Champions & Challengers: Discussions on the Legal Edge of Fintech

On this episode of Champions and Challengers, host Greg Lestini sits down with Robert Bell , Executive Director of the Nebraska Insurance Federation, to explore why Nebraska has become a powerful hub for insurance and InsurTech innovation right in the heart of the country. Robert shares how the Federation unites insurance companies across all sectors while helping lawmakers understand the intricat...

On this episode of Champions and Challengers , host Greg Lestini , Public Finance Attorney at Bricker Graydon , sits down with Megan Garza , Communications Manager at Varonis , to explore the fast-evolving world of cybersecurity—especially at the intersection of FinTech, data protection, and AI. From the risks posed by social media to the necessity of robust incident response plans, Megan shares i...

In this episode of Champions and Challengers , host Greg Lestini explores the rapidly evolving world of InsurTech and insurance innovation. He is joined by the CEO of Scout InsurTech , Chris Luiz , who shares insights on how technology is reshaping the industry, from underwriting and claims automation to regulatory challenges and emerging AI applications. The discussion highlights how Scout serves...

As spring approaches, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners kicked off the year with their Spring meeting in Indianapolis, March 22 through the 26. This meeting marks the beginning of North Dakota Commissioner Jon Godfread ’s term as President of the multi-jurisdictional group. In honor of Commissioner Godfread’s time at the helm of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners...

In this episode of Champions and Challengers , host Greg Lestini sits down with Doug Kelly , CEO of the American Edge Project , to discuss the critical role of American innovation in the technology sector. They explore the far-reaching consequences of offshoring on American manufacturing jobs and the broader economy. Doug emphasizes the need for strong policy changes to ensure the U.S. remains at...

HOST  Greg Lestini | Bricker Graydon | LinkedIn Greg Lestini brings over 14 years of private practice experience, leveraging his background in government to guide clients through legal, legislative, and regulatory challenges. As Chair of the Financial Services/Insurance Industry Group, Greg leads the firm’s insurance practice, advising insurers of all sizes on corporate and regulatory matters. His...

In this episode, Greg Lestini and Jeff Knight dive into the critical world of risk management and business continuity with Tom Perry of 1Resilience , a seasoned expert whose journey spans fire service, law enforcement, and public-sector risk management. His broad experience offers a unique lens on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disruptive events. Tom discusses the essence of con...

In this episode hosted by Christina Cross, Beau Bryant from Resolute Wealth Advisors discusses how personalized advice is the cornerstone of their success and how fintech plays a crucial role in enhancing the client experience. He emphasizes that AI won't replace advisors but will improve efficiency, allowing more time for personalized financial planning. With clients in Northwest Ohio and Arizona...

In this conversation, Bricker Graydon Partner Greg Lestini interviews Joe Petrelli, the President and Co-founder of Demotech, a rating agency in the insurance industry. They discuss the history and mission of Demotech, which was founded to level the playing field for small to mid-sized insurance companies.

In our latest episode, hosted by Greg Lestini, we were joined by Vernon "Vern" Kennedy, co-founder and President of ActiveWrite. ActiveWrite is a powerful document creation and management platform designed to be user-friendly. It can handle everything from single-page documents to extensive 1000-page manuscripts. It eliminates the need for file version control by allowing users to track the entire...

To learn more about Hodge Luke, visit them at www.hodgeluke.com . To learn more about Cyberbium, visit them at www.cyberium.info .

To learn more about Hodge Luke, visit them at www.hodgeluke.com . To learn more about Cyberbium, visit them at www.cyberium.info .

In this episode, hosted by Greg Lestini, we are joined by Tim Hamilton, Founder & CEO of Praxent. Praxent is a fintech product agency that develops differentiated fintech products and experiences that produce measurable results. Twenty-some years ago, Tim built Praxent on the belief that technology has the power to unlock human potential. Since then, he has built a service-minded team of designers...

Learn more about GBQ Partners here: https://gbq.com/ *Please note that this episode was recorded prior to the Bricker Graydon merger.

In this episode, hosted by Greg Lestini, we are thrilled to be joined by Brian Kaas. Brian speaks about how his organization provides insurance and financial service products to about 95% of all the credit unions in the U.S. as well as over 1500 banks, both to the financial organization and the end consumer in the middle markets. He also touches on their venture fund on how they deploy their capit...

In this episode, hosted by Greg Lestini, we are pleased to be joined by North Dakota Insurance Commissioner, Jon Godfread. Commissioner Godfread is serving his second term as the ND Insurance Commissioner and his mission is to protect and safeguard the interest of North Dakota’s consumers. The Commissioner believes that we are on the edge of an insurance industry revolution. Here he discusses how...

In this episode, hosted by Liz Martini, we are pleased to be joined by a dynamic force in the finance industry, Karina Horton. Karina is the Director of Succession Planning at Yellow Cardinal Advisory Group, a First Financial Company. Karina has an abundance of experience in the banking and financial service industry, having also served as a Vice President at PNC Bank and Fifth Third Bank. In this...

In this episode, hosted by Liz Martini, we are pleased to be joined by a veteran in the insurance industry, Salene Hitchcock-Gear. Salene serves as the President of Individual Life Insurance at Prudential Life Insurance Company. Salene is a visionary leader with a focus on finding opportunities to meet the needs of consumers, creating alternate business models and creating a culture of innovation....

On part two of this series with Brilliantly Done SAAS, Jason Bennett and Marissa Buckley dive a little deeper about ChatGPT and artificial intelligence in the Insurance industry, as well as providing more specifics on a few other companies. Companies discussed are insurance organizations that see the value of content, the importance of a niche vertical and are going for it with very specific innov...

On our first two-part episode we are delighted to be joined by Jason Bennett and Marissa Buckley, co-founders of Brilliantly Done SAAS, a software as a service platform that serves as a virtual Chief Growth Officer for their clients a growth firm of Fractional Chief Growth Officers reinventing how InsurTech startups grow and scale.  A key component to their mantra is, "your perfect customers, exce...

In this episode, hosted by corporate attorney Christina Cross , we are pleased to be joined by Brian Sprang , Chief Information Officer at Quest Federal Credit Union . Brian touches on how he weighs risk vs. reward when considering the addition of new products and services and the cyber security and data protection caveats that come along with it. Brian also discusses regulations and maturity mode...

Lisa Gold Schier is the Chief Strategy Officer for ASA, a company embracing a new form of Open Banking where banks maintain ownership and control of customer data in a safe, secure environment and provide financial empowerment through individualized choice. Lisa joins us to discuss how she provides visionary leadership with a focus on collaborative banking and helping banks and technology provider...

Rachel Cash, CEO and Founder of ELROI, joins us to discuss data management and privacy rights. Rachel shares data aggregation trends and how it has transformed how consumers and organizations operate in this space. To learn more about ELROI, visit their website .

Bricker & Eckler attorney, Elizabeth Martini, joins us to talk about the legal and technological trends in the insurance industry, especially during the pandemic. Liz Martini is a seasoned legal professional who, for more than 30 years, has provided counsel to corporations and small and large businesses, particularly within the financial services and insurance industries. In addition to leading a...

To learn more about Monitaur, visit their website .