Katie School CPCU Symposium
The Illinois State University Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management/Central Illinois CPCU Chapter Spring Symposium committee presents our premier annual virtual event, "Transforming Risk & Resilience: Insight, Innovation, and Impact" beginning on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. 
The Symposium is a unique forum providing an opportunity for industry experts, consulting firms, and academics to discuss relevant insurance industry issues and trends.
The virtual event is preceded by a FREE In-Person Networking mixer with students April 20th. The evening includes dinner, scholarship award winners’ recognition, networking time with colleagues and students, and featured speaker Joseph Zaarour, Founder and CEO of iSolveRisk, an engaging, gamified risk management experience. Joseph will turn real business scenarios into fast paced, interactive challenges. Participants will have hands-on experience to help build decision-making skills and uncover emerging talent.
Featured Speakers Include:
(Central Daylight Time - CDT)
April 20, 2026
| Joseph Zaarour, Founder and CEO of iSolveRisk |
5:00 pm |
April 21, 2026
| Pete Miller, President and CEO, The Institutes, Predict and Prevent: The New Way for Insurers to Add Value | 10:10 am |
| Chris Burand, Owner/Founder, Burand & Associates, Failures and Successes in P&C Insurance | 11:00 am |
| Matt Harken, Senior Safety Specialist, Growmark, Cultivating a Safety-First Culture: Embracing Truth, Growth Mindset, and Proactive Solutions in Risk Management | 11:30 am |
| Traci Adedeji, Founder & President, Positive Paradigm GroupFounder and President of Positive Paradigm Group, From Technician to Architect: Designing Your Leadership in the Age of Intelligent Risk | 12:30 pm |
| Tim Fletcher, Vice President-Senior Emerging Issues Specialist, Gen Re, PFAs and Microplastics: Two Toxic Headaches for the Insurance Industry | 1:20 pm |
April 23, 2026
| Kevin Horwitz, Vice President, Innovation Management and Policy Development, RLI, Strategic Innovation: Building What’s Next | 10:10 am |
| Geoff Bruder, Co-Founder—Sonic Fire Tech | 11:00 am |
| Chrysa Jones, Co-Founder and COO, Stream Settle – Beyond the Bluff: How Triple Blind Tech Slashes LAE | 11:20 am |
| Clive O'Connell, Partner, Head of Insurance and Reinsurance, McCarthy Denning, How Parametric Insurance is Revolutionizing the Insurance Industry | 12:45 pm |
| Student Presentation: Sadira Ali, Aubry Dale, Ben Leese, Using Parametric Insurance to Fill the Reinsurance Gap for Regional Mutual Insurers | 1:20 pm |
Dates, Times, Location:
Networking Mixer
- Monday April 20, 2026
- 5:00 - 7:00 pm
- Illinois State University - Bone Center
Symposium
- Tuesday and Thursday, April 21 and 23, 2026
- 10:00 am - 2:00 pm each day
- Online via Zoom
Registration for the Event: Registration is free and VIA ZOOM for this event!
Spring Symposium Registration (ZOOM)
Questions? Please contact Keersten Brogla or Kristi Cannon.