Steve Allen
Executive Director, North Carolina Surplus Lines Association
Steve Allen is a seasoned insurance executive with over three decades of leadership experience in the surplus lines and wholesale insurance industry. Since 2013, he has served as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Surplus Lines Association (NCSLA), where he leads strategic initiatives, industry advocacy, and member engagement across the state.
Steve’s extensive career includes key executive roles such as Chief Operating Officer at Burns & Wilcox, President of CRC Underwriting, and President of Strickland Insurance Brokers. His industry leadership has also included serving twice as President of the North Carolina Surplus Lines Association and as a former member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO), now known as the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA).
In addition to his executive leadership, Steve is actively involved in shaping the future of the risk management and insurance profession. He currently serves on the Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) Advisory Council at East Carolina University and sits on the Board of the Brantley Risk & Insurance Center at Appalachian State University.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Steve Allen continues to be a respected voice and advocate in the surplus lines industry, known for his commitment to education, professional development, and industry innovation.
Paul Aycock
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company
Paul Aycock, a leader in the insurance industry, currently serves as Executive Vice President at Atlantic Casualty Insurance Company, where he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s strategic direction and operational excellence since joining in 1991. Beginning his career in the accounting department, Paul quickly expanded his impact across product development and operations, eventually heading up the Managing General Agent (MGA) division. His leadership journey continued as Vice President of Agency Services before assuming his current role.
A proud alumnus of Campbell University (Class of 1990), Paul was a founding member of the university’s charter SAM (Society for Advancement of Management) club. His commitment to education and mentorship remains strong—he serves on Campbell’s Business School Advisory Board and is an active member of the Advisory Board for the Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) program.
Paul shares his life with his wife, April, and their two children: Madison Aycock West and Evan Aycock.
Scott Evans
President -Coastal Insurance & Realty, Inc.
Scott is currently the President of Coastal Insurance & Realty, Inc. in Shallotte, NC. He is a 1988 graduate of Campbell and was a four year starting pitcher for the Fighting Camels baseball team from 1985-1988 . He serves as Chairman of AD advisory board currently , as well as , Vice Chair of the RMI advisory board . Scott has been involved in the university and its athletics for over forty years. His favorite memory of his time in “the creek” was being a member of the first Big South championship team in 1988. He resides at Holden Beach and is a multiple business owner in that area .
Michael W. Gay, AAI, AAI-M, AIS, ARM, ARM-P, CPCU, CRIS
InsuranceSpeak* Translator
Michael Gay is an Expert Witness and Litigation Consultant specializing in property and casualty coverages and Agent and Broker “Best Practices”. He has over four decades of insurance program development expertise in the specialty P&C insurance space. Gay is an InsuranceSpeak® Translator skilled in the identification, evaluation, communication, and treatment of complex risk and loss exposures. A passionate Insurance Educator since 1991 and author of nearly 100 course guides and workbooks, he recently co-wrote with Patrick Wraight: Risk Proof Your Business – The Complete Guide to Smart Insurance Choices. Michael has earned the designations of AAI, AAI-M, AIS, ARM, ARM-P, CIC, CPCU, and CRIS.
Gina Hardy
CEO-North Carolina Joint Underwriting Association and North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association
Melanie Hudson
Field Vice President – Business Insurance| Mid-Atlantic Region
Melanie brings more than 35 years of underwriting and leadership experience at Travelers. She currently serves as the Field Vice President for Business Insurance in the Mid-Atlantic Region. In this role, she leads teams across the seven-state territory to drive profitable growth for the Commercial business, including Small Commercial, Middle Market (including the Specialty Practices), and Large Property segments. Her responsibilities span production and profitability, staffing and talent development, and implementing growth and distribution strategies.
Jackie Ireland
Managing Director of VFIS of North Carolina
Aubie Knight, CIC, CRM
Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina
He is known throughout both the association world and the insurance industry for his bold visions, creative approaches to problem solving and a constant desire for growth and evolution. He is the founder of 101 Weston Labs, the only insurtech accelerator built specifically to support the independent agency distribution channel.
Aubie takes great pride in the fact that for four-consecutive years, IIANC has consistently been ranked as a top employer in North Carolina, bringing home the award as the #1 Ranked Employer in North Carolina for mid-sized businesses in 2023. IIANC has an office culture and employee engagement score ranked in the top 1% of US employers.
As a result of his vision and leadership skills, Aubie has served on numerous Boards in both the association and insurance industries. He is constantly challenging himself and any organization that he is affiliated with to “get better”! He recently challenged himself and completed a course at MIT called Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business strategy Program.
Michelle O’Connor
Co-President & Treasurer | O’Connor Insurance Associates
Michelle O’Connor is a visionary insurance leader with over two decades of experience growing and leading O’Connor Insurance Associates, a Best Practices independent agency recognized for exceptional client care and community focus. Since co-founding the agency in 2000, Michelle has combined her expertise in business management and marketing with a passion for delivering the kind of personalized service that only a family-owned agency can provide.
With a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), Michelle began her career as a District Sales Manager at Erie Insurance Group before launching her own agency. Today, she continues to champion a client-first culture as Co-President and Treasurer—leading strategic growth, client retention, operations, and agency innovation.
Rick Pierce, CPCU, AAI
Rick began his insurance career at Integon Insurance in Winston Salem in 1982 after graduating from Appalachian State University with a degree in Business Administration from the Walker College of Business. He earned his Accredited Adviser in Insurance designation in 1989 and his CPCU in 1991. During his 42 years with National General, he has held many positions from Territory Sales Manager, to National Sales Manager, Assistant Vice President of Sales, Product Manager, Marketing Vice President, Senior Vice President of Sales for the Mid-Atlantic Region and currently is Specialty Vehicle Director of Engagement and Agency Development. Rick is a member of the board of advisors of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State and the Campbell University Lundy-Fetterman School of Business insurance curriculum. He also serves as the National General representative for the Professional Insurance Agents national “Partnership” and represents Allstate/NatGen as chair of the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility Board of Governors, the North Carolina Rate Bureau and board member of both the North Carolina Insurance Guarantee Association and South Carolina Insurance Guarantee Association.
John Snipes
Chief Executive Officer-Snipes Insurance Service, Inc.
Born in Dunn, North Carolina, John Snipes is a seasoned insurance professional with over two decades of experience in the industry. He graduated from Thomas Sumter Academy in 1993 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Campbell University in 1997.
John began his career at the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) of North Carolina, continuing with the organization after its 1999 merger with the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina (IIANC), where he served as Education Coordinator. In 2000, he joined Snipes Insurance in Dunn, NC, focusing on sales. By 2005, he became a minority partner and rose to managing partner in 2008. That same year, he relocated to Morehead City, NC, where he launched a new office for the firm.
In 2018, John became the majority owner of Snipes Insurance and continues to lead the agency, emphasizing strong team values and client-focused service. He and his wife, Ashley, were married in 2001 and have two sons, Jack and Phillip.
Danielle S. Wade, CPCU, CIC
President & CEO Jackson Sumner & Associates
Danielle graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish. Naturally, she gravitated to the family business, Jackson Sumner & Associates (JSA), Excess & Surplus Lines Brokers located in her hometown of Boone, NC and realized “it just so happens that insurance is fun!”
Danielle’s passion for the business of Insurance blossomed while working as a P&C Underwriter for nearly a decade. However, as JSA experienced exponential growth during the 2000’s, her responsibilities grew, eventually pulling her away from underwriting and elevating her to a leadership role in the company. After serving as JSA’s Chief Operating Officer for 5 years, she was named President & CEO in January 2019.
A driven individual by nature, Danielle finished her CPCU designation in 2 years and at the time was one of the youngest in the country. During that time, she also earned her CIC designation. Her achievements are not limited solely to her work in the family business, but radiate throughout the industry. She is a Past AAMGA UFO (Under Forty Organization) President, a Past President of the NC Surplus Lines Association and the Past Chair of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Program at Appalachian State University. Currently, she is the Chair of the NC Stamping Office. She is also presently serving as Chair of the WSIA Education Foundation Board, on the Board of Directors for WSIA, as well as various carrier advisory boards. Danielle has also been recognized by Insurance Business of America as one of the Top Young Guns for 2016 and won the 4 Under 40 Award by the Boone Chamber of Commerce in 2019.
As a child growing up around insurance, Danielle recognized that relationships are and always will be the true currency of the industry. And through her evolution as an Insurance professional she has experienced the multiple dimensions of insurance relationships, from relationships with Carriers to those with Agents. Her strength comes from her genuine passion for the industry.
Tim Ward
Business Insurance Consultant
Tim Ward brings over 40 years of experience in Property & Casualty Insurance. He joined Marsh McLennan Agency in 1988 after working with several P&C companies and agencies. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a BS in Business Administration, Tim has expertise across all areas of insurance, with a focus on risk management for manufacturers, suppliers, property owners, hospitality, and professional offices.
Before retiring he led MMA’s Medical Professional Liability division and is widely recognized for his 25+ years of experience in the malpractice field. In addition to a strong background in Personal and Life Insurance, Tim is a leader on Cyber Liability and Data Breach risk.
Tim has served on several industry boards, including CPCU, SFSP, the NC Reinsurance Facility, and IIANC’s Technical Committee, where he advises agents on complex insurance issues.
Sharman Williams
Claims Supervisor- Erie Insurance
Sharman earned her Master’s degree in Music Education and served as a missionary in South Africa alongside her husband, dedicating several years to ministry and community outreach. Following her time in missions, she transitioned into the insurance industry, where she has built a successful career spanning more than 18 years.
Sharman holds an insurance adjuster’s license and began her professional journey as a Claims Supervisor with Erie Insurance. Her blend of compassion, leadership, and technical expertise reflects the same dedication and purpose that defined her years of ministry. She serves on our board and provides valuable insight from her extensive experience in claims management and supervision.
Rob Yancey
Insurance Advisor- Jones Advisors
A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Rob is a distinguished third-generation insurance advisor whose career began in 1978. With over four decades of experience, Rob has built a reputation for excellence in advising large corporations on complex risk management strategies, loss prevention, business interruption, and commercial insurance: both domestically and internationally. Rob’s deep technical expertise includes the intricacies of underwriting and the specialized financial ratios that surety companies use to evaluate accounts. His analytical acumen enables him to assess exposures, interpret financial and loss data, and develop tailored insurance and risk management programs that meet each client’s unique needs. He is particularly adept at assisting clients with business income worksheets and key financial ratios to optimize contract surety bonding programs.
In his current role at Jones Advisors, Rob mentors and trains the next generation of commercial producers. He focuses on equipping young professionals with the tools to evaluate a prospects coverage effectively and design thoughtful insurance and surety programs for clients who prioritize comprehensive, long-term protection over cost alone.