Doug Butler
Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

Doug Butler is a highly regarded lawyer in the captive insurance industry who has experience in both the management and legal sides of captive insurance. He focuses his practice on insurance regulatory and general corporate transactions, including the formation and management of captive insurance companies, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Doug is a board member and former president of the Georgia Captive Insurance Association and an active member of the Cobb and Macon-Bibb Chambers of Commerce and the Macon Civic Club. He grew up in Gainesville, Ga., and received his B.S. in finance from the University of Georgia. He worked in the life insurance industry for five years before earning his J.D. from Mercer Law School.

John Capasso
CEO
Captive Planning Associates, LLC

John Capasso is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Captive Planning Associates, a firm he founded, located in New Jersey, specializing in risk management and alternative risk solutions. Mr. Capasso is a Member Manager of Captive Planning Resources, LLC, a holding company for various captive insurance companies. He is also a Principal of CapCare, a program manager for a member benefit program under Taft-Hartley that offers provider of healthcare and related benefits solutions to associations, PEO’s, Cooperatives and organizations. Mr. Capasso was formerly a Senior Director with Alvarez and Marsal Insurance Advisory Services, LLC in New York where he headed the captive solutions group for the firm. A&M is a large, multi-national consulting firm where Mr. Capasso led business development efforts and oversaw a staff of professionals providing alternative risk management consulting services, captive formation, and captive management services. Prior to his involvement in alternative risk management, Mr. Capasso founded Capital Planning Associates, Inc., a NJ-based Registered Investment Advisory and Consulting Firm that primarily focused on management consulting, investment banking, and wealth management services for mid-market and small-cap firms seeking to raise capital and/or go public. Throughout John’s career, he has held positions in a variety of industries, including public accounting, investment banking, risk management, health care, financial services, and investment management. Mr. Capasso is a member of various associations and organizations including the Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA), Captive Insurance Companies of America (CICA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPAs. He is most active in SIIA, where he currently serves as chairman of the board of directors and previously, as treasurer, secretary, and chair of the captive committee. John has earned professional designations as a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Global Management Accountant, and Personal Financial Specialist, as well as life and health insurance.

Aimee Grmoljez
Partner
Crowley Fleck PLLP

Aimee Grmoljez is a Partner and Director of the Government Affairs section of the firm. As an experienced attorney and leader, she regularly applies her knowledge of the law, business acumen, and inclusive leadership skills to share information and guidance that adds value to her client's critical business and policy decisions. Aimee delivers forward-thinking, sound, and practical advice on government relations, strategic planning, and policy development. She partners nationally with policy experts through the State Law Resources Network and cross-functionally with her clients’ senior leadership and other relevant stakeholders on policy matters. Aimee also is and has been on various business and non- profit boards and is active with her husband and daughters in Montana activities.

Kari Leonard, CPA, CFE
Captive Coordinator
Office of the Montana Commissioner of Securities & Insurance

Kari has worked for the state of Montana for over twenty-four years. Since 2014, she has been with the Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, Montana State Auditor, working first in the captive insurance regulation department, later moving into a supervisory role over traditional and captive insurance company analysts, and finally accepting the Chief Examiner position in July 2023. She obtained her BA from Baylor University and her MA from Atlantic University. She is a certified public accountant and has also obtained the certified financial examiner designation from the Society of Financial Examiners.

Duke Niedringhaus, ARM
Senior Vice President
Marsh McLennan Agency

Duke Niedringhaus holds the position of Senior Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency - St. Louis. In addition, he serves as the Vice Chair of MMA's national group captive center of excellence, where he specializes in Casualty Group, Enterprise Risk, and Medical Stop Loss. Duke previously served as a board member and Work Comp Chairman for the Self Insurance Institute of America (SIIA). Duke's insurance career began in 1988 with Arthur J Gallagher in St. Louis before joining J.W. Terrill/Marsh McLennan Agency in 1997. He is actively engaged in the insurance industry, frequently speaking and moderating panels on captive insurance alternatives. Duke also advocates for SIIA in Washington D.C. Outside of his professional commitments, Duke volunteers as a driving instructor for the BMW Street Survival teen driving program. He also coordinates the teen driving risk management for MMA - St. Louis. Duke is a past board member of the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis and remains active in the Marquette University alumni association.

Leon Rives
Chief Visionary Officer
RH CPAs PLLC

Leon L. Rives II is the Chief Visionary Officer in the firm. Leon co-founded the firm and is an investor in several different businesses. Leon has authored more than 20 courses on insurance, insurance accounting, and governmental accounting. Leon is a regular speaker at board meetings and brings his 20 years of experience combined with the ability to communicate complex matters in an easy to understand practical approach to the C-Suite at insurance companies domestically and internationally. Leon has also assisted in drafting legislative changes to statutes governing insurance in multiple jurisdictions. Leon also provides consulting services to a multitude of Risk Pools across the United States, ranging from Workers' Compensation to Property & Casualty to Life and Health.

Jeff Simpson
Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP

Jeff Simpson leads Womble Bond Dickinson’s Captive Insurance Team. He focuses his practice on the formation, regulation, and governance of captive insurance companies and assists with all matters related to a captive's lifecycle. Jeff is a founder and director of the Delaware Captive Insurance Association and serves on its legislative and regulatory liaison committees, working closely with regulators. He also is a director of the Self-Insurance Institute of America and chairs its Enterprise Risk Captive Advocacy Working Group.