Agency Nation Radio

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Ashley Engl, Director of Technology Learning & Innovation at Walsh Insurance and a member of the Big “I” Young Agents Committee, sits down with two emerging industry leaders whose journeys began on the football field. Hunter McHugh, owner of McHugh Insurance Group in Wilmington, Delaware, and Gannon Laidlaw, an insurance broker at Jaffe Insurance Agency in Napa, California, discuss how their experiences as former college football players helped shape the skills they rely on today as insurance professionals. They discuss the skills, discipline, and teamwork they developed through athletics and how those qualities have translated into their work as insurance professionals. They also share advice for current and former athletes considering a career beyond sports and discuss why the independent agency channel offers opportunities to compete, grow, and make a lasting impact. “As an athlete, you have to be willing to listen, put your ego aside, take feedback and apply it to whatever it is you’re doing,” Laidlaw says. “And that mindset translates very well into the insurance industry because as a broker, clients are relying on you for critical advice. And to do that well, you have to be organized, calm under pressure, communicate clearly, be personable, but also direct and honest, and you have to be willing to keep learning because the insurance market is constantly changing.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Will Canterbury, owner of The South Insurance Agency in Nolensville, Tennessee. At 17, Canterbury launched his own lawn care business serving notable clients. After college, he worked in political offices while pursuing music in Nashville. When those paths didn’t fit, he pivoted to roles in wholesale furniture and copier sales—experiences that ultimately led him to follow long-standing advice from his uncle, an Allstate executive, and build a career in insurance. “My goal is to build a regional brand synonymous with insurance,” Canterbury says. “I want a licensed agent in every state within our logo’s border, aiming for significant market share in the Southeast.” Throughout the episode, Canterbury discusses the tools and software he and his agency use to drive success. He also shares his hiring process and explains how he carefully selects candidates he believes are the right fit for his agency’s culture. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Canterbury was also featured in the January issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview or read the full issue online.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Kelley Carter, president of Choice Insurance Agency, Member of Choice Financial Group in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Carter kicked off her career by working for several years in agency marketing roles, helping her understand how marketing strategy is essential to accelerating agency growth. In October, she was appointed division president of Choice Insurance Agency, where she is focused on sustaining and expanding its position as one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the country. “We’re growing so fast and we have so many new growth opportunities within Choice”, Carter says. “We’re building an amazing company and group of people all working towards a common goal.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Carter was also featured in the December issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online. https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/12/01/declaration-of-independents-kelley-carter/

Recorded live from Applied Net 2025 in Las Vegas, this special edition of Agency Nation Radio features insights from the industry’s biggest event. On this episode, Will Jones, editor-in-chief of Independent Agent magazine, talks with Carrie Poindexter, senior director of agency operations and Jonathan Somich, director of communications at GEICO, about attending Applied Net for the very first time. Also, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk, talks with Richard Hartley, co-founder and CEO of Cytora, about Applied Systems’ acquisition of the company and how AI can help the industry reclaim time to reinvest in both work and life. Then, Kasey Connors, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT), sits down with Brenna Johnson, vice president of product management at EZLynx, to discuss innovations that make life easier for users. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk is joined by Lee Gaudette, president of Gaudette Insurance, and his son, Peter Gaudette, commercial insurance advisor at Gaudette Insurance, and Keith Mangini, Vice President and Commercial Team Leader at InsurBanc. They explore father-son work dynamics, succession planning in family agencies, and the aspirations that drive the next generation forward. The conversation also offers practical tips for family-owned agencies preparing to change ownership. “Succession isn’t just about passing down a business,” Mangini says. “It’s setting up that next generation for success. As a lender, I can help build that financial bridge, but the real success comes from the family being aligned on the vision and how they're going to move forward in the future.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Will Jones, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Agent Magazine at the Big “I” hosts a conversation with workplace communication expert, Jenna Rogers, Founder & CEO of Career Civility, a professional development firm that helps organizations build stronger cultures through better communication. Throughout the episode, Jones picks Rogers’ brain about what it takes to be a great leader, bridging generational gaps and even mastering the art of a clear, effective email. "Listening is a really big skill set that you need to have as a leader," she says. "I always encourage people to listen not to respond, but listen to be challenged." Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we've got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Cash McMillen, partner and executive vice president of operations at The Cashion Company Insurance in Little Rock, Arkansas, and chairman of the Big “I” national Young Agents Committee, hosts a discussion with two young agents about getting started as a commercial lines independent insurance agent. Deuel Romero, commercial lines agent at Tedford Insurance in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Kate Adams, commercial lines marketing manager at Flood & Peterson in Denver, Colorado, explore why and how to choose a commercial lines niche, how to get up to speed in a new industry segment, and tips for building a strong network. Romero discusses his work with Hispanic business owners and Adams shares insights from her business marketing role and how her commercial lines background helps her connect with clients. "I think people are too afraid of making mistakes," Adams says. "The lessons that we have learned the best, and that have stuck with us, have been from the mistakes that we've made along the way." Romero and Adams were also featured alongside eight other young agents in Independent Agent magazine's June issue. https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/06/01/license-to-lead-meet-10-young-agents-35-and-under/ Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/category/podcasts.