Agency Management Institute - Webinar

Educational Consultant:

Jean Sundlof

CIC, CPCU, ACI

Jean Sundlof joined Kraus-Anderson Insurance in June of 1999. Jean's first position with Kraus was a combined Senior Account Executive and Marketer role. She moved into production in 2006 and is currently Director of the Captive Practice and an active producer. Prior to joining Kraus-Anderson, Jean worked at Youngdahl Companies for seven years. She had various responsibilities including sales, account executive work, and marketing. Jean has also served as an Agency Operations Representative for Great American Insurance Company and as Executive Director of Associated Risk Managers of Oklahoma. She began her career working with an independent insurance agency in Oklahoma in a sales and marketing capacity.Jean received her BBA and MBA in Management from the University of Oklahoma. She obtained her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 1980 and her Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation in 1982. Jean instructs many courses for the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents. She serves as a member of the National Faculty for the National Alliance, teaching both CIC and CISR. She is also an active faculty member for Swiss Re in instructing Agent's E&O courses. Jean completed the requirements to be designated as Associate in Captive Insurance (ACI) in 2007. She was the first Minnesotan to receive this designation. She recently added the CCI designation to her captive expertise.Jean was honored by the Oklahoma Association of Professional Insurance Agents in 1984 as Insurance Women of the year. She was also privileged to be named Young Agent of the Year in 1998 by the Minnesota Independent Insurance Agents.

Speaker Day 1:

Brian Bartosh

 LUTCF

Brian Bartosh is President of Spire America Holdings, Inc. which operates under the brand names of Top O' Michigan Insurance Solutions and Spire Insurance Solutions.  Based in Alpena, Michigan, the agency provides Property and Casualty Services along with Financial Services to its clients through a network of branch sales offices throughout Northern Michigan and virtually outside of their geographic area. 

Brian began his career in 1979 as an agent with his father's agency. In 1980, he installed the agency's first computer system for rating and marketing. In 1984, their first management system was put in place.  From the start, they have used the system to its fullest and have continued to implement the most current technologies available. Brian has served as chair of the users group for Applied Systems (Applied Client Network) and also previously as President in the late 1990's. He has primarily focused on product development and implementation of interface between agents and companies. Brian earned his Certified Insurance Counselor designation with The National Alliance (now known as the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance or The Alliance) in 2007 and has received his Life Underwriters Training Council Fellowship (LUTCF) designation as well. He has also served as a National Faculty Member of The Alliance and has been presenting on the topic of Agency Management since 2008. 

In addition to Agency Management, Brian is a frequent speaker on the issues of automation, implementation of improved workflows and marketing to clients and prospects. He is especially fluent on the topic of Real Time and how agencies can use this technology to not only serve their clients better but reduce their overall costs. He has spoken to groups throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom on these topics. In addition to speaking to groups, he has also authored many articles on these subjects, which have appeared in various national publications. Although much time is spent on supporting the industry, Brian also participates in his community. 

Speaker Day 2:

Lori Rummelt

CIC, CPIA, CIE

Lori Rummelt has over thirty years of experience in the insurance industry, seventeen of which were with a large independent agency where she served as Commercial Lines Manager. Lori possesses strong hands-on proficiency with agency operations, training, development of consistent professional standards and agency errors and omissions (E&O) loss control. She is skilled at optimizing the use of agency technology.

In 2018, Lori joined LaPorte Consulting by providing operations consulting and education. Her experience with utilizing systems and streamlining workflows has made her a sought-after resource.

Lori is an E&O auditor, an approved instructor for the Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) program and teaches a number of continuing education classes, including those with emphasis on agency management and E&O loss control. She earned her CIC designation in 2003 and has also earned the professional designations of Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) and Certified Insurance Educator (CIE).