CFO John Dawson Appointed Director with NetVU

NetVU’s annual Meeting of Members held on May 10, 2024, reinforced the commitment of NetVU when it comes to education, advocacy and community. We also recognized the work by members during the previous year, the educational and community building activities and recognizing volunteers and board members who are the driving force of the organization.

Board Chair, Kate O’Toole welcomed members and reflected on the year: the successful Accelerate conferences in Austin and New Orleans garnering some of the best data and feedback to date. Additional programming, developed based on feedback from members, launched this year including Learning to Lead, a new leadership program along with AMS360 New Hire Account Manager Training, AMS360 Bookkeeping 101, Accounting Unique to Insurance Agencies, and Insurance Essentials & Professional Skills.

“Perhaps at the top of the list of accomplishments, from my perspective, is the launch of a refocused comprehensive learning journey, AND a brand-new volunteer journey. Both of these will serve to strengthen your relationship with NetVU and Vertafore, while having a lasting impact on your personal and professional growth and development.”

-Kate O'Toole

Incoming Board Chair Jim Rogers welcomed members and passionately shared his affinity to technology and automation that is transforming our industry and how NetVU can help. He issued a call to those who have experienced the ups and downs of this industry and those who are newer to those roles to engage.

“I believe it’s more important now than ever before to focus on our relevance to Vertafore, the industry, and NetVU members – whether you are young or not as young,” Rogers explained. “NetVU is also enhanced and strengthened by having diverse perspectives, and I will continue to push for safe spaces within NetVU for all to express themselves and their viewpoints in the community,”

-Jim Rogers

During the meeting, the winners of the annual recognition awards which were announced during last month’s Accelerate conference were recognized for their efforts:

• Chairman’s Award - The NetVU Staff
• Volunteer of the Year in Memory of James M. Gibson - Carrie Miller with Threlkeld & Company
• The Leadership Award in memory of Louie E. Woodbury Jr .- Shyla Lankford with Lipscomb & Associates
• Insurance Technology Advocate Award - Robbi Gwaltney from Shepherd Insurance

Learn More About Award Winners

In accordance with NetVU bylaws, the leadership development committee, chaired by Joyce Siglar, proposed a slate of officers and directors to be elected into the NetVU Executive Board of Directors. This year’s slate of officers and returning directors were elected at the meeting:

• Chairman: Jim Rogers, AVP Agency Automation, The Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
• Chair-Elect: Shyla Lankford, NcAM, CRIS, Chief Operating Officer / Partner, Lipscomb & Associates, Dallas, Texas
• Secretary/Treasurer: Anthony Gardner, CLCS, CLP, CIO, Gardner & Strayer Insurance Group, Inc., Sandusky, Ohio
• Immediate Past Chair: Kate O’Toole, NcSA-Sagitta, Operations & Agency Management Systems Project Manager, Starkweather & Shepley Inc., Kingston, Massachusetts
• Member at Large: Ashley DeCarteret, CIC, President, The Harbor/Brenn Agencies, Petoskey, Michigan
• Member at Large: Jeffrey Dromeshauser, VP of Business Development, Sovereign Insurance Group, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
• Member at Large: Jenny Petersen, Data Quality Manager, Brightway Insurance, Jacksonville, Florida
• Member at Large: George Robertson, Owner/President, Rockingham Insurance Agency LLC, Eden, North Carolina
• Member at Large: Bonnie Wood, Director of Retail COTS, Brown & Brown Insurance, Alpharetta, Georgia

Newly Appointed Directors include:

• Member at Large: John Dawson, Chief Financial Officer, Correll Insurance Group Inc., Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Member at Large: Craig Most, CIC, CPIA, District Manager, Most Insurance Agency, Tampa, Florida
• Vertafore Executive Sponsor: Rick Warter, Chief Customer Officer, Vertafore, Denver, Colorado

Before bringing the meeting to a close, Kate left NetVU members with an encouraging nudge:

“Your voice is critical. Step up and step out. Don’t be afraid to engage on NetVU’s online community. Sign up for webinars and in-person meetings. Make the time to engage with the services offered by NetVU to focus on your business and your personal and professional development. And if you are new to NetVU or haven’t raised your hand yet, find just one way to volunteer and start on what I promise will be an amazing journey of engagement in this community.”

Kate O’Toole

Watch the Annual Meeting Here