Wetzel started his career with the Insurance Information Institute, headed a state association of insurers, and developed campaigns for insurers, brokers, and associations, including the Society of CPCU. He founded his firm in 2000, had regular columns in Rough Notes and the Insurance Journal, and has presented hundreds of presentations to national and state agent associations and clusters. He is also a longtime Insurance Marketing & Communications Association member and served on its board for six years.
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Confidence Coach to top CEOs, Olympians, Actors, and Peak Performers across every industry, Juan Bendana is an internationally recognized keynote speaker who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment. One of North America’s most engaging and high-energy keynote speakers, Juan brings a decade of experience presenting to category-leading companies such as Disney, Sotheby’s International, and Sony Pictures. His Science-backed Framework, the Confidence Cycle, has helped over 250,000 leaders thrive both personally & professionally.
Juan helps leaders boost engagement, cultivate high performance, and build unwavering confidence to thrive in a fast-paced world. Juan shares ground-breaking insights and actionable tools to engage high-performing teams and inspire a culture of confidence and connection.
He uses the art of storytelling, interactive activities & humor to create an unforgettable experience. Whether it is a board room of 25 executives or a stadium of 25,000 people, Juan creates a world-class experience that will leave your audience energized and inspired. Off stage, Juan enjoys waking up at 5 a.m., having his name pronounced incorrectly, and being considered by many as a walking shot of espresso.
Mandy Reed is the founder of We Build Staxx, a systems and automation firm that helps insurance agencies scale smarter—not harder. With over 20 years of experience in leadership, finance, and insurance, Mandy is a trailblazer in the automation and AI space, known for turning chaotic processes into streamlined, scalable systems that drive real results. Her career spans FinTech, Insurtech, and agency ownership, and she’s built a reputation for helping businesses eliminate inefficiencies, connect their tools, and implement smart systems that support sustainable growth.
Mandy’s work has earned her multiple industry honors, including Insurance Business America’s Elite Women of the Year (2021) and Acquisition International’s Most Influential Businesswoman, recognizing her leadership in both automation and the independent agency space. She believes that AI and automation will be the great unlock for the future of insurance agencies—leveling the playing field and giving smaller teams the ability to compete, scale, and thrive like never before.
A passionate speaker and educator, Mandy is especially energized by opportunities to connect with insurance agency owners, women in business, and Insurtech founders who want to increase engagement, adoption, and customer success. Outside of her work, she’s a proud wife and mom who loves spontaneous travel, deep conversations about faith, and anything that brings a little Disney magic into everyday life.
Gregg Goodmanson is a partner at InCite Performance Group, a leading international consulting firm that provides consulting advice in the insurance industry. With over 24 years of experience in the insurance and consulting industry, Gregg brings a broad perspective of what it takes for an organization to create sustainable growth.
Gregg is the creator of the Virtual Sales Management Program, now called InCite Sales Coach. This program has over 100 insurance agents and 8 sales teams active in the program. He manages these relationships on a monthly of bi-monthly basis where he and other advisors are responsible for working with these agents on training and development, pipeline development & accountability as well as deal management.
Additionally, Gregg is an expert in the healthcare industry. As a 2-15 Life & Health licensed agent with an advanced Self-Funded Specialist certification, Gregg educates employers on how to drive down cost while delivering Fortune 500 programs. The healthcare industry is broken and Gregg brings an important message to decision makers on how to move away from being a victim to that broken system.
Roy Geilen is a seasoned Senior Personal Lines Underwriter with over 30 years of experience in the personal lines insurance sector. At Burns & Wilcox, he leads a team of four, specializing in delivering excess and surplus lines solutions to agents across the region. Renowned for his leadership, Roy has held pivotal roles at some of Florida’s largest insurance carriers, guiding teams in agency operations, IT projects, product development, and underwriting. He is eager to share his extensive insights on leadership and mentorship at the conference, offering attendees a deep dive into how to improve their leadership skills.
Melissa Ems is a third-generation insurance professional. She spent most of the early part of her career as a Senior claims Adjuster for State Farm dealing with day to day and catastrophe claims. In 2010, she opened her independent agency, Melissa Ems Insurance, in Pinellas County from scratch, with a vision of how to be a better agent and to provide the best service for her clients with a professional risk advisor mind-set. Fifteen years later, she manages 7 employees and a large growing book writing in multiple states and lines of business.