Insurance Industry Conference (IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE)

Andy Seydel, Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Andy Seydel is a Des Moines-based Partner in EY’s FSO tax practice. He has over 20 years of experience as it relates to life insurance and property and casualty insurance companies. He began his career in the audit practice with EY, and after working for three years in the private insurance industry, he re-joined EY in the FSO tax practice in 2013. Andy has extensive experience in the preparation and review of GAAP, IFRS, and Statutory income tax provisions as well as deferred tax inventories.  He has expertise in both SSAP 101 and ASC 740 and has extensive experience with the process review and control testing regarding compliance with Sarbanes Oxley Section 404. He provides federal and state tax return compliance services for corporations, partnerships, and life/nonlife consolidated filings. Andy assists client in tax planning and consulting including matters such as accounting method changes, private letter rulings, transaction due diligence, and tax operating model enhancements. He has been a presenter at numerous industry conferences including the Insurance Tax Conference, Society of Actuaries Product Tax Conference, ITA Tax Symposium, and the EY Annual Insurance Industry Update in Des Moines, among others.  He is also a frequent instructor of internal trainings for tax and audit professionals. Andy received his Bachelors of Arts in Accounting from Simpson College. He is a CPA, licensed in the State of Iowa. He is a member of the AICPA and Iowa Society of Public Accountants. Andy serves on the board of the Iowa Taxpayers Association.

Connie Jasper Woodroof

Connie Jasper Woodroof began her career in the insurance industry in 1984 completing statutory filings for both Life and Property/Casualty companies. Ms. Woodroof spent nine years with the NAIC where she served in various capacities; reviewing of statements for quality, testing of RBC formulas and software during formula development, and assisting with the development and teaching of an industry educational series. Connie completed 18 years as the NAIC Liaison for Fiserv/StoneRiver/Sapiens, where she helped both Sapiens and its clients keep abreast of events at the NAIC, responded to statutory reporting and accounting information requests and provided educational opportunities. Currently, Ms. Jasper Woodroof is serving as a statutory insurance industry consultant for FORVIS as well as offering consulting services to the insurance industry. Connie remains active on several industry interested parties groups working with NAIC issues. Woodroof holds a FLMI, a B.S. in Accounting and a M.A. in General Psychology.

Dan Israel, Managing Director

As Managing Director for the Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA), Dan is responsible for the overall operations of the organization - emphasizing the growth, development, and success of the programs, as well as ongoing support of all of the accelerator’s portfolio companies. His goal is to bring together strategic and forward-thinking investors with innovative founders who can enhance both groups’ opportunities for growth and the insurance space overall.
Prior to the GIA, his career has spanned roles in innovation, management and strategy, finance, and operations within a number of industries. He has an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics from the University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie College of Business.

Doug Ommen, Iowa Insurance Commissioner, Iowa Insurance Division

Doug Ommen was appointed by Governor Terry Branstad as Insurance Commissioner in January 2017, after serving as Interim Commissioner since December 2016. Ommen has a strong and varied public service background. Ommen’s dedication and desire to serve the public began in seeking justice for victims of fraud in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, where as an assistant attorney general and then as chief counsel, he led the fight to protect consumers over the course of three decades. Ommen served as Deputy Insurance Commissioner at the Iowa Insurance Division from August 2013 to December 2016. Ommen also served in the Missouri Department of Insurance during 2005 – 2008, and as Missouri’s Insurance Director was instrumental for several key regulatory reforms. Ommen obtained his law degree in 1985 from the Saint Louis University School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in both Iowa and Missouri. Ommen and his wife, Sharon, have two married children and four grandchildren.

Ellen Willadsen, Chief Innovation Officer, Holmes Murphy & Associates

Ellen Willadsen, CPA, is Chief Innovation Officer for Holmes Murphy. She joined the company in 1995 and during her more than 27 years, she's played a key role in increasing Holmes Murphy's profitability and providing invaluable counsel on major financial decisions. From 1995 to 2021, Ellen served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), assisting in all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to budget management, evaluation of potential acquisitions, cost benefit analysis, and Holmes Murphy's overall vision of growth.

In 2021, Ellen transitioned to the role of Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) and serves as Holmes Murphy's Executive Sponsor for BrokerTech Ventures. For many previous years, Ellen served on the Holmes Murphy Executive Committee - she was the first female leader at the company to do so - and as a director on Holmes Murphy's Board. She also previously served on the perpetuation, compensation, and audit committees, providing insight and helping make informed decisions that affect the entire company. Prior to joining Holmes Murphy, Ellen worked as an audit manager for a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm. A graduate of the University of Iowa and a CPA, Ellen continues to contribute her diligent work ethic and financial expertise to move Holmes Murphy forward in achieving dynamic growth and innovation. Ellen is an active participant in the United Way's Women United. She is a member of the Iowa Society of CPAs and was named the ISCPA's Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry in 2019. She is also a member of the Financial Executive Women (FEW) — an organization focused on mentoring and supporting women working in the financial sector. Ellen was inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame in 2022.

Kevin Clark, Chief Acct & Reinsurance Specialist

Kevin Clark joined the Iowa Insurance Division in 2020 and currently serves as the Division’s Chief Accounting & Reinsurance Specialist. His responsibilities include providing accounting, reinsurance and investment expertise to the financial regulation functions of the Division. He also represents Iowa on related National Association of Insurance Commissioners working groups including as Vice Chair of the Statutory Accounting Principles Working Group and has led significant initiatives including the development of the Principles Based Bond Definition for statutory accounting. Prior to joining the Division, Mr. Clark was a Director of Accounting Policy at Athene Holding, Ltd, where his experience spanned both GAAP and statutory accounting, with specialization in investments, reinsurance and insurance liability accounting. He also previously worked as an auditor with Deloitte.
Mr. Clark is a CPA and has a BA in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa.

Mike Downing, Chief Operating Officer, Athene USA

Mike Downing is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Actuary with Athene USA.

Susan Hatten, Chief Marketing Officer, Holmes Murphy & Associates

As Chief Marketing Officer at Holmes Murphy, Susan Hatten oversees the strategy and direction for Holmes Murphy's Marketing objectives including brand, voice, look, and feel through both internal and external Holmes Murphy representation, as well as Brokerage Services and PLUS (subsidiary brands) marketing sales support. Susan's team of marketing experts include communications/PR, design, social media, film, events, website, and digital. Susan also oversees the strategy and direction for Holmes Murphy's Foundation and community engagement. In addition to her role at Holmes Murphy, Susan serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of BrokerTech Ventures.

Prior to joining Holmes Murphy, Susan led Business Development for the marketing consultancy and advertising agency, The Sigler Companies/Innova. Since joining Holmes Murphy in 2014, Susan has held roles within Enterprise Sales, built the Holmes Murphy Foundation, been involved in the Women Optimizing Women (WOW) initiative, served on the founding team to build BrokerTech Ventures, and now leads Marketing. Susan graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Business Marketing and Apparel Merchandising/Design. Passionate about her community, Susan holds leadership roles with the Des Moines Downtown Chamber, Variety - The Children's Charity, the Winefestival Foundation of Des Moines, ChildServe, United Way of Central Iowa, The Plaza DSM, Pro-Iowa Foundation, and Releve' Women's Group.

Thomas Westbrook

Tom Westbrook, Ph.D. is an active presenter at numerous corporations and organizations across the Midwest. His clients include Principal Financial Group, Oldcastle Materials Group, Jeld-Wen, McAninch Construction, Wells Fargo, Wellmark, Nationwide, numerous associations, medical centers, school districts and colleges. His success at blending the theoretical aspects of leadership with practical, performance-based applications has won him praise as a master facilitator. Tom’s work at Nationwide included the design of a 21st century learning model applied to their new School of Commercial Underwriting. With Wellmark, Tom and his team designed the orientation for communities creating Blue Zones in Iowa. His work at Principal included the development and offering of instructor-led, highly interactive traditional and web-based leadership courses offered to over 5,000 leaders across the United States. Tom served on the administration and faculty of Drake University. Tom started, directed, and taught in the undergraduate minor in Leadership Education & Development and taught graduate leadership classes. While at Simpson College, Tom served as Dean of Continuing Education, a program he initiated. He has published in many leading journals including: The Human Resource Development Quarterly, American Journal of Distance Education, and The Journal of Continuing Higher Education. He was awarded the Iowa Distance Education Association’s Points of Presence Award for exemplary programming. Tom’s doctorate was earned at the University of Iowa where he was awarded the Leonard B Davis Award for scholarship and service.