Leadership is the Conversation: Let's Talk

EXCEL-ERATED LEADERSHIP is a professional in-person development program for your high-potential and high-performing individuals and teams. Learn how to build better relationships, get better results, and be more influential inside your team, your department, and your organization.  Be seen as a leader!  It’s built and delivered with the highest Credibility.   Your facilitators have 25+ years of pr...

Meet Todd Wottring —Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at Butler University and owner of The Wottring Agency , an Allstate Insurance firm in Indianapolis. Todd is a lifelong insurance professional who began his career as an agent right out of college. Determined to rise above mediocrity, he committed to making insurance a true career—not just another job. Over the course of 30+ years with...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Tom Faulconer , Professor of Risk Management, and Insurance at Butler University, practicing attorney, and financial advisor.  Tom brings a wealth of experience from his distinguished career in the insurance industry, having served in leadership roles such as Director of Agency Training , Senior Vice President of Marketing , and Chief Marketing Officer at...

We’re joined by Steve Cissna, Owner & President of Reedy Insurance Services in Seymour, Indiana. Steve opens up about his experience buying and growing a family-oriented independent agency — and what he’s learned along the way. We talk about: Buying an agency vs. building one from the ground up Why matching with the right carriers really matters Getting a handle on the financial side of owners...

We’re back for Part Two of our chat with Steve Cissna , Owner & President of Reedy Insurance Services in Seymour, Indiana. Steve dives into how he navigates the mix of certainty and risk when making big decisions to grow his agency. Here’s what we cover: Growing smart : What to think about when hiring new staff, bringing on agents, or expanding into new territories. Opportunity vs. timing : Ho...

Wrapping Up Our Conversation with Steve Cissna Owner & President of Reedy Insurance Services, Seymour, Indiana Steve shares his thoughts on agency perpetuation and some hard-earned wisdom from his journey: Choose Your Path : Will you pass your agency on to your team or sell to private equity? Grow Smart : Don’t rely on profitability bonuses—focus on organic growth and managing expenses. Lead w...

Program Description: In this Part 2 episode, John Horton of HOGAN Assessment Systems discusses the importance of leadership self-awareness and identifying the gap between a leader’s self-identity and his or her workplace reputation.   Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization,...

Program Description: In this episode, John Horton of HOGAN Assessment Systems discusses the importance of leadership self-awareness and identifying the gap between a leader’s self-identity and his or her workplace reputation.   Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization, employe...

Program Description:  In this episode, Suzanne shares with us her life experiences that would later shape her leadership style.  As the observant daughter of her mother, a business owner and her father, a funeral home director, Suzanne credits their influence in fashioning her own leadership view which values both business and empathy.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the...

Program Description:  In this episode, Suzanne shares with us her life experiences that would later shape her leadership style.  As the observant daughter of her mother, a business owner and her father, a funeral home director, Suzanne credits their influence in fashioning her own leadership view which values both business and empathy.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the...

Program Description:  In this episode, Karen shares with us the lessons that she learned in her early years as a manager in the retail drugstore industry through several human resource positions.  All leading her to the current position of Vice-President of Talent Management for this Fortune 500 insurance company.    Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the indi...

Program Description:  In this episode, Karen shares with us the lessons that she learned in her early years as a manager in the retail drugstore industry through several human resource positions.  All leading her to the current position of Vice-President of Talent Management for this Fortune 500 insurance company.   Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the indiv...

Program Description:  In this episode, Darrin Walton, Executive Director of Claims, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance shares with us his discovery of the book The Leap to Leader How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership by Adam Bryant, Harvard Business Review Press.  Darrin, who has been leading others for the better part of 30 years, shares with us what drew him to this book and why these pr...

Program Description:  In this episode, Darrin Walton, Executive Director of Claims, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance shares with us his discovery of the book The Leap to Leader How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership by Adam Bryant, Harvard Business Review Press.  Darrin, who has been leading others for the better part of 30 years, shares with us what drew him to this book and why these pr...

Program Description:  Today you will meet Rick Kuster, Senior Vice-President Chief Marketing Officer, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.  Listen in as Rick acknowledges those early mentors who saw his potential and set him on his leadership path.  A journey that took Rick out of his preference for leading one-on-one to leading hundreds.  Rick reminds us to trust ourselves, be “who we are” and resist t...

Program Description:  Today you will meet Rick Kuster, Senior Vice-President Chief Marketing Officer, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance.  Listen in as Rick acknowledges those early mentors who saw his potential and set him on his leadership path.  A journey that took Rick out of his preference for leading one-on-one to leading hundreds.  Rick reminds us to trust ourselves, be “who we are” and resist t...

S4:E3 Program Description:  This one-one-one conversation with Bill Montgomery, President & CEO of Celina Insurance Group is the first in our new series “Inside the Leader’s Studio.”   This series, hosted by Jim Dickson, Managing Partner, Equis Consulting will explore how today’s working leaders became who they are and how they lead.   Listen in as Bill shares with us his life experiences that...

Program Description:  In this episode, Jim Dickson, Senior Consultant and Executive Coach at Equis Consulting shares his impressions of Michael Bungay Stanier’s book The Coaching Habit. Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any orga...

Program Description:  In this episode, Jim Dickson, Senior Consultant and Executive Coach at Equis Consulting shares his impressions of Michael Bungay Stanier’s book The Coaching Habit:  Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any org...

Program Description:  In this episode, Firouzeh Dittmar, Regional Property Manager with Sheehan Property Management, shares her passion and purpose for creating a work environment where everyone can bring their authentic self.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization, employe...

Program Description:  In this episode, Firouzeh Dittmar, Regional Property Manager with Sheehan Property Management, shares her passion and purpose for creating a work environment where everyone can bring their authentic self.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization, employe...

Program Description:  In this episode, we hear from our guest, Michael Brode, Vice-President of Educational and Technical Services at the Property and Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), as we discuss how PLRB supports the insurance industry and in particular the challenges associated with a changing workforce.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual...

Program Description:  In this episode, we hear from our guest, Michael Brode, Vice-President of Educational and Technical Services at the Property and Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), as we discuss how PLRB supports the insurance industry and in particular the challenges associated with a changing workforce.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual...

Program Description:  In this episode, we conclude our conversation with Jamie Terry, Vice-President of Organizational Development at Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance Company, as we discuss their journey to develop a vision that reflects the company’s heart and soul.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily repr...

Program Description:  In this episode, we continue our conversation with Jamie Terry, Vice-President of Organizational Development at Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance Company, as we discuss their journey to develop a vision that reflects the company’s heart and soul.  Please note that all views expressed in this podcast are the opinions of the individual participants and do not necessarily repr...