Annual Meeting Recap: Embracing Modernization and Supporting Members
Greetings, fellow member agents! Our annual meeting was a resounding success. As a group, we got the chance to reflect on our journey over the past year, and discuss our plans for the upcoming year. One of the most significant highlights of the meeting was the introduction of our new slate of executive officers. They are all eager to work alongside each of you to help modernize, grow, and provide unwavering support for every member of our closely-knit community.
Focusing on the Journey Ahead
As we closed the chapter on the previous year, it became glaringly evident that our key focus for the coming year should be on modernization and providing the necessary tools and support that our member agents need to grow. After all, our commitment to support one another is what makes this group truly exceptional.
Modernize and Grow
Our executive officers have been hard at work brainstorming innovative ways to modernize our processes and services. As we all know, the industry is ever-evolving and staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. By embracing technology, we can streamline operations to remain efficient and effective in our endeavors.
Unwavering Support
Coupled with this journey toward modernization, we want to continue to be there for each other, providing the foundation for sustainable growth. As our members undertake new challenges, we remain dedicated to supporting them throughout their journey. To do this, we'll be introducing a series of targeted initiatives, workshops, and training sessions to empower each individual and agency alike.
Harnessing the Power of Volunteers
Our volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization, and we cannot stress enough how much their contributions have shaped our success. Their hard work and dedication keep this organization thriving, and we are eternally grateful. Moving forward, we will continue to recruit and train volunteers to ensure that our community remains vibrant.
NetVU Annual Meeting of Members Notes
Chairman’s Report and NetVU Highlights - Joyce
Looking back, we have a number of outcomes to be proud of as an organization.
• More than 4,500 members’ lives and relationships were transformed through engagement with NetVU.
• NetVU boasts 51 percent individual engagement and 52 percent organizational engagement. And we are focused on both increasing engagement and adding more individuals and organizations engaging with the NetVU community in meaningful ways.
• We were the first major insurance industry event to return to a 100% in-person event with Accelerate in March 2022 in Denver, and just celebrated being back together again at Accelerate in Austin just a few weeks ago.
• We launched a first-of-its-kind NetVU thought leadership event Spark this past November, which received a 100% satisfaction rating from attendees. Spark allowed industry leaders to get out of the trenches and focus on their business in the areas of growth, efficiencies and talent.
• More than 400 volunteers connected with NetVU and its members, including serving as speakers, educators, day of caring participants, and committee and board involvement.
• More than 1,600 members are actively connecting with one another at NCOM – NetVU’s online community.
• NetVU is refocusing on focused education and networking opportunities for QQCatalyst users, as well as adding MGA Systems and AgencyZoom customers to the NetVU community.
2023 is going to be another year of growth for NetVU
• Launching comprehensive learning journeys for members with a digital-first approach
• Placing renewed attention on chapters and regional meetings for members
• NetVU’s second influencer and thought leadership event, Spark, powered by NetVU will be in New Orleans – Nov. 5-7
• We launched a more modern and refreshed online community (NCOM) to improve the overall user experience
• NetVU is modernizing its marketing efforts and website to better meet your needs.
• NetVU staff and leadership will be engaged across the industry, promoting Vertafore and the NetVU community to those who have yet to discover the benefits of NetVU involvement. This included purposeful engagement of AUGIE, ACT, ID Federation, Carriers, and partners at special events during Accelerate.
Finally, our relationship with Vertafore remains key. As you are talking with your contacts at Vertafore, thank them for their investment in you and in your user group and share how valuable engaging with NetVU is for you personally and for your organization.
Incoming Chair – Kate O’Toole
It’s no secret that volunteerism is at the center of my relationship with NetVU. I’m humbled that my own volunteer journey has led me to serving as the chairman of the board for NetVU beginning on July 1. Just a few weeks ago, we held a meet and greet for attendees at Accelerate who were interested in meeting current volunteers and exploring how they might add value to the NetVU community as a volunteer. One of NetVU’s newest hires Mackenzie Winn was there as NetVU’s first full-time volunteer coordinator who will help find meaningful landing spots for anyone wanting to volunteer and engage with the user group community.
That’s what I’m most excited about in the coming year. Discovering the volunteers who will help carry this volunteer powered engine forward into the future. We are a volunteer board of directors focused on creating experiences in NetVU that ensure you remain connected to what you need most. To some, it’s about connecting you to knowledge. To others, it’s connecting your knowledge with others. And to even others, it’s connecting you with resources at Vertafore and in NetVU that help you to maximize your investment in your Vertafore solutions.
In each of these areas, it’s the volunteers working alongside NetVU and Vertafore staff that is the secret ingredient to our success. As you think about yourself and where you are at in your journey, please consider how you can become a volunteer that helps us all move forward together in meaningful ways.
The best and easiest way to start your journey is by emailing info@netvu.org or logging on to the NetVU Online Community at community.netvu.org/home and joining a community and participating in discussions.
Election of NetVU Officers
As spelled out in the bylaws, the leadership development committee’s task is to propose a slate of officers and directors to the NetVU Executive Board of Directors. The committee will accept nominations, review candidates, and make recommendations. The slate is to be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting.
This year’s slate of officers and directors are as follows:
• Chairman of the Board Kate O’Toole, Stakweather & Shepley, Inc., Cohasset, Massachusetts
• Chairman Elect Jim Rogers, The Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
• Secretary/Treasurer Shyla Lankford, Lipscomb & Associates, Dallas, Texas
• Immediate Past Chairman Joyce Sigler, SeibertKeck Insurance Partners, Fairlawn, Ohio
• Member at Large Anthony Gardner, Gardner & Strayer Insurance Group, Bellevue, Ohio
• Member at Large Mary Wilson, Empire Insurance Brokers, Everett, Washington
• Member at Large Bonnie Wood, Brown & Brown, Atlanta, Georgia
• Vertafore Executive Sponsor Doug Mohr, Vertafore, Mukilteo, Washington
Newly Nominated At-Large Directors include the following:
• Member at Large Ashley DeCarteret, The Harbor/Brenn Agencies, Petoskey, Michigan
• Member at Large Jeffrey Dromeshauser, Sovereign Insurance Group, Berwyn, Pennsylvania
• Member at Large Jenny Peterson, Brightway Insurance, Jacksonville, Florida
Per the bylaws, these Directors were elected by a plurality of the votes of the Members present and voting at the Annual Meeting.
Chairman’s Comments – Joyce Sigler
At this time, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the four retiring board members of NetVU’s executive board of directors.
First, I want to thank my good friend Lorraine Plezia who has served three consecutive terms as secretary/treasurer of the board. Lorraine and I came up through NetVU together as impassioned educators at chapter meetings, industry meetings, Power Users conferences, and at Accelerate … before it was event called Accelerate. She will always be a great friend to me and to NetVU. She and her husband Tom recently moved to Hilton Head Island in preparation for retirement. Lorraine, you’ll be missed but never forgotten. Thank you.
Second, I want to express my appreciation for our immediate past chairman Dean Giem for his service to the organization. If you’ve been around Dean, you likely have heard him talk about his mission to get just 1% better every day. I can share that in his time serving on the board, I believe we have exceeded that net increase … largely as a result of Dean’s help in modernizing NetVU for the future and with our future, not our past, as our guidepost.
I also want to thank our two expiring at-large directors Oliver Connor and Dana Coates. First, you may be leaving the board, but believe me, Jon and his team are going to keep you connected. Oliver has been a great voice of the rural small agency on our board of directors, and he has been an amazing servant … even when wearing a kilt and crocs in public … to this community. Oliver often talks about the two sides of himself … the private Oliver and the public Oliver who is on the main stage. If only there were two of you in this world and in this independent insurance agency space … we’d all be the richer for it.
Finally, Dana has offered a unique voice, challenging the status quo and pushing us to be even more staunch advocates for the user community with Vertafore and in pushing for positive change in our space. My hope is that even though Dana will no longer be serving on the board, he’ll remain a strong voice in our community pushing for outcomes that will make all of our professional lives easier.
Thanks to each of you for being my friend and for serving with me and our other volunteer leaders during a tumultuous time for this organization during the past four years.
With that, I’ll turn it over to Kate to close our meeting out today. Thank you.
Closing Comments – Kate O’Toole
First, I’d like to close by thanking the Board Members who are rolling off this year. Your contributions and efforts did not go unnoticed and are very much appreciated by me and our members.
Second, welcome to the new Board Members. We are thrilled to have you, and we can’t wait to work alongside you this year.
I am extremely honored to be stepping into this position, and it is not one I take lightly. I know that the networking and connections I’ve made over the years are why I am here today in my professional in personal journey. So, this is not just a milestone for me, but a testament to what this community can really do.
I am looking forward to a productive year where we advocate on behalf of all of you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, a Board Member, or NeVU Staff Member with any ideas or questions about NetVU or Vertafore.