This year’s Connecticut Insurance Women’s Summit brought together women from across the industry for a day of connection, inspiration, and professional growth. From networking over coffee and mimosas to meaningful conversations throughout the day, attendees built new relationships and invested in themselves alongside a supportive community.

Highlights included Claudia St. John’s powerful keynote on forgiveness and growth, a candid fireside chat on breaking barriers in leadership, and Jenna Rogers’ interactive communication workshop focused on teamwork across generations.

This year’s “No Bad Questions” panel introduced a fresh perspective with Connecticut women entrepreneurs from outside the insurance industry sharing honest insights on leadership, business, and life.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s summit such a meaningful experience. The energy, honesty, and encouragement shared throughout the day made this summit truly unforgettable.

When women invest in themselves and each other, incredible things happen–and this day was proof.

Relive the Experience

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SCHEDULE.

Look back at what we did+

Time	2026 Schedule	Speakers
9:30 AM	Registration & Welcome Coffee Enjoy complimentary coffee, continental breakfast, and a fun mimosa & juice bar.
10:00 AM	Kickoff & Speed Networking
10:30 AM	Keynote | Forgiveness as a Superpower: From Grudges to Growth Presented by Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Founder & CEO of The Workplace Advisors Blending deeply personal stories with practical insight, Claudia reveals how letting go of grudges isn’t about excusing others—it’s about freeing yourself to grow, lead, and thrive. In this inspiring session, she shows why forgiveness matters, how to do it, and how it can unlock your best self.	Claudia St. John, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, is a keynote speaker, bestselling author, and the Founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors, a leading HR consulting, recruiting, and training firm specializing in equipping businesses with the consulting support and people skills they need to grow. The Workplace Advisors is proud to be Big I CT’s endorsed HR provider. Claudia is an SPHR (Senior Professional in HR), SHRM-SCP (SHRM Senior Certified Professional), and Certified Professional Behavioral Analyst who empowers organizations with evidence-backed insights, so they can navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, engagement, and retention with confidence and foresight. Known as The Workplace Advisor, she helps organizations zoom out, shift their mindset, and build businesses that lead their industry.
11:30 AM	Fireside Chat | Breaking Barriers Angela Ripley, CIC, CRM, AIS, LUTCF, 2025-2026 Big “I” Chair, Owner & President of VW Brown Insurance Service Lisa Lounsbury, CAE, AAI, AIS, President of Big I Connecticut & Big I New York, Co-Founder of Catalyit Join two trailblazing leaders as they share candid stories, hard-earned lessons, and the strategies that helped them rise and lead in traditionally male-dominated spaces.	Angela Ripley, CIC, CRM, AIS, LUTCF, is the Owner and President of VW Brown Insurance Service in Columbia, Maryland, and was installed as Big “I” chair at the 2025 Fall Leadership Conference. With more than 25 years as an independent agent, she has held numerous national leadership roles, including Big “I” Government Affairs Committee Chair and Board Member, Maryland state InsurPac chair, and chair of Big I Maryland. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to the NARAB Board and served a three-year term on the Federal Reserve Board’s Insurance Policy Advisory Committee. Lisa Lounsbury, CAE, AAI, AIS, is President of Big I Connecticut and Big I New York, and co-founder of Catalyit, where she helps advance technology adoption for independent insurance agencies. Lisa is an active industry leader, serving on multiple boards, including the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) and the IIABA Diversity Council.
12:00 PM	Lunch
12:45 PM	Level Up a Skill | From Tension to Teamwork: Communicating Effectively with Anyone Jenna Rogers, Founder & CEO of Career Civility Jenna Rogers from Career Civility will provide a masterclass on the dynamics of intergenerational communication and navigating difficult conversations.	Jenna Rogers is the founder of Career Civility and a communication strategist dedicated to redefining how professionals connect and collaborate in the workplace. With a background in tech sales and leadership, she designs practical training programs that help organizations improve email communication, clarify expectations, strengthen team dynamics, and build more productive, engaged cultures.
1:45 PM	Break & Sweet Treat
2:00 PM	PANEL | No Bad Questions: Real Talk with Connecticut Women Entrepreneurs Mary Scasino, Founder of La Moda Fashions Alane Wilansky, Co-Founder & CFO of ARK Distillery Michele Dreiding, Owner of Here To The Moon Travel Introducing a new vibe this year… CT entrepreneurs outside the insurance space! All women who are pushing and thriving in the world, and personal and commercial customers themselves. Submit your questions anonymously, and our panel of incredible women at different stages of their careers and lives will share their thoughts. We’ll provide questions in advance to our panelists, including your submitted questions.	Mary Scasino is the founder of La Moda Fashions, a luxury women’s boutique that has served Connecticut for over 40 years. A seasoned entrepreneur, she has built her business into a community-centered brand focused on confidence, personal style, and relationship-driven retail. Through her commitment to “slow fashion” and empowering women, Mary has created a space where style and community come together. Alane Wilansky is the co-founder of ARK Distillery, a women-owned craft spirits business in Colchester, CT, known for its handcrafted vodka, gin, whiskey, and bourbon. With a background in finance and a passion for quality bourbon and community impact, she helped ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) as a brand rooted in craftsmanship, philanthropy, and local engagement. Michele Dreiding is a Connecticut native and passionate travel advisor who turned her love of exploring the world into a thriving career after transitioning from tech sales. With over a decade of experience in travel planning, she specializes in creating seamless, start-to-finish experiences that make the planning process stress-free and memorable.
3:00 PM	Moment at the Summit