Meet our speakers

Vanessa is Lead Investigator at Science of People. She is the bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, translated into 16 languages, and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. More than 60 million people watch her engaging YouTube tutorials and TEDx Talk.

Vanessa shares tangible skills to improve interpersonal communication and leadership, including her insights on how people work. She’s developed a science-based framework for understanding different personalities to improve our EQ and help us communicate with colleagues, clients, and customers.

Vanessa works with entrepreneurs, growing businesses, and trillion-dollar companies; and has been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, USA Today, The Today Show, and many more.

Millions visit her website every month for her methods turning “soft skills” into actionable, masterable frameworks that can be applied in daily life. Hundreds of thousands of students have taken her communication courses on Udemy, CreativeLive, LinkedIn, and her flagship course People School.

Vanessa is renowned for teaching science-backed people skills to audiences around the world including SxSW, MIT, and CES.  Her groundbreaking and engaging workshops and courses teach individuals how to succeed in business and life by understanding the hidden dynamics of people.

Speaking across the globe, Byron brings great enthusiasm and talent for deciphering our common destiny and unlocking business opportunities within it.

As a successful entrepreneur and award-winning futurist, Byron employs his perspective as a historian, futurist, and technologist to illuminate how the technology of today can solve some of our most daunting global challenges.

As a futurist, he understands the unprecedented technological change upon us and explores the dramatic transformation of society it will bring. As a technologist and entrepreneur, he knows how to manage change and inspire innovation, while still meeting the immediate obligations and realities of operating a business.

Byron speaks around world to both technical and non-technical audiences, and his keynotes and appearances include SXSW and TEDxAustin, Fortune500 companies (Google, Dell, FedEx, Nvidia, Johnson & Johnson), universities (Rice University of Texas, Queen’s University, TWU) and futurist conferences (TimeMachine, PICNIC Festival in Amsterdam, Wolfram Data Summit, and the IEEE Conference) among others.

Byron has enjoyed a wide range of success over 30 years, including two NASDAQ IPOs as well as the sale of three companies he founded. He has written six books that have been translated into a dozen languages. A highly sought-after keynote speaker, enlightening attendees across nations, Byron is an in-demand forward thinker in his field.

Matt Banaszynski has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of Wisconsin since 2010. He speaks nationally on a variety of topics from technology to politics or latest industry trends impacting the independent insurance agency channel. In addition, Matt is the Co-Founder and Treasurer of an insurance technology consulting firm, Catalyit. He also serves on the Executive Committee as the President-Elect for the Independent Agent Association Executives which is the governing body for IIABA state association executives across the US. He is on the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America National Government Affairs Committee and serves on the Advisory Board for Marquette University’s Risk Management and Insurance Program.

Previously, Matt served on the Wisconsin Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy, Wisconsin’s Commissioner of Insurance’s Property and Casualty Advisory Council, and as an Advisory Board Member for UW-Madison’s Center for Professional and Executive Development and finally as an Advisory Board Member for UW-Oshkosh's Center for Insurance and Risk Management. He has also served on various IIABA boards and Congressional Advisory Committees as well.

In 2015 and 2017, Insurance Business America Magazine recognized Matt as one of 40 Young Guns, representing the "Best and Brightest in the insurance industry.... set to lead the industry for decades to come who are under 40." In 2016, Insurance Business America Magazine again recognized Matt, but this time as one of the "HOT 100" which 'represents the best of the best the insurance industry has to offer and are true thought leaders and influencers in our industry'.

In 2017, Matt was presented with the Young Gun of the Year Award. This national accolade goes to the (one) industry player who has excelled at pushing the envelope with innovation and growth, garnering industry’s attention and the respect of peers who is under the age of 40. In 2018, Matt was again named to the Hot 100!

Andrew Cates is the owner of Cates Legal Group PLLC where he provides legal guidance to candidates, political action committees and nonprofits in local, state, and federal legislative & campaign law. He is the author of Texas Ethics Laws Annotated, the first and only complete legal annotation of campaign finance and lobby laws in Texas, now in the 8th edition. Cates is one of only 15 attorneys in the United States with a legal certification in Legislative & Campaign Law, and he serves as Founder & CEO of Sine Die Solutions, a new software platform that transforms the advocacy and civic engagement process for individuals and political organizations alike.

Cates previously served as General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs for the Texas Nurses Association, where he spent three legislative sessions leading advocacy efforts to secure over $25 million in state funding to end the nurse shortage. Prior to that role, he served as legislative attorney for the Texas Association of REALTORS® as well as lead attorney for the Texas Association of REALTORS® Political Action Committee, the largest PAC in Texas.

In the years leading up to this practice, Andrew spent three years at the Texas Capitol working for various state representatives and clerking the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, lobbied for solar energy and healthcare clients, and worked in various areas of the law including mergers & acquisitions, healthcare, criminal prosecution, and criminal defense.

Cates is a Founding Member and Board Member for the State Bar of Texas Legislative & Campaign Law Section, where he spearheaded the petition to create the nation’s first legal specialization in Legislative & Campaign Law. Andrew received his B.A. in International Politics from Trinity University and his J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law in 2007. He currently lives in South Austin with his wife Nicole and son Dylan.

Margeaux Giles, CEO of Irys Insurtech, brings over 15 years of executive experience in operations and digital transformation within the insurance and finance industries. Recognized globally for her leadership and innovation, Margeaux has been named Insurtech Woman CEO of the Year, Insurtech Influencer of the Year (Global Insurtech Awards), and NYC Fintech Women Inspiring Founder of 2024. She is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council and a regular contributor to Forbes.com. Additional accolades include being an Insurance Business America Elite Woman Winner, Insurtech Hartford Making Waves Winner, and UCONN Fintech Masters Program Advisory Board Member.

Driven by a passion for modernizing the insurance industry with cutting-edge technology, Margeaux is equally committed to advancing opportunities for women in the field. She is a founding member of InsureWomen and InsureEquality, as well as the Florida Network Chair of the Association of Professional Insurance Women. In her latest leadership role, she serves as Chair of the Insurance Agency Owners Alliance Tech Council, where she champions innovation and transformation in the independent agency sector.

Margeaux’s dedication to bridging the gap between technology and human connection has positioned her as a trailblazer, redefining what’s possible in insurance distribution while fostering equity and inclusion across the industry.

Aubie is known throughout both the association world and the insurance industry for his bold visions, creative approaches to problem solving and a constant desire for growth and evolution. He is the founder of 101 Weston Labs, the only insurtech accelerator built specifically to support the independent agency distribution channel.
Aubie takes great pride in the fact that for four-consecutive years, IIANC has consistently been ranked as a top employer in North Carolina, bringing home the award as the #1 Ranked Employer in North Carolina for mid-sized businesses in 2023. IIANC has an office culture and employee engagement score ranked in the top 1% of US employers.  

As a result of his vision and leadership skills, Aubie has served on numerous Boards in both the association and insurance industries. As a lifelong learner, he is constantly challenging himself and any organization that he is affiliated with to “get better”! He recently challenged himself and completed a course at MIT called Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy Program.
During his free time, Aubie loves spending time with his family; smoking meats; sipping bourbon; listening to live music; attending sporting events and visiting craft beer breweries. Aubie is a graduate of the University of Georgia and a huge Bulldog fan (and season ticket holder). Go Dawgs! 

Patrick McBride is a "future-thinker" in the independent insurance agency and tech space, blending a deep understanding of technology, automation, and AI with practical experience as the owner of The McBride Agency and co-founder of TechMarketer. He’s passionate about helping agencies grow smarter, not harder, Patrick focuses on creating efficiency and flexibility without losing the personal touch clients value.

A former Marine, husband, and father of four, Patrick brings a unique mix of discipline and innovation to his work. Whether he’s speaking about modernizing workplaces, removing friction from customer experiences, or exploring new tech solutions, Patrick’s insights are rooted in real-world experience and a forward-thinking perspective.

Angela Ford is the director of continuous improvement for the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT), the nation’s largest state association of Trusted Choice® independent insurance agencies. Angela plays a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency and risk mitigation for IIAT and Trusted Choice® independent insurance agencies.

Throughout her 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, Angela has showcased a relentless dedication to fostering technological advancements and refining business processes within the insurance sector. In her current position at IIAT, Angela leverages her expertise to offer strategic consultations to independent agents, empowering them to optimize critical workflows, proactively address E&O risks, and elevate their overall operational strategies.

Cari Senefsky is the Director of Professional Liability at the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT). Joining the team in 2018, Cari brought with her a background in Management Lines placement and program development for insurance agents, brokers, managing general agencies, wholesalers, networks and aggregators. She also serves on the Professional Liability Committee for the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America; advocating for competitive coverage enhancements and benefits for Big I Members. She serves as a staff liaison for the Large Agency Council at the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas and understands that no two agencies are the same.

Cari enjoys managing and working alongside one of the strongest E&O Team’s in the country. She is passionate about helping agents protect their business through facilitating Risk Management courses and assisting with insurance placement. She is a strong proponent of continuous improvement, streamlining process and maximizing results.

When not assisting agents, you will most likely find her hiking a trail somewhere with her husband, Ken and terrier, Pixie. She enjoys exploring new places and a smooth bourbon.