Connected Conversations In Insurance

Michael Ley on Agency Networks, Tech Stacks, and the HawkSoft Purple Cow | Connected Conversations in Insurance In this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance , Ray Huang sits down with Michael Ley, Director of Network Relations at HawkSoft, to talk about what agency networks and aggregators are doing to stand out and deliver real value beyond commission splits. Michael shares his journey...

Nick Berry on TotalCSR, Microlearning, and Unhinged Insurance Marketing | Connected Conversations in InsuranceIn this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Ray Huang welcomes former co-host Nick Berry back to the show to share what he’s been up to since leaving Canopy Connect, including his new role as head of marketing at TotalCSR. Nick explains how TotalCSR helps agencies find, a...

Peter Wood on Mentorship, Community, and Collaboration in Insurance | Connected Conversations Peter Wood didn't find insurance. Insurance found him. In this episode, Carrie sits down with Peter, agency owner at Kraken Insurance Services based in Chandler, Arizona, to talk about what it really takes to build a thriving agency, a strong community, and a mentorship culture that actually works. Pe...

Austin Panter on Client-First Tech, Canopy Connect, and Using AI Without Losing the Human Touch | Connected ConversationsIn this episode of Connected Conversations, Canopy Connect host Carrie Thornbrugh speaks with Austin Panter of Kevin Panter Insurance in Blue Ridge, Georgia, about modernizing agency operations by adopting technology that prioritizes client convenience. Austin shares how his age...

Casey Nelson on SOPs, Front Door Theory & Content as a Growth Differentiator | Connected Conversations Casey Nelson joins Carrie Thornbrugh for the Connected Conversations season finale to talk about why agencies struggle with tech and operations—and how to fix it. He breaks down Catalyit’s role, the three common “origin stories” that lead to messy systems, and why solid SOPs, training, and ac...

Dylan DiMarchi on Premium Lock: A 3-Year Price Guarantee for Homeowners Insurance | Connected Conversations in InsuranceRay Huang hosts Dylan DiMarchi, co-founder of Eventual, to discuss the volatility in U.S. homeowners insurance since COVID and how Eventual’s Premium Lock offers a three-year price guarantee as a supplement to standard one-year admitted homeowners policies. Dylan explains how hom...

Victoria Ardito on Insurance Education, Relationship-Driven Selling & InsurTech | Connected ConversationsIn this customer-focused episode of Connected Conversations, host Carrie speaks with Victoria Ardito, a personal lines insurance advisor at Insurance Office of America with 14 years in the industry. Victoria shares how she entered insurance by walking into a mom-and-pop agency for an auto q...

Meaghan Dowd on P&C Insurance Planning for Financial Advisors | Connected Conversations in InsuranceIn this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Ray Huang talks with Meaghan Dowd, Director of Insurance at Holistiplan, about why personal lines (P&C) insurance is a missing but high-demand piece of financial planning. Meaghan shares her background as a longtime insurance brok...

Tony Lew on InsurTechNY, AI, and the Human Side of Insurance | Connected Conversations In this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Ray Huang sits down with Tony Lew, co-founder and managing director of InsurTechNY, to discuss how the organization grew from filling a community gap in New York’s insurance innovation scene into a multi-pronged hub offering events, a corporate innova...

Season 3 Kickoff: New Cohost, Podcast Mission, and Change in Insurance Season three kicks off with Ray sharing the updated vision for the show, exploring the people, stories, and technology shaping insurance and related industries. Ray also introduces new cohost Carrie Thornbrugh, Canopy Connect’s customer and partner marketing manager, who brings a background in marketing, community building, tea...

Consumer Permissioned Data: The Future of Insurance Verification | Connected Conversations In this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Ray Huang interviews Tolga Tezel, CEO of Canopy Connect. They explore the origins and evolution of Canopy Connect, a platform that uses consumer permission data to streamline insurance verification. Learn about the company's journey, the impac...

David Carothers on Building a Successful Insurance Agency | Connected Conversations In this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Nick Berry welcomes David Carothers of Florida Risk Partners. David, known for his diverse experiences and deep commitment to his family, shares his journey from retail to insurance, highlighting his transition and success in middle market commercial ins...

Charles McDade's Origin Story & Success in Insurance In this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Ray welcomes Charles McDade, owner of McDade Insurance Brokerage Group. Charles shares his unique journey into the insurance industry, marked by resilience and a sprinkle of spite, eventually leading to the establishment of his own agency. They discuss the importance of relati...

Building a Bold Insurance Brand with Ciara Gravier In this episode of the Connected Conversations in Insurance podcast, host Nick Berry sits down with Ciara Gravier, the founder of The Bunker Insurance and Risk Management. Ciara shares her 20-year journey in the insurance industry, her experiences with rebranding, and the challenges of building a boutique commercial insurance agency in South Flori...

Steve Anderson on Embracing AI in Insurance & Overcoming Tech Frustrations | Connected Conversations In this episode of the Connected Conversations in Insurance podcast, host Ray Huang of Canopy Connect welcomes Steve Anderson, an experienced insurance professional, co-founder of Catalyit, and author of The Bezos Letters. Steve shares his journey in the insurance industry, his firsthand experi...

Mariah Gates on Automating Insurance Agencies & Embracing Tech | Connected Conversations In this episode of the Connected Conversations in Insurance podcast, host Nick Berry from Canopy Connect interviews Mariah Gates, founder of Accelerated Automation. Mariah discusses her journey from an insurance agent to a tech consultant, highlighting her use of CRM tools like Agency Zoom to revolutionize...

Davie Holt on Virtual Employees in Insurance Industry | Connected Conversations In this episode of Connected Conversations in Insurance, host Nick Berry welcomes Davie Holt, president of Virtual Intelligence. Davie shares insights on the role of virtual employees (VEs) in the insurance industry, addressing common misconceptions and emphasizing the importance of proper training and integration. The...

Leveraging Social Media for Insurance: A Conversation with Matt Layson In this episode of 'Connected Conversations in Insurance,' host Ray Huang interviews Matt Layson, an insurance advisor and operations manager at Calrose Insurance. They discuss Matt's journey to becoming an insurance agent, his family's long-standing presence in the industry, and his pivot from being a professio...

Landry Fields on AI's Transformative Impact on the Insurance Industry | Connected Conversations In this episode of the Connected Conversations in Insurance podcast, host Nick Berry from Canopy Connect welcomes Landry Fields, the founder and CEO of Nova Insurance. They discuss the integration of AI in the insurance industry, the potential to streamline operations, and the future possibilities f...

Winning on Social Media: Strategies for Insurance Agents with Nicholas Sakha | Connected Conversations In this episode of the Connected Conversations in Insurance podcast, host Nick Berry of Canopy Connect engages in an insightful dialogue with Nicholas Sakha, owner of a fast-growing Allstate Insurance Agency. Nicholas shares his inspiring journey from banking and pizza delivery to successfully ru...

Kevin Spann on Modernizing the Insurance Industry & The Power of Community | Connected Conversations In this episode of the Connected Conversations in Insurance podcast, host Ray Huang of Canopy Connect welcomes Kevin Spann, a seasoned insurance professional and owner of five Allstate Insurance agencies in Queens, New York. Kevin shares his journey from a life underwriter trainee to agency own...

Connected Conversations in Insurance: Embracing Technology and Marketing StrategiesJoin Nick Berry and Heath Shearon, the 'Mayor of Insurance Town,' in this insightful episode of Connected Conversations and Insurance. They discuss the apprehensions of insurance agents towards technology, the evolution and current trends in InsureTech and marketing, and the importance of understanding what...

Discovering Passion Through Insurance and Gardening: A Conversation with Michael Overstreet | Connected ConversationsIn this episode of Connected Conversations and Insurance, host Nick Berry talks with Michael Overstreet, the CMO of Heritage Insurance Agency and creator of the 'gardening nerd' YouTube channel. Michael shares his unique journey into insurance, his transition to a CMO role,...

How Mastering Niches and Content Marketing Can Transform Your Insurance AgencyIn this episode of Connected Conversations and Insurance, host Nick Berry interviews Ron Wadley, founder of Insurance for Texans, about his insurance agency's transformation and success. Ron explains how his agency shifted from primarily personal lines to a dominant commercial line focus, revealing the strategies and dec...

Boosting Insurance Sales with LeadForce360: An Interview with Founder Kelby Steele In this episode of Connected Conversations on Insurance, Ray Huang from Canopy Connect sits down with Kelby Steele, founder of LeadForce 360, to discuss efficient lead generation and sales automation for insurance agencies. Kelby shares detailed insights into how LeadForce 360 automates and streamlines the recruitin...