Big I Maryland - Annual Conference & Showcase

Thank You for Attending the 2026 Annual Conference & Showcase!

Beyond the Horizon: Leading Insurance Through AI & Innovation

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Kent Island for the 2026 Big I Maryland Annual Conference & Showcase! We hope you enjoyed two days of education, networking, industry insights, and connection with Maryland’s independent insurance community.

Your feedback helps us continue improving the Annual Conference & Showcase each year. Please take a few minutes to share your experience with us.

See You Back on Kent Island in 2027! Planning is already underway for the 2027 Big I Maryland Annual Conference & Showcase. Dates and additional details will be announced soon, so stay tuned!

2026 Conference Highlights

The 2026 Annual Conference & Showcase brought Maryland’s independent insurance community together on Kent Island for two days focused on education, innovation, and connection.

Day One kicked off with James Redeker of Swiss Re presenting What’s New in Insurance Agents E&O?, followed by Angela Ford of Catalyit with AI in the Agency: What’s Useful, What’s Noise, and Where to Start. Bryan Chung and Jorge Vazquez of Kite Technology Group continued the conversation with The Good, The Bad, and The Artificial: AI & Cybersecurity in Insurance.

The afternoon continued with our Cruise & Connect Vendor Showcase, where attendees had the opportunity to connect with 20 industry partners. Later that evening, attendees gathered on the waterfront for the Setting Sail Welcome Reception to network and wrap up the first day of the conference.

Day Two began by recognizing several leaders for their service and contributions to Big I Maryland. Nancy Nicklow of Huff Insurance was recognized for six years of service as Big I Maryland’s State National Director from 2020 to 2026. Matt Hogans was recognized for his service as Big I Maryland Chairman from 2025 to 2026, and Stacy Nicholson was recognized for her service as Chairman from 2024 to 2025.

The morning continued with Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant, followed by Angela Ford presenting Small AI Wins: Practical Automation for Independent Insurance Agencies. James Redeker rounded out the educational program with What Potential Risks Does AI Pose for Insurance Agents?

Across both days, attendees earned up to four hours of Maryland P&C continuing education while connecting with fellow agents, industry partners, carriers, vendors, and leaders from across Maryland’s independent insurance community.

Thank you to our attendees, speakers, sponsors, vendors, and everyone who helped make the 2026 Annual Conference & Showcase a success. We look forward to seeing you again in 2027!

Relive the 2026 Annual Conference & Showcase

From Cruise & Connect to education sessions, waterfront networking, and everything in between, take a look back at this year’s conference on Kent Island.

Presentations & Resources

Missed something during a session or want to revisit what you learned? Explore available presentations and resources from this year’s conference.

2026 Featured Speakers

Speaker: Marie Grant – Maryland Insurance Administration

Marie Grant serves as Maryland Insurance Commissioner, appointed by Governor Wes Moore effective October 1, 2024. She brings nearly two decades of policy, strategy, and regulatory experience in insurance and health care payment, including senior roles with the Maryland Department of Health and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. She earned her B.A. in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Speaker: James Redeker – Swiss Re

James Redeker is Vice President and Senior Underwriter at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions based in Kansas City, with 27 years of experience in the insurance industry. He earned his Juris Doctor with honors from Washburn University School of Law and began his career practicing insurance defense law in Kansas and Missouri. Since joining Swiss Re in 2002, Jim has held leadership roles in claims, risk management, and underwriting, bringing deep expertise in Agents E&O, claims strategy, and risk management.

Speaker: Angela Ford – Catalyit

Angela Ford brings more than 25 years of insurance industry experience, with a passion for helping agencies improve their technology, workflows, and business processes. She has developed and delivered continuing education and professional training programs nationwide for agencies, brokerages, and organizations such as NetVU.

Speaker: Bryan Chung – Kite Technology Group

Bryan Chung is a Project Technician at Kite Technology Group, where he helps organizations modernize their IT environments through automation, security, and cloud migration. He specializes in Microsoft 365, Azure, Copilot, automation, and data protection, with a focus on making emerging technology practical and approachable for organizations.

Speaker: Jorge Vazquez – Kite Technology Group

Jorge Vazquez is a Project Lead at Kite Technology Group with extensive experience leading complex IT initiatives, including Microsoft 365 migrations, SharePoint and Teams rollouts, Azure workflows, and technical deployments. He focuses on helping organizations securely and responsibly adopt Microsoft 365, automation, and AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot.

Thank You to Our 2026 Conference Sponsors

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors for their generous support and commitment to Big I Maryland and Maryland’s independent insurance community.

Thank You to Our 2026 Cruise & Connect Vendors

Thank you to the 20 industry partners who joined us for this year’s Cruise & Connect Vendor Showcase and helped make it one of the highlights of the 2026 Annual Conference & Showcase.