Some 1,700 insurance professionals from across the Northeast—record-breaking attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic—kicked up their boots and took center stage at the PIANJ | PIANY Annual Conference June 8-10, 2025, at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, N.J.
Speakers, education sessions and a panel on artificial intelligence all provided attendees with educational opportunities—while the sold-out trade show and various social events provided the backdrop to numerous networking opportunities.
Keynote address
At the Networking Lunch on Monday, both PIANJ outgoing President Andrew Harris Jr., CIC, AAI, CISR, and PIANY President Richard Andrews, LUTCF, offered their remarks.
Andrews said: “Leadership, at its core, is about serving others: our clients, our communities, our teams and this industry,” he said. “It’s about lifting others up, creating opportunities, and building a future together. And, that spirit of service and community is exactly what brings us here today.”
Speaking after Andrews, PIA National President Ariel Rivera’s remarks focused on the greatest industry with the greatest people, and he shared the latest news from PIA National.
“[T]hough our work isn’t always in the spotlight, it does make an impact every single day,” said Rivera. “What we do is very serious, and what we do matters. Sometimes, we see our carriers getting crushed in the news due to misinformation. But, what they don’t say on the news is that our carriers pay out billions (yes, billions) of dollars when catastrophes or unfortunate events happen.”
Due to this, he encouraged agents to “keep putting a good word out there in your communities, and let everyone know how important the insurance industry is.”
If there is one word to describe PIA Northeast, Rivera would say that word is: Excellence. In advocacy, education, leadership, innovation and member service. “You consistency lead by example—not just within your region, but across our entire PIA family,” said Rivera. “You keep shaping the future of our industry through vision, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to raising the standard.”
Rivera also discussed how PIA National continues to develop resources, programs and initiatives that help professional independent insurance agents thrive. He talked about the importance of its advocacy and education initiatives, and the PIA Partnership and the PIA Tech Council, which helps agents adopt tools that streamline operations while preserving the personal touches that define the profession.
After Rivera’s address, funny motivational speaker Kelly Swanson shared what she has learned about connecting and engaging to have more influence in business, using one tool—strategic storytelling. “Information is not that special anymore,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what you know or what your skills are because people are on information overload.” So, if information or skill sets aren’t differentiators anymore, what is? How can a person win and be heard above the noise? She said, the winners will be the people who can add meaning to the information—the ones who are storytellers.
“Embrace your story and tap into [your clients’] stories. Don’t just sell what it is you do, but sell why it matters and what it means,” said Swanson. “If you can tell your story and theirs at the same time, I believe you will be heard above the noise.”
Industry awards
PIANJ honored the following individuals at the conference:
Professional Agent of the Year was awarded to Mandy Adams Moreland, AIS, AU, CPIA. Moreland is commercial lines team leader for Acrisure of New Jersey, located in Colonia, N.J.
Company Person of the Year was presented to Tim Byrne Sr. Byrne is chief operating officer for Great Bay Insurance Co. in W. Atlantic City.
Distinguished Insurance Service was bestowed on Steve Tague, CPIA. Recently, Tague retired from PIANJ’s board of directors, having served the association for more than 20 years, and as president in 2013-14.
Director of the Year was presented to Christopher Powell. Powell is a partner with Hardenbergh Insurance Group in Marlton, N.J.
See photos from the awards dinner.
Newly elected PIANJ officers, directors
Saturday night, outgoing PIANJ President Harris said: “When I began my term, I had one guiding theme in mind: engagement. Not just growing our membership, but in encouraging our current members to get involved—roll up their sleeves, and help shape the future of the organization. That engagement—pulling the best and brightest into the work—will ensure PIA of New Jersey continues to be a driving force in our industry. I hope that spirit carries forward in the years to come.”
He said that PIANJ was lucky to have talented and capable staff, an active board and strong committees. “When you put the right people in the right places, give them a clear mission, and then get out of the way—they do incredible things.”
Then he introduced Roger Butler, CIC, as the incoming PIANJ president. Butler thanked outgoing President Harris for his hard work, and his family for supporting him. He told everyone that he’s looking forward to his term as PIANJ president, that he is dedicated to helping the association succeed and move forward, and that he hopes they’ll all have fun as they do it.
The following officers will lead PIANJ in 2025-26:
- President: Roger Butler, CIC
- President-elect: Aaron Levine, CIC
- Vice President: Lisa Hamm, CIC
- Vice President: Michael Beckerman, CPCU
- Secretary/Treasurer: Christopher Powell
- Immediate past President: Andrew Harris Jr., CIC, AAI, CISR
Newly elected NJYIP officers, directors
The following officers and directors will lead NJYIP in 2025-26:
- President: Timothy Latimer
- First Vice President: Michael S. DeStasio
- Second Vice President: Walter Conroy
- Treasurer: Shanna Muscavage
- Secretary: Josh McManigal
- Immediate past President: Peter Leone
The following individuals will serve as NJYIP directors with terms expiring in 2027: Lila Khiry Cirillo; Walter Conroy; Amanda Gallo; Tim Latimer; Jake McCaughan; Josh McManigal; Shanna Muscavage; Lauren Scott; and Tiffany Cospito.
Star-studded education
In Sunday morning’s Cyber Liability & Data Breach: Don’t Be Compromised, John Fear, CISR, CPIA, discussed how individuals and businesses are faced with the increasing frequency and complexity of cyberattacks and data breach incidents. “As independent agents and brokers, our responsibility is to help our clients understand their needs based on the risks they face, and to offer products that will help protect them from—and restore them when—these incidents take place,” said Fear.
Monday morning’s Unprecedented Times: Other Than Price, What Else Has Increased?, Fear noted that clients are experiencing disruptions caused by carriers limiting new business, and they are looking to their insurance agents to answer their questions. During the session, he discussed the operational impact of client connections to not only retain current clients, but also to differentiate an agency regarding communicating the value of having the proper coverages.
Monday afternoon Steve Lyon, CPCU, CIC, CRM, AAI, ARM, AIS, CRIS, MLIS, AFIS, TRIP, lead: Homeowners and the Hard Market: Building Your Home (Policy) on a Firm Foundation. “Frequent and severe weather events are costing the industry more than our rate structure can handle,” said Lyon. “As a result, carriers are filing for significant year-over-year increases, not writing new business, or leaving markets. We are on the verge of a national insurance crisis.” The class explored what insureds can do to make their risk more attractive to insurance companies, help reduce premiums, and avoid nonrenewals. He also discussed parametric insurance’s part to insure future catastrophic events and how it helps take pressure off the standard marketplace.
In Tuesday morning’s Ethical Practices in Insurance: Managing E&O Risks, Cathy Trischan, CPCU, CIC, CRM, AU, ARM, AAI, CRIS, MLIS, TRIP, discussed some of the ethical dilemmas insurance professionals face. The class offered them the opportunity to discuss the different errors-and-omissions issues insurance agents face in their day-to-day business. “This is a great opportunity to hear from your peers about some of the ethical dilemmas they face—which can offer valuable insight.”
For those who were wondering how to best use artificial intelligence for sales, social media, client communications and greater productivity, a workshop (Using AI for Effective Agency Communications) lead by Daniel Metcalf of CyberFin; Roberto Salinas, of GAIL; Jason Walker of Agency Revolution; and Vic Yeh, of CaraAI offered insights to help sort out what is important from the noise.
PIANJ also held its newest Deep Dive Live—Tech Tactics: People Processes and Technology, during which InsurTech experts and PIA members demonstrated how they implemented tech tools effectively to enhance workflow, boost efficiency and stay competitive. Moderated by incoming PIANJ President-elect Aaron Levine, CIC, the panelists included: Mark Glaug of CoverDesk; incoming PIANJ Vice President Lisa Hamm, CIC; Gordon Hudson of The Barclay Group; Brent Sheppard of Xanatek; and Vic Yeh, of CaraAI.
The popular Emerging Leadership Series—a dynamic and engaging, three-part leadership series, which equipped participants with the skills and mindset needed to lead with confidence in today’s ever-changing insurance environment—concluded at conference. John Fear lead the third module: Managing vs Coaching: Developing Meaningful and Measurable Goals as part of Monday’s schedule. For those individuals who missed the first module (Social Styles: Components of Communication), the webinar will rerun on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Register today: Connecticut | New Jersey | New York.
AUGIE, a volunteer-facilitated organization that focuses on enhancing the agent-customer experience throughout the lifecycle of the insurance process, held its User Group Meeting at the conference. Agents, carrier representatives and vendors engaged in a lively discussion on how technology can enable agency-insurer communications.
Networking
The trade show featured some 160 exhibitors. Insurance professionals swaggered across the trade-show floor to meet with the exhibitors, and explored new possibilities for their businesses and careers.
See photos from the trade show.
The Young Insurance Professionals helped kicked off the conference with its YIP Late-Night Honky-Tonk at the Hard Rock Café Backstage on Sunday night.
See photos from the YIP reception.
Southern nights beach party
On Monday evening, the LandShark Bar & Grill opened its doors again for PIA. There, attendees kicked off their boots, enjoyed the food, the beverages, the atmosphere of Atlantic City’s iconic Boardwalk, and the company of each other. All of this was backed by the music of GoodMan Fiske—one of the most popular cover bands on the East Coast.
See photos from the beach party.
Fun Run for Special Olympics raises over $85,000
The NJYIP 41st Annual Fun Run 5K—which benefited Special Olympics New Jersey—was held Tuesday morning on the Boardwalk outside of the Hard Rock Casino. This year, some 90 runners participated. The event raised $85,746 for SONJ.
The top finishers included: Nichole Reppert as the first-place female finisher (29:37) and Francis Kelly as the first-place male finisher (19:20); Tiffany Cospito as the second-place female finisher (29:49) and Matthew MacDonald as the second-place male finisher (26:34); and Norma Alvarez-Martin as the third-place female finisher (30:18) and Drew Bramley as the third-place male finisher (27:15).
This year’s top fundraisers included: top overall individual fundraiser: Ken Bull ($3,610); top agency fundraiser: New Jersey Young Insurance Professionals ($4,820); and top company fundraiser: FMI ($23,752).
See photos from the YIP Fun Run.
See photos from the YIP Fun Run Awards Breakfast.
Plan for next year
Thanks for being a part of this boots-on-the-ground experience.
We already are planning for next year’s event, and we hope to see you there, too! Watch your PIA publications for more details. And, save the date: June 7-9, 2026—at the Hard Rock, Atlantic City.
Jaye Czupryna is publications manager for PIA Northeast and editor-in-chief of PIA Magazine. She started her career in public relations, and she has been with PIA for more than 20 years. She has overseen PIA Northeast’s various publications, including the award-winning magazine since 2009. Jaye graduated cum laude from Siena College where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Communications.