2025 Annual Conference | August 11 - 13
VCIA Conference Ambassadors
Connect with seasoned industry veterans who'll guide you through your first VCIA conference experience

Amy O'Brien
Vice President, Captive Sales
Gallagher Bassett
# of conferences attended:
8+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
networking, educational opportunities
Benjamin Gould
Director
Paul Frank + Collins
# of conferences attended:
14
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Seeing a whole bunch of people I know from the industry in one place face-to-face
Brenda Stewart
Vice President
AIG Captive Solutions
# of conferences attended:
22
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Networking
Christina Kindstedt
President
Advantage Insurance Management
# of conferences attended:
22
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Exchange of ideas and best practices.
Dale Sagen
Vice President, Business Development Leader
QBE Accident & Health
# of conferences attended:
4
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
The sessions are very educational.
David Bosworth
Portfolio Manager
Maple Capital Management
# of conferences attended:
2
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Learning about the use(s) of captives in new and unique ways
Erin Pond
Director of Captive Services
Community Bank, NA
# of conferences attended:
1
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Meeting a lot of industry folks that are all having a great time!
Ian Davis
Senior Vice President, Captive Insurance
M&T Bank
# of conferences attended:
8
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Connecting with clients and business partners, meeting new captive professionals, and learning the latest industry trends and developments.
Jason Palmer
Senior Director
Willis Towers Watson Management (Vermont), Ltd.
# of conferences attended:
20+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
My favorite part of attending the conference is welcoming everyone to the beautiful State of Vermont (my home) and catching up with business colleagues in the captive insurance industry, many of which I only get to see once per year in person.
Jim Girardin
Managing Director
Amethyst Captive Insurance Solutions
# of conferences attended:
30+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Networking with the many interesting and gracious people work in the captive insurance industry. Most favorite perhaps is meeting new captive owners and professionals getting started.
Julie Bordo
CEO/President
PCH Mutual Insurance Co., Inc, a RRG
# of conferences attended:
10
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Too many to list, connecting with colleagues, meeting new people and potential service providers, learning new things
Kate Boucher
Vice President, Regulatory & Compliance
American Excess Insurance Exchange, RRG
# of conferences attended:
30+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Seeing old friends and meeting new people.
Laura Hatton
Risk Manager (parent) / President ( Captive)
Burnham Holdings Inc. (Parent) / Burnham Casualty Insurance Co. (Captive)
# of conferences attended:
2
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Making connections with other professionals in the industry and learning from them.
Lisa Poulin
Consultant
Milliman. Inc.
# of conferences attended:
30+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Networking with captive colleagues
Melissa Updike
CEO/Executive Director
Kentuckiana Medical Reciprocal Risk Retention Group (KMRRRG)
# of conferences attended:
7+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Networking, up to date topics (content), Resources, Business Partners can meet in one place
Patrick Shea
Senior Accountant
Brown & Brown RS Insurance Services, LLC
# of conferences attended:
3
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Hearing from the top industry experts all in one place
Sherry Ricker
Vice President
Advantage Insurance Management (USA), LLC
# of conferences attended:
20+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Engaging with people who are committed to the captive insurance industry
Steven Bauman
Director Multi-National & Captive Programs - The Americas
AXA XL
# of conferences attended:
30+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Conference receptions
Theresa Severson
SVP Insurance & Risk
Kite Realty Group
# of conferences attended:
6+
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Networking and education sessions
Zaw Win
Director
Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC
# of conferences attended:
10
Favorite thing about the VCIA Conference:
Catching up with old friends and meeting new people