News & Blogs

Why Accelerate Is the Career Move You Didn’t Know You Needed (But Can’t Afford to Miss)

By David Waite posted 12 days ago
If you’re looking to grow your career, there’s one opportunity next month that deserves a spot on your radar: Accelerate . More than just a conference, Accelerate is where you turn learning into action. How to work smarter, connect deeper, and unlock new levels of success. And if you’re early in your career (or simply ready for what’s next), this is exactly the kind of environment that can fast-track your growth. Get Ahead—Faster The difference between staying comfortable and standing out often comes down to exposure. From practical insights on maximizing your Vertafore tools to real-world strategies shared by industry voices, every session ...
0 comments

What Efficiency Can’t Replace - and Why it Matters at Accelerate

By Jon Gorman posted 12 days ago
Every year, we gather at Accelerate, powered by NetVU . And every year, we make the same promise: world-class sessions, insightful speakers, and a packed exhibit hall. All of it is valuable. All of it matters. But none of that is the real reason people come back year after year. The truth is, the most important moments in April won’t take place on stage. They’ll happen in hallways, at tables, between sessions—in conversations you didn’t plan. Because every person you pass at Accelerate has a story you can’t see. Someone is worried about their job. Someone is questioning their path. Someone is just trying to hold it together. We don’t always know what people ...
0 comments

From Pilots to Production: How AI Is Reshaping Insurance

By Vic Yeh posted 14 days ago
From Pilots to Production: How AI Is Reshaping Insurance Author: Vic Yeh , Co-Founder & CEO │ Cara │ NetVU Platinum Partner For the past two years, AI has been one of the most discussed technologies in insurance. Agencies, brokerages, and carriers have experimented with new tools to explore its potential. Much of that activity, however, remained experimental — many early deployments lived in demos and side tools that proved concepts but didn’t meaningfully change how organizations operated . That phase is now ending. ...
0 comments

Retirement Isn’t What It Used to Be: How Agencies Are Keeping Experience in the Industry

By Rick Morgan posted 14 days ago
Retirement Isn’t What It Used to Be: How Agencies Are Keeping Experience in the Industry Author: Rick Morgan , Senior Vice President of Marketing │ WAHVE (Work At Home Vintage Experts) │ NetVU Silver Partner Many insurance professionals say they’re ready to retire—but fewer are ready to walk away completely. Across the industry, a growing number are choosing a different path: transitioning gradually while continuing to share the expertise agencies still depend on. The insurance workforce continues to age, and agencies are feeling the impact. Experienced professionals ...
0 comments

A Small Reminder That Had a BIG Impact

By Brittany Aman posted 02-11-2026
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 ...
1 comment

Why Connectivity Matters for Your Agency

By Lynn Albertson posted 02-08-2026
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 ...
0 comments

Streamline Policy Review: Reduce Risk and Improve Client Service

By Arjun Mangla posted 02-07-2026
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 ...
0 comments

A Practical Guide to Successful AMS360 Onboarding

By Shelly Werfelmann posted 02-07-2026
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 ...
0 comments

AI is no longer an innovation project. It’s your new operating system.

By Nikki Wood posted 02-06-2026
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. ...
0 comments

Why Paying for an AMS360 Expert Feels Painful—Until It Saves Your Sanity (and Your Gray Hairs)

By Brooke Flanagan posted 01-21-2026
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. ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Melissa Bond - Trusted Advocate whose Passion for Members Defines NetVU

By David Waite posted 12-30-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Mackenzie Winn - Strengthening Connections and Elevating Volunteer

By David Waite posted 12-29-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Jessica Jeffress - Turning Big Ideas into Meaningful Education

By David Waite posted 12-28-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: David Waite - A Creative Strategist with a Storyteller’s Heart

By Cole Scott posted 12-27-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Ellen Mitchell - Bringing Energy, Heart, and Laughter

By David Waite posted 12-27-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Lynn Albertson - Passionately Supporting Partners

By David Waite posted 12-26-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Brittany Aman - A Creative Force, Trusted Teammate

By David Waite posted 12-26-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Jon Gorman - Steady leadership, great stories, and a genuine care

By David Waite posted 12-23-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Karen Moore - The heart behind member experience at NetVU

By David Waite posted 12-22-2025
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 ...
0 comments

Employee Spotlight: Cole Scott - Marketing Pro, Burrito Enthusiast

By David Waite posted 12-21-2025
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 ...
0 comments