Schedule

8:30 a.m. - Noon	IIAT Board Meeting
1:00 p.m.	Registration Opens
2 - 4 p.m.	Coffee Service
3 - 4:15 p.m.	Welcome & Keynote: Project 55Workshop: Empowering Mental Health & Resilience in Your Agency Stress, burnout, and personal struggles are increasingly common in our industry—and often go unspoken. In this engaging, interactive workshop, the team from Project 55 will guide you through proven strategies to support your staff’s mental well-being, reduce stress across your agency, and improve team performance. You'll participate in real-world scenarios, practice tools for early intervention, and leave with a practical action plan you can put into place the moment you're back at the office. Speakers: Justin Goodwin CEO, Total CSR Brendan Corr Mental Health Advocate, Project55.org
8 - 10:30 p.m.	Texas Mutual Casino Night Sponsored by Texas Mutual

Nicole Malachowski Returns…

The first woman pilot on the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, combat veteran, and White House Fellow, Nicole knows what it takes to shatter expectations. She returns to the Joe Vincent stage with inspiring lessons on breaking barriers, adapting to change, and leading with courage.

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Prayer Breakfast

8:30 - 10 a.m.

General Session

Breaking Barriers: Conquering Self-Doubt and Cultural Paradigms

Everyone faces barriers, both personal and professional, that may appear to place limits on what’s possible. When people pursue only what is expected, accept cultural norms that hold them back, and view barriers that appear unsurmountable, their personal and professional lives become limited—scripted. A powerful trailblazer herself, Nicole Malachowski reminds audiences to not let others draw their boundaries, and to break tradition with grace and purpose. She inspires people to see obstacles and challenges as opportunities to grow—a chance to reach new levels of personal and professional excellence.

Nicole delivers actionable insights for pursuing dreams, making choices, and living an unscripted life.

✔️Define your own possibilities and overcome self-doubt
✔️Reevaluate traditions, paradigms, and overcome limitations
✔️Welcome challenges to the status quo
✔️Why having the courage to ask for help is key to, reaching your potential
✔️Acknowledge the work-life balance myth

Speakers_Nicole

Speaker:
Nicole Malachowski
Igniter/Veteran

10 - 10:30 a.m.

Networking Break

10:30 - Noon

Panel Discussion

Agency 2030: A Panel on What’s Changing, What’s Next, and Why It Matters

Join this fast-paced panel discussion with speakers who will be presenting at the conference as they share what’s changing, what’s coming, and how they’re breaking barriers to build the agencies of tomorrow. You'll also get a sneak peek at their upcoming sessions. Don't miss this chance to start the day with bold ideas and practical takeaways.

- Brandon Smith, EVP of Marketing & Communications, Glidewell
- Jason Sabo, Director of Agency Development, IIANC
- Ciara Gravier, Founder and CEO of The Bunker Insurance and Risk Management
- Casey Nelson, Director of Consulting, Catalyit

Facilitated by Marit Peters, President & Executive Director, IIAT

Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Headshot Photo Station

Stop by the photo booth to get a professional headshot.

1:30 - 4 p.m.

Catalyit Demo Lounge

1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Concurrent Educational Programming

Different: A different approach to business relationships and marketing

In an industry where flashy ads and cold outreach dominate the conversation, genuine business relationships can feel like a lost art. In this session, Brandon shares two real-world stories…one involving a youth sports sponsorship that delivered a 2100% ROI, and another that grew a local Facebook page by 350 followers in just 48 hours, leading to $58,000 in first-year revenue.

This isn’t your typical marketing playbook. It’s a different approach to business relationships…one rooted in creativity, connection, and community. Attendees will walk away with practical strategies to build authentic connections, boost local visibility, and generate high-value leads in ways that feel real (and actually work). If you're tired of playing it safe, it's time to think differently.

Speakers_Brandon

Speaker:
Brandon Smith
EVP of Marketing & Communications, Glidewell

Visibility = Opportunity. The Power of Thought Leadership

The insurance buyer has changed. They research, compare, and decide before they ever talk to you. That means your agency’s real advantage isn’t price—it’s perceived expertise. In this practical session, Ciara Gravier (CEO, The Bunker Insurance & Risk Management) breaks down her “Visibility = Opportunity” strategy on how to position yourself as an authority and a leader in your community. Less noise. More inbound. Better-fit clients.

Speakers_Ciara

Speaker:
Ciara Gravier
Founder and CEO, Bunker Insurance and Risk Management

Hook'Em: The Secret to Client Retention

In a world where sales and lead generation get most of the spotlight, client retention is too often overlooked. In this engaging session, Brandon shares how shifting that mindset transformed his business. By creating a dedicated retention specialist role, his team saw a major boost in client loyalty and cross-selling success. This session will equip you with practical tools to create a more balanced approach…one that values both winning new clients and keeping the ones you already have.

Speakers_Brandon

Speaker:
Brandon Smith
EVP of Marketing & Communications, Glidewell

Ethical Management: Breaking Barriers to Integrity

Approved for 1 CE hour

In today's volatile market, your agency's reputation is your most valuable asset—and your greatest vulnerability. This high-impact session is designed for agency owners ready to break down barriers to integrity by providing a practical, repeatable three-question framework to confidently navigate the toughest dilemmas. Invest an hour to secure your agency's future, turn ethical leadership into your long-term competitive advantage.

Speakers_Tai

Speaker:
Tai Jenkins Williams, M.Ed, MS, ITP, MCCT
Senior Customer Engagement Training Consultant, Texas Mutual Insurance

7:30 - 8: 30 a.m.	Breakfast
8: 30 - 9:30 a.m.	Agency Compensation 360: Insights and Trends Shaping the Future of Independent Agencies How does your agency stack up? Join IIAT Executive Director Marit Peters as she reveals key findings from the Agency Compensation 360 Study, comparing compensation and benefits data from Texas agencies with results nationwide. Discover emerging trends in pay, benefits, and staffing, and learn how agencies are adapting their compensation strategies to attract and retain top talent in today’s competitive market. Whether you’re benchmarking your agency or planning for the future, this session will give you valuable insights to guide smarter business decision.
9:30 - 9:45 a.m.	Networking Break
9:45 - 11 a.m.	The Economic and Geopolitical Outlook for 2026 Following a transformative 2025, what trends will shape the year ahead? Global trade patterns continue to shift amid tariff realignments and evolving supply chains, while technological innovation, particularly in AI and robotics, remains a catalyst for growth and disruption across industries. Demographic shifts and an aging population add structural challenges alongside fiscal and labor market pressures. This session explores the forces likely to influence economics and geopolitics in 2026. Speaker: Michael Wolf Principal US Economist \| Global Insights Center, The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc.

2:30 - 3 p.m.	Networking Break
2:30 - 3 p.m.	Catalyit Solution Provider Tables
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.	Headshot Photo Station Stop by the photo booth to get a professional headshot.
3- 4 p.m.	Concurrent Educational Programming

Tentative

Schedule at a Glance

Sunday, January 25, 2026

IIAT Board Meeting

Registration Opens