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NAIFA's 8th Annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium

8th Annual DEI Symposium 

May 22, 2023 | 8 am - 12 pm 
JW Marriott
1331 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20004
 

NAIFA's 2023 Congressional Conference will be held immediately following the DEI Symposium.

Register for NAIFA's Annual Congressional Conference

Registration

By registering for the DEI Symposium, I acknowledge and agree that I am hereby granting NAIFA permission and license to use my name, image, and likeness in photographs, pictures, and video taken at the event for NAIFA publications, websites, social media, and other materials, without payment, royalty, acknowledgment, or other consideration, as NAIFA sees fit in its sole and absolute discretion.

NAIFA Talent Development Center's 8th Annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Symposium includes four hours of programming that focuses on providing an update on how specific segments of the agent and advisor workforce are faring in a post-pandemic America.

The overall goal of NAIFA's DEI initiative is to ensure that the agent and advisor workforce is reflective of a rapidly changing Main Street America and prepared to serve and protect the American population with risk protection and investment products.

The 8th Annual DEI Symposium presents sessions from the lens of how agents and advisors can better utilize political engagement to further advance their practice. Additionally, the sessions will gauge the extent to which we are making progress in bringing more advisors into the industry.

Symposium Sessions

7:30-8:00 AM
Welcome, Registration, Continental Breakfast
8:00 - 8:25 AM
State of the Government
Cecily Tomlinson
Co-Founder, Diversity in Government Relations
8:25-9:10 AM
State of the Workforce
Alexander Alonso
Chief Knowledge Officer, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
9:10-9:35 AM
State of African American Advisors
Omari Jahi Aarons
Executive Director & COO, National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA)
Amir Ali
Co-Founder & CEO, Aurelius Consulting Group, Inc.
Pierre Greene
Registered Representative, Financial Capitol Solutions
9:35-10:00 AM
Protecting More Americans through ABLE Accounts
Sara Hart Weir
National Disability, DEI & ABLE Expert
10:00-10:25 AM
State of Women's Economic Empowerment
Rachel Pearson
President, Pearson & Associates
10:25-10:35 AM
Networking Break
10:35-11:00 AM
Diversity Champion Panel
Chris Gandy, 2022 Diversity Champion
Founder & CEO, Midwest Legacy Group, LLC
Stephen Kagawa, 2020 Diversity Champion
Founder & CEO, The Pacific Bridge Companies
Aprilyn Chavez-Geissler, 2019 Diversity Champion
First Executive Vice President, Gateway Insurance Group, Inc.
Brian Haney, 2018 Diversity Champion
Founder & CEO, The Haney Company
Evelyn Gellar, 2017 Diversity Champion
Managing Director, Forest Hills Financial Group

Moderated by Wes Booker
11:00-11:45 AM
Diversity & Inclusion: The Success Cycle Creates Healthy DEI
Marques Ogden
Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer
11:45-12:00 PM
Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks

Speakers

Omari Jahi Aarons

Executive Director & COO
National African American Insurance Association

X

Executive Director & COO
National African American Insurance Association

Omari Jahi Aarons

Amir Ali

Co-Founder & CEO
Aurelius Consulting Group, Inc.

X

Co-Founder & CEO
Aurelius Consulting Group, Inc.

Amir Ali

Alexander Alonso

Chief Knowledge Officer
Society for Human Resource Management

X

Chief Knowledge Officer
Society for Human Resource Management

Alexander Alonso

Aprilyn Chavez-Geissler

First Executive Vice President
Gateway Insurance Group, Inc.

X

First Executive Vice President
Gateway Insurance Group, Inc.

Aprilyn Chavez-Geissler

Christopher Gandy, LACP

Founder & CEO
Midwest Legacy Group, LLC

X

Founder & CEO
Midwest Legacy Group, LLC

Christopher Gandy, LACP

Evelyn Gellar

Managing Director
Forest Hills Financial Group

X

Managing Director
Forest Hills Financial Group

Evelyn Gellar

Pierre Greene

Registered Representative
Capitol Financial Solutions

X

Registered Representative
Capitol Financial Solutions

Pierre Greene

Brian Haney

Founder & CEO
The Haney Company

X

Founder & CEO
The Haney Company

Brian Haney

Stephen Kagawa

Founder & CEO
The Pacific Bridge Companies

X

Founder & CEO
The Pacific Bridge Companies

Stephen Kagawa

Marques Ogden

Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer

X

Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer

Marques Ogden

Rachel Pearson

President
Pearson & Associates

X

President
Pearson & Associates

Rachel Pearson

Cicely Tomlinson

Co-Founder
Diversity in Government Relations Coalition

X

Co-Founder
Diversity in Government Relations Coalition

Cicely Tomlinson

Sara Hart Weir

National Disability, DEI & ABLE Expert

X

National Disability, DEI & ABLE Expert

Sara Hart Weir

History of the Symposium

NAIFA's first DEI Symposium was held in May 2017.  Since that time, NAIFA has hosted at least one symposium each year.

During the pandemic, the DEI Symposium took on a virtual format. The initial purpose of the symposium was to provide participants with a forum to discuss strategies for creating and promoting diversity in the insurance and financial services industry. The program also serves as a resource for insurance and financial professionals as part of NAIFA's mission to provide financial security for all Americans.

The symposia have featured notable keynotes from industry professionals and DEI experts, and panel discussions featuring our members and advocacy partners. Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of NAIFA's 2025 Strategic Plan.

 

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Northwestern Mutual

 

 

OneAmerica Logo

 

 

Cambridge Investment Research

 

Guardian Life

 

Ameritas

 

New York Life Insurance Company

 

NAIFA's Advocacy Partners

 

 

Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA)

 

 

 

National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA)

 

 

 

Women in Insurance & Financial Services (WIFS)

 

2022 DEI Symposium

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