Speakers

IIAT, Director of Government Affairs

Regan Ellmer is IIAT's Director of Government Affairs. Prior to joining IIAT in 2021, Regan served six years as a staffer and was Chief of Staff for Representative Andrew Murr from 2015-2018. Most recently, he was the Government Affairs Specialist at the Texas Department of Insurance where he worked closely on matters dealing with insurance.

Blake Hastings
SVP Corporate Strategy & Chief Economist, SWBC

Blake Hasting is SVP for Corporate Strategy & Chief Economist at SWBC. Prior to joining SWBC, Hastings worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas for over 14 years. He served as the Senior Vice President and was instrumental in modernizing and enhancing the bank’s succession planning efforts, talent-acquisition approaches, leadership and organizational development programs, and much more. He developed and implemented a comprehensive outreach strategy with the business, economic development, and academic communities of Central–South Texas. He also established a new leadership program for the bank to enhance the development of future senior management prospects.

Kelly McDonald
McDonald Marketing

Kelly McDonald is a nationally recognized marketing expert, with deep specialization in consumer trends. She has worked with clients such as Toyota, Harley-Davidson, NASA, Sherwin-Williams, Chubb and Miller/Coors.

Kelly is the author of three bestselling books: "How to Work With & Lead People Not Like You", "Crafting the Customer Experience for People Not Like You" and “How to Market to People Not Like You”. She has been featured on CNBC, in BusinessWeek, on CNNMoney.com and on Sirius/XM Radio. Her company, McDonald Marketing, has twice been named one of the top advertising agencies in the U.S. by Advertising Age magazine.

President & Executive Director, IIAT

Marit is passionate about helping organizations grow, solve problems and thrive! She believes people are the true heart-beat of every company. Marit believes that it's a leader's responsibility to understand their employees' strengths and provide them the opportunity to engage and be part of the solution.

Jeff Wodicka, CIC
President of Business Development - Fournier Group
Program Director, National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

Jeff Wodicka is a licensed agent and broker in New York. During his forty years in the insurance industry, Jeff has served in functions ranging from company marketing underwriter, to agency office manager, agency key producer, agency sales manager, agency founder, chairman and CEO. Jeff currently serves as president of business development for The Fournier Group in Portland, OR. His years in the insurance industry makes him one of the few nationally recognized instructors, lecturers, and consultants with current "hands on" agency experience. Jeff has instructed for carriers and associations in nearly every state in the nation. In addition to his agency responsibilities, acts as National Program Director for The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, based in Austin, Texas. In this capacity, Jeff oversees the ongoing development of the faculty and curricula for The Dynamics Sales Training programs.