AGENDA 2027
Coming Soon!
Monday, May 3, 2027
8:30 am - Golf Tournament
Tee off in style and kick off the week right! Enjoy great golf, beautiful weather, and unbeatable networking along the stunning fairways at one of Kansas City's most iconic courses. Grab your clubs, bring your A-game and join us for an unforgettable experience!
Association Meetings
2:00 - 2:45 pm Utah Captive Insurance Association - Business Meeting
2:50 - 3:35 pm Missouri Captive Insurance Association - Business Meeting
3:40 - 4:25 pm Oklahoma Captive Insurance Association - Business Meeting
4:30 - 5:15 pm Nevada Captive Insurance Council - Business Meeting
**Refer to the program map for the Board Room location.
Continuing Professional Education Credits
There are opportunities to earn ICCIE credit at nearly every session. Everything except Keynotes, Fireside Chat, and Regulator Roundup qualifies.
3:00 - 4:30 pm - Captives 101
Sonya Bergquist
Taylor Walker
Victor Gallardo
Helio Risk
Alison Mullikin
Aon
Before the main conference begins, attend the Captive Insurance 101 session.
This comprehensive overview is perfect for:
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Business leaders who are considering a captive structure
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New captive owners seeking to understand their structures and opportunities
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Professionals new to the captive industry who want to accelerate their learning curve
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Service providers looking to deepen their foundational knowledge
This session will cover:
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Comprehensive overview of captive structures and benefits
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Regulatory considerations across multiple domiciles
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Formation strategies and best practices
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Risk retention alternatives
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Pricing and funding fundamentals
This foundational session provides the framework to help you get the most value from every subsequent session, networking conversation, and exhibit hall interaction throughout the conference.
6:00 - 7:30 pm - Opening Reception
Exhibit Hall
Join us for a lovely evening where you will meet your friends, old and new, as we celebrate the opening of the Western Region Captive Insurance Conference!
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
EXHIBIT HALL
7:30 - 5:00 pm Exhibit Booths Open
EXHIBIT HALL
7:30 - 8:15 am Registration and Networking Breakfast
General Session
8:15 - 8:30 am - Welcome & Opening Remarks
Renea Louie, CEO, Sotera Global Management
Josh Miller, President, Nevada Captive Insurance Council
8:30 - 9:15 am Keynote Address - Mark Habersack, Executive Director/Risk Management
Resorts World Las Vegas
Session Presentation
Breakout Session One
9:20 - 10:10 am Artificial Intelligence Risk
Maria Ganson
CHRISTUS Health System
Lynn Sessions
Baker & Hostetler
Heather McClure
Helio Risk
Attendees will learn about the risk of AI emerging in construction, healthcare, and other industries, and how captives can support their parent companies in stabilizing risk and participating in solutions.
Breakout Session Two
9:20 - 10:10 am RRGs: Emerging Developments
Joseph Deems
NRRA
Lisa Poulin
Milliman
Cassandra Hand Gallegos
CCMS & Associates
Matt Holycross
Fleetshield Insurance Company, RRG
10:15 - 10:45 am Networking Break - Exhibit Hall
Breakout Session One
10:45 - 11:35 am Amplify Women Session:
Bridging the Gap
Melissa Hollingsworth
LA United Schools
Andrea Monterrotti
Milliman
Lauren Thomas
CICA
Grace Topete
Helio Risk
A panel discussion focused on understanding generational differences to foster collaboration and innovation in the captive insurance industry.
Breakout Session Two
10:45 - 11:35 am 831b Captive Updates
Hale Stewart
Dickinson Wright
Melissa Wiley
Kostelanetz LLP
Sol Feinberg
SIGMA Actuarial Consulting Group, Inc.
This panel will focus on updates from the last year relating to 831b-elected captives.
Breakout Session One
11:40 - 12:30 pm From Structure to Substance: Governance that Defines Insurance for Regulatory and Tax
Doug Butler
Womble Bond Dickinson
Alan Fine
Armanino
Kacie Dillon
Silver Law
A practical look at captive insurance governance and day-to-day operations—showcasing the core attributes of a true, well-run insurance company. This presentation will use case law to spotlight captive management best practices to board oversight, risk management, underwriting discipline, claims administration, actuarial rigor, and regulatory compliance.
Breakout Session Two
11:40 - 12:30 pm Captive Advocacy:
Supporting the Industry through Legislative Process
Kevin Doherty
Dickinson Wright
Sandy Bigglestone
SRS
Shawn Tarwater
KS State Rep
This session explores how captive insurance professionals can effectively engage in advocacy to protect and advance the interests of the captive industry. This session will provide an overview of the legislative process, highlight the role of industry stakeholders in shaping policy, and share practical strategies for communicating with regulators and lawmakers.
FEATURED General Session
12:30 - 1:15 pm Lunch
Insurance Commissioners Fireside Chat
Leon Rives, RH CPAs, Moderator
Commissioner
Ned Gaines
Nevada
Commissioner
Glen Mulready
Oklahoma
Commissioner Jonathan Pike
Utah
Insurance commissioners from Nevada, Oklahoma, and Utah will speak directly to participants in a fireside chat format.
FEATURED General Session
1:15 - 2:05 pm Hot Topics
Leon Rives
RH CPAs
Renea Louie
Sotera Global Management
Heather McClure
Helio Risk
Joseph Marcantel
Talisman Insurance Co
A forward looking discussion on emerging trends, regulatory developments and strategic challenges shaping the captive insurance industry.
Breakout Session One
2:10 - 3:00 pm Best Practices for Captive Investments: Strategy and Innovation
Anjannette Fowler
PNC
Jack Meskunas
Oppenheimer
Madeline Jacobs
Jacobs & Coolidge
Laura Phillips
Wilmington Trust
This session examines how captive insurers can develop investment strategies that balance risk, liquidity, and long-term performance in an evolving financial landscape. This session will explore best practices in portfolio construction, governance, and regulatory considerations, while also highlighting innovative approaches and emerging opportunities in captive investment management.
Breakout Session Two
2:10 - 3:00 pm Lawyers, Guns, Drugs, and Money – Insuring Unusual Risks
Grace Topete, Helio Risk, Moderator
Matt Grimes
National Psychedelics Association Captive
Martha Hayes
Larson Auditors
Stephanie Liu
Utah Department of Insurance
Kyle Sweet
CCW Safe Captive Owner
Helio Risk
This session examines hard to place risks, how captives can support and build capacity, and the challenges and opportunities unusual risk brings for legal, banking, audit, and regulation
SPECIAL SESSION: Captive Managers Only
2:30 - 3:20 pm
Captive Managers' Caucus
Location: Board Room
This closed session is designed exclusively for captive managers to engage in candid, high-level discussion on the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping the captive insurance landscape. Held in a confidential setting, the session will provide a forum for peer-to-peer exchange on regulatory developments, operational strategies, market trends, governance considerations, and emerging risks. Attendees will have the opportunity to share insights, discuss practical solutions, and strengthen industry connections in a private environment tailored to experienced captive management professionals.
Breakout Session One
3:05 - 3:55 pm Municipality Risk Management
Eryn Brasovan
Womble Bond Dickinson
Joe Streck
Innovative Captive Strategies
Jerry Faiella
MEBCORP
Session examines municipal risk management from an insurance perspective. Focus is on how municipalities identify, assess, and transfer risk through effective insurance and loss control strategies.
Breakout Session Two
3:05 - 3:55 pm Captives as a Strategic Asset:
Value Beyond Market Timing
Luke Renz
Captives.Insure
Tim Svoboda
Connor Strong Buckelew
Heather Graziani
Accelerant
Sam Raphael
Milliman
This session will examine 2026 market conditions across multiple lines, identify structural drivers of hard vs. soft markets, and typical cycle duration, allowing recognition of when market timing arguments create urgency vs. long term value.
BREAK 3:55 - 4:20 pm Break with Exhibitors
General Session
4:20 - 5:10 pm Captive Tax update
Kristen Lawler
Crowe
Allan Autry
Johnson Lambert
Bailey Roese
Dentons
Blake Kerr
ENDVR CPAs
This session will provide a 2026 update on recent developments in US and state tax law for captives. Attendees will learn how to spot issues related to tax in their captive programs and learn the current landscape for captive taxation.
Evening Social Event - Topgolf
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Keep the momentum going with an after-hours networking event at Topgolf Las Vegas. No golfing experience is needed. Just come ready to connect, have fun, and compete for bragging rights!
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
EXHIBIT HALL
7:30 - 12:00 pm Exhibitor Booths Open
7:30 - 8:30 am Networking Breakfast
General Session
8:30 - 8:45 am - Opening Remarks
General Session
8:45 - 9:35 am You Ought to tell your Regulator, But...
Ben Whitehouse
Butler Snow
Mark Wiedeman
Tennessee Dept. Commerce & Insurance
Jonathan Habart
Marsh
This session explores what insurance regulators expect from organizations in today’s evolving risk and compliance landscape.
General Session
9:40 - 10:30 am Is this Insurance? And what if it isn't?
Chaz Lavelle
Dentons
Robert Walling
Pinnacle Actuarial
Diana Hardy
RH CPAs
This presentation will explore the various accounting, actuarial and tax tests to determine whenther an arrangement is insurance. The panel will discuss the importance of these tests and the consequences of not being insurance for each of these disciplines.
EXHIBIT HALL
10:30 - 11:00 am Break with Exhibitors
General Session
11:00 - 12:00 pm Regulator Roundup
Heather McClure, Helio Risk, Moderator
Victoria Fimea
Arizona
Jeff Wilson
Iowa
Sam Komo
Missouri
Dakota Terry
Montana
Michael Reynolds
Nevada
Steve Kinion
Oklahoma
Mark Wiedeman
Tennessee
Travis Wegkamp
Utah