Justin Goodman is a third-generation insurance professional with more than 20 years of industry experience, recognized for his commitment to professional excellence and educational leadership. As co-founder and CEO of Total CSR, he has played a significant role in developing training programs that have positively impacted over 70,000 customer service representatives, account managers, and producers nationwide. Additionally, Justin serves as Managing Director and co-founder of Project 55, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming mental health outcomes in the workplace.
Justin began his career building upon the legacy of his family’s involvement in insurance, subsequently establishing and operating his own successful agency. At just 29, he was acknowledged by Risk & Insurance Magazine as one of the nation’s top five construction insurance specialists. His contributions have earned him inclusion in Insurance Business Magazine’s prestigious Hot 100 list and recognition as one of the 2024 Insurance Journal Agents of the Year.
Angela Ripley is president of VW Brown Insurance Service in Columbia, Maryland. She began serving as Big “I” chair-elect in the fall of 2024 and will be installed as chair at the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference in 2025.
Bringing more than 25 years of experience as an independent insurance agent, Ripley has held numerous positions at the national level for the Big “I,” including Big “I” Government Affairs Committee chair and Board of Directors member. She has also served as Maryland state InsurPac chair from 2011-2020 and was chair of Big I Maryland in 2014.
She has served on several agency advisory boards and was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers (NARAB) Board. Additionally, she served a three-year term on the Federal Reserve Board’s Insurance Policy Advisory Committee (IPAC), the 21-member committee to provide information, advice and recommendations to the Federal Reserve Board on domestic and international insurance issues. Ripley is also vice chair of the Insurance Roundtable of Baltimore.
Ripley joined VW Brown in 2000 after working with Erie Insurance Group. She received her Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in marketing and advertising from Frostburg State University. She resides in Maryland with her husband Graydon and their two daughters.
Rebecca Shigley brings over 35 years of experience in the insurance industry, spanning company leadership, agency ownership, regulation, and association management. As COO of IIANC, she leads operations across key departments and directs InsurAcademy, an online training platform for future insurance professionals. Previously, she served as Deputy Commissioner at the North Carolina Department of Insurance and played a national role with the NAIC, contributing to licensing and education standards. A recognized industry leader, Rebecca received the Walter Spruill Regulator Recognition Award in 2015 for her contributions to insurance regulation and professional development.
Jeffrey S. Smith, JD, CIC, CAE serves as Chief Executive Officer for Ohio Insurance Agents Association (OIA) and IA Valuations. He is responsible for leading the organizations’ strategic initiatives and day to day operations.
Since his appointment as CEO, OIA has continued its proud tradition of being a fierce advocate for independent agents in the legislative, legal, regulatory and political arenas. In addition, OIA has transformed into a trusted advisor, strategic business partner and data analytics expert by offering business solutions for independent insurance agents to grow their businesses and improve their performance.
As CEO of IA Valuations, Smith has consulted and reviewed over 350 agency valuations for independent agents across the US. IA Valuations serves independent agencies as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner as they implement strategies to increase their agency value, grow their businesses and transition their agencies. In addition, Smith provides insights into the agency’s operations, risk factors and legal guidance on how to perpetuate and maximize value in a sale. IA Valuations has advised more than 40 agencies on the ownership transition of their insurance agency.
Smith graduated with honors from Kent State University and Capital University Law School with a concentration in government relations. He is a licensed P&C insurance agent, Certified Insurance Counselor Designee, Attorney and Certified Association Executive. Smith is an active member of the Ohio State Bar Association Insurance Committee, Ohio Society of Association Executives and Ohio Lobbying Association. He also served on the Village of Marble Cliff Council and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Sequent Midwest Business Health Fund.
On a personal note, Smith is an avid runner and endurance athlete. He has completed a marathon in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and an Ironman triathlon. He lives in Powell with his wife and two children. He enjoys coaching youth sports and outdoor adventures.
Joining the Big “I” nearly 20 years ago, Symington previously served as senior vice president for external, industry and government affairs. Last September, he was promoted to executive vice president and selected to succeed the retiring Bob Rusbuldt as president & CEO.
Symington joined the Big “I” in 2004 on the government affairs staff. He has been regularly recognized by The Hill newspaper as a top lobbyist in Washington, D.C., and has been a key leader in many industry coalitions on Capitol Hill, advocating on issues important to Big “I” members. Under Symington’s leadership, the Big “I” has had numerous legislative wins, including securing substantial small business tax relief, defending a modernized state regulatory system for insurance, preserving the Federal Crop Insurance Program and National Flood Insurance Program, and extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA).
Prior to joining the Big “I,” Symington served as a senior counsel with the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services from 2000-2003 where he focused on insurance issues. During that time, he was actively involved in drafting TRIA in 2002 and other significant legislation. He also worked as a majority counsel for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, concentrating on health care policy and oversight.
Symington worked in the private sector before his time on Capitol Hill, first as an associate attorney with Drew, Eckl & Farnham in Atlanta, specializing in insurance defense litigation, and then as an attorney with the firm Matricardi & Moylan in Springfield, Virginia.
Symington graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in history and graduated with a Juris Doctorate from Emory University, School of Law in Atlanta. Symington is a past chairman and vice chair of the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and served on the NDSS board from 2014-2022.</P
As a vital resource in mergers & acquisitions (M&A), John has personally advised on over 300 M&A and capital markets transactions since joining MarshBerry in 1991. He is an in-demand industry speaker because of his extensive knowledge in organic growth management, valuation enhancement strategies, business planning, perpetuation, financial management and M&A. John has been a featured speaker in 21 countries, sharing his extensive knowledge on global M&A activity and capital markets within the insurance distribution space.
John’s stewardship in the insurance industry has positioned him over the years as a sought-after adviser and chairperson for a range of organizations. He currently serves as an adviser to the board for the Worldwide Broker Network. Previous board positions include the Chairman of the Board of the Midwest Division of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), the IICF’s national Board of Governors, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of New York, the American Bankers Insurance Association and adviser to the Disabled Veterans Insurance Careers (DVIC) Board.
John brings his deep advising experience to the ground level at industry seminars and events, as a keynote speaker and leader of executive forums. He strongly believes in advancing the industry and growing businesses through peer engagement and benchmarking. He is often a keynote speaker at insurance carrier elite meetings, national conferences and leadership forums, including Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers conferences, Chubb Wharton Executive Leadership Training, Selective Executive Symposiums and S&P Global Market Intelligence investment workshops.
With extensive experience in all facets of insurance business planning— from organic growth to perpetuation—John’s skill set allows for designing innovative, progressive strategies that help owners as they work to realize their business goals and life’s dreams. Professionally, he currently maintains the FINRA Securities Industry Essentials (SIE®) Exam, in addition to the Series 62, 79, 99, 24 and 63 FINRA Registrations through MarshBerry Capital, LLC, the affiliated FINRA[1]registered broker-dealer of Marsh, Berry & Co., LLC.
John earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Ohio University, and has a master’s degree in business administration from Kent State University.
Independent Agent Association Executives