As the Head of Customer Retention, Blake is responsible for developing and executing the overall customer retention strategy across Medicare products. In this role, he oversees retention operations and works across the organization to execute retention initiatives to ensure a rich customer experience. Blake joined Cigna’s Managed Care Leadership Development Program over ten years ago, and has held positions of increasing responsibility, previously serving as the Director of Expansion Strategy & Execution. In this role, he led the strategy and execution of Medicare Advantage new market and product expansions. Blake attended Belmont University where he earned his Master's in Business Administration with a focus in Healthcare Management. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Tennessee.
Calvin Bagley
Founder & President
Nuvo Health & The Medicare Store
Calvin Bagley is a visionary and strategic thinker driving innovation and client-focused solutions in Medicare insurance. He founded and is the President of Nuvo Health, which has facilitated more than 60,000 client enrollments in health and Medicare insurance. He has actively advocated for Medicare insurance agents with congressional representatives and CMS policymakers. Calvin lives in the incredible city of Las Vegas, NV, with his wife and two children. He is an avid traveler and has visited all 50 states and all seven continents.
Arthur Barlow
President & CEO
Compass Insurance Advisors
Arthur Barlow is the CEO and Co-Founder of Compass Insurance Advisors. Compass supports its 450+ agents in helping individuals, families, and businesses find the right solutions for HEALTH, MEDICARE, GROUP, and LIFE Insurance products. Arthur has been in the insurance space for over 13 years and is hoping to help lead the ACA industry to a more stable and transparent experience for the consumer and the agent.
Marc Bernstein
CEO & Founder
Balto
Marc Bernstein is the Founder, CEO of Balto, the real-time guidance category leader, with over 300 million contact center conversations analyzed and optimized in real-time and the highest-rated solution on G2 with 4.8 stars. Balto's artificial intelligence understands phone conversations to be as effective as possible in every customer conversation. Marc was named CCW Next Generation Leader to St. Louis’s Titan 100 list of executives making an impact on the region. Marc earned a B.S. in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, & Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Ashlee Borcan
Principal & Actuary
Milliman
Ashlee Borcan is a principal and consulting actuary with the Tampa office of Milliman. She joined the firm in 2011 and has more than 20 years of consulting experience. Ashlee’s primary area of concentration is the supplemental health insurance market. She frequently presents on a wide variety of topics at leading industry meetings. She has been responsible for the product development, pricing, valuation, and maintenance of an assortment of individual and group products, such as critical illness, accident, cancer, hospital indemnity, and Medicare Supplement.
Amanda Brewton
Owner
Medicare Answers Now
Amanda is the owner of Medicare Answers Now in Cleveland, Ohio which is Field Marketing Organization with agents in over 40 states and specializing in Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements, Part D Plans, and more. She has been working in the Medicare field for over 17 years, working for both Aetna and Anthem. She continues teaching numerous courses across the country on such topics as: Ethics, Business Development, Sales, Marketing, and many Continuing Education courses. She was recently awarded “Educator of the Year” by her local state NABIP Chapter. She is also the creator of the Ms. Medicare Conference, which provides an environment for women to network and learn from each other about work/life balance, being a business owner, industry trends and other fundamental skills to help them attain their dreams. She is also the creator of Medicare and Margaritas which is a conference open to ALL agents which focuses on subject deep dives and social networking. Last, Amanda is the partner for the Agent Symposium at the Medicarians: The Future of Senior Health, RetireTech, and AgeTech Conference in Las Vegas. Amanda has been a member for NABIP (National Association of Benefit and Insurance Professionals) since 2007 and held several seats on the Northeast Ohio Chapter board. She is currently serving on the National Media/Communications and Membership Boards. Amanda has returned to the NABIP Medicare Advisory Group which is a select group of leaders from across the country that work directly with CMS and various other legislative organizations to discuss the various concerns and issues facing the agents in our industry.
Jacob Brody
CEO & Co-Founder
ZorroCard
Jacob is a serial entrepreneur who specializes in regulated industries. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of ZorroCard, a health benefits concierge and payments platform that saves payors up to 51% on pharmacy expenses. Jacob previously started a 17 state weight management practice called Accomplish Health. As a Managing Partner at Helpful Networks, he advised Fortune 500 health insurers and reinsurers on new business incubation. As Founding Partner at MESA Ventures, he led 30 investments, with 3 reaching $1 billion valuations & achieving a >4x realized return.
Eric Brown
CEO & Co-Founder
InSearchX
Eric Brown is a serial entrepreneur and expert in AI and behavioral data. He co-founded inSearchX, an AI-driven platform, and previously founded Dataium, a leader in intent data, later acquired by IHS Markit. Eric is known for his innovative approach to consumer engagement, focusing on AI solutions like AskOtto, a digital concierge platform. He’s a sought-after speaker, featured on Fox News and in major publications. Recognized for his work, he’s been named Innovator of the Year and an Entrepreneur of the Year nominee for Nashville, TN. Eric’s ventures address market needs and leverage emerging technology to drive growth.
Fred Camacho
CEO & Founder
HealthcareGPS
Fred Camacho is Founder and CEO of HealthcareGPS Inc, focused on enhancing healthcare navigation and access through AI-driven solutions and engaging, rigorous content. The company's key offerings include MedicareCopilot, BenefitsCopilot, and HealthLiteracyCopilot, serving consumers, brokers, health plans, providers, employers, and patient advocacy organizations. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare product management and technology, Fred has driven innovation in consumer engagement, population health, analytics, and quality measurement at leading organizations such as UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Humana, Vizient, Medecision, and NCQA. He holds a PhD in Engineering and MS in Applied Math from Brown University, and an MS in Structural Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
Cynthia Cox
Vice President
Kaiser Family Foundation
Cynthia Cox is a vice president and Director of the Program on the ACA, where she conducts economic and policy research on the Affordable Care Act and its effects on private insurers and enrollees. Her work focuses on enrollment, pricing and competition in the ACA’s exchange markets. Cox also directs the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, a partnership of the Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF aimed at monitoring the performance of the U.S. health system over time and in relation to other large, high-income countries. Her work on this project focuses on trends in health care costs, access and affordability, as well as measures of health care quality and outcomes. Prior to joining KFF, she held research and advocacy positions at Columbia University Medical Center and the American Cancer Society. She also served on the board of directors of the Berkeley Free Clinic in California. Cox holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University.
Gary Culp
Chief Distribution Officer
Cigna
Gary Culp emerges as a strategic leader and culture builder within the realm of healthcare, boasting a career distinguished by visionary initiatives, exceptional growth achievements, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. With more than two decades of experience, Gary has consistently demonstrated his ability to overcome obstacles, maintain strategic alignment, and drive strong revenue growth through creative solutioning and calculated risk-taking. Currently serving as the Chief Distribution Officer (CDO) for Government and Supplemental Programs at Cigna Healthcare in Irvine, CA, Gary was promoted to this role to define and drive growth across the enterprise. His remit includes developing and executing growth strategies for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Prescription Drug Plans, and Ancillary services. Under his leadership, the organization underwent significant changes, capturing financial gains through improved efficiency and reduced redundancy. Gary's strategic initiatives led to substantial increases in agent new sales, e-Broker engagement, and the creation of lower-cost channels for growth.
Bryan Derheim
VP & GM- Supplemental Products
VP & GM- Supplemental Products EHealth
Bryan Derheim is the VP & GM of Supplemental Products (MedSupp and Ancillary) at eHealth. Leading the business unit and carrier development team in all things supplemental. Most recently, Bryan led the Senior Product division of Allstate Health. After starting that division just 5 years ago, it went from 0 to 100M+ in revenue.
Pete English
Senior Advisor
PEAR Health Labs
Pete English is a Senior Advisor at PEAR Health Labs. Pete brings over two decades of experience in the Medicare industry, including ten years with several national and regional Medicare health plans. Additionally, he founded an independent, Medicare-focused brokerage agency and has spent the last five years in the Healthtech SaaS space. In his role at PEAR, Pete leads PEAR's Medicare Go-To-Market strategy and business development efforts.
Jenna Fariss
Director & Actuary
Milliman Intelliscript
Jenna Fariss is Director and Actuary at Milliman IntelliScript, where she helps carriers evaluate and implement insurtech innovations that add protective value and next-level risk assessment to their underwriting workflows and business strategies. She often joins forces with reinsurers to critically assess new tools and guide clients as they adopt new technology or adapt underwriting guidelines to reflect evolving best practices. With 20+ years of industry experience, she brings both a high-level perspective and hands-on practical experience to any discussion of risk in insurance.
Manny Felix
Senior Manager, Medicaid Sales
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Arizona
Manny has established himself as an award-winning sales professional in the Medicare field. In his current role, Manny works closely with brokers, agency principals, and FMO partners to develop and implement effective sales strategies. He is also renowned for his commitment to education and professional development. He has designed and executed comprehensive training programs that empower brokers and partners with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the competitive sales environment. His training sessions are known for their thoroughness and relevance, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP) and Medicaid.
Helaine Fingold
Partner
Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Helaine I. Fingold is a Partner in the Health Care and Life Sciences practice in the Baltimore office of Epstein Becker Green. She has more than 33 years of broad health law and health regulatory experience, including 20 years in the federal legislative/executive branches. Ms. Fingold advises health care plans and issuers, providers, and other stakeholders on legal and policy issues regarding the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs, including, but not limited to: general program compliance and corrective action; marketing, agent/broker and other TPMO issues; star ratings/quality bonus payments; plan application process, standards and appeals; program/financial audits and other program oversight; and program enforcement/sanctions and appeals. She also advises on Medicare Parts A and B; Medicaid fee-for-service and waiver/managed care programs; Medicare and Medicaid innovation programs; PACE, Qualified Health Plan and commercial plan requirements under the ACA; and federal and state Surprise Billing rules. From 2004 to 2012, Ms. Fingold worked in a range of capacities at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), with responsibility for areas of the Medicare Advantage program, including plan application review and approval, network adequacy, plan application denials and appeals, contracting, plan surveillance and oversight, and Medicare Advantage and Part D marketing. Subsequently, Ms. Fingold served in both senior staff and leadership roles with the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) in the Exchange Policy and Operations Group through which Ms. Fingold worked on the qualification of qualified health and stand-alone dental plans, plan oversight, essential health benefits, agent/broker issues, and market-wide cost sharing limitations.
Sharon Fletcher
CEO & President
Birdsong Hearing Benefits
Sharon Fletcher is a highly accomplished three-time CEO with a history for being thrust into new businesses, quickly determining the leverage points, developing a plan to grow shareholder value, staffing the organization for success, and motivating the team to deliver. She has deep experience in the Healthcare sector and has demonstrated the same approach and results in industries ranging from technology, to consulting, and airlines. With over 18-years of managed care experience, she has served as the President of Fluent Health, a technology-enabled application platform delivering cost effective value to the healthcare sector. Fletcher holds a PhD from Northcentral University.
Robert Garber
Managing Partner
7wireVentures
Robert is currently Managing Partner of 7wireVentures, where he focuses on investments in digital healthcare and technology-enabled services that empower consumers to be better stewards of their health in today’s changing healthcare ecosystem. Robert has over 30 years of experience investing in, advising, and operating early-stage healthcare and technology companies and has co-managed five venture funds with $600M+ AUM. Before joining 7wireVentures, Robert served as Managing Director of Stratus Ventures and KB Partners where he led investments in early-stage healthcare and technology companies. Previously, Robert held key executive roles for three high-growth companies where he led operations, business development, and finance in the ecommerce and software industries. Robert received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mayra Garza
Head Of Group Benefits Strategy & Retail Segment
Guardian
Mayra Garza has extensive experience across the insurance industry, focusing on strategy, business development, and product management. She has a deep understanding of large-scale transformations, including operating model strategy, organizational design, and change management, as well as supply chain assessments. In her current role as Head of Group Benefits Strategy and Retail Segment at Guardian, Mayra is responsible for the development and alignment of the company’s Group Benefits strategic priorities, capabilities, and value proposition while also leading Guardian’s Retail segment, which distributes individual health offerings such as dental, vision, and accident through a variety of channels. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Charles Gellman
CEO & Co-Founder
HiDO Health
As the CEO and co-founder of HiDO Health, Charles Gellman is on a mission to improve millions of patient lives with AI assisted robotics. He is a data scientist, TEDx speaker, researcher, NIH grant reviewer, 100+ podcasts and filmed a documentary on the future of care. Charles is one of the top voices on AI assisted robotics, digital health, and the impact on care.
TJ Gibb
Head Of Medicare Part D
Humana
TJ has extensive experience in the insurance and healthcare industries. He has more than 18 years with Humana and currently serves as the head of the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan business and Low Income Newly Eligible Transition (LINET) program. These businesses serve millions of individuals and provide access to safe and affordable medications for seniors and other Medicare eligible populations. TJ leads the charge to help customers achieve their best health. Prior to his current role, TJ held an array of executive leadership roles for commercial employee benefits, retail insurance and healthcare organizations.
Chris Giuliani
CEO
Spring Venture Group
Chris, a dynamic and seasoned business leader, serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Spring Venture Group. He joined the company in 2011 as the Executive Vice President, bringing his wealth of experience and expertise to drive growth and success. Chris was promoted to CEO in 2012. Since assuming this role, Chris has played a pivotal role in shaping SVG’s strategic vision, overseeing its day-to-day operations, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. In addition, his emphasis on calculated growth and leadership development helped build the organization from 27 employees in 2012 to over 1300. Chris's dedication to innovation has led to substantial growth for SVG's three brands: Smart Match Insurance Agency, United Medicare Advisors, and the latest addition, SmartConnect. Under his leadership, Spring Venture Group has earned recognitions in Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000, Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work, The Kansas City Business Journal’s Fast 50, and earned Chris a place on Ingram’s 40 Under Forty list in 2014 and induction in the Ingram’s 250 in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Shaily Gupta
Mabel
CMO & Co-Founder
Shaily Gupta is the Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founder of Mabel. She has spent the last decade working in Medicare -- as a payer, provider, and broker. Prior to Mabel, she was the Creative Director of Clover Health, launched a senior-focused primary care clinic, and spun off a Medicare-focused insurance brokerage. In addition to launching Mabel with her husband, Abhas Gupta, she advises other entrepreneurs against starting companies with their spouses. Shaily has a Sc.B with Honors in Biomedical Engineering from Brown University.
Melissa Hall
CEO
The Hall Insurance Group
Melissa D. Hall is a prominent thought leader in the Medicare sector and the voice of female agents. She began her insurance career in college and has since guided thousands through her successful YouTube channel and innovative courses, including the Medicare Masters Academy, which trains agents in Medicare sales within 10 days. Passionate about building community engagement and media presence, Melissa empowers agents to connect with the senior community. She is also the owner of Hall Insurance Group, where her motto is “Everyone Matters.”
Mike Hardle
Chief Revenue Officer
Agent Boost Marketing
Mike Hardle is the CRO and part owner of Agent Boost Marketing. Agent Boost is one of the largest independently operated FMOs in the Medicare and ACA space. Mike and his brother Dan (Agent Boost CEO), co-host the Agent Boost Podcast. A weekly podcast that functions as a behind the scenes tell all and talks in depth about industry trends and topics. Mike is an entrepreneur, adventurer, and fitness enthusiast. When Mike is not Running with the Bulls, swimming with sharks, or pushing himself physically, he is spending time coaching football or relaxing with his family!
Gaylan Hendricks
CEO
Senior Security Benefits
Gaylan is the founder and CEO of Senior Security Benefits, Inc. and Insurance Marketing Group. In the male-dominated health insurance industry, she pioneered her way to the top from her company’s inception in 2000 to sales of over $80 million in 2020. As she has risen in the industry, Gaylan’s philosophy has been to help others rather than compete against them. She shares her knowledge as a speaker at events such as 8% Nation, LeadsCon, Medicare Gurus Mastermind, and Ms. Medicare. Additionally, she launched Queen of the Bundle as her platform for coaching others in the industry individually, through podcasts, and on social media where she has gained 1400 followers. She conducts training in cross-selling insurance products with techniques she coined “30-60-90” and “Spouse in the House.” She has held her health and life insurance license since 1987 and serves on the advisory councils for Manhattan Life Insurance Company, Aetna, and Cigna.
Grant Hoffman
CEO
ConnectureDRX
Grant Hoffman is the CEO of ConnectureDRX, a software provider of innovative, compliant and trusted Medicare enrollment and drug transparency technologies for health plans and health insurance agencies. Grant leverages decades of healthcare software leadership experience to support a team that empowers seniors to make informed and confident coverage decisions while reinforcing the members’ relationships with their trusted plans and agents. Grant holds a BA and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and resides in Durham, NC with his wife and three children.
Chalen Jackson
Compliance Officer
McNerney Management Group
As a Key Accounts Specialist with Senior Marketing Specialists, Chalen works with top-performing agents and agencies to establish and execute strategic growth programs to help them reach the next level of their success. By working closely with agents to uncover market trends, highly specific opportunities, and a path for growth, he enhances partnerships through mutual triumphs. As Compliance Officer, he ensures that agents are in the know on compliance and regulatory changes as well as developing tools to help them remain effective in the current oversight environment. You can find Chalen’s work in national industry publications and as a sought-after speaker at events around the country, working to educate agents on how to grow their business no matter what regulatory hurdles may pop up. Chalen currently serves as the President of Missouri NABIP and on the National Medicare Advisory Group for NABIP. When he is not wading through regulatory jargon or helping agents find their path to success, you can find him hiking or fishing with his wife Julia and son Theodore in the woods and waters of Central Missouri.
Sachin Jain, MD
President & CEO
SCAN Group & SCAN Health Plan
Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA, is CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan, serving over 300,000 members across five states. Previously, he was President and CEO of CareMore and Aspire Health, serving 200,000 patients in 32 states. He has held leadership roles at Merck & Co., CMS, and CMMI. Dr. Jain graduated from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard Business School. He is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and serves on the boards of AHIP, Omada Health, Advantage Healthcare Services, and The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans.
James Jiang
CEO & Co-Founder
Spark Advisors
James Jiang is the CEO and cofounder of Spark, where he leads overall strategy and growth in support of Spark’s mission: to help every Medicare beneficiary take control of his health. James spends his time building deep partnerships with leading independent agencies, providing powerful technology and world-class service to reimagine the agent and client experience. Before Spark, James built value-based in-home care programs for high-need Medicare beneficiaries at Roster Health and worked as an institutional investor in high-growth companies.
George Kalogeropoulos
CEO
HealthSherpa
George Kalogeropoulos co-founded HealthSherpa in 2013 with the aim to help every American feel the comfort and security of having health coverage. With his leadership, HealthSherpa has become the largest and fastest growing marketplace for individual health plan coverage in the United States representing 55% of all active FFM enrollments and enrolling more than 8.5 million people in ACA health plans in 2024 to date. Prior to HealthSherpa, Kalogeropoulos founded OpsCost and RentMetrics and worked in trading and portfolio construction at Bridgewater Associates. He is a graduate of Yale University and a native of Athens, Greece.
Jeffrey Kee
Chief Compliance Officer, Multi-Carrier Solutions
CVS Health/Aetna
Jeff has over 20 years of knowledge and experiences working as an attorney in the ever-evolving space of Medicare compliance. He’s seen it all working at CMS, a PBM, a national Medicare plan and current an FMO. In his free time he loves RVing and playing tennis with his wife and 2 kids (in the NW suburbs of Chicago).
Dave Keller
President
INSXCloud
Dave Keller has over 35 years experience in the insurance industry. Keller is the president of INSXCloud, an Enhanced Direct Enrollment ACA platform that serves producers, agencies, carriers and affinity groups. INSXCloud has participated in the ACA every year since 2014. In addition to his role at INSXCloud, Keller also serves as the president of IHC Specialty Benefits, the insurance agency that supports INSXCloud users.
Patrick Kelly
CEO & Co-Founder
Signal Advisors
Patrick Kelly is the CEO and co-founder of Signal Advisors, where he leads the mission to empower independent financial advisors in helping every American achieve a secure retirement. With over 20 years in the financial industry, Patrick’s experience spans roles as an investment advisor, financial representative, and entrepreneur. In 2012, he founded his first company, RepPro, which he later sold to RetireUp in 2018, where he then served as EVP of Business Development. In 2020, Patrick launched Signal Advisors to transform the financial advising landscape. His leadership philosophy is grounded in relentless curiosity, a client-first mindset, and a commitment to constant improvement. Under his guidance, Signal Advisors is pioneering solutions that make financial advising more accessible, efficient, and impactful for advisors and their clients.
Danielle Kunkle-Roberts
Founding Partner
Boomer Benefits
Danielle is a founding partner at Boomer Benefits, a health insurance agency that helps baby boomers and seniors navigate Medicare in 49 states. She is the author of the best-selling book 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make, which has sold more than 50,000 copies. Named the 2019 Health Insurance Advisory Firm of the Year, her agency has more than 1M social media followers and over 20,000 five-star reviews online. She is a past president of the Fort Worth chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals and currently serves NABIP as the chair of the Medicare Advisory Working Group.
Greg Marion
SVP Health Products & Services
AARP Services Inc.
Greg Marion is Senior Vice President of Health Products and Services at AARP Services Incorporated (ASI). In this role, Greg is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of ASI's health products and services portfolio that represents more than 10 million individual consumer relationships across health insurance, healthcare delivery, and caregiving services. Greg brings a long track record of driving profitable growth to this role with more than 20 years of prior industry experience which includes most relevantly his senior leadership roles at USAA, where he built out the health products business as well as head of corporate strategy.
Blake McCoy
Executive Director Health
The Baldwin Group
Baldwin Risk Partners welcomed Blake McCoy to their team in August 2020 following their acquisition of his companies. As of 2023, Blake is the Executive Director, Health. With over 20 years of experience in the Medicare industry, Blake has managed every aspect of the business including building an FMO and a captive channel business. He believes that an appreciated and knowledgeable team can achieve great things together while having fun. Outside of work, Blake enjoys traveling with his family, exploring new cultures, taking his Jeep offroad, and spending time with their animals. Baldwin Risk Partners is the parent company of Guided Solutions, and is headquartered in Tampa, FL, with a sales hub in Charlotte and 20+ offices nationwide. BRP is an award-winning, entrepreneur-led, and inspired insurance distribution holding company delivering solutions that give our clients the peace of mind to pursue their purpose, passion, and dreams.
Dwane McFerrin
SVP, Medicare Solutions
Senior Market Sales
As Senior Vice President, Med Solutions, Dwane McFerrin, CLU®, CFP®, RHU®, CLTC®, LLIF, has helped position Senior Market Sales® (SMS) as a market leader selling Medicare Advantage and Part D in addition to Medicare Supplement. He is responsible for the strategic direction of the Medicare product line, carrier relationships and a team of marketing consultants who support sales in excess of 600,000 new business applications into Medicare-related products annually. Dwane has more than 30 years of experience in executive-level positions in the insurance industry. Prior to joining SMS, he was Vice President of Marketing at Mutual of Omaha and a Senior VP of Agency at Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. He has a strong background in the senior market, sales management, association and worksite marketing, client development and lead generation. In 2020 the Omaha Association of Health Underwriters (OAHU) selected Dwane its Underwriter of the Year Award recognizing distinguished service to the association and the industry. McFerrin served as Chair for seven years on NAHU’s Medicare Working Group, served a two-year term on the Omaha AHU Board of Directors and currently serves on NAHU’s mental health task force and prescription drug task force.
Robert McFillin
President
Medicare Choice Group
Robert is the Founder and President of Medicare Choice Group, an organization specializing in employer focused, Medicare education and transition services programs. With 20 years of experience across group health plans and government programs, Robert’s expertise in adding Medicare education to HR service offerings has given him the opportunity to work extensively with employer groups, group benefit brokers, wealth managers, associations and health plans nationally.
Sam Melamed
CEO
NCD
Sam Melamed is the infectiously positive CEO and Chief Insurance Nerd at NCD, building and distributing supplemental dental and vision insurance products for the Senior market. Sam is also the founder of Insurance Forums and an investor in Insuretech Connect, The Medicarians Conference and a number of healthtech and insuretech startups.
Ronnell Nolan
CEO
Health Agents For America (HAFA)
B. Ronnell Nolan, HIA, is a dynamic leader and advocate in the health insurance industry. As President/CEO of Health Agents for America, Inc. (HAFA) since 2012, she has spearheaded initiatives to empower health insurance agents nationwide. Additionally, Ronnell leads HAFA PAC Louisiana and HAFA PAC Federal, amplifying agents' voices in policymaking. With roles on prestigious boards like the CMS Trade Group and the Louisiana Department of Insurance Agent Advisory Board, Ronnell is at the forefront of shaping industry regulations. Recognized for her impact, she has received numerous accolades, including the "Most Influential Women in Employee Benefits" award. Ronnell's passion for effecting change drives her advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill and in State Government.
Tracy Nolan
SVP, Marketpoint
Humana
Tracy Nolan is a transformational, Fortune 50, senior executive and Board member with a proven track record of driving expansive growth and maximizing shareholder value across highly regulated industries. Experienced in leading billion-dollar P&Ls, Tracy excels at architecting multi-channel distribution strategy and has spearheaded several enterprise-wide digital and operational evolutions. Tracy is widely recognized in telecommunications and healthcare for her outsized growth outcomes and focus on consumer trust and engagement. Her expertise in risk management and operational effectiveness has set new standards across industries. Her strategic approach to succession planning has consistently strengthened organizational resilience. In her current role as Senior Vice President at Humana, Tracy leads MarketPoint – a distribution organization of over 4,500 sales and operations professionals. Through her bold, transformative approach and commitment to enhancing consumer experiences, Tracy’s leadership has further elevated Humana’s Medicare sales team, as an industry model of agility, operational excellence, and innovation.
Benjamin Pajak
CEO
HealthPlanOne
Ben Pajak is the CEO of HealthPlanOne, a tech-enabled platform for direct-to-consumer customer acquisition and lifecycle management focused on senior citizens' life, health, and wealth needs. Since joining the company in 2022, Ben’s emphasis on calculated growth, data-driven decision-making, and leadership development has helped the company grow to 2K+ licensed agents and into adjacent areas for growth. Today, the Company serves millions of clients annually and assists its carrier partners in acquiring, activating, engaging, and retaining healthcare consumers for life. Prior to leading HealthPlanOne, Ben led Willis Towers Watson’s individual marketplace efforts in the employer and direct-to-consumer spaces for over a decade. An experienced and widely respected healthcare insurance executive, he was integral in acquiring and leading several companies in the fast-growing senior health insurance segment. Ben lives in Ridgefield, CT, with his wife, two sons, and their dog.
Daniel Petkevich
CEO & Founder
MedicareVox
Daniel Petkevich is CEO of MedicareVox, a company building the AI licensed Medicare agent. MedicareVox was born from Dan’s experience launching Fair Square, a Medicare brokerage with 13,000 clients, 95 NPS, and 90% annual retention. Fair Square and MedicareVox have raised $19 million in funding from top Silicon Valley Investors, including YCombinator, Define Ventures, and Slow Ventures. Previously, Daniel started and exited a financial technology company and studied Physics at Yale University.
Chris Reuter
SVP Of Carrier Sales
UnitedHealthOne
Chris Reuter is Senior Vice President of Carrier Sales with UnitedHealthOne, the individual, family and distribution line of business within UnitedHealthcare. UnitedHealthcare is a part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), the world’s largest healthcare company, ranking number 5 on the Fortune 500. UnitedHealthcare is comprised of multiple lines of businesses which together serve one in eight Americans, making it the single largest organization dedicated to health and well-being in the United States. In 2022, UnitedHealthOne produced over $2 billion in annual premium, serving nearly 2.2M lives contributing to UnitedHealthcare’s success. Chris began his career in health insurance with UnitedHealthcare in 2005 as an Account Executive working with independent brokers contracted with UnitedHealthcare’s individual line of business Golden Rule Insurance Company. Chris quickly developed industry relationships and became passionate about UnitedHealthcare’s role in the individual health insurance space. His career progressed with several leadership roles, including Director of FMO Agency Sales and Director of Digital Marketing and ecommerce. In 2016, Chris was promoted to Vice President of Sales for UnitedHealthOne, which included
oversight over all UnitedHealthcare’s individual line “age pre-65” sales distribution channels including ecommerce, broker, and call center sales. In 2019, UnitedHealthOne expanded with multiple acquisitions, in which Chris was heavily involved. He continues to help shepherd this growth and supports other leaders within UnitedHealthOne in his current role as Senior
Vice President of Carrier Sales.
Sarah Richard
CEO & Founder
Vara
Sarah is Founder & CEO of Vara, the compliance copilot that changes the risk profile of senior living operations. Sarah is also Founder & CEO of AgeTech NYC, the community of 600+ NYC-based entrepreneurs, senior living operators, and investors using technology to make New York the best place to grow older.
Dennis Rinner
Director Of Strategic Accounts
GoldenCare
Dennis Rinner has over 35 years of experience and conducting over 2,500 workshops, with thousands trained. Has helped his company become recognized leaders in the Long-Term Care/Short-Term Care insurance market, with over one Billion in sales. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with an emphasis in Insurance from San Diego State. Dennis excels at communicating the importance of planning ahead for care to Medicare Specialists, Financial Advisors, Life and Annuity Professionals. His training provides agents with valuable tools to help support their sales success, taking the complex, making it simple, giving these professional, actionable strategies that work.
Roberto Rodriguez
Founder & General Partner
Sequential Ventures
Roberto Rodriguez is the Founder and General Partner of Sequential Ventures, a pre-seed venture firm investing in inclusive, socially-conscious healthcare innovation. Roberto has spent the majority of his career funding category-defining healthcare entrepreneurs, beginning with SVB in Palo Alto where he provided venture debt to over 50 venture-backed companies. Roberto also helped with the launch of L’Attitude Ventures, a $101M venture fund focused on backing U.S. Latino entrepreneurs. Roberto counts on extensive technical due diligence experience through his tenure at the $30M George Schultz Innovation Fund at the University of Chicago and at Health Innovation Capital, a pediatrics-focused healthcare firm.
Sean Ruggiero
Chief Distribution Officer
Brokers International
Sean A. Ruggiero currently serves as a Managing Partner at Integrity Marketing Group. Sean's focus is on helping consumers, agents and advisors with retirement readiness through the use of evolving FIAs. Sean’s expertise includes retirement income planning, wealth management, SaaS, insurance, credit, automotive, mortgage and finance verticals. Voted by Life Health Pro as one of “Top 20 Most Creative People in Insurance” for 2015. DIA award winner in 2016 Barcelona. Listed Top 100 InsurTech Startups by Digital Insurance Agenda 2016-2018. Marketing consultant for three of the top 60 insurance companies in the United States. Founder of SafeMoneySmart.org, a non-profit dedicated to the awareness of alternatives to the stock market in retirement. Author of the best-selling book, "7 Benefits of FIAs for Retirement."
Cory Schmidt
CTO & Co-Founder
AgencyBloc
Cory Schmidt is AgencyBloc's Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer. His passion for insurance technology can be traced back to his days at Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, where he was Team Leader of Marketing Systems. Around the same time, he co-founded Spinutech, a website and digital marketing agency. In 2008, he became a founding partner of AgencyBloc. In his role as the company's CTO, he works on strategic initiatives and leads the development team of AgencyBloc's Plus Suite, the #1 Recommended Insurance Industry Growth Platform that serves the health, senior, and benefits industries.
Andrew Schwab
CEO & Founder
Platform Government Strategies
Andrew Schwab is the Founder & CEO of Platform Government Strategies, a strategic government health policy, advocacy and messaging firm built to “platform” healthcare organizations inside our national health policy debate. His deep experience includes having spent the past two decades in and around national health policy and politics, first as a staffer in the United States Senate and New Jersey Legislature, and then as a Washington, DC government affairs leader at trade and member associations, nonprofits and public companies. Prior to starting his firm, Andrew was most recently VP & Head of Government Affairs at Oak Street Health.
Jason Allan Scott
Founder
XY Media
Jason Allan Scott is a multifaceted entrepreneur, event professional, and thought leader. As an award-winning figure in the events industry, he has successfully founded and sold businesses across three continents. Scott is the founder of XY Media, a company dedicated to fostering critical and unconventional thinking on crucial issues. A sought-after speaker, Scott has delivered presentations at over 210 conferences and events worldwide, speaking at Google, Oxford, and Coutts to major growth marketing conferences. Scott hosts The XuperYuman show, a weekly podcast that explores health optimization, longevity, and critical thinking. Living with Multiple Sclerosis has fueled his passion for human performance and innovative health solutions. His mission is to empower individuals to achieve peak physical and mental function, embodying his philosophy of being "XuperYuman" – surpassing human limitations to help others thrive in the modern world. You can learn more about Jason, invite him to speak at your next event or find out about his new book by visiting his website: https://www.jasonallanscott.uk.
Dirk Soenksen
CEO & Co-Founder
Ceresti Health
Dirk Soenksen is co-founder and CEO of Ceresti Health. Prior to co-founding Ceresti, Mr. Soenksen was founder and CEO of venture-backed Aperio, the recognized leader in digital pathology, which was acquired by Danaher in 2012. Mr. Soenksen also founded the Digital Pathology Association (DPA), a non-profit organization comprising major vendors and leading pathologists, with the goal of establishing best practices and increasing awareness of digital pathology. Dirk served as President of the DPA from its 2006 inception until 2012, and as a board member of the DPA through the end of 2014. He has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Bowdoin College, a graduate degree in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from Pepperdine University.
Melissa Sterling
President
Insurance Associates Agency
Melissa Sterling is President and Co-Owner of Insurance Associates, a family-owned independent health and life insurance agency established in Eau Claire Wisconsin in 1981. She leads a team of dedicated staff in providing exceptional client-centered service. Melissa began at Insurance Associates as an accounting intern in 2012 and has advanced to this position thanks to her visionary leadership, dedication, and commitment to continuous improvement. She has significantly improved the agency's efficiency through training and technological updates and has expanded their reach through regional expansion and innovative marketing strategies. She is passionate about helping seniors and establishing long-lasting relationships with their clients.
Jason Stevens
CEO
Stevens & Associates Agency
Jason Stevens is CEO of Stevens & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc. He was born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA. Jason has lived and breathed insurance since he was a child. “I have been a Medicare specialist since I was 3 feet tall,” he says. “growing up in the family business of insurance, it just becomes a part of your life.” Jason has been recognized as a leading national producer for multiple carriers and by organizations such as NABIP that have listed him a “Soaring Eagle” on the Leading Producers Round Table. Now as CEO, he has taken more of a role to grow the agency through innovation developing multistep automation to reduce the workload, allow scalability, and ease the pressure of AEP. Since his promotion to CEO, the company has gone from pen and paper to fully automated systems and Jason has ambitious plans to further strengthen the agency's workforce through innovation.
Dr. Rachel Taylor
Founder
UNBroken
Dr. Rachel Taylor is a renowned neuroscientist, researcher, and writer dedicated to transforming lives through the integration of modern science and ancient wisdom. With a PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, her work spans neuroscience, psychology, molecular biology, and longevity. Dr. Rachel is the founder of the UNBroken podcast, where she explores societal impacts on health and well-being. Her innovative approaches to resilience and emotional health have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant. Passionate about creating a kinder world, she combines authenticity, equity, and a touch of magic in her mission to help individuals thrive.
Sean Taylor
CEO
Healthcare.com
Sean Taylor is the CEO of HealthCare.com, a consumer platform serving millions of consumers annually, with a focus on delivering customized health insurance and ancillary products through its web properties and distribution partnerships, including specific solutions for the Senior Market. HealthCare.com's deep understanding of the consumer, combined with its advanced use of data science and AI, results in best-in-class matching and persistence, generating significant value for consumers and distributors alike. Prior to joining Healthcare.com, Sean founded Jaroop - a technology company acquired by Healthcare.com that specialized in optimizing and scaling insurance distribution. Jaroop's innovative solutions helped agencies and carriers streamline their operations.
Scott Truka
Chief Sales Officer
Brokers International
As Brokers International’s Chief Sales Officer, Scott Truka leads an experienced Sales Team with his passion for helping agency partners grow their business. Scott has spent his career building strong relationships in the fixed annuity and life insurance FMO space and is dedicated to developing agencies and their financial professionals. At Brokers International, Scott drives a best-in-class agency sales team leveraging industry-leading marketing, sales, and training programs, including case design strategies, and data driven solutions that bring agencies consistent value, new opportunities, and proven growth strategies. Scott continues to partner with health focused agencies seeking to expand their offerings into the retirement income planning marketplace using fixed annuities and life insurance strategies. Leveraging sales data and focusing efforts, Scott is leading the industry with his experience in how to successfully build an agency. When he’s not working, he enjoys golfing, hunting and spending time with his family.
Kristen Valdes
CEO & Founder
B.well Connected Health
Kristen Valdes, founder, and CEO of b.well Connected Health has dedicated her career to empowering consumers with the data and tools to take control of their health care journey. An award-winning leader and acknowledged visionary, Valdes has pioneered inventive solutions that are pushing the industry forward into the consumer-directed future of digital health. Prior to founding b.well in 2015, Valdes was an executive at UnitedHealthcare running Medicare Advantage plans across 12 states. Before that, she helped to build XLHealth, one of the pioneering Medicare Advantage plans for the chronically ill, which was acquired by UnitedHealthcare for $2.4 billion. Valdes is a board member of the CARIN Alliance—a non-partisan multi-stakeholder collaborative helping to enable consumers to access their health information with less friction—and serves as a mentor for women entrepreneurs as well as on several company boards as an Advisor.
Craig Villwock
Owner & Founder
TLC Insurance Group And Wealth
Craig Villwock has had a career in the insurance business since 1997 and is very experienced in sales and training on
individual, union, employer and group Medicare markets. Craig is a highly regarded and nationally recognized
Medicare and retirement planning specialist. Craig is the Co-Owner of TLC Insurance Group and Wealth, Inc., a national NMA/FMO for Medicare brokers. TLC Insurance Group is co-owned and managed by Craig and his twin brother, Chris. Craig has been awarded many top industry honors in his career and has helped grow TLC Insurance Group into one of the largest producing Medicare agencies in the country. Craig has become known as the innovator of “Mass Medicare Marketing”, which fills the un-serviced needs of many employers and provides unique Medicare sales and marketing opportunities to brokers. Because of this niche market experience, Craig has become a requested speaker for national employer and union conventions. Craig has helped TLC attain many exclusive contracts with national unions and employers to manage and service their retirees.
Bret Voith
Founder
Tenure Health
Bret is a healthcare entrepreneur committed to improving health outcomes for seniors, with a focus on improving payer-provider collaboration. As the founder of Tenure Health, Bret has led the creation of the first value-based Medicare Supplement plan, which is set to go-live in Texas in Q3 2023. Prior to starting Tenure Health, Bret most recently helped build Bright Health from pre-launch to serving over one million consumers, leading numerous business functions and overseeing more than twenty successful new market launches.
Jeremy Weiser
CEO
Nuvo Health
Jeremy Weiser is the Chief Executive Officer of Nuvo Health, which owns and operates the brands PlanFit, The Medicare Store, and The Medicare Hub. As a leader in the insurance industry for the past 10 years, he has developed a deep understanding of the industry and works tirelessly to educate others about their options and benefits. Under Jeremy’s leadership, Nuvo Health has helped over 60,000 clients, expanded into states such as New Mexico and Texas, and placed policies in all 50 states. The agency is recognized as the number one rated in Nevada, with over 3,500 five-star Google reviews.
Joe Welu
CEO & Founder
Total Expert
Joe Welu is the founder and CEO of Total Expert, the fintech software leader that launched the first customer experience platform purpose-built for modern financial institutions. Since 2012, Joe has led Total Expert’s vision, culture, and growth to more than 200 employees today. The company powers CRM, marketing, and customer engagement for more than 200 financial institutions—from leading community banks and credit unions to 15 of the top 25 U.S. banks and lenders. Total Expert’s growth has skyrocketed since its inception, being named the #1 CRM platform by STRATMOR Group and earning top spots on the Inc. 5000 and HousingWire Tech100.
Mark Williams
CEO & President
Brokers International
Mark Williams is the CEO of Brokers International and Integrity Managing Partner. Over his more than 25 years of financial services experience, Mark has been both a producing independent agent in the field and a home office leader consulting to agencies and field marketing organizations. Currently, Mark is focused on the future of the insurance industry, from the disruptions of InsurTech and robo-advisors to the changing demographics and needs of customers. He also is an avid mentor, helping financial professionals navigate the industry.
John Winner
CEO
Kizen
John is the CEO of Kizen, the first generative AI enterprise application builder. Kizen is on a mission to build technology that enables an increasingly fulfilling future for humanity. Recognized globally as a thought leader in AI/ML, leveraging data, and automation to drive better enterprise outcomes and experiences, John brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of technology and humanity. He has founded 6 companies and worked extensively in healthcare, insurance, and banking, shaping innovative solutions that transform industries. Before Kizen, John served as a management consultant for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth organizations, helping them navigate complex challenges and achieve lasting success.
Ty Wooldridge
President
Aetna Health & Life Lnsurance
Ty leads the CVS Health/Aetna Medicare Supplement and Ancillary businesses located in Franklin, Tennessee. Under his leadership, annual revenues have grown from less than $300 million in 2011 to over $3 billion today, placing Aetna among the top carriers in the space. Ty became President of Continental Life in August 2010 and led the sale of that business from Genworth Financial to Aetna in October 2011. Ty is a recovering actuary with 40 years of insurance experience. His most significant roles included Chief Actuarial positions for General Electric and its Genworth Financial spinoff for Long-Term Care insurance (2002-2005) and Insurance Product Pricing (2006-2010). Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at various times in Life Insurance valuation, Structured Settlement pricing, Annuity valuation, Cashflow Testing, and Mergers & Acquisitions for First Colony Life Insurance Company and General Electric (GE Capital). Over the years, Ty has been a frequent speaker in both the actuarial and distribution communities from the Medicare Supplement and Long-Term Care industries, including international forums in London, Madrid, Paris, and Beijing.
Daniel Wray
VP Of Brokerage Sales
Allstate Health Solutions
With a career spanning over 20 years uniquely focused on the individual health insurance market, I have built teams that have recruited in excess off 75,000 independent agents and generated well over $3billion dollars in Annualized Issued Premiums in individual major medical, short-term medical, fixed benefit medical and supplemental lines of business. Growing up in the UK I have a passion for figuring out the ‘perfect’ healthcare system. Alas, this journey continues..!
Max Zamkow
Managing Partner
Third Act Ventures
Max Zamkow is the Managing Partner of Third Act Ventures, an Agetech-specific venture firm where he invests in founders working to change the way we age. He also serves as the Editor-in-chief of Agetech News, which reports on fundings, exits, and opportunities in Agetech. With his focus on later life, Max is able to support and empower visionary entrepreneurs to accelerate the pace of innovation in aging. Max is also involved with Aging2.0, supporting their global network Agetech ecosystem.
Vivek Zaveri is the Founder & CEO at Mantra Digital, Meera.ai, and Legal Growth Marketing. With more than a decade of experience in lead generation, paid search, social media, and business — he built Venture Direct Worldwide's search division into a $12 million business in only 3 years and transformed XL Marketing's (now Zeta) higher education department into a $30 million lead generation business in half that time. His strong eye for innovation and his unwavering entrepreneurial spirit serve as the catalyst for his next big venture: Meera.ai — an AI-powered texting platform pioneering the next generation of sales automation.
