The PIA Connecticut Convention—held at Foxwoods Resort Casino—was a smashing success. From March 20-21, more than 300 insurance producers from the Northeast gathered to network, learn and expand the capabilities of their businesses.
Highlights from the two-day convention included an address by PIA National President Ariel Rivera, MBA, CIC, CPIA, the presentation of the Company Person of the Year award, the PIACT and CTYIP change of administration, the sold-out trade show, insightful education seminars and the numerous opportunities for agents to develop new connections.
To see photos from the event, visit the 2025 PIA Connecticut Convention photo album.
An address from PIA National’s president
The Networking Lunch featured an address from PIA National President Ariel Rivera, MBA, CIC, CPIA. In his speech, Rivera emphasized the unity between PIA National and its state-level counterpart, PIACT. He described the relationship between the National and Connecticut teams being “like family”: here’s to the continued success and cooperation between both organizations.
The Company Person of the Year award was presented to Joe Secondo of The Harford, for his commitment to the American agency system, and his dedication to fostering a sound working relationship between the company and its agents. Also during the event, the association presented the following presidential citations:
- Nate Shippee, in recognition of his dedicated service and leadership as vice president of PIACT, and for advancing the insurance industry.
- Tom McKiernan, in recognition of a distinguished career dedicated to advancing the insurance industry and for championing the success of independent agents.
- George Russell, in recognition of a distinguished career dedicated to advancing the insurance industry and for championing the success of independent agents.
During the convention, agents also had plenty of opportunities to network with their fellow insurance professionals, either making new friends or strengthening old bonds. Whether on the trade-show floor, at the lunch buffet or during the evening reception with the musical stylings of DJ Mike Nigretti, you can bet that some important relationships were made.
Speaking of the trade show, a diverse array of vendors flooded the convention floor, bringing with them new products and business solutions, with which savvy insurance professionals could experiment. Attendees browsed comfortably and felt satisfied with the great selections that were offered on the show floor.
Invaluable education sessions
Insurance agents could earn needed continuing-education credits. This year, three courses were offered, for a total of six CE credits; Emerging Risks: Autonomous Vehicles, Short-Term Rentals, Rideshares & Drones; The Intersection of AI and Insurance and Errors & Omissions; and An Agent’s Ethical and Legal Obligations^AZ^UN.
The first two sessions were taught by PIACT Director of Government & Industry Affairs Bradford J. Lachut, Esq. In, Emerging Risks: Autonomous Vehicles, Short-Term Rentals, Rideshares & Drones, attendees explored how advancements in technology and evolving social behaviors are reshaping risk assessment in the insurance industry. The session addressed the complex liability issues posed by these emerging risks and discussed how to evaluate and manage them within the framework of current policy forms.
“Technology and social shifts have changed risk assessment in insurance,” said Lachut in his presentation. “Traditionally, a Named Insured is used to assign risk—but what happens when there’s no human behind the controls? Emerging technologies raise complex liability issues that must be addressed by insurance professionals.”
The next session Lachut taught was The Intersection of AI and Insurance, which focused on generative artificial intelligence and its role in the insurance industry. Participants gained a deeper understanding of generative AI, such as its current capabilities. The seminar also highlighted practical ways agencies—regardless of size—can leverage AI tools to enhance operational efficiency, streamline workflows and unlock new opportunities for agency staff.
Lachut also reviewed some of its limitations. There is the risk AI may be biased from the data it trains from; it’s at the mercy of an ever-changing regulatory landscape; and is burdened technical difficulties posed in its implementation. Most importantly, AI in its current state can prompt errors-and-omissions exposures if not handled properly by insurance professionals, like if it were to offer the wrong policy to a consumer, or if it were to be subject to a cyberattack.
The final education session, Insurance and Errors & Omissions and An Agent’s Ethical and Legal Obligations^AZ^UN, was presented by Christopher B. Weldon, Esq., partner, Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg LLP. In this three-hour course, Weldon reviewed the ethical and legal responsibilities insurance agents in Connecticut must undertake. The course used real examples of E&O lawsuits and regulatory issues to convey the importance of insurance agents following regulatory guidelines.
These education sessions provided valuable lessons that insurance producers can apply in their daily operations. With new technologies and the important legal responsibilities producers must hold themselves to, these classes are as important as ever.
A change in administration
The PIACT board of directors and CTYIP boards of directors held their annual business meetings during the convention, at which their 2025-26 officers and directors were elected. For PIACT, the following individuals will serve as officers:
PIACT 2025-26 officers
- President: Kevin McKiernan, CIC, CPIA
- President-elect: Katie Bailey, ACSR, CLCS, CPIA
- Treasurer: Kimberly Tompkins, CIC, AIS, AINS, CRIS, ACSR, CPIA, PHM
- Secretary: Jeffrey Krar
- Immediate Past President: Nicholas Ruickoldt, CISR, CPIA
For CTYIP, the following individuals will serve as officers and members of the board of directors:
CTYIP 2025-26 officers
- President: Justin Sloan
- President-elect: Robin Ricciardone
- Vice president: Jacklyn Meeker
- Treasurer: Kieran Buttrick
- Secretary: Ryan Keating
- Immediate Past President: Ryan Kelly
CTYIP 2025-26 board of directors:
- Kieran Buttrick
- Jeremy Card, ARM-P, CSRM, CISR
- Matthew Higgins
- Ryan Keating
- Jacklyn Meeker
- Justin Sloan
- Robyn Ricciardone
- Walker Russell
- Ryan Vivenzio
- Sean Walsh
Welcome reception
CTYIP held its annual Welcome Reception—Let the Good Times Bowl—the night before the start of the convention. This event was held at the High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Sports Lounge at Foxwoods, and featured over 70 participants in friendly competition for the highest score.
Thanking our sponsors
From PIA to the sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers who helped make Connecticut Convention possible this year: Thank you.
Connecticut Convention 2025 sponsors:
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
