NAIFA Illinois Spring Education Getaway

Join us for an educational day of CE followed by a networking reception at the beautiful Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in Galena, IL. Great room rates will be extended for the weekend so you can bring your family and have a mini vacation!

Agenda:

12:00 – 1:00 Registration and Visit with Exhibitors

1:00 – 2:00 Aki Jackson, CPA, CGMA, The Power of Attitude

2:00 – 2:20 Break with the Exhibitors

2:20 – 3:20 Manuel Amezcua, 7.5 Steps to Sustainable Success

3:20 - 3:40 Break with the Exhibitors

3:40 - 4:40 Brent Widman, The Habits of Top Producers

4:40 – 4:45 Open Q & A and Announcements

4:45 – 6:00 Reception with the Exhibitors

Aki Jackson, CPA, CGMA- The Power of Attitude

Aki Jackson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), a Public Speaker, Trainer and Certified Business Performance Coach on the FocalPoint system powered by Brian Tracy. Aki worked in business over 30 years advising management at all levels in the areas of manufacturing operations, sales and marketing, transportation and logistics, and finance. He has been recognized for the ability to analyze and unpack complex situations and issues to support business planning and strategy alignment.

He currently coaches business owners, executives, and managers in all aspects of Leadership, Management, and Business. His clients are high-performance business leaders and owners or those who wish to be, are passionate about their business and committed to their personal and business success. Clients who work with Aki get the results they deserve by implementing powerful, proven and guaranteed strategies.

With extensive experience directing financial operations within a complex, world-recognized company, he brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and the expertise needed to support decision-making at the highest levels. His background includes serving as controller for a corporate division, advising leaders on strategies and business opportunities, and driving a variety of fiscal functions that are critical to organizational health and growth.

Manuel Amezcua- 7.5 Steps to Sustainable Success

Manuel serves as Agency Managing Partner for MassMutual Chicago where he is responsible for the selection and development of Associates and Managing Associates within the firm, along with growing his client-facing practice focused on serving entrepreneurs, executives, and professional athletes.

Manuel has 14 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, serving in management and executive leadership roles since 2007. Previously, Manuel served as Chief Growth Officer and Managing Director with Northwestern Mutual in the Chicago suburban market. Prior to joining Northwestern Mutual, Manuel served as Agency Manager at COUNTRY Financial. During Manuel’s 8 year career at COUNTRY Financial, he was recognized with the prestigious “All-American” award in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2010, ranking him in the top 5% of financial representatives and agency managers in the company. Manuel served on COUNTRY’s national strategic marketing committee as they expanded into the Chicago market for the first time in the company’s history. He was also appointed as one of COUNTRY Financial’s registered lobbyists in IL. After transitioning to MassMutual Chicago in 2013, Manuel has attained both Leaders and Management Council recognition in 2014, 2015, and 2016. This ranks him in the top 10% of individuals in his current leadership role across the company. He was also recognized with MassMutual’s Community Service Award in 2015, appointed to the Sales Manager Advisory Board in 2015, and invited to join the Field Leadership Development program in 2016. Manuel has spoken at MassMutual Academy, Summit, NAIFA Chicago’s Taste of MDRT, GAMA’s global LAMP conference, NAIFA Illinois’s annual conference, FUND Conference, and various other local sales and financial services industry programs.

At the forefront of Manuel’s personal life are his wife, Samantha, and two children, Ava and Atlas. They share a passion for community involvement. They maintain a commitment to the Melanoma Research Foundation, POSSE Chicago, Israel Idonije Foundation, NFL Alumni Association, Alicia’s House and Junior Achievement. Manuel currently serves on POSSE Chicago’s Leadership Council and served as Chair of the Melanoma Research Foundation’s Wings of Hope Gala (Chicago) in 2015 and 2016. He has also provided previous board service to NAIFA Chicago, the Center for Economic Progress, and the Reilly C. Bush Foundation.

Brent Widman- The Habits of Top Producers

Brent started his sales career at a very young age. He took his first job at the age of eight, delivering papers door to door. He had to sell and collect money! He did this every morning at 5:45 for 10 years of his life. Brent grew up in a small town called Round Lake in southwest Minnesota. From there he moved to Mankato for college and graduated with a Mass Communications Degree with emphasis in Public Relations and a Speech Communications minor.

When Brent moved to Plymouth he started his career at Life Time Fitness. He was told to call people, so that’s what he did. He just worked harder and made more dials than anyone else there. This has served him very well in his career! Brent went on to become a Sales Director at the YMCA, a District Manager for Sprint and a Division Director for Robert Half Int. All along the way trying to perfect his sales skills and motivation to do so. As he moved through his career he decided to get his MBA from Augsburg College.

Brent is married to his soulmate Katie and has two little ones, Jack (10) and Elle (1). He is also an avid workout enthusiast. Brent believes that when you do the things you know you should be doing, you never look back and wish you wouldn’t. That’s what he's here for. Brent has coached, trained and spoken to people all over the country.

You can sum up Brent's attitude about work in one phrase: Relentless Pursuit of Perfection!

Any questions, please contact Jennifer at jennifer@naifa-il.com or 217-529-0126.

We look forward to seeing you!