2023 Speakers

Alex D’Aoust

An engineer at heart; Alex is an established technology leader with a demonstrated history of working and consulting in the software space. As Chief Technology Officer of VectorSolv, he is responsible for driving the organization's technological strategy and orchestrating the engineering efforts to innovate in the warranty space. He develops strategies for advancing partnerships, technology platforms, and business solutions. He leverages existing technologies that can boost the organization’s future, push the envelope, and make decisions that develop its technological infrastructure to align with company and customer objectives.

Eric Arnum

Eric Arnum is the editor of Warranty Week, an online publication written for the warranty industry professional. Based in New York and launched in late 2002 as both a free weekly email broadcast and a website at www.warrantyweek.com, the newsletter has quickly gained a following among manufacturers, retailers, servicers, and insurance professionals. Subscriptions to the free weekly email edition have now surpassed 7,000 people, while Web traffic is typically around 12,000 to 15,000 page views per week.

Weekly topics have included specific market close-ups on product warranties, extended warranties, claims rates in industries such as air conditioning, automotive, PCs, disk drives, printers, consumer electronics, solar panels, construction, mining, telecommunications equipment, plasma TVs, jetliners, sports stadiums, new homes, skateparks, and farm equipment. On a quarterly basis, trends in warranty claims and accruals by more than 800 manufacturers are detailed in depth. Also featured are periodic articles about industry conferences and warranty claim processing and analysis software providers.

Before launching Warranty Week, Arnum edited two different newsletters about the data communications industry -- Messaging Online, and Electronic Mail & Micro Systems (EMMS) -- while also engaging in custom research projects tracking the growth of the World Wide Web in Europe and the market for Internet services in South America. He also has worked as a reporter and freelance photographer for various online music publications. Eric Arnum is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in economics.

Brian T. Casey

As Co-Leader of Locke Lord's Regulatory and Transactional Insurance practice group, and a member of the Firm's Corporate, Capital Markets and Health Care practice groups, Brian focuses on corporate, merger and acquisition, corporate and structured finance and other transactional, and regulatory matters for corporate clients in the insurance, financial services and health care industries. One significant facet to Brian's practice is a focus on insurance-linked securities and related insurance capital markets transactions. His clients include insurance companies, insurance holding companies, managing general agents and insurance agencies, third party and claims administrators, banks and other financial institutions, investment banks and reinsurance companies.

Kirsten Elsworth

Kirsten is a Senior Director at Ally Insurance with responsibility for Product & Project Delivery, Business Systems, Data Management & Reporting, and Innovation. Kirsten joined Ally (then GMAC) in 2003 as a Co-op (reoccurring intern program) in the Actuarial department. After working with the data and enjoying learning how people needed to use their information, Kirsten pivoted her career path from Actuarial to systems and data, partnering with IT Delivery to bring major initiatives to fruition. Throughout her career Kirsten has worked on multiple data conversion / system decommission projects, stood up several new platforms, and championed both continuous process improvement and Innovation.

David Froning

David Froning directs a Product Management team that focuses on Quality & Service Solutions. Mr. Froning works in partnership with manufacturers, suppliers, and industry organizations to develop solutions for manufacturing industry issues such as early warning, accelerated problem solving, predictive maintenance, and fraud detection.

Before SAS, Mr. Froning worked for General Motors. He managed the development, operation, and continual improvement of quality and warranty information systems across GM’s North American operations and supplier community. His experience also includes work with leading automotive market research firms. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and a Master of Science from the University of Wisconsin.

Jon L. Gillum

Jon has practiced in Locke Lord LLP’s Austin office for 20 years, and represents clients in matters concerning insurance regulation and service contract (extended warranty) regulation. He has particular experience advising clients on complex regulatory compliance and classification issues involving new product development under laws governing insurance, residential service contracts (home warranties), service contracts (extended warranties), vehicle protection products, and limited warranties (including the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) and the agencies that regulate them.  He routinely assists clients in compliance matters, transactions, and disputes involving the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLSOT), the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), and the Texas Attorney General's Office (OAG), and the statutes and rules addressed by those entities.

Gloria Ham

Gloria joined Toyota Financial Services (TFS) in 1992 in Irvine, CA as a Customer Service Representative. After five years in the Field supporting customers, then dealers in Credit Originations and Wholesale operations, she took a role at headquarters as an Internal Auditor. At headquarters, Gloria was afforded numerous opportunities to take on a variety of roles in Sales, Funding, Customer Service, Compliance, and Business Transformation teams. Gloria’s current role is leading a team in TFS’ Voluntary Protection Products (VPP) department, overseeing various protection products and operations.

Gloria resides in Texas, but she was raised in southern California, where she attended University of California-Irvine and California State University-Long Beach, graduating with a BA in Liberal Arts, English concentration. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family and friends, and is working through her list of desirable destinations!

Andrew Holly, ACAS

Andrew Holly the Director of Innovation at Ally Insurance, and is responsible for identifying, implementing, and monitoring innovative opportunities across the business. Andrew joined Ally in 2016 and has held roles in Actuarial Pricing, Catastrophe Modelling, and Capital Modelling. Andrew is a credentialed Actuary with years of experience managing and pricing vehicle service contracts (VSC), GAP, and prepaid maintenance products. In his current role, Andrew has been tasked with building out an Innovation Team within Ally Insurance.

Michael Huff

Michael Huff has over thirty years of Sales, Operations, Finance and Insurance leadership experience in the Automotive OEM sector. He has lived / worked in various countries (US, Canada, Germany, Bermuda) and regional / head-quarter offices globally. He is currently head-quartered out of Bermuda with subsidiary offices in the US, Canada and Malta. Michael has global responsibility for all consumer insurance/service contract products and corporate reinsurance programs at Nissan. Today, he oversees insurance/reinsurance/service contract products in 34 countries.

Ron Kaminski

Ron leads our Residential HVAC & Supply Procurement Team and is responsible for the business’s overall procurement strategy, development, and execution. Ron partners with the senior leadership team and our corporate category teams in building a reliable, cost competitive supply chain, aligned with our strategic priorities.

Ron has held procurement leadership roles at Trane Technologies in multiple business units, and most recently led our Global Procurement Category teams for the corporation, prior to rejoining the Residential team in 2020S. Prior to joining Trane Technologies, Ron had an extensive career in global operations, leading in procurement, materials management, distribution, and logistics for Nordson Corporation, Schick Corporation and Avery Dennison.

Ron earned his MBA from Baldwin Wallace College and a Bachelor’s degree in business from John Carroll University. He enjoys golf, boating and travel.

Kippy MacNulty

Kippy is a seasoned professional with 25+ years of leadership in business, account management, marketing and operations with more than half of that time in the Extended Warranty/Home Warranty space. With extensive experience in the global arena, she is also highly skilled at developing and maintaining solid relationships with international, national and regional executives. Kippy is an accomplished professional with a proven track record of delivering powerful results across a broad range of B2B and B2C strategies.

Chris McDonald

Alan S. Meek

Alan is a corporate transaction and compliance lawyer, with over 30 years of operational risk assessment and mitigation experience. Alan represents clients who are established, growing or start-ups in the service contract/extended warranty industry, including home protection, auto, consumer products and portable electronics. He applies his vast experience in the design, implementation and testing of processes, procedures and controls, including sales and contract issuance, claims administration, service provider assignment and follow-up. Alan also assists clients in responding to government and third-party audits, inquiries and investigations. Alan advises clients in acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, and expansion through equity fundraising.

Taj Mian

Taj began his career in appliance warranty in the UK in 1987, with European Insurer Allianz, learning the business from the ground up in the claims department. From 1992, through to 2002, Taj developed his career and expertise at Aon, leading the growth Pat Ryan’s warranty business in the UK. Having a achieved a market leading position, Taj joined D&G in January 2003, and has held a number of leadership roles.

Taj is acknowledged as one of the most experienced professionals in the Service Contract sector in the UK and Europe. Taj is leading D&G’s launch in the USA.

Taj loves D&G and the role they fulfil for its customers, but first and foremost he is a family man, he has a wife and 3 grown up children, and when not focusing on D&G and family, Taj plays guitar in rock / blues band in the UK.

Travis Moore

Travis Moore is General Counsel for the Service Contract Industry Council, Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association, and the GAP Alliance. Travis engages with regulators and legislators across the country to advocate for the home, auto, and consumer goods service contract industries. In addition to being an expert in the service contract regulatory world, Travis is an entrepreneur and business owner in Kansas City.

Travis received a B.A. from North Park University in Philosophy with a certificate in non-profit business administration from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. He received his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School (now UIC Chicago School of Law) and is the recipient of the Chicago Bar Liberty Bell Award.

Gregory Myers

Greg Myers is an Executive Managing Director of Beecher Carlson leading the manufacturing sector. This also includes all extended warranty and F&I operations. Beecher Carlson specializes in insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and captive management for large corporations and groups.

Mr. Myers has worked with Fortune 500 organizations in designing and implementing their insurance programs. Many of these programs have included captive insurance companies, rental captives, large deductible, and self–insured retentions. He has been named as an Automotive Power Broker by Risk & Insurance Magazine five times. Most recently he assisted an Asian and European manufacturing company in developing and placing a combined global property and marine insurance program.

One of Mr. Myers specialties is in the areas of extended warranties and consumer insurance programs, many of which utilize a captive insurance company. He began working on extended warranties in 1985 when Beecher Carlson assisted in the development of an automotive OEM’s program. Mr. Myers has/is working on automotive companies, appliance manufacturers, road builders, and retailers. The work has expanded to other consumer insurance programs including consumer insurance and credit insurance. We currently work with 11 of the largest auto companies.

Mr. Myers has been with Beecher Carlson since 1984. Prior to joining Beecher Carlson, he worked as a consultant with KPMG from 1982 to 1984 working on employee benefit programs and specifically developing software systems for calculating pension benefits. He worked with Tillinghast performing similar consulting work from 1979 to 1981. He spent one year between 1981 and 1982 working with Honeywell as a software engineer developing a new Cobol compiler.

Mr. Myers is a frequent speaker at local and international risk management and insurance conferences. He has authored articles for such publications as the John Liner Review, Risk Management, Captive Insurance Company Review, Leaders, Asia Insurance Review and National Underwriter. Mr. Myers received his undergraduate degree and M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Jim Mostofi

Career Summary

Education and Credentials

Troy Otte

Troy Otte is the Global Head of Business Development for AIG Warranty & Service Programs (AIG WSP) and has been with AIG for over 10 years. Prior to joining AIG, Troy worked for several Fortune 500 companies both in the US and internationally. Troy leads a global team at AIG supporting a strong franchise of blue-chip clients that includes OEM device, HVAC, auto, and pharmaceutical manufacturers along with major credit card issuers and banks. AIG WSP specializes in launching and operating large, global warranty and affinity programs through its robust operating platform and leveraging the AIG global insurance footprint.

Troy holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and International Studies from Indiana University, Kelley School of Business as well as Universidad de Madrid-Complutense and holds a Six Sigma Black Belt certification. He’s achieved success throughout his career by simplifying complex business operations to deliver ultimate value to organizations and their clients. Based in Los Angeles, when not working on optimizing warranty business and spending time with family, you’ll find Troy working on his golf game.

Alison Parr

Alison Parr brings more than 20 years of immersive, on-the-ground experience to her position as Senior VP of Consumer Durables and Electronics at Registria. Building on her experience in the technology, marketing and database industries, Alison is a recognized expert in developing and executing next-gen ownership experiences that address global manufacturers’ unique needs. Alison has piloted initiatives to promote direct consumer relationships, Care program strategy and development, leading to increased revenues for prominent organizations.

Alison holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Arizona.

Anthony Rizzo

Anthony has been with Komatsu America Corp. for over 20 years serving in many roles across their Products and Services Organization and is currently the Director, Aftermarket Contract Business. In his current role, Anthony leads Komatsu’s aftermarket service contract and extended warranty business. In addition, he has responsibility over North American aftermarket spare parts pricing strategies.

Prior to his current role Anthony has held leadership positions within Komatsu focused on product warranty, product support strategic planning and distributor service operations development.

Anthony is also a two time recipient of Komatsu Limited’s Presidential Project Award for his launch of Komatsu Care and his leadership support of Komatsu America’s targeted business segment expansion.

Michael Werner

Michael created HomeX based on his core value of being a positive force and with the vision of leveraging technology to radically improve the home services industry for everyone, including consumers, contractors and industry players like warranty organizations. Prior to establishing HomeX, Michael was President and CEO of Globe Union Group (Gerber Plumbing Fixtures and Danze Faucets) and is the former President of Werner Ladder Co., which was operated by his family for 75 years.

Michael is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a master’s degree in Engineering Management and Science. Michael is the past Chairman of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and has been active in the Economic Club of Chicago, the Young Presidents Organization, and the National Kitchen and Bath Association. When he’s not working or volunteering, you will find him with his family at hockey games or on his skis, mountain or road bikes. He and his wife Laura reside in Chicago, and have three grown children.

Dan Tafel

Dan brings over 20 years of experience in the warranty services industry. Prior to joining Ironwood, he started and led AIG’s Global Warranty Division, leading the global launch for AppleCare+ and Dell Complete Care warranty programs. He began his career in the warranty industry in 2000 as a partner with Service Net, which was later acquired by American International Group (AIG).