2022 Speakers
2023 Speakers Bios Coming Soon!
Ethan Allen, JD
Director – Business Development,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Following his graduation from Rutgers in April 2004, Ethan Allen entered the private practice of law at Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A., in Phoenix, AZ. In July of 2012, Ethan joined Artex Risk Solutions, Inc., first as a Regional Director, then as a VP – Business Development, North America. In February 2020, Ethan joined GPW and Associates, Inc. as Director – Business Development. His focus since leaving the practice of law has been to develop business strategies and solutions for potential clients in the captive insurance industry.
Jimmy Atkinson
VP, Executive Leader & President
AUL Corporation at Protective Asset Protection
As an industry leader at AUL Corporation, Jimmy Atkinson brings innovative solutions in a rapidly changing marketplace to the business of providing Vehicle Service Contracts, Warranty Administration, Reinsurance, and consulting to dealers, independent agents, and financial institutions in all 50 states. Under his leadership, AUL Corp. has grown to administer more than 3 Million contracts, paid over $1 Billion in claims to date, and has nearly 150 employees. AUL Corp. also received nine Dealer’s Choice Awards and has been awarded one of the North Bay’s Best Places to Work for the last eight consecutive years. A respected industry expert, Jimmy has been a keynote speaker at the Agent Summit, as well as a speaker at eight National Auto Dealers Association Conventions, the national F&I Conference, RV Dealers International Convention, the American Truck Dealers Conference, among other state conventions and professional groups. Jimmy began his career at AUL Corp. when he was brought on as COO. Before that, he led the Vehicle Service Contract business for Assurant Solutions, one of the largest underwriters in the nation.
Joshua Aylesworth, CFP
First Vice President - Investments,
Raymond James & Associates
Josh Aylesworth specializes in wealth management, investment planning and financial planning for corporate executives, members of the automotive industry and multigenerational families. He has more than 23 years of experience in the financial services industry and is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Josh began his career in 1998 as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. In 2008, he moved to Wachovia Securities (now Wells Fargo Advisors) where he first began working with Robert Burghart in the reinsurance company investment management and consulting arena. In 2015, Josh co-founded Cornerstone Financial Consulting of Raymond James. Josh earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Arizona State University and lives in Scottsdale, AZ. He is a board member with the Mission2Alpha foundation and supports the Marine Raider Foundation, organizations that help injured and fallen military members and their families.
Mark Baran, CPA, JD, ACI
Director - Tax Research,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Mark Baran began his career in public accounting by providing tax and accounting services to small businesses and medical practices in Northeast Ohio. His career continued at the accounting firm Coopers & Lybrand, which merged into PricewaterhouseCoopers, where Mark was promoted to Tax Manager and accepted to law school. After law school, Mark practiced civil trial law in state and federal courts throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania. As an Arizona native, he returned and subsequently joined GPW and Associates, Inc. in 2019 to provide tax and business consulting services. Fields of specialization include business consulting, State and Local Tax Audit representation, Internal Revenue Service audit representation, negotiations, controlled groups, trust ownership, Controlled Foreign Corporations (CFC), Non-Controlled Foreign Corporations (NCFC), Subchapter L insurance company taxation, and financial statement preparation.
Allan Barnes
Tribal Domicile Commissioner,
Delaware Tribe of Indians
Allan R. Barnes is the Tribal Domicile Commissioner for the Delaware Tribe of Indians. Acting in a regulatory capacity, he and the staff of Tribal Support Services provide the F&I Industry with a streamlined and efficient approach for the formation of Allied Reinsurance Companies (ARCs) that is competitive throughout the United States and offshore. Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Allan served the Tribe in an administrative/coordinator capacity for several departments since 2013, ultimately overseeing daily operations as Tribal Operations Manager. Before, becoming a Tribal employee, he was an Independent Property & Casualty Insurance Agent for 22 years. He attended and received his initial insurance accreditation from the Commercial Union Assurance Companies in Boston, MA. Allan is a Delaware Tribe of Indians tribal member.
George Belokas, FCAS, MAAA
Executive Vice President,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
In October 2006, George Belokas joined GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA) as an Actuarial Analyst. He was promoted to Actuary in 2010 following his completion of the exams required for Fellowship in the Casualty Actuarial Society. In 2017, he was again promoted to Vice President of GPWA. George’s responsibilities include reserving and pricing, with a focus in commercial lines, reinsurance and captive insurance. George’s fields of experience include workers compensation, property, general liability, medical malpractice and alternative Property & Casualty insurance risks. He is also experienced in various Finance and Insurance products including vehicle service contracts, guaranteed asset protection and tire and wheel.
Rae Brown, CPA, ACI
Assistant Vice President - Accounting and Tax Compliance,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Rae Brown joined GPWA in 2017, is a CPA and has achieved the Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) designation from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ICCIE). Her fields of expertise include captive insurance design, implementation and management, 831(b) captives, insurance company taxation and statement preparation. Rae is the former President of the Arizona Captive Insurance Association.
Matt Campbell, CPA
Manager - Client Services,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Matt Campbell joined GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA) in December 2013 to apply his accounting and management skills in the captive insurance industry. He began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the audit practice specializing in mid-size companies in various industries.
As a Manager with GPWA, Matt works with clients in forming captives and provides ongoing accounting, management, and tax support to clients.
Adrian Corr
Partner,
Miller Simons O'Sullivan
After obtaining his legal education in London, Adrian was admitted as a solicitor where he practiced at a well-known city firm, until he moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands in 1993 to work for Miller Simons O’Sullivan. In 1999, he became a partner of that firm, and now heads up the firm’s corporate department. He is also a director of its associated licensed trust company/corporate service provider, M&S Trust Company Limited. His practice includes all aspects of corporate and commercial law of which a significant amount involves his international captive insurance practice, with specific expertise in respect of all corporate and regulatory matters involving PORC’s.
Robert C. Davis III
Partner,
FORVIS LLP
A Partner in the FORVIS LLP Memphis office, Robert Davis brings more than 30 years of public accounting experience to his clients. He also gained valuable experience in the car business by spending countless hours in his father's Lincoln-Mercury dealership when he was a child. He now applies all of this experience to serve his clients. Currently, Robert serves dealership clients in the areas of accounting, audit, tax, and management advisory services. He is heavily involved in buy/sell agreements, reinsurance advisory services and litigation support services. Dealers around the country recognize Robert for his operational knowledge of automobile dealerships and the impact his Strategic Assessments have had on dealerships.
Bryan Dobson
Director - Business Development,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
In January 2017 Bryan Dobson joined GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA) as a Consultant, Management Services. His professional career of 20 years in the insurance industry includes captive management, underwriting, business development and product development. Prior to joining GPWA his most recent position was the management role of Controlled/Non-Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC/NCFC) reinsurance programs.
Jeremy Elsberry, CPA
Director - Client Relations,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Jeremy Elsberry began his careers in public accounting focused on personal and corporate taxation. In 2012 he joined GPW & Associates, Inc. (GWPA), bringing with him years of management experience.
With over 8 years of experience with produced affiliated reinsurance companies and captive insurance, his fields of expertise include insurance company accounting, captive insurance management, regulatory filings, and taxation and tax planning for insurance companies.
Ryan Hartman, FCAS, MAAA
Senior Consulting Actuary,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Ryan Hartman began his career in 2002 with GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA) where he has provided actuarial services to insurance companies, risk retention groups, captives, and administrators/ obligors specializing in extended vehicle service contracts, guaranteed asset protection (GAP), and other ancillary products in the Finance and Insurance (F&I) industry. Ryan’s experience includes: reserving and pricing analysis, earnings curve development, Statements of Actuarial Opinion for statutory insurance companies, proforma modeling, profitability and credit risk analysis under various F&I producer participation structures (CFC, NCFC, dealer obligor, dealer owned warranty company, retro profit sharing), and actuarial support for financial audits, regulatory exams, and acquisition due diligence. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Arizona State University, is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS), and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (AAA). He has also served on the CAS Committee on Professionalism Education and the AAA Committee on Professional Responsibility.
David Kaseff, CPA, JD, CGMA
Partner,
MarksNelson LLC
As a CPA and attorney, David Kaseff brings both accounting and legal experience to the areas of taxation, producer-owned insurance, captive insurance and alternative risk financing. He has worked with Fortune 500 and large privately held companies. He has been engaged by clients such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Assurant, Berkshire Hathaway and American Century Investments to provide advice and services with regard to service contract and risk management issues. He also provides accounting, tax and audit services to both small and large automobile dealer groups. David joined MarksNelson in 2002 after his tenure at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he worked on the national captive insurance team and worked as an insurance specialist. As part of the national team, he assisted with the technical tax, business and implementation issues that arise during the establishment of a captive insurance company.
Tom Keepers
Executive Director,
GAP Alliance, Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association (MVPPA) & Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC)
Tom Keepers is accountable for the services delivered to the trade association memberships, to include effectively advocating and monitoring the environment at the federal and state levels. The trade associations advance their members’ agenda by assuring viable markets for the products that balance the interests of providers and consumers alike. Prior to this role, Tom successfully led the Consumer Credit Industry Association for almost seven years and spent more than two decades in industry successfully leading almost every facet of the member product suite. Tom holds a BA in Mathematics and an MBA, and earned the PMP, CLU and Series 7 designations.
Brandon Keim, CPA, JD, LL.M
Senior Partner,
Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP
A Certified Tax Law Specialist, CPA and senior partner in the firm, Brandon Keim represents clients in tax matters before all taxing authorities. Brandon joined Frazer Ryan after serving as a senior trial attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. While at the IRS, Brandon served on the IRS trial team litigating Avrahami v. Commissioner, the first Section 831(b) captive insurance case before the U.S. Tax Court, and he received the Chief Counsel National Award for Superior Achievement in Outstanding Litigation for his efforts. While at the IRS, Brandon oversaw and advised IRS attorneys and revenue agents auditing captive insurance transactions nationwide. In private practice, Brandon represents captive managers and captive owners in Section 831(b) captive insurance transactions along with complex corporate, partnership, collection, and estate and gift tax matters; employment tax; property tax; international tax matters, including FBAR penalties; abusive transactions; fraud; and worker classification. Most recently, in 2021, Brandon helped obtained the first full IRS concession of a Section 831(b) captive insurance transaction in Puglisi v. Commissioner.
John Kirke
President,
BevCap Management, LLC, Healthcare Division
John Kirke is President of BevCap Management’s healthcare division. John brings over 25 years of employee benefit consulting, specifically healthcare self-insurance and captive expertise, to its client base. An active member of the healthcare and insurance industry, John’s career experience ranges from sales at the largest healthcare insurance company to employee benefits brokerage leadership at one of the largest independent retail insurance brokers in the US. John’s industry advocacy includes several industry leadership positions at the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) and is a proud member of the Health Rosetta advisory group.
Joseph Kirsits, FCAS, MAAA
President,
JK Actuarial Consulting
Joseph Kirsits founded JK Actuarial Consulting in 2021, a firm that supports an insure-tech company as well as the insurance companies underwriting their auto loan default program. Joe has over 25 of experience including various positions in the property and casualty insurance industry. He began his career at VASA North Atlantic Insurance Company where responsibilities included reserving, competitive pricing analysis and annual statement preparation. In 1997, he joined CNA Insurance Company and worked in various pricing positions within standard commercial lines as well as taking on the western regional actuary role. Most recently, Joe was Senior Vice President leading the Casualty Practice of GPW and Associates, where he worked from 2004 through 2020. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Indiana University, is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS), and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (AAA).
Guy Koenig
President,
GSFSGroup
Guy Koenig serves as the President of GSFSGroup, an award-winning insurance company and administrator of a comprehensive portfolio of F&I products and profit participation structures in the automotive industry. The consortium of companies, located in Houston, Texas, and part of the Friedkin Group, has been in business for over 40 years. During his career, Guy has served in a variety of executive roles most recently as President of CareGard Warranty Services, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Koenig served as Chief Strategic Officer for AMT Warranty Corporation, a subsidiary of AmTrust Financial Services, and as Director of Business Development & Operations for General Fidelity Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Bank of America. Guy has over 20 years’ experience with insurance and extended warranties with expertise in executive leadership, business development, account management, compliance, reinsurance, and operations. He has a B.S.B.A. in Corporate Finance and a Juris Doctorate from Drake University and remains licensed to practice law in Iowa.
Amanda Lubking, FCAS, MAAA
Senior Vice President, Client Services - Actuarial,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Amanda Lubking joined GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA) in 2016 and has over 18 years of actuarial experience in the property and casualty insurance industry. In 2020 Amanda was promoted to Vice President at GPWA, and she oversees all areas of the Actuarial Practice. Amanda is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, holds a Master of Applied Statistics degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Puget Sound. Fields of expertise include: Finance and Insurance (F&I) products including vehicle service contracts, guaranteed asset protection, tire and wheel and other ancillary programs, generalized linear models, commercial general liability, commercial auto, medical and non-medical professional lines and workers’ compensation.
Aaron Lunt, CPCU, ARe
Shareholder,
Meenan P.A.
Aaron Lunt is an Insurance Regulatory & Government Relations Consultant for Meenan P.A. Prior to joining Meenan P.A, Aaron served as General Counsel for American Auto Guardian, LLC, a third-party administrator for automotive service contracts, GAP waivers and related protection products, overseeing all legal aspects of the organization including form filings, company licensing, regulatory guidance & counsel, employment matters and a host of other areas. Aaron has served in varying senior legal, government relations and regulatory roles at several companies including CNA, Assurant, The Warranty Group and Zurich. Aaron’s reputation is focused on identifying business-friendly compliant solutions to support profitable growth. Aaron is an Illinois-licensed attorney and holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance designations.
Robert McDorman
Founder & General Manager,
Auto Claim Specialists
Robert is a recognized Public Insurance Adjuster and Certified Vehicle Value Expert specializing in motor vehicle-related insurance claim resolution. As the founder and general manager of Auto Claim Specialists, a nationwide Public Insurance Adjuster Agency, Robert specializes in providing automotive-related claim liquidation techniques, strategies, and motor vehicle valuation services to all parties, including auto owners, body shops, GAP administrators, banks and other finance companies, auto dealers, repair facilities, towing and storage operations, legal professionals, governmental agencies and others. The firm’s steady and dogged success in the face of significant obstruction and opposition from the insurance carriers can be attributed to Robert’s 40-plus years of automotive industry knowledge, practical hands-on experience, and an innate and passionate desire to help those being wronged. Robert holds multiple certifications, including licensure by the Texas Department of Insurance as a Public Insurance Adjuster.
Ian Osler, CPA
Manager - Insurance Tax,
MarksNelson LLC
Ian Osler joined MarksNelson LLC in August 2021 as a manager in the insurance niche. He began his career in 2011 with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) serving clients primarily in the financial services and insurance industries. Ian has experience working with large corporations providing tax provision (GAAP and SSAP 101), tax compliance, and tax consulting services. While at PwC Ian was involved in both small and large M&A transactions and corporate reorganizations. As a manager with MarksNelson, Ian works with traditional insurance companies and within the F&I space to assist clients with all aspects of tax structuring and tax compliance.
Gregory Petrowski, CPA, ACI
Senior Vice President,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Gregory Petrowski is Senior Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer of GPW and Associates, Inc. (GPWA), an actuarial and consulting firm founded in 1998. He has over 30 years of technical and practical experience in the PORC and captive industries and lists as his clients a significant number of major insurance companies, national banks and automobile dealers/dealer groups. He has achieved the Associate in Captive Insurance designation from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ICCIE). Fields of expertise include regulatory filings, accounting, taxation and tax planning for insurance companies, reinsurance treaty review and negotiation, profitability analysis of blocks of business, financial projections for both statutory and GAAP accounting and non-insurance accounting and tax matters.
Jason Rasti
Executive Vice President,
The LDS Group
Jason Rasti serves as Executive Vice President of Louisiana Dealer Services Insurance Inc. (The LDS Group & The Versant Group) and its subsidiaries. The LDS Group consists of six companies including Loss Deficiency Surety Insurance Company, Inc. (a Gap Insurance company formed in 1996). The Versant Group includes four companies including its own F&I Administration company and its wholly-owned Casualty Insurance company. Jason has over 26 years of Automotive Industry Experience and has worked in the F&I Administration side for 16 years. Jason specializes in Business Development, Account Management, Training, Compliance, Operations and Reinsurance Programs.
Andy Seger
Chief Legal Officer,
Portfolio
Andy Seger is the Chief Legal Officer at Portfolio (including its subsidiary NAE/NWAN), a leading F&I product provider, administrator, and reinsurance provider. Andy leads the legal, compliance, and M&A functions for the company. Additionally, he focuses on issues related to insurance and reinsurance for the company’s agency and dealership clients. Before entering the F&I industry in 2013 as General Counsel to NAE/NWAN, Andy spent two years at a medical device manufacturer and two years at a law firm advising insurance companies on coverage and litigation matters. Andy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Wright State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Florida.
Phyllis Simon, Esq.
Senior Counsel,
The Mitzel Group, LLP
Phyllis Simon has over 25 years of experience in counseling businesses and individuals regarding business transactions and tax. She began her career as a tax specialist in a large certified public accounting firm and later worked for over 13 years as in-house tax counsel for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company. While working in a boutique tax controversy law firm she represented small and medium sized businesses and individuals. As a tax controversy attorney, Phyllis resolved clients’ tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the California Franchise Tax Board, the California State Board of Equalization (SBE), and local tax authorities. Phyllis uses her extensive tax knowledge in her commercial business practice. In addition to assisting clients with business formations, contract drafting and negotiation, dispute resolution, and representation before regulatory agencies, she helps auto F&I administrators with planning, tax audits and resolution of Section 953(d) election issues.
Benjamin Steele, ACI
Manager - Client Services,
GPW and Associates, Inc.
Benjamin Steele began his career in 2016 when he joined GPW and Associates, Inc. (GWPA) where he has provided management services to Controlled Foreign Corporations (CFC), Non-Controlled Foreign Corporations (NCFC), and Dealer Owned Warranty Companies (DOWC). With over six years of experience working with the Producer Owned Reinsurance Company (PORC) and captive insurance industries, his fields of expertise include Statutory, GAAP, and IFRS accounting, taxation, management, and compliance. He has achieved the Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) designation from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ICCIE).
Niguel Street
Managing Director,
TCI Financial Services Commission
Niguel Streete is the Managing Director of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Financial Services Commission, a position he has held since February 2016. Prior to joining the Commission, Niguel held several executive positions in financial regulation in the region, including Deputy Executive Director of the Grenada Authority for the Regulation of Financial Institutions, Executive Director of the Anguilla Financial Services Commission, Director of Bank Supervision and Advisor in the Governor’s Office at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and Secretary of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission. He also served as Chairman of the Anguilla Money Laundering Reporting Authority and Deputy Chairman of the Anguilla CFATF Mutual Evaluation Steering Committee. Niguel has over 26 years’ experience regulating banks and other lending institutions, credit unions, insurance business, securities markets, and corporate service providers against prudential, money laundering, and terrorist financing risks. His experience also includes the resolution of distressed institutions.
Brian Trymbiski
First Vice President - Investments,
Great Oak Investment Management of Raymond James
At Great Oak Investment Management of Raymond James, Brian Trymbiski manages customized fixed income and equity portfolios for Foundations, Pensions, Insurance, Reinsurance and high net worth clients. He actively manages taxable and tax-efficient fixed-income portfolios tailored to each client’s needs. His fixed income portfolios seek to provide liquidity and risk-adjusted returns with consistent income. Each portfolio has a focus on diversification, maturity while providing detailed individual credit analysis; he focuses on creating value by his comprehensive yield curve analysis. Brian also helps oversee the equity portfolio where his role is centered on security selection. Brian is a member of the Fixed Income Analyst Society Inc and the Bond Club of Philadelphia. He regularly writes for local and national publications on the economy and capital markets.
Chad Voss
Director of Business Development,
BevCap Management, LLC, DRS Division
Chad Voss is the Director of Business Development for BevCap Management. He specializes in assisting vehicle dealer clients with captive risk solutions regarding property & casualty coverages as well as workers compensation insurance and healthcare benefits. Chad has over 20 years of retail automotive management experience including 3+ years of dealership income development and consulting experience with a major service contract administrator in Texas. Chad’s blend of experience in automotive retail management, insurance and alternative risk solutions allow him to provide value and solutions specific to the needs of dealer clients. Chad is active with the United Way and Junior Achievement and spends time coaching youth athletes in track and field. Chad holds a Bachelor of Science degree from TCU and resides in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jim Wehner
Senior Vice President Institutional Investments,
BOK Financial
Jim Wehner has been with BOK Financial (BOKF) since 2003. BOKF is a $45 billion financial services holding company with $96 billion in assets under management and administration. BOKF has four banking divisions across eight states and a full-service investment brokerage business registered in all 50 states. His primary responsibilities have been focused on portfolio management and trading. Jim’s experience with insurance companies includes but is not limited to traditional P&C companies and alternative insurance solutions: captives, risk retention groups and pools. Jim oversees the investment solutions for BOKF’s captive program, which consists of more than $2B in captive assets for more than 750 clients. Jim also works with corporations, foundations, and the primary and regional dealer community. He currently holds the Series 7, 63 & 65 FINRA designations.
Andrew Weill, Esq.
Principal,
Weill & Mazer, APC
Andrew Weill is a principal in the San Francisco Bay Area law firm Weill & Mazer, which focuses on complex commercial, estate and tax litigation. He is a Certified Tax Law Specialist and a leading authority on planning, litigation and tax/regulatory controversies involving F&I structures. His clients include car dealers and dealerships, domestic and foreign companies, and individuals and entities involved in aftermarket financial products.
Ryan Work
Senior Vice President, Government Relations,
Self-Insurance Institute of America, Inc.
Ryan currently serves as the vice president of government relations for the Self- Insurance Institute of America (SIIA) where he leads advocacy and political activities before Congress, the Administration and various federal regulatory agencies on issues related to captive and self-insurance. Prior to joining SIIA, Ryan was Senior Director of Government Affairs for S&P Global and served in a number of senior staff positions within the U.S. Congress, including the Committee on Ways and Means and the Office of the Speaker of the House.