Thank You to our PLUS Conference Committee Volunteers

The People Behind the Program: Meet the Volunteer Committees Powering the PLUS Conference

The PLUS Conference doesn’t come together by accident. Behind every session, every speaker, every sponsorship, and every networking moment is a team of dedicated industry volunteers who give their time and experience to make the event what it is. This year, we want to shine a light on three committees whose work shapes the 39th annual PLUS Conference from the ground up.

Conference Strategic Planning Committee

If the PLUS Conference has a compass, the Strategic Planning Committee is it. This group takes the long view, developing strategies not just for the current year’s event but for future conferences as well, ensuring that every PLUS Conference builds on what came before and responds to where the industry is headed.

The committee’s work spans the full scope of the conference experience: determining the structure of the agenda, selecting keynote speakers, overseeing the mix and balance of educational sessions, and advising on networking and reception formats. They review sponsorship levels, guide the PLUS Foundation on its luncheon programming, and work closely with PLUS staff to keep the planning timeline on track. Members also play a visible role at the event itself, welcoming attendees and introducing speakers at educational sessions. Perhaps most importantly, this committee thinks beyond the immediate. By developing a conference strategy that extends into the following year, they give each incoming chair and committee a foundation to build from rather than starting from scratch.

Alison Martin, 2027 PLUS Conference Chair, Chubb
David Garrigus, HUB International
Meghan Hannes, K2 Insurance Services
Reanetta Hunley, RPLU, Canopius
Paul Larson, Liberty Mutual
La’Vonda McLean, 2026 PLUS President, Marsh
Dave Williams, DBWorld LLC

Conference Sponsorship Committee

The Sponsorship Committee has one clear mission: securing the financial support that makes the PLUS Conference possible. Through direct outreach to past sponsors and prospective new ones, committee members connect their relationships and industry standing to the work of sustaining and growing the event.

Each member takes on a portfolio of companies and firms, making personal calls, sending outreach, and following up on commitments. They work closely with the Conference Chair and PLUS staff to ensure sponsorship opportunities are communicated clearly and that returning sponsors are retained while new ones are cultivated. Their efforts directly influence the scope and quality of what PLUS is able to offer attendees each year. This committee is a testament to the power of community. The professionals who serve on it are trusted voices in the industry, and their personal advocacy for the PLUS Conference carries weight that no marketing campaign can replicate.

Alison Martin, Chubb
Catherine Adcock, Chubb
Scott Barabash, CFC
Brian Braden, Crum & Forster
William Clarke, Beazley
Robert Crocitto, RT Specialty
Janet Dreifuss, Esq., ARC Excess & Surplus LLC
Lisa Frist, McGriff
Mark Kohler, Travelers
Matthew Mannion, Chubb
Teresa Milano, Lockton
Derek Van der Voort, Arthur J Gallagher & Co
Amora Wood, RT Specialty

Conference Content Committee

Great content doesn’t happen by chance. The Content Committee is responsible for the educational heart of the PLUS Conference, developing sessions that are relevant, timely, and genuinely useful to underwriters, brokers, and claims professionals across the professional liability space. The committee draws ideas from a variety of sources, including PLUS Think Tank summaries, member polling, and their own deep knowledge of where the industry’s conversations are heading. From there, they flesh out individual sessions, source moderators and speakers, and ensure that the roster reflects meaningful diversity of thought, company, discipline, and background. They actively encourage creative formats, including interviews, mock trials, debates, and audience-driven sessions, because the best learning rarely happens in a lecture.

The Content Committee also plays a coordinating role, working with PLUS staff to schedule sessions so that related topics don’t overlap, advising sponsors on appropriate session content, and stepping in to support CE/CLE documentation when needed. Members who attend the conference often serve as session introducers, connecting the audience to the content they helped create.

Alison Martin, Chubb
Sarah Abrams, RTProExec, The OakBridge Team
Japhet Boutin, Esq, Zurich North America
Jessica Centeno, Kroll
Matthew Collibee, Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan LLP
Drew Crocitto, RPLU, Travelers
Rachel Cushing, Chubb
Rebecca Dauparas, Gallagher
Ron Goldstein, Aon
John Kennedy, Chubb
Ruth Kochenderfer, Marsh Inc.
Andrea Lieberman, Lockton
Kimberly Melvin, Tyka Law LLP
John Pearson, RPLU, RPLU+, Travelers
Diane Dukes, PLUS
Carol Fleetwood, PLUS
Robbie Thompson, CEO, PLUS

A Community-Driven Conference

What makes the PLUS Conference different is what has always made PLUS different: it is built by the people who care most about the professional liability industry. The volunteers who serve on these committees bring their professional networks, their judgment, and their time to an event that gives back to the entire community.

We are grateful for their contributions and proud to celebrate the work they do behind the scenes. See you in San Diego, November 10–12.