Panelists
Refocus, Connect, and Empower Your Agency for the Future
Thursday Keynote - 8:30 - 11:30 am
Ray Roentz, Moderator
President
Heneghan, White, Cutting & Roentz
Ray Roentz specializes in all areas of commercial insurance, as well as home, auto, life insurance, farm, and health. He currently serves as a director for the IIA of IL Board of Directors and is a member of the Planning and Coordination and Technology Committees. Ray graduated from Jersey Community High School and Quincy University, and has called Jersey County home for over 40 years.
Paul Hawkins
CEO and Co-Founder
HawkSoft
Paul Hawkins began developing HawkSoft’s first software program while working as an independent insurance agent in Portland, Oregon, and seeing first-hand the opportunities for increased efficiency and improved product support that software automation could provide. Throughout his 6-year career as an insurance agent, Paul developed many software tools that he and his coworkers used to boost their agency’s success. In 1995, Paul founded HawkSoft to devote his full attention to helping all independent insurance agents. Paul serves as President and CEO of HawkSoft and is a member of the board of directors. He is a frequent speaker at insurance industry events and has received the Legend Award from The Brokers Insurance Group.
Murali Natarajan
SVP & Chief Information Officer
West Bend Mutual Insurance Company
Murali Natarajan is currently the SVP & CIO of West Bend Mutual insurance. He joined WMBI in 2017 with 20 years of insurance industry experience and 24 years of technology experience. In Partnership with various leaders at WBMI, he is also responsible for creating and executing the technology vision and strategy for the various business units in the company. He is a business savvy leader with a keen ability to drive technology enabled business transformation.
Marlene Shepherd
Director of Agency Technology
Snyder Insurance
Marlene Shepherd began her career in the insurance industry in 1985 in the bond department of St. Paul Insurance Company. She moved to the independent agency side in 1986. In her current role with Snyder Insurance, where she's been for 25 years, she maintains the agency management system and creates workflows and procedures that best fit client needs. She also has a book of business she manages. Marlene currently serves on the IIA of IL Technology Committee.