1. #IASASummit

2. Senior Insurance Executive Panel “A View From the C Suite”
Panel Moderator: Miguel A. Edwards
Allstate
March 15, 2018
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3. Today’s Goals The goals for today’s panel conversation is to:
Provide an insight into the challenges and hot topics facing the “C Suite” today
Discuss changes in the competitive environment and the impact on insurance companies
Explore current market place disruptors and what the panels views are on these
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4. Panel Discussion Participants
Miguel A. Edwards
Vice President, Strategy and Operations Allstate
Miguel is vice president of Strategy & Operations, focused on Allstate’s Independent Agency Operations and overall Heartland growth initiatives. In this role, Miguel oversees a myriad of operational functions within the Independent Agent channel, as well as leading a series of transformational initiatives designed to increase Allstate’s marketshare in key rural markets.
Since joining Allstate in 2012, Miguel has served in a number of functions developing and executing on innovative strategies, leveraging his strengths as a technology-savvy business leader. Most notably, Miguel led the development and deployment of a nationwide multi-carrier quoting platform, increasing the utilization of Allstate’s internal brokering offering, Ivantage. Within AIA, Miguel and his team continue to execute on a number of initiatives that have already dramatically improved the technology and operating infrastructure for Allstate independent agencies.
Outside of Allstate, Miguel volunteers a significant portion of his time as the volunteer-COO of the Chicago chapter of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) and serves on the Boards of Directors for the Hubbard Street Dance Company, the Insurance Technology Association, and the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association. He is also an adjunct professor at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He has recently been nominated to Chicago United’s Business Leaders of Color and Leadership Greater Chicago.
Miguel joined Allstate with nearly 15 years of varied leadership experiences in the manufacturing, financial services, and insurance industries. Prior to joining Allstate, he was senior vice president at Cover-All Technologies, Inc., a provider of commercial insurance platforms. He was also a technology director at Willis North America, the third largest broker of insurance and risk solutions for the property and casualty market. Miguel earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Accounting, along with an MBA from Rider University. Miguel is married with four boys, struggles mightily with golf, and is an avid private pilot.
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5. Panel Discussion Participants
Jason Nickles
Assistant Vice President and Assistant Controller Western and Southern Financial Group
Jason Nickles, AVP and Assistant Controller for Western & Southern Financial Group. Prior to his current role, he has internal and external audit experience for both private and public entities. He has a BSBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Cincinnati and is a licensed CPA in the state of Ohio. A past president of the local chapter of the Insurance Accounting and Systems Association (IASA), he is now serving as an IASA National Board Member. When he is not spending time with his wife and their daughter, Jason enjoys golfing, watching sports and traveling.
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6. Panel Discussion Participants
Brad Lontz
CIO and Senior Vice President of IT
Nautilus Insurance Group
Brad is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President of IT for Nautilus Insurance Group, part of the $7.5B W. R. Berkley Corporation.  As part of the senior leadership team, Brad is responsible for driving the digital transformation across Nautilus – replacing all core systems during his tenure.  Brad has over 20 years of experience in information technology across Financial Services, Software Development, Manufacturing and Distribution industries.  He has worked with executive teams leading digital transformation and instituted Agile and DevOps cultures in IT organizations.  Brad has experience in Program Management working with large development teams as well as leading merger and acquisition teams.
 Prior to Nautilus Insurance Group, Brad was a Senior Director at Liberty Mutual Insurance and held IT leadership positions in manufacturing, sales and marketing, R&D, and distribution.  Brad has an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and a BS in Computer and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University.
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7. Panel Discussion Participants
Micheal Benoit
Director of Digital Services and Enterprise Project Management Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Michigan
Michael R. Benoit is the Director of Digital Services and Enterprise Project Management for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). He has been at Blue Cross for a total of 19 years including leading his current unit for the last 3 years. He is responsible for large scale delivery, systems integration, and support of technical solutions for a number of business units including: The Individual Business Unit, the Middle and Small Group Business Unit, Corporate Communications, Corporate Marketing and Customer Experience, and the Rating and Underwriting unit.
He is responsible for implementation and support of solutions for the Acquire and Renew business process and technologies supporting customer facing web and mobile applications for Brokers, Group Customers, Members, and individual prospects. One of his key focus areas is driving the expansion of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) across the enterprise. He is also responsible for the Enterprise Project Management unit for BCBSM and is driving an Agile Expansion.
He previously held a number of technical leadership roles at Blue Cross since his arrival in Prior to that, he worked at both Ford Credit and the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Benoit earned an MBA from the University of Michigan – Dearborn. He also earned a BSEE (Electrical Engineering) from Wayne State University. He is married and has two daughters.
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8. Thank You!
Time For Questions
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