Meeting Information

Nicole Broch spent over a decade as an Independent Insurance Agent and Manager of a successful partnership between a community financial institution and a local independent agency in Springfield, Illinois. She attended The Hartford School of Insurance and achieved her National Underwriter awarded Personal Lines Coverage Specialist (PLCS) designation in 2005. She went on to receive the National Alliance CISR designation in 2007 and CIC designation in 2009.

In addition to teaching National Alliance CISR modules, IIABA Errors & Omissions, Ethics, and customer service and professional development topics for IIAs, PIAs, and trade associations throughout the country, she is the Territory Sales Manager for The Hanover Group, supporting independent agents throughout Central and Southern Illinois.

Originally from Florida, Nicole has a Bachelors degree in English from Florida State University and a Masters degree in Public Administration from the University of South Florida.

Nicole has two children, Natalie and T.J., and enjoys playing golf, running, spending time with family, and volunteering in her community and in the insurance industry.

Mike Russell has worked with insurance companies for over two decades and is currently the personal lines Product Manager for Goodville Mutual Insurance. An active supporter of the National Alliance since 2013, Mike earned the CIC designation in 2015, and has since led many team members to obtain their designations as well. He serves locally on the All-Industry Day committee for the Central Illinois CPCU Society, introducing the rewarding world of insurance careers to college students in Illinois.

Armed with leadership in claims, product development and sales, Mike encompasses a unique background. Holding an undergraduate degree in Education, a master’s degree in business and five years of teaching experience in the private sector, he kicked off his insurance career as an auto claims adjuster. Highlights include catastrophe response teams in the Gulf States, and the claims arbitration board in Salt Lake City, Utah. He later increased territory profitability and premium as a Territory Manager and again as a National Marketing Manager based in Des Moines, IA. He has hosted large agent training events, golf tournaments and Ragnar relay races. As a Product Manager and Director of Product Management he tracked company profitability strategies for Home, Auto, and Umbrella lines, led policy form updates and product reviews, and ensured regulatory compliance.