On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk is joined by Lee Gaudette, president of Gaudette Insurance, and his son, Peter Gaudette, commercial insurance advisor at Gaudette Insurance, and Keith Mangini, Vice President and Commercial Team Leader at InsurBanc.

They explore father-son work dynamics, succession planning in family agencies, and the aspirations that drive the next generation forward. The conversation also offers practical tips for family-owned agencies preparing to change ownership.

“Succession isn’t just about passing down a business,” Mangini says. “It’s setting up that next generation for success. As a lender, I can help build that financial bridge, but the real success comes from the family being aligned on the vision and how they're going to move forward in the future.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the second in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup.

Host Kevin Wheeler, Eastern advisory manager at Angela Adams Consulting, is joined by Michelle O’Connor, president of O’Connor Insurance Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kimberly Fox, commercial lines account executive at O’Connor Insurance Associates. Together, they unpack what agents should know when working with AI vendors.

They share real-world lessons from implementing an AI phone assistant, covering must-haves like transparency and customer support, red flags and how to measure return on investment (ROI). The conversation also explores the importance of involving your team, asking the right questions and ensuring new tech fits your agency’s workflows.

Listeners will walk away with practical tips to evaluate vendors and avoid costly missteps as they explore AI.

Learn more about ACT.

https://www.independentagent.com/agency-management/technology/

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Jill Roth, executive vice president at Ahart, Frinzi & Smith in Alexandria, Virginia.

Roth started her career on Capitol Hill, working in legislative affairs for a New Jersey congressional representative, where one of the issues she focused on was the insurance industry. Her congressional experience carried over when she joined the family agency—Ahart, Frinzi & Smith—and repurposed her passion for politics into serving Big “I” members on the state and national level.

“I still have a passion in [legislative] affairs,” Roth says. “And so I now take that knowledge that I had in that industry, whether it be working on the congressional side or in the lobbying world, and I'll use that in my insurance world.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Roth was also featured in the September issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online.

https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/09/01/declaration-of-independents-jill-roth/

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the first in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup.

Co-hosts Kasey Connors, executive director of ACT, and JP Pritchard, director of marketing at Rhodian Group, dive into how independent agents can confidently take their first steps with AI.

They are joined by CJ Hutsenpiller, owner of the tech-forward agency Hutsenpiller Insurance in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, who shares his journey and lessons learned on avoiding “shiny object syndrome.”

The conversation covers how to choose the right tools, build team trust and keep client experience at the center of AI implementation. Agents will walk away with practical advice, a dose of realism and encouragement to approach AI with curiosity.

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Will Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Agent Magazine at the Big “I” hosts a conversation with workplace communication expert, Jenna Rogers, Founder & CEO of Career Civility, a professional development firm that helps organizations build stronger cultures through better communication. Throughout the episode, Jones picks Rogers’ brain about what it takes to be a great leader, bridging generational gaps and even mastering the art of a clear, effective email.

"Listening is a really big skill set that you need to have as a leader," she says. "I always encourage people to listen not to respond, but listen to be challenged."

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet John Bradford, founder & CEO of PetScreening in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Bradford is on a mission to make life better for pets. After starting out in the property management world—first managing his own rental units, then expanding to investor portfolios—he saw firsthand how pet ownership impacted housing. That insight led him to launch PetScreening, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that helps streamline offering pet and renters insurance.

At the heart of it is the proprietary FIDO Score™, a data-driven tool to assess pets more fairly than outdated breed restrictions. Today, the platform is used by about 1 in 7 rental units in the U.S.

“Our goal is to help change hearts and open eyes when it comes to breed restrictions,” Bradford says. “We can’t force anyone to accept every dog, but we can give them the data to make better decisions.”

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/category/podcasts.

Bradford was also featured in the August issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview here or read the full issue online.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Cash McMillen, partner and executive vice president of operations at The Cashion Company Insurance in Little Rock, Arkansas, and chairman of the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee, hosts a discussion with two young agents about getting started as a commercial lines independent insurance agent.

Deuel Romero, commercial lines agent at Tedford Insurance in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Kate Adams, commercial lines marketing manager at Flood & Peterson in Denver, Colorado, explore why and how to choose a commercial lines niche, how to get up to speed in a new industry segment, and tips for building a strong network. Romero discusses his work with Hispanic business owners and Adams shares insights from her business marketing role and how her commercial lines background helps her connect with clients.

"I think people are too afraid of making mistakes," Adams says. "The lessons that we have learned the best, and that have stuck with us, have been from the mistakes that we've made along the way."

Romero and Adams were also featured alongside eight other young agents in Independent Agent magazine's June issue.

https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/06/01/license-to-lead-meet-10-young-agents-35-and-under/

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/category/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Courtney Jacobs, owner of Insurance Done Right (IDR) in Biloxi, Mississippi. Since launching her agency seven years ago, Jacobs has navigated the complexities of growing a business along the Gulf Coast—where the unique challenges of flood insurance and storm exposure are a constant concern—while also serving in the Air National Guard and giving back to her community through various organizations.

"We have seen a large impact since the flood rates changed a few years ago, which is counting a lot of people out from some of these bigger homes or projects," Jacobs explains. "Because of our extra exposure down here in the lower six counties in Mississippi, we’re definitely feeling the rate increases. The beauty is that I do have the options as an independent broker, which I do appreciate. But it’s tough because some people just can’t afford it."

"We do a lot of fundraising for the homeless or for women’s shelters," Jacobs says when asked about her philanthropy endeavors. "Through those different platforms and organizations, I’m donating, I’m giving back, I’m raising money. Just anything that impacts my community for the better."

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Jacobs was also featured in the July issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview here or read the full issue online.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Ashley Engl, chair of Big I New York’s NextGen young agent committee, hosts a conversation with two Generation Z agents: Jackson Doyle, commercial risk adviser at J. Krug in Itasca, Illinois; and Brooke Stout, receptionist and assistant account manager at Chalk & Gibbs Insurance & Real Estate in Morehead City, North Carolina.

Together, they discuss how they got their start in the industry, what excites them about its evolution and the valuable lessons they've learned from the mentors who have guided their growth along the way.

“I’ve learned the most from doing the job,” Doyle says. “Being thrown into the fire—whether it's all the cold calls, dealing with rejection, meeting with prospects, or going through your routine of delivering a proposal—a lot of the growth over the years has just come from strictly doing the job and learning what works.”

This month, Doyle and Stout were featured in Independent Agent magazine's June cover story alongside eight other next-generation agents.

https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/06/01/license-to-lead-meet-10-young-agents-35-and-under/

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Brock Elliott, Producer and partner at

Elliott Insurance Group in Louisburg, Kansas. Elliott got his start in the industry when he turned 21 and bounced around a couple roles before finally finding his stride as an account executive.

Throughout his career, Elliott has played a pivotal role in the Big 'I' community at both the state and national levels—leading as chair of the Young Agents of Kansas (YAK) and the national Young Agents Committee (YAC) where he learned about the annual YAC Give Week and InsurPac and how we can give back to the insurance industry and the greater community.

“I challenged another young agent across the state to see who could raise more bandages and more money. The loser had to get a bandage-themed tattoo,” Elliott said recalling a time he lost a bet during a fundraising challenge in support of Noah’s Bandage Project, a charity dedicated to raising money for pediatric cancer and providing fun bandages to children undergoing treatment. “We collected over 1 million bandages and about $10,000 in under 30 days. We got to take the bandages to the kids and they got to see the tattoo. They loved it.”

Today, Elliott is championing political advocacy in his current role as chair of the state government affairs committee and most recently was presented with the Young Agent of the Year Award at the 2025 Big “I” Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Elliott was also featured in the June issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview here or read the full issue online. https://www.iamagazine.com/magazine/issues/2025/june/declaration-of-independents-brock-elliott