Kathryn A. Kochenower, CIC, CRM, AIP, AFIS Kathryn “Katie" Kochenower is the Director of Education and Professional Development for the Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska (Big I Nebraska), where she brings decades of real-world agency experience and a genuine passion for helping insurance professionals grow, lead, and succeed. In her role, she leads the strategy, development, and delivery of education programs that support leadership development and the long-term success of independent insurance agents. Katie began her insurance career in 1986 with the Gilbaugh Agency in Gering, Nebraska, where she learned the business from the ground up. After becoming majority owner and president in 1998, she guided the agency through a successful strategic merger with First State Bank in Scottsbluff, positioning the agency for its next chapter of growth. In 2004, she founded Insurance by Katie, Inc. and spent the next 20 years as an independent producer with The Writer Agency LLC, building a career grounded in practical knowledge, client service, and professional excellence. A long-time leader within Big I Nebraska, Katie served as Board President from 2007–2008, was involved in the IIAN Foundation, and has chaired the Professional Development Committee for many years both before and after her presidency. She was honored as Big I Nebraska's Young Agent of the Year in 2005. A lifelong learner, Katie holds the Certified Insurance Counsellor, Certified Risk Manager, and Agribusiness and Farm Insurance Specialist designations and enjoys leveraging this deep industry knowledge to help other agents. She teaches a wide range of pre-licensing, E&O, and continuing education courses online and throughout the Midwest, and serves as a certified instructor and Program Director for the Elite Force Sales Academy Bootcamp, an intensive 90-day program that elevates new producers to successful sales professionals. In addition to her teaching and leadership roles, Katie is the developer and an instructor for Nebraska's only online community college insurance certificate and degree program through Northeast Community College. Katie is known for her practical teaching style, industry insight, and commitment to empowering independent agents with education that truly makes a difference.
| Angelynn Heavener, CIC, CPIA
Angie began her insurance career in 1971, joining her family's agency. She held numerous positions in the agency consisting of CSR, producer and eventually agency owner. In 1993 she sold her agency to join the staff of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois. She began as Assistant Vice President of Marketing/Instructor and was shortly promoted to Vice-President of Education. She is currently principal of Insurance Training Plus, a professional training and consulting firm focused on education and agency operations, that she began in 2002.
Angie served as Education Chairperson for both the IIAI, PIIAI and as a committee member for the IIAA. She has also been active on numerous other state and national committees. She received the Young Agent of the Year Award in 1991, obtained her Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 1994 and her Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation in 1999.
Angie teaches numerous property and casualty education seminars and is a frequent speaker at state association conventions. She also teaches sales, service and operations programs. She is a national faculty member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors.
| Jason Forge, CISR, AIP
Jason is a Kansas City native, and earned a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences degree from Rockhurst University in 2001, majoring in psychology. He holds licenses in Property & Casualty and Life & Health.
Right out of college, Jason started his career with Krueger & James and has never looked back - he is now President and Chief Sales Officer for Cowell James Forge Insurance Group in Kansas City.
Jason holds the CISR (Certified Insurance Service Representative) and AIP (Associate in Insurance Production) professional designations. He has been a certified instructor for the Elite Force Sales Training program since 2010.
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