Insurance Industry Conference (WEBCAST ATTENDANCE)

Amber Carman, Audit Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Amber Carman is an Audit Managing Director with Deloitte. She has over 30 years of experience in public accounting specializing in audit, assurance and advisory services focusing on serving companies in the financial services industry, specifically insurance.  Amber has experience serving writers of life & annuity, health and property & casualty as well as reinsurance companies.  Amber has served both public and private companies throughout various stages of their life cycles including acquisitions and dispositions, system conversions, accounting standard implementations, internal control remediations, complex transactions and more.

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 assists clients 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.

Ann Collins, Exec VP & Chief Financial Officer, EMC Insurance Companies

Ann is a member of EMC's Strategic Leadership Team, serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She joined EMC in 2021 as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. As EVP, Ann oversees Finance, Commercial Lines Underwriting (including Corporate and Field teams, Loss Control, Premium Audit, and Bond), Field Support (Rating and Billing), Actuarial, Investments, Facilities and Administration, and EMC Re. 
  
Prior to joining EMC, Ann was CFO for three of W.R. Berkley's domestic property and casualty insurance profit centers, based in Des Moines, Iowa. Ann also worked at a national property and casualty carrier as the Financial Planning and Analysis Manager. Ann began her career in public accounting with KPMG.  
  
Ann received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Northwest Missouri State University, and a master's degree in business administration from Drake University in Des Moines. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).  Currently, Ann volunteers as the Treasurer for the Des Moines Symphony and is on the Budget and Stewardship Committee for her church.  Ann and her husband Rod have two adult children and love spending time outdoors, especially at the lake.

Benjamin Einck, VP, Internal Audit, Athene USA

Ben Einck is with Athene.

Brian Beckett, CFO, Security Benefit

Brian Beckett is CFO with Security Benefit.

Carrie Steffen, CEO, Iowa Society of CPAs

Carrie Steffen brings more than 25 years of experience in the accounting profession to ISCPA, most recently as co-founder and president of The Whetstone Group where she has promoted the discipline of growth among firms of all sizes ranging from sole practitioners to the top national firms. She has not only influenced firm leaders, but also shaped thousands of professional staff, marketing resources and other industry consultants through her speaking and training efforts.

Prior to The Whetstone Group, Steffen was a national marketing director for RSM US LLP. She has been named to the Association for Accounting Marketing Hall of Fame, Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential Consultant to Watch list and the Corridor Business Journal 40 Under 40 List. Steffen is a member and past president of CPA Consultants’ Alliance (CPACA) and has held various roles with the National Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) including board member, treasurer, finance committee chair, and education committee chair. She’s a frequent guest on industry leading podcasts including the Accounting Today podcast, AICPA’s Small Firm Podcast and has been a featured guest on the AICPA’s Town Hall.

Steffen has been widely published in Accounting Today, INSIDE Public Accounting, The AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy, AAM’s MarkeTrends: The Journal of Accounting Marketing, CPA Practice Management Forum and numerous state society and accounting network publications. She is also co-author of the book “Bridging the Gap: Strengthening the Connection between Current Emerging Leaders.” She has presented for the AICPA, the Association for Accounting Marketing’s (AAM) Annual Summit, and various state society events.

Chris Kuehl, Managing Director

Dr. Chris Kuehl is a Managing Director of Armada Corporate Intelligence. He provides forecasts and strategic guidance for a wide variety of corporate clients around the world. He is the chief economist for several national and international organizations Prior to starting Armada in 1999 he was a professor of economics and finance for 15 years – teaching in the US, Hungary, Russia, Estonia, Singapore and Taiwan. He holds advanced degrees in economics, Soviet studies and East Asian studies. Chris is the writer/editor of Business Intelligence Briefs and a writer for the Black Owl Report – both publications from Armada. He is an economic analyst for the Armada Strategic Intelligence System and is responsible for the Credit Manager’s Index from NACM as well Fabrinomics from the FMA.

Christopher Yuska, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP

Chris Yuska, CPA, is a partner in EY’s FSO Audit Insurance Services practice with more than 24 years of experience serving the financial services industry specializing in life, property/casualty, reinsurance, wealth and asset management operations. Chris has extensive experience on both public and private companies, ranging from small to large global companies.
 
Chris enjoys working and problem solving with client to address complex accounting, financial reporting, internal control and business issues using the knowledge and experience that EY and serving his clients has provided him. Chris has significant experience in US GAAP, statutory accounting principles, US SEC reporting and internal control reporting under SOX and the model audit rule. Chris also has experience working with EY teams in throughout the world in accounting and financial reporting under their local basis of accounting. Chris’ leadership roles include: Des Moines Office Managing Partner, US Insurance Operations Co-Leader and Central Insurance audit operations leader, Financial Services Global Delivery Services leader.

Chris along with his wife Karen have three children, Colin (22), Blake (20) and Ethan (14). Chris enjoys attending his children’s activities and domestic and foreign traveling with family and friends, with a goal of visiting every National Park in the US. Chris enjoys coaching his children in baseball and staying active on the tennis court. Chris has been active in community organizations including serving as current member of the University of Northern Iowa Accounting Advisory Board, past board member of the Iowa Society of CPAs (ISCPA), past chairperson of the ISCPA insurance industry committee, and past Faith Formation Council president at his local church. 

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 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 Mazars 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.

Eric Carlson

Eric Carlson is with AON Reinsurance Soutions.

Jim Lewis

Jim Lewis is with the University of Iowa Vaughan Institute of Risk Management and Insurance.

Kelly DiCuffa

Kelly DiCuffa is with KPMG.

Ken Cadematori, President & Chief Executive Officer

Ken Cadematori brings more than 30 years of executive leadership in finance and accounting to his role as President & CEO of GuideOne. Known for his ability to balance innovation with financial discipline, Ken provides a clear and principled vision for the future of mutual insurance.

Before becoming CEO, Ken served as GuideOne's Chief Financial Officer, where he led the finance team and provided strategic oversight in critical areas such as investments, capital management, reinsurance and financial planning. His experience has given him a deep understanding of how to drive transformation while ensuring compliance, trust and fiscal responsibility.

A certified public accountant with a bachelor's degree in accounting from Lycoming College, Ken is committed to advancing GuideOne's mission through thoughtful innovation. His leadership reflects the values at the heart of mutual insurance: ethical decision-making, sustainable growth and creating real value for policyholders and communities.

Kristina Colson, AI Strategy Lead

Kristina Colson serves as AI Strategy Lead and Software Delivery Consultant at Lean TECHniques, a Des Moines-based technology consultancy. Kristina helps organizations navigate the intersection of emerging technology and product strategy, with a focus on responsible, human-centered AI adoption.

Kristina has spent the past ten years influencing and guiding teams through change - first as a product manager and agile coach, and now as a leader in Lean TECHniques' AI initiatives. Kristina leads Lean TECHniques' internal AI enablement program and partners with clients to apply technology in ways that solve real problems, enhance delivery, and respect the role of human expertise.

Larissa Johnson, Partner

Larissa Johnson is an Omaha-based partner with more than 25 years of experience in providing audit, assurance, and advisory services, including 13 years as a partner. She has been the lead client service partner and audit partner for a variety of SEC and private clients in the financial services industry, with a focus on insurance clients in the life and annuity, health, property and casualty, and reinsurance sectors. Larissa currently serves as the deputy Audit & Assurance insurance sector leader, with responsibility for the sector's operating performance, including financial results, development of professionals, and overall strategy.

Larissa has worked with clients through system conversions, complex transactions, SEC filings, accounting implementations, and regulatory inquiries. 

In addition to her work with clients, Larissa serves as an insurance industry facilitator on technical topics, a member of Deloitte's team for the implementation of long-duration targeted improvements, and a leader in piloting industry-specific analytics and technology tools. She is a former member of the Ideation Committee of the Deloitte Center for Financial Services.  

By virtue of her extensive experience in the insurance industry, focus on responsive service, and commitment to quality, Larissa is a trusted adviser to audit committees and members of management. Her relationships in the insurance industry help her provide valuable insights and access to resources that can help her clients respond to trends in the evolving marketplace.  
Larissa has a BS from theUniversity of Nebraska - Kearney, a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a Licensed CPA in Nebraska.

Leena Punjabi

Leena Punjabi has served as the Chief Investment Officer at F&G Annuities & Life since January 2021. In her role, she is responsible for leading the investment team and the strategic direction & management of the investment portfolio. Leena joined F&G in July 2019 as Vice President, Asset Management.
Prior to joining F&G she was a Senior Principal in the New York office of Mercer's wealth business and led the development of the insurance investments practice in the US.
Leena joined Mercer in 2006 in the New York office and was seconded to Mercer's London office in 2012. In London, she advised multi-national companies on integrating their pension plans globally to achieve economies of scale and improve oversight.
Throughout her twenty-year tenure, she has provided the firms she worked for and her clients with innovative, research-backed recommendations to improve their investment outcomes. Her expertise spans the full range of the institutional investment cycle, from establishing governance structures and defining investment policy to building stakeholder consensus and implementing investment programs.
Leena holds an MS in accounting from Baruch College, City University of NY and an MBA in marketing from Mumbai University. Leena is a CFA® charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute and New York Society of Security Analysts.

M. Sean Vicente, Office Managing Partner, KPMG LLP

As the U.S. Sector Leader for Insurance at KPMG, Sean leads a national team of professionals dedicated to assisting clients as they navigate a rapidly evolving landscape. His experience spans the breadth of our businesses including audit, reporting and SEC filings, transactions diligence and support, finance transformation, and driving operational excellence. Sean also serves as the managing partner for the Des Moines office of KPMG, and values the opportunity to work side by side with other servant leaders in efforts to make Des Moines a great place to work and live.

Matt Philips, Director

Matt is a Director in PwC's Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services ("CMAAS") practice focused on supporting insurance clients with complex accounting and financial reporting matters related to transactions and other transformational events.

Matt has 12 years of experience delivering audit, deals, and accounting advisory services to clients in the insurance industry including life and annuity insurers, reinsurers, insurance brokers, and insurance MGAs/MGUs. Matt has led several implementations of US GAAP's Long Duration Targeted Improvements ("LDTI") standards and supported several domestic and international insurers on complex reinsurance transactions, including offshore and internal reinsurance transactions. Additionally, Matt had advised several companies in the insurance industry on IPOs and other capital markets activities. Matt has broad experience with insurance and reinsurance accounting under US GAAP, US Statutory, IFRS, and Bermuda accounting. Additionally, Matt has supported insurance clients with the implementation of various accounting and financial reporting data and technology solutions including data warehouses, accounting rules engines, ERP systems, financial reporting tools, and other citizen-led automation and AI tools.

Matt has a Master of Accounting degree and B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Minnesota. He is a licensed CPA in Minnesota. 

Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson is with Principal Financial Group.

Nathan Mueller

Nathan holds a B.A. in Accounting from Gustavus Adolphus College and was a licensed CPA from 2002-2010. He has over 13 years of public accounting experience and 15 years of corporate accounting experience with a focus on financial reporting, cash processing, and accounting controls. After the reinsurance company Nathan worked for was purchased by ING for $6 billion, he played a key role in transitioning its operations onto ING’s enterprise resource planning system. Enabled by lax controls and unchecked authority to distribute funds, Nathan began embezzling money to pay off personal debt. What started as a $1,100 check to a credit card, spiraled into an $8.5 million fraud over the next four years. It was only a co-worker’s suspicions that brought the fraud to an end. After being caught, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison. He was released in September of 2014. While serving his sentence, Nathan delivered over 60 speeches to a broad spectrum of groups & organizations including college classes, businesses, business organizations and non-profits. Since his release from prison in 2014 he has become a sought-after speaker for Fraud and Ethics presentations for diverse and notable organizations across the United States. His most noteworthy presentation to date was the keynote speech at the ACFE Global Fraud Conference 2015 in Baltimore with upwards of 3,000 attendees. Nathan has spoken for several governmental agencies including the FBI, the FDIC, the FFIEC and the Federal Reserve Bank. Nathan has done fraud awareness presentations for Best Buy, General Mills, and Nationwide Insurance to name a few. He also speaks frequently for many organizations including the IIA, ACFE, IMA, HFMA, IASA, ISACA, ACAMS and state CPA societies.

Phil Norris

Phil Norris joined Aon in 1996 working in the Reinsurance Claims department.  In 2017 Phil joined the Aon Treaty Broking team.  Most of his time is spent working on regional property and casualty, specialty casualty and professional liability business.  Phil also works within Aon's MGA practice, helping several MGA's find carrier partners, secure reinsurance support and launch successful programs.  In the early part of his career while working in Aon's claims department Phil managed various types of property and casualty claims, including Property Per Risk, Property Cat, Professional Lines, Workers Compensation, Farm and Ag, Environmental, Construction Defect and Auto Lines.  At the time Phil left claims he was a Claims Manager overseeing a team of Claim Analysts working on all lines of business.  With treaty broking and claims combined, Phil has 30 years of industry experience.  Phil has lived most of his life in the Chicagoland area.  When not working Phil likes to travel with his wife and two sons, play the occasional round of golf, go for a run or play pickup basketball.

Teresa Johnson, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Tessie Johnson is a Partner at PwC.