National ABEN Day 2024 - Crisis, Chaos and Calamity… Oh My!

Summer Jelinek Related Seminars and Products

Summer Jelinek is a keynote speaker and workshop trainer helping organizations control their chaos. She has 20 years leadership experience working with companies such as Walt Disney World, Disney Institute and H-E-B/Central Market. Her passion is connecting with audiences around the world-particularly audiences looking for the magic in leadership. She is a no holds barred, authentic and engaging speaker who delivers rousing keynotes and workshops.

Summer resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas with her amazing husband, their beautiful daughter, Summer's brother, and her fur babies, Cricket and Adie. 

Summer completed her MBA with a Leadership Certification at the HR.com #1-ranked master's program from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She's also a proud graduate of the business management program of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Kim Hutson Related Seminars and Products

Kim began her insurance career in 2000, purchased her father’s agency in 2005 and sold her agency to Assured Partners of Texas in 2018. She continued to work as Director of Commercial P &C Operations until December 2019. After a brief retirement, Kim began working for IIAT as an Agency Coach.  Her focus was supporting agencies to maximize their potential with a focus on operation, employees and profitability.  She drew on her experience of owning and operating Hutson Insurance Group for almost 20 years. She then expanded her focus to include Education Director where she managed the IIAT curriculum offerings to their members as well as teaching classes.  Kim continues to share her experience to help educate and grow insurance professionals teaching and creating educational content for the industry.

Brian Hutson, CIC, CRM Related Seminars and Products

Brian began his career in 1992 with Given/Woods Insurance Agency. He studied Insurance and Risk Management at SMU and graduated in 1994. In 1996 he left Given/Woods and started his own agency. He later merged his agency with Given/Woods when Glenn Woods retired. He sold the agency to Assured Partners in 2018 and continues to work at Assured Partners.

Andy Sexton Related Seminars and Products

Andy Sexton spent 12 years with the Greenville County Sheriff’s office in South Carolina, where he held the rank of Uniform Patrol Sergeant. During his time with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Andy gained vast experience in criminal investigation, including armed robbery and homicide.

Andy was a member of the SWAT team for six years and served as an assistant SWAT team leader. He was involved in numerous high-risk incidents, including hostage rescues as well as the protection of high-level dignitaries.

Andy served on the training committee for Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. This committee develops and implements training for Greenville County Deputies. Andy was also chosen to assist in the creation and implementation of the Greenville County Sheriff’s active shooter response curriculum.

In 2012, Andy was awarded the Medal of Valor. The Medal of Valor award recognizes a deputy who willingly risks his or her life in the furtherance of a law enforcement mission or to save the life of another.

Andy is a 2006 Honor Graduate of the Citadel where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a 2006 graduate for the South Carolina Criminal Justice academy where he was an Honor Graduate and received an award for outstanding physical fitness.

asexton@proactiverg.com

Chad Ayers Related Seminars and Products

Chad Ayers served as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Greenville County in South Carolina for 12 years. During his time as a Deputy in Greenville County, Chad worked undercover in numerous federal and state investigations, performing in high-pressure environments.

Chad was a member of the SWAT team, where he served as an assistant team leader. He is experienced in hostage negotiations and rescue as well as active shooter events. Chad also assisted in the creation and implementation of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office active shooter response program.

During his tenure as a Deputy, Chad received numerous awards and commendations. In 2006, he was named Greenville County Sheriff Rookie of the Year. In 2008, Chad received a Distinguished Service Award, and in 2009, he was awarded two Letters of Commendation for undercover work. He was the recipient of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Medal of Valor in 2011 and 2012. On January 21, 2016, Chad received the 2015 Sam Simmons Award which is given to the top Deputy in Greenville County.

Chad is a 2006 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a 2006 graduate of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy where he received the academy’s top award, the J.P. Strom Award, given to the graduate with the highest academic average.

Chad starred in season one of A&E TV’s Emmy-winning documentary LIVEPD.

cayers@proactiverg.com

Richard Pitts Related Seminars and Products

Arlington Roe

Rick Pitts is vice president and general counsel for Arlington/Roe & Co., a leading Midwest managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker with a premium volume that exceeded $140 million in 2012. Rick also serves as general counsel to the Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana, Inc. As counsel to the “Big I,” Rick speaks annually at the association’s New Laws seminars and teaches various seminars on insurance and employment related matters. Pitts has also presented continuing education seminars to insurance professionals nationally and in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

Rick is a 1983 graduate of Wabash College and a 1986 graduate of Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis. Pitts clerked for the Honorable Patrick D. Sullivan, a judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals in 1986-87. Rick is admitted to practice before Indiana state and federal courts, the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and is a member of local, state and national bar associations. Pitts has tried cases and participated in over seventy appeals.

Pitts has served as panelist and lecturer on subjects including the Americans with Disabilities Act; “Mold: Issues under the Microscope” for the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum (ICLEF); and “Insurance Issues for Builders” for the Indiana Builders Association. He served as chair of several of ICLEF’s seminars including “Advanced Corporate Practice,” “Privacy Law” and “Insurance Coverage Issues.” He has presented seminars on “Insuring Fiduciary Exposures,” “Insurance Coverage Disputes” and “Agency Succession and Perpetuation” for the Big I. Pitts has co-authored articles in the Indiana Law Review.