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Go Big

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JUST ANNOUNCED: GO BIG 2025 - MAY 14 & 15 2025 - LONG ISLAND MARRIOTT
Registration Opens This Fall
Exhibitors Contact Allison Just: ajust@biginy.org

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Benedikt Sander

President & CEO of Preferred Mutual

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Kristen Martin
President & Chief Operating Officer, Utica National


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Luke Bills
President of Independent Agent Distribution,
US Retail Markets at Liberty Mutual


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Don Polczynski, MS
AgencyC
FO™ Partner & President


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Roe Polczynski, MBA 
AgencyCFO™ Founding Partner & Executive Advisor

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Claudia St. John
President, Workplace Advisors

S.Roe
Sydney Roe
Director, Vertafore

M.Giles
Margeaux Giles
CEO, Irys Insurtech

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Nancy Langton
Co-Founder, 
New Level Partners



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Jaime Foran
Director of Learning and Development Solutions,
New Level Partners

T.Lew

Tony Lew
InsurTech NY

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Ashley Engl
Co-Chair of Big I NY NextGen Committee

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Joe Altier
Recording Artist and Professional Singer-Songwriter







Thank you for attending GO BIG 2024! 

We had an incredible time learning, connecting and celebrating as a community. Thank you for being a part of it.

Go Big 2024 was SOLD OUT.



Convergence.  Some wild roads of the past few years have brought us to this moment. COVID. New workflows of in-person, to remote, to hybrid, to whatever today is. A hard market. A turnover of leadership, or leadership about to transition. New people joining the team without insurance, or even office, experience.

The roads are converging. It's the perfect time to get our new bearings. To learn what tools we need in our pack, what people on the journey we need to talk to, what skills will help with survival, and what path will lead us to where we need to go.

Go Big will bring together what and who you need to know in one place. 
It's the right event, at the right time, for your agency.

And with an exciting new venue, it will be more fun than ever.

This is the premier event for NY's independent agents.

Go Big is valuable for EVERY position in an agency.
Leaders, Producers, CSRs, Ops, Marketers, Young Agents...this will be worth your time.

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SCHEDULE

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May 13

9:30 AM: PUTT FOR THE PAC GOLF TOURNAMENT (9:30 AM Registration, 10:00 AM Shotgun Start; Separate registration & fee)
1:00 – 6:00 PM: WELCOME DESK & REGISTRATION
2:00 – 4:00 PM: WORKSHOPS

  • 2:00 - 2:50 PM: CONNECT & CONQUER: NETWORKING BOOTCAMP sponsored by New Level Partners |  Nancy Langton and Jaime Foran, New Level Partners
    Let's face it: for most of us, networking isn't easy. Starting a conversation, transitioning, or getting out can be a challenge, let alone getting out of the conversation what we need to. Don't worry; you will have new skills (or a brush-up) after just this one session!
  • 3:00 - 3:30 PM: WORKPLACE ETIQUETTE: THE 2024 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT sponsored by New Level Partners  |  Nancy Langton and Jaime Foran, New Level Partners
    We're in uncharted times. Some people are in the office, some out, some on video. How we engage with our team and customers has changed. And we may have become a little out of practice or less disciplined in our workplace and business etiquette. What are the rules of engagement today? What manners still matter? Give us 30 minutes, and we'll get you up to speed and improving your personal brand.
  • 3:00 - 4:00 PM: MASTERING AGENCY FINANCIALS – FIVE ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS  sponsored by AgencyCFO |  Don Polczynski, Jr, & Roe Polczynski, AgencyCFO
    Agency leaders and managers will learn the core financial insights needed for good financial management. 
    Including: Annual Budget and 3 Year Financial Plan, Financial and Operational Benchmarking, New Business and Client Retention Analysis, Carrier Contingency Revenue Forecast and Analysis, Accurate Book of Business Analysis, & Reagan Best Practices.

4:00 - 5:00 PM:  NEXTGEN YOUNG AGENTS SPEED NETWORKING

Join us for a NextGen favorite - speed networking! This could be a very powerful hour, impacting your career for years to come. Ashley Engl will make it easy and fun to build connections and relationships with other younger pros who are experiencing what you are. Anyone is welcome to attend, especially the 40ish and under crowd and anyone newer to the industry.

4:30 - 5:00 PM:  LADIES WHO LEAD MEET & GREET

Being a female senior leader of an agency or company is still more unique than it should be. It can even make attending larger events a little intimidating at first. We're lucky to have so many fierce women leaders in our Big I NY community.

If you lead your agency or company, join Lisa Lounsbury for an informal and quick local beverage to connect with women who may share your experiences and then we'll head to the ABM together.

5:15 - 6:00 PM:  BIG I NEW YORK ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

Hear the state of the association from volunteer leaders and the swearing-in of the new Board of Directors.

6:00 - 8:00 PM:  INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE SNEAK PREVIEW PARTY Bar sponsored by IPFS

This is ALWAYS fun. Join us for food, drinks, music, fun, and a sneak peek of our exhibit hall, with a special music performance by Joe Altier, recording artist and singer-songwriter.

May 14  

7:30 – 9:00 AM: BAGELS & BOOTHS IN THE INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE sponsored by Erie & Niagara

Fuel up with some bagels and enjoy the networking at the beginning of the day. Want a personal introduction to a solution provider or peer? No problem! Ask a team member. We'll have a special badge.

9:00 - 10:45 AM: MORNING SESSION 

  • WHERE WE ARE
  • CHALLENGING CONVERSATIONS – Tools for Improving Emotional Intelligence & Navigating Conflict  |  Claudia St. John, The Workplace Advisors
    With the hard market infusing us with more stress, there has never been a more important time to hear what Claudia will share. Learn tips and a new perspective to help with teammates and customers.
  • EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS PANEL  sponsored by Liberty Mutual/Safeco - Luke Bills, President of Independent Agent Distribution for US Retail Markets at Liberty Mutual, Kristen Martin, President & Chief Operating Officer of Utica National, Benedikt Sander, President & CEO of Preferred Mutual
    What are these top execs seeing? What do they think will happen to the market? What keeps them up? What's going right? What is in store for the IA channel? Hear what these top execs have to share from their vantage point.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: NETWORKING IN THE INDUSTRY MARKETPLACE

Best-in-class solution providers stand ready to solve your challenges!

12:30 - 2:15 PM: GO BIG LUNCHEON sponsored by RT Specialty

Great food, great networking time and camaraderie, great insights, and...awards! This action-packed lunch will leave you reinvigorated and excited to go back to your agency and implement everything you've learned.

  • NETWORKING WITH PEERS
  • AI UNLEASHED & IN ACTION: Let's Go Beyond the Hype to Harness AI for a Competitive Edgsponsored by Irys - Sydney Roe, Director, Vertafore, Margeaux Giles, CEO, Irys Insurtech, Tony Lew, InsurTech NY.
  • SWEET SENDOFF: AWARDS CEREMONY & DESSERT



LOCATION

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This year we're excited to host Go Big at the Turning Stone Resort Casino, New York’s most-awarded four-season resort destination. You’ll experience world-class gaming, dining, hotel stays, recreation, and so much more. Yes, you can stay right on property, making it easy for networking late and getting to sessions early.

5218 PATRICK ROAD, VERONA, NY 13478  |  TurningStone.com

Staying overnight? Great idea! We have Tower and Hotel rooms available at a special rate:

Tower Rooms: $255/night plus taxes
Hotel Rooms: $199/night plus taxes

To make a reservation, call 800-771-7711 and request the Big I NY Go Big room rate. 

See the overnight accommodations tab (on the left below the speakers' pictures) to book the rooms online.

See a map of Turning Stone here.






DID YOU SAY GOLF?

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Thank you to all our golfers. You made our time together so much fun!

Yes, we did!

Hit the greens at Turning Stone Resort Casino and raise some green for your state PAC -  IAPAC. Join Big I NY during Go Big on Monday, May 13th for the first ever Putt for the PAC. We'll be at the Rick Smith-designed Sandstone Hollow, a nine-hole par 3 course that's perfect for both avid and amateur golfers.

Catch up with friends, develop those business relationships, and have fun. Golfers will enjoy snacks and drinks on the course with a boxed lunch to wrap up play. Start practicing your swing because there will be contests and prizes.

Not a golfer but still want to support IAPAC? Sponsor a Tee & Green sign to display your agency or company's logo on the course. For our local associations, this is a great way to get a jumpstart on Stack the PAC!

IAPAC is a non-partisan political action committee established by Big I NY to raise funds for NY state candidates who are responsive to the needs of independent agents.

Space is limited, and the tournament will sell out. Sign up a team or as an individual player. Big I NY will place individual players on a team.

Schedule
9:00 am – 9:30 am  |  Shuttle Service to Sandstone Hollow*
9:30 am – 10:00 am  |  Registration at Sandstone Hollow
10:00 am  |  Shotgun Start
Approx. 12:30 pm  | Tournament Ends & Boxed Lunches Available
Approx. 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm  |  Shuttle Service to Turning Stone Resort Casino*
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm  |  Tournament Prizes Awarded at Go Big Industry Marketplace Sneak Preview Party (Included in your separate Go Big ticket)


Cost+
Includes shuttle transportation, golf clubs handling to and from resort, cart, greens fees, food and drink.
$1,000  Foursome
$250  Individual Play

Sponsorships+
$250  Tee & Green Sign



NEED HELP?

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Questions?

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Allison Just
Meeting & Event Manager
ajust@biginy.org 
800.962.7950 EXT: 249


A member of Support NY? You have the first opportunity to exhibit and sponsor at Go Big!

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Christine Neet, CPIA
AVP of Member Engagement
cneet@biginy.org 
315.432.4231