NAIC Continues DE&I Journey With 3rd Annual DE&I Conference Featuring John Quiñones
A full day of learning and celebration drew a record 500+ employees and invited guests to Kansas City.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on June 8 celebrated its third annual DE&I Conference, which brought together more than 500 employees from its three U.S. offices, plus state insurance Commissioners and other guests in Kansas City, Missouri.
This year’s DE&I Conference focused on the theme Awareness in Action. Participants engaged in a full day of learning and discussion as part of NAIC efforts to advance work toward a more inclusive workforce, organization, and community.
Chlora Lindley-Myers, NAIC President and Director of the Missouri Department of Commerce, welcomed NAIC employees and guests to Kansas City, giving special recognition to those team members who traveled from NAIC offices in New York and Washington, D.C. to attend in person. “It’s encouraging to see the enthusiasm the NAIC team has for this important work, and I want to thank our members and generous sponsors for their support,” Lindley-Myers said. She gave special thanks to Evelyn Boswell, NAIC Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Jennifer Stroud, NAIC Director of People Operations and Engagement, for their leadership.
“One of the NAIC’s strategic goals is to create an environment where employees feel empowered, engaged, and valued,” said Andy Beal, NAIC Acting Chief Executive Officer. “The NAIC is committed to being a DE&I leader. This year’s conference built upon the crucial conversations our DE&I Council, employees, officers, and Commissioners have been having in this important space since we began our DE&I journey in 2020, and we look forward to continuing to learn from each other.”
The lineup featured DE&I thought leaders and government officials, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who welcomed the audience, and LaDonna McCullough, Chief Equity Officer for the City of Kansas City, Missouri, who shared an overview of the work her department is doing in the city to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity. Conference participants also heard from author and TEDx speaker Ash Beckham on the “Art of Inclusive Leadership.”
John Quiñones, host and creator of What Would You Do?, the hidden-camera ethical dilemma newsmagazine celebrating its 16th season this fall, presented “What Would You Do? Business Edition,” in his keynote address. The Emmy-award winning ABC News correspondent is “the face of doing the right thing” to millions of fans.
The conference workshop series speakers included Dr. Kevin Sansberry II, Sue Covelli-Buntley, Erik Hulse, Kelly Byrnes, and Rabbi Doug Alpert. The Youth Chorus of Kansas City, directed by Ryan Main, shared their musical talents, and the Jasmine Dance Group, directed by Ella Shan, performed traditional dances to round out the conference. A networking reception featured a performance by the Lori Tucker Trio Jazz Band.
Supporting sponsors for the 2023 NAIC DE&I Conference included the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), Wholesale and Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA), American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Swiss Re, and Greenberg Traurig.
Separately, the NAIC held a full day of in-person, pre-conference learning for all employees on June 7 to enhance efforts to build an inclusive workplace. The 2023 Employee Experience Live event featured guest speakers on the topics of “Staying Connected in a Hybrid World” with Christina Schultz and “Building an Inclusive Culture, Pitfalls to Avoid for DE&I” with Joy Johnson-Carruthers. Employees engaged in lively table-talk discussions on these topics and learned more about employee-led NAIC affinity groups from representatives of the Umbrella Alliance, See Her, and Hola!
Learn more about the NAIC’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion here, and read the 2022 NAIC DE&I Report.
About the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
As part of our state-based system of insurance regulation in the United States, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers. The U.S. standard-setting organization is governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer reviews, and coordinate regulatory oversight. NAIC staff supports these efforts and represents the collective views of state regulators domestically and internationally.