2023 Distinguished Speakers

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.

Doug Bell

Mr. Bell, has over 35 years of experience in the aftermarket and OEM automobile industry including aftersales, warranty, extended warranty, certified pre-owned, and prepaid maintenance, as well as operations, sales & marketing, product development, pricing, policy administration, risk management, reinsurance, affinity insurance and direct sales programs.

Innovation, leadership and technology drives business transformation. Creating a competitive edge: the value of cross‐industry knowledge is a critical criteria for success as organizations become more global in their reach.

Doug’s vision and tenacity helped to transform Nissan Extended Services into a full service provider including advanced F&I technology with SaaS, e-Contracting, e-Menu, e-Signature and a Tableau reporting solution.

Doug holds an BS degree in Marketing & Economics and a MBA from Babson College, Wellesley Massachusetts.

Brian T. Casey, Esq.

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.

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.

McKenna Eaton

McKenna Eaton is the Dealer Quality Administration & Warranty Operations in the Residential and Landscape Contractor business at The Toro Company. At Toro, McKenna is responsible for all warranty activities and expenses, registration and Toro’s Extended Service Contract program. McKenna has recently partnered with After, Inc to launch a claim analytics program to better understand dealer performance, quality, manage cost and improve overall customer satisfaction.

Prior to joining Toro, McKenna worked for 13+ years at an Aerospace company holding a variety of positions within the organization. McKenna supported Aftermarket and OEM customers through Program Management and was an Operations Manager for multiple product lines across the organization with experience in SIOP, LEAN principles and quality management. McKenna received a B.S. from Colorado State University.

Outside of McKenna’s professional life, she and her husband attend all sports activities for their 4 kids or will be in northern Minnesota at the lake.

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.

Eric Johnson

GE Appliances is committed to bring happiness and well-being to every home. This mission has taken on new meaning in the Internet of Things era. With over 20 years of experience leading New Product Introductions across multiple product lines, Eric and his teams have helped to build the necessary product infrastructure needed to support this new wave in diagnostics technology. In his current role, Eric has created the service strategy for North America’s leading manufacturer of connected appliances.

Rodney Martin

Rodney was born in Roanoke, VA and spent his early years in Lynchburg, VA then high school and college in Asheville, NC. This is where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Cheli. Rodney graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) majoring in Chemistry. He also holds an MBA from Indiana Tech. Rodney spent 25 years in the hazardous waste industry working for the following companies; GSX, Laidlaw Environmental Services, Safety-Kleen and Clean Harbors. Over that time, Rodney and Cheli have lived in Asheville, NC; Greensboro, NC; Vancouver, BC; Bellingham, WA; Rockford, IL; Lansing, MI; Columbia, SC; Indianapolis, IN and they now reside in Atlanta, GA. During his career Rodney has held senior-level positions in operations, sales, human resources and executive leadership. Rodney has been CEO of America’s Preferred Home Warranty since 2013.

Rodney is an active member of the National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA), National Association of REALTORS (NAR), REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC), Real Estate Services Providers Council (RESPRO®,) the Service Contract Industry Council (SCIC) and the Jackson Area Association of REALTORS (JAAR.) Rodney and Cheli have 3 grown children; Courteney, Tiffany and Daniel. During their free time you can find them boating, hiking, walking their dogs or touring on their Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Chris McDonald

The Co-Chair and Master of Ceremonies for the Extended Warranty & Service Contract Innovations Conference, Chris is one of the dynamic thinkers and innovators driving our industry forward.

Architect of many of the extended service programs in the market today for leading consumer durables and electronics brands, Chris has worked across the extended service value chain to deliver breakthrough results for customers and brands alike. As Founder of Registria Customer Experience, and during his tenure as CEO, Chris led the development of the company’s award winning digital and mobile services adopted by these brands to identify their owners, deliver a remarkable on-boarding experience, and create new high-margin sources of post-purchase revenue. Chris served in similar Executive and innovation-focused roles for DoubleClick and the Abacus Data Alliance (since acquired by Google and Epsilon) developing deep expertise in data-driven marketing and predictive analytics. His passion for building direct-to-consumer relationships began as a brand marketer for Descente Ski Wear, intent on finding the baker of a tasty homemade apple strudel shipped to him in thanks for providing exceptional customer service.

Outside of his service to the world’s leading brands, Chris serves on the advisory board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (https://www.mcsf.org/), is the President of Boulder Road Runners, and in hot pursuit of American age-group records for the 800 meters and Mile.

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.

Tim Meenan

Timothy J. Meenan is an A.V. rated lawyer in the Martindale Hubbell law directory, and has spent over 30 years as an insurance regulator and attorney representing service contract companies, insurers, managing general agents, GAP providers, and other insurance and ancillary product related industries.

In his role as the General Counsel and Executive Director for the Service Contract Industry Council, Mr. Meenan has overseen the drafting, passage and implementation of fair and balanced regulation for consumer goods, automobile, and home service contract providers throughout the United States, with laws being implemented under his watch in more than 30 states. Mr. Meenan also serves as the General Counsel for the Guaranteed Asset Protection Alliance, and in that role assists lenders, administrators, insurers, and other providers of GAP in compliance, regulatory and legislative efforts. As General Counsel for the Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association, Mr. Meenan has worked with industry participants to authorize products such as tire and wheel, windshield protection, paint-less dent repair, key fob, appearance care, and other products across the United States. Mr. Meenan has assisted numerous manufacturers, insurers, administrators and retailers develop and implement national compliance initiatives for warranty, service contract, GAP, and retail insurance programs. Nationally, Mr. Meenan has spearheaded laws designed to streamline the provision of insurance products in the retail environment. Meenan P.A. also provides regulatory and governmental relations out-sourcing for numerous insurers in Florida and throughout the Nation.

Mr. Meenan's legal practice also focuses on regulatory law before numerous state agencies, with an emphasis on insurance company, financial products and agent regulation. He has assisted insurers and other regulated entities to obtain licensure, has represented life and health insurers and health maintenance organizations with various regulatory problems, and has helped numerous property and casualty insurance companies resolve their disputes with the Florida Department of Financial Services, Office of Insurance Regulation. As a legislative lobbyist in Florida, Mr. Meenan has represented many corporations amend statutes governing insurance, service contract, financial products, and other laws.

Taj Mian

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.

Angie Breedlove

Angie Breedlove is a 30+ year veteran in the warranty industry with a knack for getting things done, sometimes by sheer force of will, and sometimes with the help of a double shot venti latte.

With a career that's taken her from processing warranty claims to starting a company, she has led warranty strategy and development for Maytag, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Assurant and is now CoFounder and Chief Revenue Officer for Xcelerator Group. She likes to say if there is a job in the warranty and services industry that she hasn’t done, it was probably in Accounting.

When she isn’t working with the team at Xcelerator Group, you can find her leading Women of Warranty as their Executive Director. Women of Warranty was founded in 2023 as a way to foster more female leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs and trades people in the warranty industry.

Jim Mostofi

Career Summary

Education and Credentials

Kippy McNulty

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.

Mark Nagelvoort

Mark Nagelvoort is widely recognized as pioneering software administration systems within the Extended Warranty and F&I Product industry. He is a seasoned executive who has dedicated 30+ years to creating platforms that help the world’s TPAs, OEMs, and Insurers automate administration processes effortlessly. Mark specializes in using his expansive knowledge to help customers establish all phases of their extended warranty programs including sales, policy and claim administration, risk management, and offshore reinsurance within our PCRS software.

Matt Parsons

As Chief Revenue Offices, Matt’s primary focus is client success and satisfaction while expanding Registria’s client portfolio.  With more than 20 years of client services and operations experience, Matt joined Registria in March 2017 and manages Client Success, Sales and implementation. Prior to Registria, Matt was an early executive at PowerReviews, acquired by Bazaarvoice in 2012 and re-started as an independent company in 2014. Before joining PowerReviews, he held client services and operations roles at Qwest Communications, BearingPoint and Fogdog.com.  Matt has also served on various non-profit boards and is a graduate of Stanford University.

Kolby Rath

Kolby is the Aftermarket Services Portfolio Manager for Deere & Company In this role Kolby is responsible for the Extended Warranty business for both Ag & Turf and Construction & Forestry Divisions and sits on the Board of Directors for John Deere’s Captive Insurance Company. In addition, Kolby oversees Expert ServicesTM and John Deere ProtectTM which serve to expand John Deere’s global customers capability to manage their cost of operation across the John Deere Enterprise.

Kolby has spent 13 years with John Deere in various field, factory, and corporate roles within Customer & Product Support and Product Marketing. Prior to John Deere, Kolby gained valuable experience as a technician and Service Manager & Warranty at an Ag Equipment Dealership as well as a Harley Davidson Dealership.

Kolby grew up on a small Iowa farm balancing livestock and row crop with working in his father’s auto salvage business and grandfathers electrical and plumbing business. Kolby is a graduate of Iowa State University and enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three sons.

Dan Tafel

Dan helped start Ironwood Warranty Group, part of a well-established Life Insurance company founded in 1906. Ironwood, the parent company of Hornbeam Insurance and National Service Alliance, are focused exclusively on the warranty market. As a member of the Executive Team, Dan leads Ironwood Warranty Group’s sales and marketing initiatives.

Prior to joining Ironwood Warranty Group, Dan was Vice President of AIG’s global sales and management team for multinational warranty clients. He initiated client relationships and managed a team to launch AIG’s first two global warranty client with both Apple and Dell. He was responsible for organizing AIG’s regional offices to support multinational clients operating in over 70 countries spanning Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Latin America Regions.

Dan started his career in marketing with Philip Morris leading to Southeast Asia in 1993 where he founded a trade distribution company. In 1994, Dan established a licensed representative office in Vietnam, which managed marketing and distribution for consumer product companies such as L’Oréal and Keebler foods.

Dan returned from Asia in 1997 to join Appriss, a technology start-up specializing notification services. After leading government sales, he launched a commercial division for Appriss in 1999. Dan proposed and implemented the travel industry’s first flight status notification system with American Airlines in 2000.

In 2002, Dan joined Service Net leading business development. As a principal and member of the leadership team, Dan contributed to the growth of Service Net with the development of new clients including Philips, LG, and Apple. In 2010, AIG acquired Service Net to leverage both global and administrative opportunities.