AGENDA 2023

All times in PT

• 8:15 AM

  Registration and breakfast

• 9:00 AM

  Opening remarks from chairperson

  

  Angela Grant

  Chief Legal Officer
  Palomar

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  Angela Grant

  Chief Legal Officer
  Palomar

  Angela Grant joined Palomar in 2020 and serves as the Chief Legal Officer. Ms. Grant most recently served as Chief Legal & Innovation Officer at CSE Insurance Group. Previously, Ms. Grant served as the Head of Compliance & Legal at Hippo Insurance. In addition to her legal and compliance background, past leadership roles at Esurance, Kemper, and GEICO burnished her credentials in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and strategy.  

  Ms. Grant received her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law and she holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of California (Registered In-House Counsel), American Bar Association, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), and the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). 

• 9:05 AM

  Welcome address from Event Partner

  

  Alexandra Glickman

  Area Vice Chairman & Senior Managing Director, Global Practice Leader – Real Estate and Hospitality Practice
  Gallagher

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  Alexandra Glickman

  Area Vice Chairman & Senior Managing Director, Global Practice Leader – Real Estate and Hospitality Practice
  Gallagher

  Alex Glickman has 39 years of experience in the commercial insurance arena. As Area Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Director – Global Practice Leader of Gallagher Real Estate and Hospitality Services, Alex’s expertise is in developing and servicing clients who specialize in real estate development, acquisition, advisory, management and all aspects of ownership as well as all asset classes. She has extensive experience in the Real Estate industry and has pioneered many real estate specific insurance products and services. Prior to joining Gallagher in 2001, she led Marsh’s worldwide Real Estate and Hospitality Practice.  

  Education and Credentials: Alex has been a featured speaker, instructor and contributor to numerous organizations and publications including the Practicing Law Institute, American College of Real Estate Lawyers, BOMA, NAREIM, NAIOP, ICSC, California State Bar Real Estate Section, CEB, CLE, national lenders’ conferences, graduate schools and numerous law firms. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Daily Journal, “Business Insurance” and Real Estate Southern California” to name a few. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Alex was named by Real Estate Forum Magazine as one of the Nation’s Top 50 “Women of Influence”, “Intelligent Insurer” 2019 (UK) Global Women to Watch and the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2019 “Most Influential Insurance Brokers”. 

  Her current and past professional and community involvement and awards recognition include: 

  • USC Lusk Center for Real Estate – Board Member 
  • YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles Board of Directors 

  • Real Estate Round Table and Homeland Security Task Force 
  • City of Hope Real Estate & Construction Council – Board Member (Chair) 
  • NAREIT Full Member 
  • Urban Land Institute – Full Member (UDMUC Bronze) 
  • PS Insurance Company, Ltd. Board of Directors 
  • Stor-Re Mutual Insurance Co. Board of Directors 
  • RESOCAL Advisory Board 
  • National Rental Home Council Member 
  • Real Estate Power Broker, Risk & Insurance Magazine – 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 – National Recognition 
  • Lloyds of London Surplus Lines Broker of the Year – 2007 
  • LA County Bar Real Estate Industry Outstanding Achievement Award – 2012 

  Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley 

   

  Additional Executive Education: 

  School of Business Administration – USC 

  John F. Anderson Graduate School of Management – UCLA 

• 9:10 AM

  Opening Keynote: Reaching your peak – Dealing with change and unexpected setbacks

  A lifelong adventurer, Wendy Booker had no way of anticipating the twists and turns her life would take when she was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Through the tough times, Wendy realized that to overcome adversity and achieve success, she’d need to not only deal with uncertainty but embrace it and use it as an opportunity to grow and flourish. Wendy’s achievements are incredible – the first person with MS to summit Alaska’s Denali (Mt. McKinley) and reach both the North and South poles. Wendy went on to successfully summit six of the world’s “Seven Summits,” attempting Everest twice. Join us as Wendy shares her inspirational story of navigating changing environments and adversity, as well as her experience in leadership, collaboration, and teamwork – and the power of a positive attitude.

  

  Wendy Booker

  Adventurer, Author, and MS Advocate
  

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  Wendy Booker

  Adventurer, Author, and MS Advocate
  

  A lifelong adventurer, Wendy was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 1998. The first person with MS to summit Alaska’s Denali (Mt. McKinley), Wendy went on to successfully summit six of the world’s “Seven Summits” and has attempted Everest twice. She was the first person with MS to reach the North Pole in 2011, quickly followed by the South Pole in 2012, and has completed 12 marathons to raise funds and awareness for MS.  

  Wendy launched MSInsight (Formerly The Climb On Foundation) in early 2015. Creating a clear pathway for all things MS for the newly diagnosed patient. A diagnosis of MS is fraught with fear, misinformation and isolation. Patients are often young just starting out on their adult lives. MSInsight is here to connect the patient to the many choices in the way of therapy options, neurologists, MS Centers and most importantly connecting them to others of their same age and interests. MSInsight guides the newly diagnosed through that first frightening year so they may live full and productive lives with MS.  

  Since 2006 Wendy has partnered with the Donald McKay School in East Boston to help raise money and awareness for the Sherpa children whose fathers were killed climbing the mountains in Nepal; and to educate American youth about mountain climbing, Nepalese culture, geography, religion, and education. As a motivational speaker, Wendy travels the globe to share her story of determination, disappointment, transformation, and triumph to audiences large and small. 

  In addition to her foundation, travel, and work as a motivational speaker, Wendy published her first book New Altitude in 2013 which is about her passage through tough times to the top of the world. In Wendy’s words, “We often have to try a little harder, take a little longer, and dig a little deeper to reach our goals but we can do it. We all have “our mountain” our mountain is MS, now what are we going to do about it? I challenge those with MS, or any challenge in their lives, to go out and find that special thing, that activity, that passion that will take them away from their MS, if only for a while, and from that they will see that anything is possible.”  

  Wendy is Master of Ceremonies for MSWorld Talks, was recipient of Boston’s Exceptional Women Award 2006 and Colorado’s Women Who Light the Community Award 2008 and was Chair of the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board 2017 at Salem State University.  

  “The view from the top is incredible!” 

• 9:55 AM

  Fireside chat: Competitive intelligence – Market trends and the future of insurance

  Digital disruptions, including AI, deep learning technologies and Blockchain, post-pandemic and environmental factors, are changing the insurance market and the way products and services are delivered. As we move out of the pandemic, what are the latest market trends, opportunities, and technologies shaping insurance today? In this session, hear from key industry leaders as they dive into the current and future insurance market – and learn what you need to know to remain an informed and effective leader. Among the topics and questions to be explored: 

  • What are the latest market trends and what do they reveal? 
  • Discover current thinking on ESG priorities, big data, and analytics  
  • Addressing emerging trends in natural disasters and climate risk   
  • What’s next? Anticipating market trends and industry changes in 2024 and beyond  

  Moderator

  

  Taeler Hammond

  Industrial Organizational Psychologist
  

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  Taeler Hammond

  Industrial Organizational Psychologist
  

  Taeler Hammond is an Industrial Organizational Psychologist from Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Roosevelt University (Chicago, 2012) and her Masters degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Chicago, 2019). Taeler holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid, Diversity & Inclusion, and Change Management. 

  Taeler has been in the insurance industry for ten years and in IT & Operations for three years. She is also actively involved in her local LGBT Chamber of Commerce, HR Hotseat, National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) and the National Black MBA Association of Los Angeles. Taeler enjoys blending her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion with her knowledge of change management to help companies create the best and most inclusive culture imaginable. In her spare time, Taeler enjoys traveling, shopping, spending time with friends and family, trying new restaurants, and as a newbie to Los Angeles, being a tourist in her new city.  

  Panelists

  

  Kris Gault

  Global Account Executive, Insurance
  SambaSafety

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  Kris Gault

  Global Account Executive, Insurance
  SambaSafety

  Kris is a seasoned & charismatic partnership innovator. She has a passion to connect fans with brands through the power of partnership, creating positive yields for both short and long-term relationships for over 20 years. 

  Her motto is “better together”.  When we learn to drop the pretense and have real talks with the right partners, we have a much larger chance to authentically solve what’s important together.   

  Before joining SambaSafety, Kris spent time working directly with transportation partners in risk mitigation, suggesting top technologies, empowering fleets to be proactive vs reactive, in national media outlets, and spent time curating partnerships with leading brands at the NBA. Day-to-day you can find Kris leading sales strategy, developing SambaSafety’s insurance/ data partnership portfolio & assisting in the development of SambaSafety’s DEI initiatives.   

  Gault graduated with honors from Hofstra University in New York with a double major in Marketing and Communications. Currently, her community involvement includes an executive leadership role with the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Vice President of Central Florida Community Arts & leading the charge to build a world-class Center for Homeless Women & Children in Orlando.  

  However, her favorite pastime is spending time with the next woman in insurance (in theory)… her daughter.   

  

  Jennifer Hammersley

  Senior Vice President, Head of Financial Lines Underwriting
  Swiss Re

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  Jennifer Hammersley

  Senior Vice President, Head of Financial Lines Underwriting
  Swiss Re

  Jennifer Hammersley heads Financial Lines Underwriting at Swiss Re. She began her reinsurance career at Underwriters Re, in 1997, which was acquired by Swiss Re in 2000. Jen has taken advantage of working at a large, diverse firm to build out her underwriting skills in nearly all lines of P&C reinsurance including Professional and Medical Liability, General Liability, XS/Umbrella Liability, Auto Liability, Clash, Workers Compensation, and Property. She leads the Southern California Chapter of Swiss Re’s IMPACT Network geared toward advancing women in their careers and supporting the efforts of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. When she’s not at work, Jen enjoys spending time on road trips and camping with her husband and two sons. 

• 10:40 AM

  Networking coffee break

• 11:10 AM

  Authentic success – Build your unique path to a fulfilling career

  Success is not one-size-fits-all, and if you don’t define it for yourself someone will do it for you. This interactive dialogue from Gallagher brings together three experts in various stages of their career as they explore the unique challenges faced by women working in insurance, discuss the importance of building strong professional relationships, and share real stories about turning obstacles into opportunities. 

  

  Alexandra Glickman

  Area Vice Chairman & Senior Managing Director, Global Practice Leader – Real Estate and Hospitality Practice
  Gallagher

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  Alexandra Glickman

  Area Vice Chairman & Senior Managing Director, Global Practice Leader – Real Estate and Hospitality Practice
  Gallagher

  Alex Glickman has 39 years of experience in the commercial insurance arena. As Area Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Director – Global Practice Leader of Gallagher Real Estate and Hospitality Services, Alex’s expertise is in developing and servicing clients who specialize in real estate development, acquisition, advisory, management and all aspects of ownership as well as all asset classes. She has extensive experience in the Real Estate industry and has pioneered many real estate specific insurance products and services. Prior to joining Gallagher in 2001, she led Marsh’s worldwide Real Estate and Hospitality Practice.  

  Education and Credentials: Alex has been a featured speaker, instructor and contributor to numerous organizations and publications including the Practicing Law Institute, American College of Real Estate Lawyers, BOMA, NAREIM, NAIOP, ICSC, California State Bar Real Estate Section, CEB, CLE, national lenders’ conferences, graduate schools and numerous law firms. She has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Daily Journal, “Business Insurance” and Real Estate Southern California” to name a few. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Alex was named by Real Estate Forum Magazine as one of the Nation’s Top 50 “Women of Influence”, “Intelligent Insurer” 2019 (UK) Global Women to Watch and the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2019 “Most Influential Insurance Brokers”. 

  Her current and past professional and community involvement and awards recognition include: 

  • USC Lusk Center for Real Estate – Board Member 
  • YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles Board of Directors 

  • Real Estate Round Table and Homeland Security Task Force 
  • City of Hope Real Estate & Construction Council – Board Member (Chair) 
  • NAREIT Full Member 
  • Urban Land Institute – Full Member (UDMUC Bronze) 
  • PS Insurance Company, Ltd. Board of Directors 
  • Stor-Re Mutual Insurance Co. Board of Directors 
  • RESOCAL Advisory Board 
  • National Rental Home Council Member 
  • Real Estate Power Broker, Risk & Insurance Magazine – 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020 – National Recognition 
  • Lloyds of London Surplus Lines Broker of the Year – 2007 
  • LA County Bar Real Estate Industry Outstanding Achievement Award – 2012 

  Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley 

   

  Additional Executive Education: 

  School of Business Administration – USC 

  John F. Anderson Graduate School of Management – UCLA 

  

  Chelsea Laing

  Area Senior Vice President, Management Liability Practice
  Gallagher

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  Chelsea Laing

  Area Senior Vice President, Management Liability Practice
  Gallagher

  Areas of responsibility: 

  Chelsea specializes in program design and coverage analysis for Management Liability, including Directors and Officers Liability, Employment Practices Liability, Fiduciary Liability, Crime Coverage, Kidnap & Ransom, Errors and Omissions Liability and Cyber Liability.  Chelsea has recently taken on a support role in the placement of Representations & Warranties Insurance.  Chelsea assists the team on some of its most complex insureds and large public clients.  Chelsea has experience performing detailed coverage comparisons and negotiating complex programs for our insureds with insurance markets located within the United States, Europe, and Bermuda.   

  Experience:  

  Chelsea has been with Gallagher for 12 years and has risen rapidly due to her exceptional organizational skills and ability to handle complex issues and client demands. 

  Education: 

  Loyola Marymount University; Los Angeles, CA
  Bachelor of Business Administration, Finance 

  Minor: Accounting 

  Extracurricular Activities: 

  Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS), Southern California Chapter Steering Committee 

  Co-Chair 

   

  National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter 

  Trustee, Board of Trustees 

  Co-Chair, Community Engagement Council 

  Member, Dinner of Champions Committee 

  Member, Emerging Leaders Board 

  

  Emily Loupee

  Area Senior Vice President, Management Liability Practice
  Gallagher

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  Emily Loupee

  Area Senior Vice President, Management Liability Practice
  Gallagher

  Emily has been a leader in Gallagher’s Management Liability Practice Group for more than 15 years.  She is part of a team of more than 20 professionals and is responsible for servicing existing accounts, developing new business accounts, and supervising Account Managers and Account Assistants.  Emily oversees the negotiation, brokerage, and placement of all aspects of Management Liability programs in all industries, including publicly traded, privately held and not-for-profit entities.  Emily is the Co-National Director for Management Liability in the Real Estate Practice Group specializing in placing insurance for REITs, real estate investment advisors and real estate private equity groups.  She is also the National Subject Matter Expert for Employment Practices Liability for the Management Liability Practice Group for Gallagher. 

  Experience: 

  • 5 years with Marsh and McLennan as a Broker/ Assistant Vice President in their Financial and Professional Liability group (FINPRO) 

  • 1.5 years with Ace USA as a Senior Underwriter in their Professional Liability group 

  Education: 

  • ARM designation 
  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Finance focus;
    University of California, Berkeley 

  Volunteer:  

  • Girl Scout of Greater LA Troop Leader 
  • Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Board Member 
  • Gallagher Internship and Mentor Program 

  • Willow Elementary Volunteer/ PFA projects 

• 11:45 AM

  Breaking the taboos – Supporting women’s health at every career stage

  Women face health issues and challenges throughout their lives, and introducing a specific women’s health strategy can provide practical advice on how to enable women to thrive in the workforce. How can we create an open culture in which women feel supported, confident, and safe to talk about health issues? How can you take control of your own health in the workplace? Hear how you can benefit from a culture that prioritizes women’s health, and the strategies you can implement in your own organization. Among the issues to be discussed: 

  • Conversations to expand line managers’ awareness and understanding 
  • Discover how small adjustments can have a significant impact 
  • A breakdown of common taboos around women’s health issues for the benefit of your workplace 

  

  Kathy Hoss, MBA, CHC

  Certified Holistic Wellness Coach
  Eat . Play . Balance .™

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  Kathy Hoss, MBA, CHC

  Certified Holistic Wellness Coach
  Eat . Play . Balance .™

  Kathy is a women’s health transformation coach, change management consultant, and speaker based in Southern California. She is the founder of Eat. Play. Balance., offering individual women’s health coaching and group wellness programs to promote optimal wellbeing by balancing the intricate mind-body systems at play. Her unique perspective is drawn from her personal journey and a diverse professional background in business consulting, behavior change management, and wellness coaching. With a specialized focus on women’s health issues during midlife, Kathy is dedicated to creating positive change and empowering women at every stage of life to ignite a positive shift and help them thrive in their unique wellness journeys. Kathy holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and a BS in Applied Mathematics. 

• 12:15 PM

  Networking lunch

• 1:15 PM

  Panel: Fighting fatigue – How to remain on top of your game

  With competing priorities and stressful working environments, many managers and executives are experiencing various levels of burnout. How can we prioritize well-being, and in turn create a culture of empathy and support? This session will discuss strategies to fight fatigue, boost resilience, and focus on self-care and mental well-being to lead by example. Among the topics and questions for discussion: 

  • What are the best strategies for fighting fatigue, and how can we develop them? 
  • How can managers and organizations encourage and prioritize a culture that supports well-being? 
  • Overcoming common challenges such as time management, multiple responsibilities, and burnout 

  Moderator

  

  Pilar Summerville

  Senior Vice President
  RT Specialty

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  Pilar Summerville

  Senior Vice President
  RT Specialty

  Pilar Summerville is Senior Vice President in RT Specialty’s Burbank, CA office, leading a diverse RT ProExec team dedicated to delivering creative solutions and exceptional service to clients nationwide. Pilar has been with RT Specialty since its inception in 2010 and has extensive experience in professional and management liability lines of business, focusing on complex risks including financial institutions, healthcare services and cyber liability.  

  Pilar has been a wholesale professional and executive liability broker since 2003. She started her wholesale career at CRC Insurance Services, playing an integral role in leading the largest professional / management liability production team in the CRC Chicago office.  

  She is a proud member of the Western Division Board of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation. A graduate of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Pilar earned a degree in actuarial science with a concentration in finance.  

  Panelists

  

  Marife Molina

  Senior Vice President, Orange County & San Diego Branch Manager
  Chubb

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  Marife Molina

  Senior Vice President, Orange County & San Diego Branch Manager
  Chubb

  Marife Molina is a Senior Vice President at Chubb and Branch Manager for Chubb’s Orange County and San Diego region. Her responsibilities include executing on strategic initiatives and driving profitable growth across all Customer Segments (Personal Lines, Small Business, Middle Market, and Major Accounts) in her territory, managing distribution strategies, and leading and developing high performing teams. 

  She began her insurance career in 2008 as an Environmental underwriter before stepping into various distribution and leadership roles at ACE then Chubb post-merger.  

  Prior to her current role, she launched and led Chubb’s M&A and Private Equity Industry Practice for the Western US. She developed Chubb’s value proposition and market strategy in this space, worked with underwriting teams globally to deliver custom insurance solutions for M&A transactions, and acted as a dedicated Client Executive for some of the largest Private Equity firms in North America. 

  Marife also serves as the North American co-chair for Chubb IMPACT – Chubb’s employee resource group dedicated to the support, development, and advancement of women at Chubb as well as in the insurance industry. In this role, Marife is passionate about working closely with Chubb’s executive leadership team to spark change, promote dialogue, and accelerate opportunities for women at Chubb at all stages of their careers.  

  Marife is originally from Honolulu, Hawaii. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she earned her BS degree in Chemical Engineering. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring national parks, surfing, and traveling the world and experiencing different cultures. 

  

  Aran Paik

  Chief Actuary & Advanced Analytics Lead, Business Insurance
  Farmers Insurance

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  Aran Paik

  Chief Actuary & Advanced Analytics Lead, Business Insurance
  Farmers Insurance

  Aran Paik leads the Actuarial & Advanced Analytics functions for Business Insurance at Farmers Insurance Group. With a mix of traditional actuaries, data scientists and data engineers, her team provides data-driven, innovative solutions to extract insight and automation opportunities. Before that, Aran spent much of her career as a pricing actuary with responsibilities including rate development recommendations and pricing for new product initiatives. 

  Aran earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wellesley College. She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. She currently lives in the greater Los Angeles area with her husband and 3 young children. 

  

  Mark Todd

  Director of Strategic Partnerships – DEI Leader
  Ori-gen Insurance Group

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  Mark Todd

  Director of Strategic Partnerships – DEI Leader
  Ori-gen Insurance Group

  Mark Todd serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships – DEI Leader for ori-gen Insurance Group. Mark has over 14 years of experience in the insurance industry. Mark started his insurance career as a commercial insurance broker where he customized insurance programs for businesses assuring that they have adequate coverage in the event of a loss. He then spent 7 years as an Assistant Vice President in the insurance premium finance industry where he developed relationships within the insurance broker community and provided them with premium finance solutions. Most recently, he spent 4 years as the Director of Business Development for a Property Loss Consulting firm where he broadened his broker relationships by providing continuing education on how insurance carriers interpret, measure, negotiate and settle property claims.  

  Mark obtained his B.A. in Economics from the University of Southern California, where he earned a scholarship to compete on Men’s Varsity Baseball team all 4 years. During this time, he had the honor of competing in the college world series on two occasions.  

  Mark has been closely involved with the agent broker community for years. He currently serves on the board for the National African American Insurance Association Los Angeles Chapter (NAAIA), has served on the board for the Independent Insurance and Brokers of Los Angeles (IIABA LA), Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena (IBA BGP), and the Los Angeles Insurance Day (I-Day) planning committee.  

  In his 20+ years of professional experience Mark has displayed a passion for developing business relationships by establishing trust, uncovering issues, and providing solutions for his clients. This skillset, his deep passion for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, along with the agent/broker relationships he has developed, will help bring both M&A and new business opportunities to the ori-gen family.  

  Mark prides himself in giving back to the community. He has participated in the Big Brother Program of Los Angeles, the University of Southern California First Generation Mentor Program and is currently developing his own non-profit which provides underprivileged kids with access to elite level baseball training.  

  Mark enjoys coaching and playing baseball, reading, writing, weight training, hiking and has practiced Krav Maga. 

  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics 
  • USC Deans List Award 
  • USC Scholar-Athlete Award 
  • California Department of Insurance Property & Casualty license #0G69040 
  • California Department of Insurance Public Adjusting License #2G69040 
  • 4 Time AFCO Sterling award recipient 
  • Big Brother Big Sister Mentor Award 
  • 4 Time ADP Sales MVP  4 Time Enterprise Rent-a-Car Recruiting MVP 

  

  Natalie Yuen

  Vice President, Business Development
  Arch Insurance

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  Natalie Yuen

  Vice President, Business Development
  Arch Insurance

  Natalie Yuen is the Vice President of Business Development for Arch Insurance based in San Francisco. In this role, Natalie leads strategy and distribution for retail partners in the West region. She has over 17 years of industry experience, which spans both risk management and middle market business in a wide range of industries including financial services, real estate and retail services.  

  Natalie joined Arch in 2022 and previously held roles at Embroker, Lockton, Marsh, and Aon. Natalie holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Organizational Studies and Psychology from Pitzer College. 

• 2:00 PM

  Speed networking

  Expand your network, make new connections, and meet fellow delegates in a structured networking session.

  

  Angela Grant

  Chief Legal Officer
  Palomar

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  Angela Grant

  Chief Legal Officer
  Palomar

  Angela Grant joined Palomar in 2020 and serves as the Chief Legal Officer. Ms. Grant most recently served as Chief Legal & Innovation Officer at CSE Insurance Group. Previously, Ms. Grant served as the Head of Compliance & Legal at Hippo Insurance. In addition to her legal and compliance background, past leadership roles at Esurance, Kemper, and GEICO burnished her credentials in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and strategy.  

  Ms. Grant received her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law and she holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of California (Registered In-House Counsel), American Bar Association, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), and the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). 

• 2:15 PM

  Networking coffee break

• 2:45 PM

  Know your worth – How to negotiate during pay discussions 

  Gender pay inequity exists at all levels in the insurance profession. This empowering session will provide you with the confidence to negotiate your remuneration while meeting the needs of your organization. Among the topics that will be discussed: 

  • How to prepare for the conversation to get the outcome you want  
  • Understanding your compensation expectations, incentives, and career progression   
  • Alternative compensation models that value performance and outcomes   

  

  Lilian Vanvieldt

  Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
  Alliant

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  Lilian Vanvieldt

  Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
  Alliant

  Lilian Vanvieldt is a 30-plus-year insurance industry veteran and longtime community activist who uses her experience, influence, and passion to bring about positive change. In April 2021, Lilian was named Alliant’s Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer (CDIO). As the head of Alliant’s Diversity & Inclusion initiative, Lilian leads a companywide effort to promote diversity and inclusion within Alliant and throughout the broader insurance industry through a focus on awareness, training, and mentoring. At the heart of this effort is Lilian’s longstanding commitment to expanding opportunities for career growth and advancement for individuals with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.  

  Lilian also works to support and grow Alliant’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander), All-In (LGBTQ), Latinos at Alliant, Mosaic at Alliant, Veterans at Alliant, Women at Alliant, and ARMS (Awareness, Resources, Mentorship, and Support) for those impacted by cancer. These ERGs create a strong sense of community and provide resources, relationships, and alliances that are essential to the health and productivity of Alliant’s workforce. Lilian’s mentorship reaches beyond Alliant to include members of the insurance community and those seeking to enter. Through her work as a corporate mentor for the Jacobs Center in San Diego, she works to empower women, inner-city residents, and disadvantaged communities to start their own businesses, agencies, and careers in insurance.  

  In addition to her role as CDIO, Lilian continues to shine as one of the nation’s leading brokers in the education space. She leads the Alliant Kindergarten to Community College (K-14) Public Entity program and plays an influential role in setting the program’s national business strategy. She is highly regarded for her close personal touch, which was crucial in guiding her clients through one of the most challenging years imaginable. In the mist of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lilian worked directly with her clients to help them navigate the unpredictable risk climate. She responded by creating tailored programs for national student accident and laptop coverages to ensure the schools had a strong layer of protection during remote learning and upon reopening.  

  Lilian is highly adept at helping her clients and colleagues overcome obstacles because she has first-hand experience meeting adversity head-on. She is a survivor of stage III breast cancer who currently serves as Director of the Susan G. Komen Leadership Foundation in San Diego and was that organization’s Honorary Breast Cancer Survivor of the Year in 2018. She uses her voice and influence to advocate for equality in access to health services for women of color and is an active spokesperson for breast cancer education and prevention. 

• 3:15 PM

  Fireside chat: Accelerating your career – the latest scoop on skills development

  The industry is rapidly changing, and leaders need to be at the forefront to deliver business objectives. How can you ensure you are performing at your best through self-driven learning and development? This fireside chat on skills development will discuss strategies to develop capabilities and skillsets for career advancement. Among the issues to be explored: 

  • What are the top three emerging leadership skills, and how can we develop them?  
  • How can managers and executives encourage and prioritize learning and development for themselves and their teams?  
  • Overcoming challenges, such as leading inclusively and authentically in a hybrid environment, juggling multiple responsibilities, and collaboration among multi-generational teams  
  • Tips on how to take the next step in your career 

  Moderator

  

  Randi Kasongo

  Vice President
  National African American Insurance Association Los Angeles

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  Randi Kasongo

  Vice President
  National African American Insurance Association Los Angeles

  Randi is a thoughtful leader and creative problem solver who is a strong collaborator. She currently leads specialized learning & development in the investigative field where she develops the learning strategy, journeys and content for all things related to fraud and anti-fraud. Her years of investigative expertise sharpened her skills in consulting, active listening, problem solving, negotiating and understanding people to prepare her for the transformational leader she is today. She makes an impact in every organization that she has been a part of through learning initiatives, resource capabilities, performance and process improvements.  

  Randi enjoys building people’s capabilities to improve performance and transform organizational culture. She considers herself a lifelong learner, driver for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as the Los Angeles Chapter Vice President of National African American Insurance Association and holds a few investigative specialist designations.  

  Randi is passionate about development and wants to empower growth in everyone she meets by highlighting their transferable skills. She is currently on a mission to expand her knowledge in learning analytics and the world of Business Insurance. She is a mom of 4 residing in Southern California and loves to laugh, explore new places, meet awesome people, enjoy great food and helps others to enjoy life as well. 

  Panelists

  

  Angela Matthews

  Chief Underwriting Officer – Manufacturing & Technical Risks
  AmRisc

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  Angela Matthews

  Chief Underwriting Officer – Manufacturing & Technical Risks
  AmRisc

  Angela Matthews is AmRisc’s Chief Underwriting Officer of Technical Risks. As such, she has deep expertise in portfolio risk management as well as market and competitive analysis. A former teacher, Angela is a lifelong learner herself and consistently applies internal and external expertise to help improve AmRisc’s products. She joined the firm in 2008 and has spent time on both the Tech and National Accounts underwriting teams. In addition, she has become an integral part of carrier contract maintenance and development. In conjunction with executive management, she redefined the underwriting strategy and business plan for her division to generate profitable returns for carriers.

  Angela received her B.B.A. in Finance from Sam Houston State University and holds CPCU and CPL insurance designations. She serves on AmRisc’s Community Outreach Board. Her interests include health and fitness as well as spending time with her two sons.

  

  Kathy Quintana

  Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer – HUB California
  HUB International

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  Kathy Quintana

  Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer – HUB California
  HUB International

  Kathy Quintana serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for HUB International – California. She has served in this role since 2016 after holding various local office senior leadership and operational management roles for HUB offices in both Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. 

  Kathy joined HUB International in California in 2002 as one of the first California acquisitions done by the firm. Her extensive background in operations and finance has allowed her to be an instrumental part of the growth of HUB in California since its inception. 

  Prior to joining HUB, Kathy served for over twenty years at Sedgwick Insurance Brokers, who subsequently was acquired by Marsh & McLennan Companies. In her role at Sedgwick, she held the role of Regional Controller and Regional Vice President of Operations and Administration for both northern and southern California. She moved on to manage the Irvine and Orange, California branch offices where she also managed the Claims Management Services division for all national self‐funded and high deductible workers compensation programs. This unit went on to become Sedgwick Claims Management. 

  Kathy is a native of Southern California and attended UCLA with a Major in Business Administration. She is a licensed property, casualty, and surplus lines insurance professional. Kathy was instrumental in the development, design, and operations for the 2014 California Women’s Conference where 7,000 attendees over a two‐day period had access to an array of informational panels and discussions, vendors, resources and, of course, networking opportunities. 

  In 2015, she went on to develop, design and become the co‐founder of HUB Women Network, HUB International’s first Employee Resource Group. The Mission of “Engage—Empower—Excel” is now embedded into the fabric of this ERG, where every HUB employee is a member and over 450 Ambassadors represent HUB International across North America. 

  

  Yiana Stavrakis

  President
  Monarch E&S Insurance Services

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  Yiana Stavrakis

  President
  Monarch E&S Insurance Services

  Yiana Stavrakis serves as President of Monarch E&S and joined the firm in 2020.  

  Yiana is a significant contributor to the company’s national expansion and is instrumental to the ongoing growth and strategy of Monarch.  

  Prior to joining Monarch, Yiana was Chief Sales Officer for Specialty Program Group, providing strategic sales and marketing guidance to acquired business partners.  

  She began her insurance career with Metro Insurance Services, Inc., a real estate MGU, and steadily rose in both position and authority as she mastered underwriting & claims management. In 2012, Yiana joined Preferred Concepts, LLC. as part of the Metro acquisition, providing operational support to the unit’s underwriting teams and carrier partners. Following Preferred Concepts, she joined the wholesale brokerage world via AmWINS Group, Inc.; her role included developing strategic retailer and carrier relationships.  

  Yiana graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers Business School with a Major in Business Management and a Concentration in Management Information Systems. She is a licensed property, casualty and surplus lines insurance professional and holds both an ASLI and a CPCU designation.  

  Yiana is an IBANY board member and is co-founder and past president of NAPSLO’s Next Generation. In 2010 she received the NAPSLO Past President’s Award for outstanding committee work, in 2013 she received the Steven R. Gross Under 40 Award, and in 2015 she received IBANY’s First Emerging Leader Award. 

  Yiana has most recently been named one of Insurance Business America’s Hot 100, 100 Women to Watch, and was a finalist for Insurance Business America’s Woman of Distinction Award. 

• 3:55 PM

  Closing remarks from chairperson

  

  Angela Grant

  Chief Legal Officer
  Palomar

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  Angela Grant

  Chief Legal Officer
  Palomar

  Angela Grant joined Palomar in 2020 and serves as the Chief Legal Officer. Ms. Grant most recently served as Chief Legal & Innovation Officer at CSE Insurance Group. Previously, Ms. Grant served as the Head of Compliance & Legal at Hippo Insurance. In addition to her legal and compliance background, past leadership roles at Esurance, Kemper, and GEICO burnished her credentials in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and strategy.  

  Ms. Grant received her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University School of Law and she holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of North Texas. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, State Bar of California (Registered In-House Counsel), American Bar Association, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), and the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). 

• 4:00 PM

  Networking drinks reception