2026 agenda

We’ve enjoyed great reviews of our conferences on the quality of speakers, breadth of topics and variety of formats to make for a memorable and compelling event. Please see our agenda including speakers listed below. Speakers can also be found here.

MONDAY, october 19

Networking Event at The

Joslyn Art Museum

2200 Dodge street, Omaha

The Joslyn Art Museum, Nebraska’s largest art museum, offers a setting that feels both elevated and inspiring — exactly the kind of atmosphere that brings to life a networking event. Its blend of historic Art Deco architecture and the newly expanded, contemporary Hawks Pavilion creates a space that is visually striking and rich with cultural energy, making every conversation feel a little more meaningful. The museum welcomes visitors into its thoughtfully designed galleries, gardens and gathering spaces, and provides a backdrop that naturally sparks curiosity, connection and big ideas. The Joslyn hosts masterworks by Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Degas, Matisse, El Greco and Gerome. Learn more about the Joslyn here.

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Networking Event for All Attendees

At the Joslyn Art Museum

7:30 pm

Speakers/Sponsors/Special Guests Dinner (Invite-only)

Sponsors and presenters are invited to a special dinner at the Joslyn Art Museum as our way of saying ‘thanks’ for supporting ISP 2026.

TUESDAY, october 20

THE HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER,

1200 Douglas Street, Omaha

REGISTRATION opens at 7:15 AM

MORNING

7:30 - 8:20 am Breakfast and Visit Exhibit Booths

Say “Good Morning” to your fellow attendees over coffee and breakfast.
Our exhibit booths will also be open for you to go by and visit.

8:30 - 8:45 am Welcome and Opening Remarks

Eric Dunning, Director, Nebraska Department of Insurance
Bob Jurgensmeier, Chief Executive Officer, Ameritas

8:45 - 9:05 am speakers

Mind the Gap(s): The Two Divides Defining Insurance’s Next Decade

Sean O’Neill, Senior Partner, Global Insurance Practice Leader, Bain & Company
Carrie Badanes, Partner, Global Head of Strategy, Bain & Company

9:05 - 9:25 am Speaker

CEO Perspective: A Conversation with an Industry Leader

Jon Farney, President and Chief Executive Officer, State Farm

Moderator: Eric Dunning, Director, Nebraska Department of Insurance

9:25 - 10:10 am panel

Agentic AI - Autonomous Agents in Carrier Operations

Kamal Natarajan, Senior Vice President, Allstate Technology Solutions
Louis DiModugno, Global Chief Data Officer, Verisk

Brian Poppe, Senior Vice President, Life Insurance Solutions, Mutual of Omaha

Moderator: Margeaux Giles, Chief Executive Officer, IRYS

10:10 - 10:40 am coffee break, networking, visit booths

Take this time to grab some coffee and an opportunity to meet state insurance commissioners attending the conference

11:25 - 12:10 Pm Panel

Regulators Panel: Regulatory Considerations in AI, Insurtech and Innovation

Elizabeth Kelleher Dwyer, Superintendent of Insurance, Rhode Island, President -Elect, NAIC

Ricardo Lara, Commissioner, California Department of Insurance

Amanda Crawford, Commissioner, Texas Department of Insurance

Michael Yaworsky, Commissioner, Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

Jon Godfread, Commissioner, North Dakota Insurance & Securities Department

Jeff Johnston, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)

Moderator: Eric Dunning, Director, Nebraska Department of Insurance

11:00 - 11:25 Am spotlight: Openai

Accelerating AI Progress at the Frontier of Financial Services

Kevin Alwell, Head of AI Deployment Engineering, Financial Services, OpenAI

10:40 - 11:00 am fireside chat

Insights on Technology Modernization, AI Use and What’s Next

Bill Pappas
, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Technology and Operations, MetLife

Moderator: Eric Dunning, Director, Nebraska Department of Insurance

12:10 - 1:00 PM Networking Lunch, Scott Recital Hall

Enjoy lunch and be sure to stop by and visit the exhibit booths

*Schedule, speakers and topics subject to change

AFTERNOON

1:00 - 1:50 PM PANEL

The Human Element of AI Adoption

Dr. Jim Harter, Chief Scientist, Workplace Management and Wellbeing, Gallup
Brian Lichtle, Vice President, Technology Innovation and Artificial Intelligence, Nationwide
Dr. Victor Winter, Professor and Deputy Director, AI Center for Collaborative Outreach, Research and Education (AI-CCORE), University of Nebraska at Omaha

William Steenbergen, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Federato

Moderator: Robert Bell, Executive Director, Nebraska Insurance Federation

1:50 - 2:10 PM Spotlight: Root

Root - Technology That’s Changing Insurance

Alex Timm, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Root

2:10 - 2:35 Pm Spotlight: Anthropic

Michael Ram, Head of Insurance, Anthropic
Jake Sloan, Insurance GTM, Anthropic

2:35 - 3:00 Pm COFFEE BREAK, NETWORKING, visit Booths

Take this time to grab some coffee and stop by exhibit booths

3:20 - 4:10 Pm PANEL

Agentic Commerce - Hey ChatGPT, Find me the Best Policy!

Aren Mirzaian, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, MyChoice
Sri Oddiraju, Chief Executive Officer, Fletch
Jessica Crowley, Head of Digital Sales, Liberty Mutual

Moderator: Finn Magee, Chief Executive Officer, Insurtech Canada

3:00 - 3:20 Pm Spotlight: upstage ai

Optimizing the ROI in AI

Kasey Roh, U.S. Chief Executive Officer, Upstage AI

4:10 - 4:30 Pm spotlight: Corgi

Michael Davis, Head of Product and Strategic Initiatives, Corgi

4:50 - 5:05 Pm insurtech spotlight: Nolana AI

Ken Zamkow, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Nolana AI

5:05 - 5:15 Pm closing remarks and recognitions

Eric Dunning, Director, Nebraska Department of Insurance

4:30 - 4:50 Pm spotlight: spacexai

Venky Yerneni, Global Head of Applied AI Engineering, SpaceXAI

5:30 - 7:30 Pm Post-Conference Networking Event

at Steelhouse Omaha

The Greater Omaha Chamber, The American InsurTech Council and Insurtech Coalition will host a networking event open to all to keep building connections and camaraderie. Learn more about this great venue, steps from the Holland Center, here.

*Schedule, speakers and topics subject to change