2026 ANNUAL CONVENTION

February 2-4, 2026

Hyatt Regency, Wichita

Be part of the largest gathering of Kansas independent agents, brokers, and industry partners as we tackle the insurance industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.

DAILY SCHEDULE

ALL SCHEDULED TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Monday, February 2

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

KAIA Registration Desk Open
Location: Willow Room, Century II Second Level Promenade

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Continental Breakfast
Location: Upper Gallery, Century II Second Level Promenade

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Breakout Sessions (pick one)

E&O

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Effective Use of Farm Property & Casualty Coverage Forms

with Sam Bennett

**Qualifies for AFIS Update Credit (must take all 6 hours)

Most questions in the farm insurance world can be boiled down to: "Are you asking me a property question or a liability question?" As such, the insurance professional is well served to 'get back to basics' on a regular basis. By reviewing commonly available farm property and liability forms, this presentation will offer an opportunity for participants to approach client questions and concerns in a systematic manner. Ultimately, greater customer satisfaction can be obtained.

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Know Your Regulator: Do's and Don'ts of Producer Licensing

with Monicka Richmeier

Learn about the basics of the Licensing Division of the Kansas Department of Insurance. Attendees will learn about the do’s and don’ts of maintaining your producer license, your obligations as a license holder, and examples of common application issues. Additionally, learn (or re-learn) about the fundamentals of the State Based Systems database and the National Insurance Producer Registry.

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Lunch & KAIA Annual Business Meeting
Location: Redbud Ballroom, Century II Second Level Promenade
*Open to KAIA members and attendees

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Breakout Sessions (pick one)

Exclusions In the Farm Liability Coverage Form

with Sam Bennett

**Qualifies for AFIS Update Credit (must take all 6 hours)

The ISO Farm Liability Coverage Form CAN be an efficient tool in protecting our farm clients. It’s combination of personal and commercial liability coverages make the form unique among liability forms. Still, there are many exclusions in the form that must be noted in order to understand when our clients may need endorsements – and, at times, additional liability coverage forms to meet their needs.

SPECIAL "Women In Insurance" Session

with Meg McKeen

{Re}Defining Success

The way we define success can change as we change - and perhaps that means you are operating with an outdated vision that's no longer aligned for you. In this interactive session, spend intentional time with facilitator Meg McKeen and your fellow women in insurance as you consider how the experiences and influences you've collected during your career - and life - shape the way you define success. And, if it might be time for a refresh, how to set about achieving it.

Women in Insurance: In Conversation (Panel)

Stories connect us, and in this conversation, a panel of women working in the insurance industry will share their own stories - and their wisdom. Expect an honest conversation about topics like caregiving, burnout, and the many ways careers can unfold in this industry, leaving you with insights that will resonate in both your personal and professional lives.

As we close our time together, in this interactive experience, it's your turn to take the mic. Share your thoughts, feelings, challenges, and support for one another as you synthesize the ideas shared during our time together. This session, facilitated by Meg McKeen, is the perfect space to consider how you'll take the messages you've heard beyond the time we've shared together.

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Welcome Reception & Trade Show
Location: Eagle Ballroom, Conference Center

7:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Outing Sponsored by Young Agents of Kansas
Location: Off Site

Tuesday, February 3

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

KAIA Registration Desk Open
Location: Willow Room, Century II Second Level Promenade

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Continental Breakfast
Location: Upper Gallery, Century II Second Level Promenade

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

General Session & Keynote Address

Future Ready: Leading with Innovation and Resilience

Doors will open at 8:45 AM

with Dale Steinke & Marques Ogden

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most talked-about topics in the industry today—but where do you begin, and how do you move forward with confidence? In this session, Dale Steinke of Liberty Mutual will share new research on AI adoption among independent agents and provide a practical 3-phase blueprint to explore, adopt, and evolve with AI in your agency. From generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to solutions from established service providers, you’ll gain real-world strategies and resources to help turn curiosity into action and lay the foundation for future success.

We'll close out our General Session with a presentation from acclaimed author and keynote speaker Marques Ogden.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Breakout Sessions (pick one)

Practical AI for Today’s Agency

with Dale Steinke

Following his general session, Dale Steinke of Liberty Mutual will take a deeper dive into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the independent agency landscape. This interactive session will focus on practical tips and real-world applications of AI tools that agencies can use today to improve efficiency, enhance client relationships, and streamline operations. Dale will also address the specific challenges and opportunities Kansas agents face, answering your questions and tailoring strategies to meet your agency’s unique needs.

Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Farm Personal Property

with Sam Bennett

**Qualifies for AFIS Update Credit (must take all 6 hours)
**Must attend the morning and afternoon session to receive credit.

Options for insuring farm property include scheduled or unscheduled. Why choose one method over the other? Provisions of these options must be understood in order to effectively manage our clients’ farm property exposures. This presentation will address the most concerning differences between these choices. We will also discuss the option of specific property coverage forms when more appropriate.

How To Become the Mayor of Your Town: Building Niches that Last

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Installation of Officers & Industry Awards Luncheon
Location: Redbud Ballroom, Century II Second Level Promenade

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Breakout Sessions (pick one)

Charging Forward: Technology, Tenacity, and Transformation in Today's Agency

with Heath Shearon

The insurance industry is changing fast. Agencies that thrive aren’t the biggest, they’re the most adaptable. This course helps Kansas independent insurance agents embrace the “Three T’s” needed to lead their agencies into the future:

Technology — leveraging the right tools to serve clients better
Tenacity — building resilience through the hard market
Transformation — evolving culture and process for long-term success.

Through storytelling, case studies, and interactive exercises, participants will learn practical ways to future-proof their agency and confidently lead their teams through the next era of insurance.

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Scheduled vs. Unscheduled Farm Personal Property (Cont'd)

with Sam Bennett

BAP Coverage Symbols: There's Gold in Them There Numbers

with Chris Boggs

I bet you can guess the focus of this session. Nope, it’s about Business Auto Policy (BAP) coverage symbols. Although the Coverage Symbols are a “basic” of business auto coverage, there is actually a lot of key information in the symbols.

ISO created 10 specific Coverage Symbols to define which vehicles are protected by the BAP. The commonly used coverage symbols are divided into three categories:
• General Purpose Symbols
• Statutory Symbols
• Special Purpose Symbols

And what many agents don’t know is that there is also an option to create additional coverage symbols.

Beyond the gold in the Coverage Symbols, the last part of this session focuses on coverage for Trailers – which is a very common coverage question. Whose policy provides primary coverage and whose policy provides excess coverage when a trailer owned by one party is pulled by a vehicle owned by another? That’s what we discuss in this part.

When this session is over, Coverage Symbols will be crystal clear and your new-found knowledge will be as valuable as gold (OK, so maybe that’s a bit of hyperbole).

2:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Personal Lines Claim Scenarios

with Sam Bennett

This presentation will address the risks common for individuals and families and the use of personal lines coverage forms such as homeowner, personal auto and personal umbrella/excess policies as tools to finance risk. A review of important concepts in each form will lead to discussions of claim scenarios. The forms will then be analyzed to determine the outcome of these scenarios.

Understanding the Insurance Contract: Rules for Reading ANY Insurance Policy

with Chris Boggs

Insurance policies are subject to the standard law of contracts and unique legal concepts specific to insurance contracts. To fully understand the insurance contract first requires understanding all these legal concepts. Once the usual and unusual characteristics of insurance contracts are understood, the rules for reading any insurance policy can be applied. In this class students learn:
• The basic provisions of contract law;
• The unique legal characteristics of insurance contracts;
• The general construction of insurance contracts;
• The ‘rules’ for reading and understanding ANY insurance policy; and
• Why exclusions exist.

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Farmers Alliance Ice Cream Social
Location: Upper Gallery, Century II Second Level Promenade

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Receptions

KAIA Leadership & New Member Reception

Women In Insurance Network (WIN) Reception

7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Closing Night Party
Location: Redbud Ballroom, Century II Second Level Promenade

Wednesday, February 4

7:30 AM - 12:00 PM

KAIA Registration Desk Open
Location: Willow Room, Century II Second Level Promenade

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Continental Breakfast
Location: Upper Gallery, Century II Second Level Promenade

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Breakout Sessions (pick one)

Adventures in Errors & Omissions Avoidance

with Chris Boggs

*Qualifies for E&O Credit and approved by Westport for E&O Risk Management Credit

Errors and Omissions (E&O) avoidance can be encapsulated in three words…

Don’t – Do – Dangerous

Don’t Do Dangerous, as the basis statement for this session focuses on the foundational issues. Avoiding an E&O situation requires:
• That agents simply “Don’t” undertake certain actions;
• That agents always undertake to “Do” certain activities; and
• That agents recognize and avoid “Dangerous” actions and practices.

This session details the 7 things agents should NEVER do; the four activities agents should ALWAYS do; and the 9 missteps that are dangerous in any situation.

Does Personal Auto Coverage Follow the Car - Or the Driver?

with Sam Bennett

Insurance professionals who routinely work with personal lines are asked a particular question time and time again – “Does my personal auto coverage follow the car – or the driver?”

This question sounds simple enough, but its answer varies from ‘yes’ to ‘no’ to ‘maybe’.

This presentation will take participants through the four coverage parts of the Personal Auto Policy in pursuit of answers - based upon specific situations. Careful review of “insured” status, exclusions and conditions will be our basis of determining our final answer – on a case-by-case basis.

Building A Culture of Tiggers In A World of Eeyores

with Bobby Shomo

Cultivating a positive and resilient workforce takes intentionality. Attracting Gen Y and Gen Z team members that want to invest in our culture for the duration of their careers might be our biggest struggle in the Independent Channel over the next decade. Shaping them into a collaborative, synergistic team becomes the next hurdle and knowing how to both handle difficult client relationships and when to walk away might be the ticket to finding the magic that turns our team members into lifers in this exceptional industry!

What people say...

"I was so impressed with meeting my two major underwriters. It was so great getting to know them on a personal basis!"

Chrissy Powell, CSR
Iola Insurance Associates

2026 ANNUAL CONVENTION

February 2-4, 2026

Hyatt Regency, Wichita

Be part of the largest gathering of Kansas independent agents, brokers, and industry partners as we tackle the insurance industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.

DAILY SCHEDULE

ALL SCHEDULED TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Monday, February 2

Tuesday, February 3

Wednesday, February 4

What people say...

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