News & Blogs

During the holidays, the NetVU staff received a gift from @Jon Gorman , our Executive Director - a book called A Year of Positive Thinking . It’s less of a traditional book and more of a daily habit. Each day, you’re meant to read a short section filled with wisdom, encouragement, or a gentle push toward courage and perspective. I was doing pretty well keeping up with it until this week, when life got busy and I fell off track (as we all do sometimes). Thankfully, @Melissa Bond gave us a little nudge to check out the day’s quote, and I’m so glad she did: “Spend time in the company of those who can stand up for you when you are unable, those who believe ...
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Posted on behalf of Christen Kelley , Vice President, Ivans Marketing │ Ivans │ NetVU Silver Partner Insurance has always been about relationships , b ut today, those relationships depend on more than superior service or competitive pricing. Insurance agents expect carrier partners to make business easy with intelligent workflows, connected insurance technology, and automation that saves time and resources. The Ivans 2025 Connectivity Survey , based on insights from over 700 insurance professionals, makes one thing clear: ease of doing business drives decisions. Agents choose carriers that are connected. Real-time ...
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Arjun Mangla , C o-founder & CEO │ Fulcrum │ NetVU Platinum Partner For many insurance agencies, policy checking has gradually moved away from internal oversight. As workloads increase, review processes often get outsourced—providing short-term relief but introducing new risks around consistency and quality . The alternative—keeping policy review in-house—creates its own challenges . M anual processes are time-consuming and difficult to standardize , and often simply don’t get done as a result . This creates a difficult trade-off: either you outsource and lose quality, consistency, and context, or you keep it in-house ...
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Author : Shelly Werfelmann , Vertafore AMS360 Agency Consultant at Kite Technology Group │ NetVU Silver Partner Welcoming a new employee into your agency is more than a paperwork exercise. It is the moment you begin shaping their long-term success. A strong onboarding experience builds confidence, sets expectations, and helps new hires feel connected to their team from day one. With the remote and hybrid work environments present in today’s workplace , those first impressions matter more than ever. Without an intentional structure, new employees can easily feel uncertain or disconnected, unsure of who to contact or how to ...
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Author: Nikki Wood , VP, Advisory Services and Client Experience │ Patra │ NetVU Silver Partner The times of treating AI as a n experiment are over. Pilot deployment or chatbots are no longer sufficient; AI is becoming the backbone of insurance distribution, and those who successfully scale AI outperform their peers 3 – 5x across productivity, expense ratio, and speed-to-market metrics. Yet only 30% of AI initiatives reach deployment. For Net VU members, the question is now: how to move from strategy to operational execution. The answer isn’t more tech . I t’s rethinking how AI integrates into workflows. ...
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Let’s start with the truth most agency leaders won’t say out loud: Hiring an AMS360 expert is rarely something you want to spend money on. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t come with a big rollout announcement. And it doesn’t feel like revenue generation right away. In fact, it often lands in the same mental bucket as insurance, compliance, or infrastructure that is necessary but easy to postpone. Until you can’t. Until commissions don’t tie. Until reports tell three different stories. Until the month-end becomes a recurring fire drill. Until leadership starts asking questions that no one can confidently answer. That’s usually when the gray hairs appear. ...
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If you’ve ever interacted with NetVU, chances are you’ve felt the warmth, dedication, and heart that Melissa Bond brings to everything she does. After 27 years with NetVU, Melissa continues to show up each day with the same enthusiasm, passion, and member-first mindset as if it were her very first year—and that’s just one of the many reasons she’s so special to our organization. A Little About Melissa Melissa calls Pflugerville, Texas home and says what she enjoys most about working at NetVU is simple but powerful: the staff team and our volunteers. She truly believes our differences make us stronger, and she loves how the NetVU team challenges ...
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At NetVU, our people are at the heart of everything we do—and few embody that more fully than Mackenzie Winn. For nearly three years, Mackenzie has brought heart, organization, and genuine care to her work, especially when it comes to engaging and supporting our incredible volunteers. Originally from Kearney, Missouri, Mackenzie says what she enjoys most about working at NetVU is “working with passionate people that want the best for you.” That passion goes both ways—her teammates consistently describe her as thoughtful, reliable, and someone who always goes the extra mile. Making an Impact at NetVU One of Mackenzie’s proudest moments this ...
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At NetVU, our people are what make the mission meaningful—and few embody that spirit more fully than Jessica Jeffress. With a passion for education, a sharp strategic mindset, and a genuine care for our members, Jessica has quickly become a driving force behind NetVU’s evolving learning initiatives. Getting to Know Jessica Jessica calls Farmington, Kentucky home and has been with NetVU for just over one year—though it feels like she’s been part of the team far longer. Before joining staff, Jessica was already deeply connected to NetVU as a volunteer, which made stepping into her role especially rewarding. > “I loved being a volunteer ...
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At NetVU, we’re fortunate to work alongside people who bring both heart and creativity to everything they do—and David Waite is a perfect example of that. With five years under his belt, David has become a steady, thoughtful presence whose creativity, empathy, and sense of humor make a lasting impact across the organization. Getting to Know David Originally from Clearfield, Utah, David has always valued connection—and that shows in how he approaches his work. When asked what he enjoys most about working at NetVU, his answer was simple and genuine: “The relationships. Learning from the other employees and seeing how much they care about ...
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If you’ve ever attended a NetVU event that felt seamless, energizing, and maybe even a little funnier than expected, chances are Ellen Mitchell had something to do with it. Going on three years with NetVU, Ellen has become a cornerstone of our operations team—known for her leadership, humor, and unmatched ability to keep everyone moving in the same direction (and on deadline). A Little About Ellen Born in San Francisco and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Ellen brings a blend of West Coast calm and East Coast grit to everything she does. What does she love most about working at NetVU? Simply put: the people. She credits the team’s diverse personalities ...
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If you’ve ever spoken with a NetVU partner and felt instantly understood, supported, and maybe even entertained with a great story—you’ve likely crossed paths with Lynn Albertson. Since joining NetVU in December 2016, Lynn has become known for her incredible dedication to partners, sharp expertise, and unmistakable personality that keeps everyone smiling. From Detroit Roots to Florida Sunshine Originally from Detroit, Lynn now resides in Naples, Florida (though she’ll always consider herself a Detroit girl at heart), she brings a mix of grit, warmth, and humor to everything she does. What she enjoys most about working at NetVU is simple but ...
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If you’ve ever had a question at NetVU and thought, “I bet Brittany would know,” you’re probably right. Born and raised in the Dallas area (technically Garland, but she’ll let that slide), Brittany Aman is approaching an incredible milestone—10 years with NetVU this April. Nearly her entire professional adulthood has been spent growing alongside the organization, supporting members, building community, and bringing creativity and heart into everything she does. A Steady Presence with a Creative Soul When asked what she enjoys most about working at NetVU, Brittany doesn’t hesitate: the flexibility, support, and teamwork. She thrives in ...
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If you’ve spent any time at NetVU, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Jon Gorman—and if you have, you probably walked away with a solution to your problem, a thoughtful perspective, and maybe even a story you’re still not entirely sure was 100% true. Jon has been part of the NetVU team for six years and calls McKinney, Texas home. During that time, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization we are today. When asked what he enjoys most about working at NetVU, Jon’s answer says it all: solving problems for our team and our members. That mindset—focused on service, growth, and people—shows up in everything he does. A Leader Who ...
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At NetVU, our people are what make our community feel like home—and few embody that spirit quite like Karen Moore. With eight years of dedicated service, Karen has become a familiar, welcoming presence for members and staff alike, known for her kindness, dependability, and unwavering commitment to helping others. Originally from Dover, Delaware – and now living in Burleson, Texas, Karen brings warmth and authenticity into everything she does. When asked what she enjoys most about working at NetVU, her answer was simple and heartfelt: working with members. That passion is evident every day. As the first point of contact for many members, Karen consistently ...
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Marketing Pro, Burrito Enthusiast If you’ve interacted with NetVU’s marketing content lately, chances are you’ve already felt the impact of Cole Scott. Since joining NetVU in late 2025, Cole has quickly made his mark with fresh ideas, strong work ethic, and an energy that’s contagious across the team. Getting to Know Cole A Portland, Oregon native, Cole brings both creativity and drive to his role on the Marketing Team. What he enjoys most about working at NetVU is the people. The team is incredibly supportive and collaborative. Everyone genuinely cares about serving members and pushing NetVU forward. It’s rare to find a workplace ...
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Steady, Supportive, and the Queen of Communication If you’ve ever attended a NetVU event and thought, “Wow, this feels seamless,” there’s a good chance Kristine Serbus had something to do with it. Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Kristine has been with NetVU for nearly three years, bringing consistency, organization, and a calm presence to everything she touches. When asked what she enjoys most about working at NetVU, her answer says it all: seeing members truly enjoy our events. That joy—felt by attendees and teammates alike—is something Kristine helps make possible behind the scenes. A Calm Force Behind the Details Kristine ...
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How a Member Reduced Busy Work Associated with Servicing Fallgatter Rhodes Case Study Author: Jacob Simon, Founder │ Adapt API │ NetVU Silver Partner Introduction Fallgatter Rhodes Insurance Services, a 30-employee agency out of CA, was looking for ways to improve efficiency, especially related to monotonous admin work. Managing carrier notifications, tracking cancellations, and ensuring seamless servicing operations were time-consuming and prone to errors (at the top of the list of things to automate). After discovering Adapt at a NetVU conference, the agency implemented the software to streamline its processes and ultimately reduce the busy ...
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Spunky Energy, Big Heart, and a Passion for Our Members If you’ve ever joined a NetVU call and felt an instant boost of positive energy, chances are Alyssia Dugas was involved. With her spunky personality, calming presence, and genuine care for others, Alyssia has become a cornerstone of the NetVU team—and a favorite among members and staff alike. Getting to Know Alyssia Alyssia hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, where her roots run deep—especially when it comes to family and food. She’s been with NetVU for four years, and when asked what she enjoys most about working here, her answer is simple and heartfelt: I enjoy the people the ...
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NetVU is proud to spotlight Jenny Petersen, Data Quality Manager at Brightway Insurance, as the recipient of the Leadership Award in Memory of Louie E. Woodbury Jr. This prestigious award honors long-time leadership, proven achievement, and meaningful contributions to NetVU and the insurance industry. True to the spirit of the award, Jenny exemplifies leadership within her community, the industry, and across NetVU—steadfastly supporting our mission to build the future through world-class education, the exchange of ideas, advocacy, and technology innovation. What This Honor Means to Jenny For Jenny, leadership is deeply rooted in ...
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