off his bucket list. He also shares his entrepreneurial journey with his daughter, working together to grow their family business. A self-proclaimed "foodie," Jim is always in search of the next great culinary experience—especially authentic street tacos. His love of travel allows him to explore new cities and cultures, further fueling his passion for learning and connecting with others.

Matt is an entrepreneur with the unique ability to bridge tech platforms. In 2012, Matt co-founded Insurance Agent App - the premier client service platform for independent insurance agencies & brokerages. Insurance Agent App connects policyholders with their agency and carriers BEFORE, DURING & AFTER events happen, and automates digital convenience to increase agency retention & profitability. The award-winning Insurance Agent App is available on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store and continues to innovate with deep API integrations with agency management systems including EZLynx, QQCatalyst, Hawksoft, NowCerts and several planned for 2025. Recent feature enhancements also include custom agency app icons, online client portal access for policyholders and multiple language options. Prior to Insurance Agent App, the bulk of Matt’s career was in media and entertainment with Paramount Pictures and CBS Corporation. Matt is an alumnus of Brown University, earned his MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School, and resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two sons. Contact info: Matt Aaron Co-founder Insurance Agent App Charlotte, NC 980.288.7723 [email protected]

Chris Langille is Founder of Advisor Evolved, a digital marketing and website development firm who specializes in helping independent insurance agencies expand their digital footprint and drive more revenue online. Chris, a former SIAA agency owner himself, has been in the marketing space for 16 years, and has been a trusted vendor partner with SIAA for the past 8 years. Advisor Evolved is one of the industries most trusted digital vendor, having consulted and developed sites for thousands of agencies across the US, Canada, and even the U.K.

Michael Rabinowitz brings nearly 30 years of experience in serving and developing solutions for the independent insurance agent channel. He began his career as a commercial insurance agent before transitioning to insurtech in 2000, where he pioneered one of the earliest online commercial rating platforms. Over the years, Michael has designed insurance solutions for organizations such as Bolt Insurance, Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, Wells Fargo, American Express, LexisNexis, IIABA, and others. In his current role as Product Manager at EZLynx, he oversees commercial workflows within the EZLynx AMS and leads initiatives to transform the end-to-end commercial submission and application process.

During the 17 years I worked in an insurance agency, I learned the importance of having a strong team. Now, as a regional territory manager for HawkSoft, having a strong team is more crucial than ever. My office is 2400 miles away from the HawkSoft home office, yet I feel completely supported and involved. I am on the front line, serving as liaison between clients and HawkSoft. I see firsthand how clients use our software, what they like, and what they want improved. I nurture relationships and pass information along to the home office. I love reporting back to clients that their suggestions have been incorporated into the software and showing them the new features they dreamed up. It’s thrilling for them to know they are heard.

My favorite thing about HawkSoft is the support my clients and I get in the field. The whole culture of HawkSoft is positive and encouraging. Clients love that HawkSoft inspires them to implement solutions that will help them be more efficient and successful in their businesses. I see this every time I perform a demo for a prospective client. I never tire of hearing, “You can really do that? That’s so quick and easy! That will really help our agency.” I value the relationships I have with HawkSoft clients and love attending user group meetings and visiting agents in their offices.

Linda Anderson joined the HawkSoft Sales Team in 2007 after working for 17 years in an insurance agency in Ohio that used HawkSoft’s Client Management System. She has worked as an insurance customer service rep, as a producer, and as an agency manager. She also worked for 14 years as Vice President of Commercial Acquisitions and Leasing for Spector Development Corporation in Scottsdale, Arizona. She graduated from the American Institute of Business. Linda’s office is in Springfield, Ohio.

Ray Huang is the Vice President of Marketing at Canopy Connect and has crafted a 20-year career specializing in developing marketing strategies and implementing actionable tactics that deliver high-impact results that grow revenue and brand. Canopy Connect’s insurance intake platform helps agents get the information they need from prospects quickly and securely.

As SIAA’s Chief Data Officer, Anurag is responsible for developing and executing the overall Data, Analytics and AI Strategy across the organization. This includes deploying data platforms across members as well as Master agencies and strategic carrier partners. He is also responsible for developing the analytics and AI roadmap that will help the organization achieve its vision.

Anurag has over 25 years of experience of building and scaling technology products and services. Before joining SIAA, Anurag was the CEO and Co-Founder of DONNA.ai (Aureus Analytics) where he led the organization's overall growth, product roadmap and execution strategy and the eventual sale to SIAA. At DONNA ai he worked closely with a large number of independent insurance agencies across the US and helped them grow their businesses using AI and Data.

Anurag started his first technology venture – ESI, at the age of 24, which was later acquired by Omnitech, where he served as the COO & Head of Global Operations. Prior to ESI, he worked for IBM & CBay systems.

Anurag's strengths lie at the intersection of business and technology, focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

He is a co-author of two patents: Network Analysis and SentiMeter®.

Anurag is an engineering graduate from the University of Mumbai and has studied management at NMIMS in Mumbai and executive management from the ISB, Hyderabad. He has also studied Machine Learning from Stanford.

As a technology entrepreneur and artificial intelligence subject matter expert, Anurag is continuously thinking of disruptive ways to connect the evolution of AI and its application to various industries, including insurance.

Anurag lives in Connecticut with his wife and two sons.

As SIAA’s Chief Information Officer, David oversees a sophisticated, multi-platform and multi-state IT system that encompasses computing, telecommunications, networking, security, and acquisition integrations. Recognized as an international executive and business leader, David has over 20 years of tangible results in applying business acumen, technical expertise, and commercial and financial knowledge to ensure IT creates business value, supports corporate vision, improves the customer journey, and drives strategic initiatives through innovative technology leadership. Prior to joining SIAA, David served as CIO and Vice President of Information Technology at TÜV SÜD America, a subsidiary of the Munich-based TÜV SÜD AG, a global inspection, testing, and certification company. In that role, he was responsible for developing and executing IT strategy, operations, and security across multiple entities in several countries. He was also involved in seven acquisitions, including the largest acquisition in TÜV SÜD's 150-year company history. David holds a Master of Science degree in International Economics from Eastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Gordon College where he was a member of the Delta Mu Delta National Honor Society for Business Administration. In addition, he earned a Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from the MIT Sloan School of Management and has completed their Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy Program. He has also attained both ITIL v3 Certification and CISSP Certification.