On this episode of Champions and Challengers, host Greg Lestini sits down with Robert Bell, Executive Director of the Nebraska Insurance Federation, to explore why Nebraska has become a powerful hub for insurance and InsurTech innovation right in the heart of the country.

Robert shares how the Federation unites insurance companies across all sectors while helping lawmakers understand the intricate issues that shape effective regulation. That educational mission is key to ensuring policies support both consumer protection and industry growth, especially as technology continues to change the playing field.

The conversation highlights Nebraska’s rapidly expanding InsurTech ecosystem, anchored by the InsurTech on the Silicon Prairie conference, where startups, established insurers, and regulators come together to engage openly on new products, AI adoption, and evolving risk models. With a competitive premium tax rate and a workforce of more than 30,000 strong, Nebraska is positioning itself as a forward-looking leader in the future of insurance.

Listeners will gain insight into how innovation and advocacy intersect, why AI remains the hottest topic in risk management, and how collaboration is fueling bold new ideas from the Midwest.

Key Topics

Legislative education and industry advocacy
InsurTech momentum in the Silicon Prairie
AI’s growing impact on underwriting and risk management
Why collaboration with regulators encourages innovation
Nebraska’s strong insurance workforce and business climate

On this episode of Champions and Challengers, host Greg Lestini, Public Finance Attorney at Bricker Graydon, sits down with Megan Garza, Communications Manager at Varonis, to explore the fast-evolving world of cybersecurity—especially at the intersection of FinTech, data protection, and AI.

From the risks posed by social media to the necessity of robust incident response plans, Megan shares insights drawn from her own podcast, Speed Data, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Varonis helps organizations understand and reduce their data risk. Together, they unpack what it means to take a truly data-centric approach to security and why it’s more important than ever in today’s regulatory and digital climate.

Listeners will also hear about Varonis' presence at industry events like RSA, the value of free data risk assessments, and the personal challenges that shape professional grit.

Key Topics:

Data-centric cybersecurity in FinTech

AI's dual role in innovation and risk

The growing importance of data privacy

Why “you need to have a game plan”

What makes Varonis a leader in the space

In this episode of Champions and Challengers, host Greg Lestini explores the rapidly evolving world of InsurTech and insurance innovation. He is joined by the CEO of Scout InsurTech, Chris Luiz, who shares insights on how technology is reshaping the industry, from underwriting and claims automation to regulatory challenges and emerging AI applications.

The discussion highlights how Scout serves as an ecosystem partner, helping startups connect with established carriers to drive innovation and create new opportunities. The conversation also delves into the regulatory landscape, examining how compliance requirements can serve as both obstacles and catalysts for better model development. AI’s increasing role in insurance is explored, with a focus on how it presents both opportunities for efficiency and challenges related to implementation and oversight.

Another key topic is the growing need for technology partnerships and how mid-size mutuals can leverage innovation to stay competitive. The episode also touches on the current state of life insurance, an area that lags behind in modernization and could benefit from greater investment in digital transformation.

Beyond the technical aspects, the guest reflects on the entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of personal support systems in navigating the challenges of building and scaling a company in the InsurTech space. The conversation ultimately underscores the value of collaboration, strategic partnerships, and forward-thinking approaches in driving meaningful change in the insurance industry.

As spring approaches, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners kicked off the year with their Spring meeting in Indianapolis, March 22 through the 26. This meeting marks the beginning of North Dakota Commissioner Jon Godfread’s term as President of the multi-jurisdictional group. In honor of Commissioner Godfread’s time at the helm of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), we are re-releasing the previously recorded Champions & Challengers episode with Commissioner Godfread and Greg Lestini, recorded in 2023 at the NAIC spring national meeting in Louisville.

Commissioner Godfread kicked off his term as president with a stirring speech at the opening session in Indianapolis. His comments focused on accessibility for consumers, the importance of state-based regulation, and the importance of America acting as an example of regulatory efficiency and compliance for the rest of the world. We congratulate Commissioner Godfread on his elevation to President and are thrilled to share our episode discussing so many important topics in insurance and insurance regulation.

The conversation covers:

• The balance between innovation and consumer protection in the insurance industry
• The impact of emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain on regulation
• The importance of data management and adaptable regulatory frameworks
• The role of governance in fostering both market growth and consumer safety
• The need for collaboration between regulators and industry leaders

With Commissioner Godfread now leading NAIC, his insights into state-based regulation and America’s role in global regulatory efficiency are more important than ever. Tune in for an engaging discussion on the future of insurance and what lies ahead under his leadership.

In this episode of Champions and Challengers, host Greg Lestini sits down with Doug Kelly, CEO of the American Edge Project, to discuss the critical role of American innovation in the technology sector. They explore the far-reaching consequences of offshoring on American manufacturing jobs and the broader economy. Doug emphasizes the need for strong policy changes to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of technological advancement, particularly in the race for AI supremacy with China. He also highlights the importance of fostering innovation ecosystems across the country, beyond traditional tech hubs like Silicon Valley, to support both large and small companies in driving progress.

The conversation delves into the intersection of technology and national security, where the future of AI is seen as a vital factor in global power dynamics. Doug underscores that securing AI tools and ensuring they are developed within a secure, ethical framework is essential for the protection of American data and interests. As the tech industry faces evolving challenges, the need for effective workforce development and a supportive regulatory environment is key to sustaining long-term economic prosperity and national security. This episode offers invaluable insights into how the U.S. can maintain its technological edge and thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.

HOST 

Greg Lestini | Bricker Graydon | LinkedIn

Greg Lestini brings over 14 years of private practice experience, leveraging his background in government to guide clients through legal, legislative, and regulatory challenges. As Chair of the Financial Services/Insurance Industry Group, Greg leads the firm’s insurance practice, advising insurers of all sizes on corporate and regulatory matters. His work focuses on aligning public policy with the goals of insurance companies, corporations, trade associations, and private businesses.

A former legislative aide and chief of staff in the Ohio Legislature, Greg has a deep understanding of public policy and strategy. He also served with AmeriCorps Legal Service Corps, representing low-income renters in eviction defense across northwest Ohio.

Greg is active in his community, serving on boards throughout central and southeast Ohio and contributing to initiatives like the firm’s Racial Equity Task Force and a recovery-focused art show. He frequently shares insights on legal and business trends in finance and insurance technology. Outside of work, Greg is often found in his kitchen, practicing guitar, or tackling Lego projects with his daughters.

GUEST

Stefanie Altman | Stefanie Altman Consulting | LinkedIn

Stefanie Altman is a marketing and business strategist with over 20 years of experience across insurance, technology, finance, and healthcare. She specializes in designing impactful campaigns, enhancing client satisfaction, and driving organizational growth. A sought-after speaker and educator, Stefanie leads sessions on marketing strategy, technology, and data-driven solutions, holding certifications to teach continuing education in multiple states.

Beyond her professional life, Stefanie is a long-distance runner, passionate home cook, enthusiastic gardener, and loyal Crew supporter. She enjoys time on Columbus brewery patios or running with her dog, Archer.

In this episode, Greg Lestini and Jeff Knight dive into the critical world of risk management and business continuity with Tom Perry of 1Resilience, a seasoned expert whose journey spans fire service, law enforcement, and public-sector risk management. His broad experience offers a unique lens on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disruptive events.

Tom discusses the essence of continuity as ensuring the seamless operation of business-critical functions before, during, and after an incident. He emphasizes the importance of proactive planning and preparation, including tailored safety and security strategies, robust training, and awareness programs. According to Tom, no organization is immune to incidents, but thoughtful preparation can significantly reduce the impact and help companies thrive beyond survival.

The group explores the incident management lifecycle, from pre-event preparations like developing actionable plans to post-event recovery strategies. Tom highlights the importance of avoiding the "blame game" during incidents, as it delays response and amplifies the crisis. Instead, companies should focus on maintaining clear, client-specific plans—whether checklists, flowcharts, or other tools—to manage cascading events effectively.

Tom also explains the costs and challenges of recovery, underscoring the importance of using incidents as learning opportunities. Companies should document timelines, analyze events, and create comprehensive reviews for leadership to build stronger strategies for the future. He also underscores the inevitability of incidents and the need for resilience-focused solutions.

Tom’s goal is to provide organizations with a clear, actionable roadmap to mitigate risks and ensure they’re not just reacting to events but are prepared to move forward stronger than ever before.

In this episode hosted by Christina Cross, Beau Bryant from Resolute Wealth Advisors discusses how personalized advice is the cornerstone of their success and how fintech plays a crucial role in enhancing the client experience. He emphasizes that AI won't replace advisors but will improve efficiency, allowing more time for personalized financial planning. With clients in Northwest Ohio and Arizona, technology helps them expand their reach, especially post-COVID.

Beau highlights the importance of maintaining a personal connection, especially for clients like educators or those facing sudden wealth, as AI lacks the emotional nuance needed for such relationships. He talks about family wealth, privacy, and confidentiality, stressing how personal relationships allow them to ask the tough, emotionally charged questions that AI cannot.

Beau also discusses how they engage with younger audiences through proactive family planning conversations and his upcoming "Wealth Guardians" YouTube series, aimed at educating people on financial topics slotted to be released in Q1 of 2025.

In our latest episode, hosted by Greg Lestini, we were joined by Vernon "Vern" Kennedy, co-founder and President of ActiveWrite. ActiveWrite is a powerful document creation and management platform designed to be user-friendly. It can handle everything from single-page documents to extensive 1000-page manuscripts. It eliminates the need for file version control by allowing users to track the entire lifecycle of a document, including every small edit or revision, regardless of how many people have contributed to it. The platform also simplifies document security and sharing. Vern shares his unique journey, from being a military kid to a serial entrepreneur and helicopter pilot, and his time as a Professor of Finance.

To learn more about Activewrite, visit the website at www.activewrite.com.