GENERAL SESSION: 2025 Insurance Outlook - Trends, Challenges, and Market Drivers

EVP, Specialty Lending, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Michael is one-part insurance nerd, one-part red bull. After his work at Countrywide/Bank of America, he decided the insurance industry was a thrilling challenge, understanding his body would soon give out from playing hockey. His passion is pioneering insurance capital solutions for lenders while providing banks & non-banks a comprehensive loan-level to enterprise risk analysis. He enjoys bridging the communication gap between lenders, secondary markets, & insurance markets, with an occasional dad joke for flare. As an EVP within Alliant’s Financial Institutions Group, Michael leads the national Specialty Lending brokerage practice. His coverage expertise includes: Traditional Insurance Placements, Specialty Lending Insurance, & Lender/Investor Sponsored Master Insurance Programs.

Vice President, Manager - Insurance, Berkadia

Laura Bushey is responsible for managing Berkadia’s global insurance servicing operations, including compliance monitoring and claims processing. Laura previously held asset management, client relations, and project management positions at Berkadia. Laura has a diverse knowledge of the various types of loans and servicing requirements across life companies, CMBS, commercial banks, private lenders, and agencies. Laura joined Berkadia and its predecessor companies in 2000 and have over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry.

Managing Director, InsureMAC Financial Insurance Services

Gretchan Francis is a respected leader in the forced-placed insurance industry, with over 20 years of banking and insurance experience and deep expertise in creating specialized insurance solutions for financial institutions. As the founder and managing director of InsureMAC, she spearheads efforts to deliver top-tier lender-placed insurance solutions for mortgage servicers, banks, specialty lenders and credit unions. Her career began with pivotal roles at premier banks and insurance brokerages, where she specialized in lender-placed, mortgage impairment, and blanket hazard insurance. Ms. Francis holds a BA from the University of Mount Union and an MBA from Youngstown State University. She is actively involved in key industry associations, championing initiatives that advance our field

Real Estate Practice Leader, Principal, Senior Vice President, Property Broker, Brown & Riding

JulieAnne Lally serves as the Real Estate Practice Leader at Brown and Riding and is a seasoned property broker with deep expertise in complex and hard-to-place risks. With over a decade of experience in the wholesale insurance industry, she has consistently focused on the property sector, specializing in real estate, public entity, construction, and manufacturing exposures. In 2025, she was selected as a winner of Business Insurance's Break Out Awards, a program that recognizes emerging leaders in the U.S. commercial insurance and risk management industry who have demonstrated excellence in client service, expertise in their field, and effective leadership. JulieAnne joined Brown and Riding in 2021 as a Senior Vice President and Property Broker and was named a Principal of the firm in 2022. She holds the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation and is committed to professional development and knowledge sharing within the industry. In 2023, she was a featured panelist at a major retail insurance conference, where she spoke on optimizing retailer­wholesaler partnerships. She also contributed to a key panel discussion at the 2022 WSIA Marketplace. offering insights on emerging industry trends and developments.

Executive Director, Flood & Insurance Center of Excellence, JP Morgan Chase