As always, the Summit promises to deliver insights you need to navigate 2026 and connect you to the people who can help you make it happen. Meet suppliers and talk to peers who have found creative solutions to problems that challenge the industry. Hear from industry experts on property and casualty risk management, practical AI prompting to boost productivity, critical employment law and retention updates, sales and marketing strategies, insurance trends, tariffs, product distribution law, and more. Watch this publication for coverage of all upcoming events in San Antonio.

Marc Ivey, Association President, urges members to take advantage of the upcoming Summit. “Come ready to share ideas, build new connections, and leave with a fresh perspective,” he said. “It’s a rare chance to meet with so many people across the supply chain in one room. What might normally take two to four months of calls and visits, you can accomplish in just half a day.”

The event features a supplier product showcase and a new technology track highlighting how technology supports both product development and internal operations. You’ll also find informative speaker sessions and plenty of networking throughout the agenda. Attendees can enjoy a Topgolf networking dinner, welcome receptions, a spouse/guest program, tours of the Alamo Group and Ford Manufacturing plants, and a farewell event with dueling pianos.

Go to to register, check out who is attending and make vital connections that will help create opportunities for manufacturer-supplier partnerships.

And now, let’s meet our speakers:

Matt Beigel, Trent Waltenberg, and Bryant Hintz of Sentry Insurance: Property & Casualty Insurance – Manage Your Risk

The team from Sentry Insurance, a FEMA Endorsed Service, will discuss the changes seen in the property market, the factors leading to those changes, and how they are impacting your coverages and costs. Sentry will also provide guidance on the key elements of your safety program, including safety manuals and decals.

Zac Engler: AI Workshop – Learn the New Core Trade Skill of Prompting

Engler is Chief AI Officer at C4 Technology Services and the author of Turning On Machines (2025), with a decade of experience helping organizations adopt AI through training, automation, and strategy. He’ll speak on how to “talk” to AI—crafting clear prompts and requests—to get better results, save time and money, and streamline day-to-day work.

David James and Chelsea Bodin of Nilan Johnson Lewis: Employment Law and Worldwind Tour

Attorneys David James and Chelsea Bodin of FEMA Endorsed Services Partner Nilan Johnson will walk members through key drug-testing updates and practical supervisor/HR tips to help reduce litigation risk. They’ll also host an open Q&A, where members can ask questions on these topics—or any employment-law issue.

As an employer, how do you find the most responsible drivers and help ensure they follow safety procedures when they’re on the job?

Here are a few steps you can take to help identify red flags during the hiring process:
• Review every candidate’s motor vehicle record (MVR)
• Require criminal background checks for all candidates
• Confirm that each candidate has the qualifications and experience required for the position you’re considering them for

When you’ve hired your ideal driver, begin training them and reviewing guidelines they need to follow when they’re on the road.
Write a safety policy that includes:
• Required qualifications and responsibilities for drivers
• A list of permitted drivers of company-owned vehicles
• Restrictions on using mobile devices while driving
• Clear communication that the use of drugs and alcohol is prohibited while driving

Your written safety policy should also include instructions for:
• Vehicle operation safety and best practices
• Accident reporting and investigation procedures
• Post-accident drug and alcohol testing
• Disciplinary actions for unacceptable driver conduct and performance

Update your safety policy each year and provide all drivers with a copy to review. Require each driver to sign a statement acknowledging they received the written policy, read it, understood the guidelines, and agreed to follow the requirements.

As an extra safety precaution, consider telematics technology to alert you to driver conduct.

Telematics technology is a great tool to learn how your drivers are operating vehicles. You can choose from many cost-effective options like cellphone apps, onboard plug-in devices, and windshield tags. These devices typically provide real-time alerts when they detect risky behaviors like speeding, hard-braking, or erratic maneuvering.

Once you’ve chosen the right technology for your business, you’ll need to assign responsibility for managing your improvement process, communicate the new process to your drivers, and create a way to track driver results and measure their improvement.

Remember: “By recruiting safety-conscious drivers—and actively managing their performance—you demonstrate that you take safe driving seriously, and you expect them to do the same.”

Consult your legal team, human resources department, and safety experts to ensure you comply with laws and regulations regarding, among other things, your specific hiring, safety training, and telematics situations and processes.

Troy Tepp is a Director of Safety Services at Sentry Insurance. Learn more at

| Member since 1974

This article was written by Bryant Hintz, Senior Product Safety Specialist at Sentry Insurance.

There are several activities that come together to create a manufacturer’s product safety and liability prevention program, including product design and review, engineering controls, quality assurance and control, sales literature, operator’s manuals, and safety labels—just to name a few. One of the most critical factors for manufacturers is ensuring that they provide appropriate user information to their customers.

While manufacturers have a legal duty to tell their customers how to safely use and care for their products, the underlying goal is to facilitate proper and safe behavior. As a manufacturer, you can help to protect your brand—and reputation—by managing the ways you promote your company and how you communicate safety information. This is your opportunity—and responsibility—to provide your customers with the information they need to use your equipment safely and effectively.

Now, let’s consider some of the preceding controls for your equipment before further focusing on manuals and labels. Just about every piece of farm equipment contains some level of potential hazards based on their operation. Users can be exposed to hazards both through the misuse of the product and through normal use. When addressing these hazards, it’s important to implement the most effective controls that are feasibly possible by considering this hierarchy of controls:

1. Engineer and design out the hazard
2. Incorporate guarding and shielding to isolate the user from the hazard
3. Warn customers of the hazard through safety labels that comply with consensus standards
4. Educate the user through effective, clear instructions and safety messages in operator’s manuals that comply with consensus standards
5. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment

Following feasible engineering controls, operator’s manuals and safety labels are key elements in protecting your customers’ safety and the prevention of injuries. Manuals provide critical information to users about the intended use and safe operation of your equipment. Labels alert users of specific hazards they need to be aware of regarding the products’ use and show them how to properly avoid those hazards. Overall, accomplishing the first and most important objective—to protect your customers and give them every opportunity to operate and maintain the equipment safely.

Secondly, manuals and labels help to protect your business from liability exposure. If your customers fail to follow your instructions and warnings—resulting in a physical injury—then your manuals and labels will help with your defense in the event of a product liability lawsuit. Of course, this is the second objective, and should be treated as such. Your focus is to protect your customers and prevent injuries, but if that doesn’t work, then your manuals and labels will be used to defend you.

No product manufacturer wants to see anyone getting hurt and they also don’t want to be involved in any litigation because of any product defects. Your operator’s manuals and safety labels are important. Start writing or revising yours today —you will help keep your customers safe and help keep your company out of court.

For those who are insured with Sentry and have questions about your operator’s manuals or safety labels, please reach out to Bryant Hintz, Senior Product Safety Specialist at Bryant.Hintz@Sentry.com.

A total of 68% also said they had been the victim of an attack in the last three years, including 24% in the past year, while 88% said they had experienced an attack at some point.

Of those who experienced an attack, 68% said their business operations were impacted and 75% reported a significant or moderate financial impact. 

A total of 71% said recovery from the attack took longer than one month, with 35% stating the process took longer than four months.

Among other survey results, 83% said they are renewing their current cyber policy. A total of 53% reported their coverage had changed in the past two years, with most saying that they have increased their coverage.

Cyber coverage is a topic you may want to address with your insurance broker or better yet, meet with Sentry underwriting executives, Matt Beigel and Andrew Giles during our Fall Convention in Orlando this month or email Matt.Beigel@sentry.com or Andrew.Giles@sentry.com to set up a time to meet. 

Source: Sentry

Matt Beigel has been with Sentry Insurance for over 17 years and was promoted to his current role of Underwriting Executive in March of 2022. He enjoys spending time with his wife, three step kids, hunting, fishing, golfing, and watching sports, especially the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.

Andrew Giles has been with Sentry for over 12 years and was promoted to his current role in August of 2022. He enjoys spending time with his dog, running, golfing, snowboarding, and watching sports. He’s a huge fan of the Chicago Bears and looks forward to their “annual season of disappointment” each year. 

Vernon Schmidt, Executive Vice President of our Association and our Risk Management Consultant, Tom Franzen are thrilled to have Matt and Andrew added to the Sentry team and look forward to making face-to-face introductions with many members during our upcoming Fall Convention in Orlando. 

Since 1975, the ąű¶łĘÓƵ products liability program has provided our members with specialized services through Sentry Insurance. Participants in our Sentry products liability program qualify for consideration in Sentry’s package policy program which includes property, inland marine, crime, auto, umbrella, Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) and workers’ compensation coverages.

Cell phones and other handheld devices have become so common, and so inarguably useful, that most “back in my day” arguments against them tend to fall on deaf ears. When used properly, these devices are irreplaceable communication tools. But when used inappropriately – especially behind the wheel – they can contribute to costly, and sometimes deadly, accidents. Review these tips and share them with your drivers to help them avoid distracted driving behaviors.

Cell phones and other handheld devices have become so common, and so inarguably useful, that most “back in my day” arguments against them tend to fall on deaf ears. When used properly, these devices are irreplaceable communication tools. But when used inappropriately – especially behind the wheel – they can contribute to costly, and sometimes deadly, accidents. Review these tips and share them with your drivers to help them avoid distracted driving behaviors.

Start by developing a policy that specifically prohibits the use of any handheld device while driving. Require your drivers to pull over before using their phone or other device – including taking or placing calls, responding to text messages, and using apps or web browsers.

Many states already have laws in place banning the use of cell phones while driving, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has prohibited handheld cell phone usage behind the wheel for the past
decade. Meet with your legal counsel to ensure that your policy aligns with all applicable state and federal laws.

Once your policy is in place, distribute it to all employees, even those who don’t frequently drive on behalf of your business. Require each employee to sign an acknowledgment form confirming their understanding, agreement and commitment to adhering to your policy. To help keep this information top of mind, distribute the policy annually.

Charge all managers who oversee drivers with enforcing the policy, and reinforce their responsibilities during performance reviews. Emphasize the importance of their role in helping to protect their team and other motorists.

This final point is particularly important – after all, you could have the most comprehensive safety policy imaginable, but if you don’t actually enforce it, it won’t make a difference. And remember, reducing distracted
driving isn’t just a matter of requiring adherence to your safety policy. It’s about encouraging safe driving habits and reinforcing your commitment to keeping your employees safe.

In my 30+ years in the industry, I’ve seen businesses implement handheld device safety programs that made immediate positive impacts. I’ve also seen a few fail, unfortunately, and I can say that simply railing against
cell phone usage doesn’t eliminate distracted driving.

By treating cell phones just like other useful tools that require proper use, and creating and enforcing a policy based on that approach, you can help protect your drivers, other motorists, and your bottom line.

Article originally appeared in the AED magazine –

“Receiving this rating each year since 1992 is a reminder of our company’s transformation during the 1990s and 2000s,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. “I’m grateful to our associates—and retirees—for putting us in the strong position we’re currently benefitting from. It was their loyalty, caring, and strong work ethic that got us here and created the Sentry we are today—one of the best capitalized companies in the insurance industry.”

While the ever-changing landscape of COVID-19 presented new challenges for Sentry, the company’s proactive approach, including significant investments in technology, helped meld its traditional business model with the best data and analytics currently available. This created a better overall experience for customers and associates. As a result, 2021 was the strongest financial year in the company’s modern history.

Fewer than 10 percent of U.S.-based property and casualty insurance companies earn the A+ rating—even less have achieved it for three straight decades. The designation speaks to the financial strength and soundness of Sentry as a company.

“Financially, we’re an even stronger company than we were before the pandemic,” said Todd Schroeder, Sentry Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer. “We’re outpacing the industry in growth and are well-positioned to withstand industry and economic headwinds. Our financial strength is a testament to how we operate and means our customers can continue to rely on us when they need us most.”

In support of its A+ (superior) rating, AM Best points to Sentry’s balance sheet strength, which achieves the rating authority’s highest ranking of “strongest” for risk-adjusted capitalization. AM Best also recognizes Sentry’s strong market position as one of the leading commercial casualty writers in the United States, its well-diversified business mix, and strong management team with a successful track record of executing strategy.