Speakers
Every year, we bring some of the brightest minds in insurance and influential world leaders to the Applied Net stage. Applied execs will discuss what’s next for our company and great industry, followed by a guest speaker who will share heartfelt stories and unique perspectives on business, leadership, and teamwork. Expect some laughs, maybe even some tears, and loads of inspiration that will leave you feeling energized, motivated and armed to succeed!
2026 Guest Speaker
George W. Bush
43rd President of the United States
President George W. Bush will be the guest keynote speaker at Applied Net 2026, sharing perspectives shaped by experience at the highest level of leadership. As president, he advanced education reform, economic growth, environmental protection, and national security during a defining period in American history. Since leaving office, he and former First Lady Laura Bush founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. In this exclusive conversation, President Bush will reflect on leadership, responsibility, and the challenges facing our nation in the 21st century.
2026 Keynote Speakers
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Graham Blackwell
President and Incoming Chief Executive Officer
Applied Systems
Graham Blackwell
President and Incoming Chief Executive Officer
Applied Systems
Graham Blackwell will share how Applied Systems is infusing AI across agent and carrier workflows to enable smarter decisions, faster execution, and a more unified, Intelligent Insurance Ecosystem.
Graham is the guy helping steer Applied Systems into its next chapter – and soon he'll be swapping his President title for CEO. A Cleveland native and die-hard sports fan, he's just as comfortable talking about business strategy as he is debating the latest game-day results. He's always up for a good IPA and will gladly make the case for why Pequod's serves the best pizza around.
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Taylor Rhodes
Exiting Chief Executive Officer
Applied Systems
Taylor Rhodes
Exiting Chief Executive Officer
Applied Systems
Taylor Rhodes will discuss the current state of the industry and what most excites him about Applied Systems’ next chapter as he transitions Graham to the role of CEO. He'll also announce for the last time the recipients of the 2026 Pinnacle Award, Applied Systems' highest customer honor.
Taylor has been the big boss man at Applied Systems for the past seven years, but he's officially passing the torch to Graham just before Applied Net. When he's not chasing powder in the mountains, he's enjoying a good IPA or hanging out with the people (and pets) he likes most. Taylor has three kids he kind of likes (two in the real world, one living his best college life) and an English Bulldog fur baby he loves.
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Brian Langerman
Chief Executive Officer
Applied Client Network
Brian Langerman
Chief Executive Officer
Applied Client Network
Brian Langerman will share how ACN helps you maximize your Applied Systems investment while connecting you to a community of peers for learning and networking that extends well beyond the tech.
Brian (or BLang as we call him) is the head honcho for our user group. He lives in Chicago but, ironically, prefers the beach to the snow. Before Brian landed a career in the insurance and tech industry, he dreamed of becoming a sports agent. Even though that career didn’t pan out, Brian is still a big-time sports guy. He roots for the LA Dodgers and Chicago Bears. He enjoys cooking or attempting to (assuming a crockpot counts). He’s also quite the world traveler, having been to 47 out of 50 states, with Alaska being his next destination.
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Anupam Gupta
Chief Product Officer
Applied Systems
Anupam Gupta
Chief Product Officer
Applied Systems
Anupam Gupta will discuss how Applied is pioneering new AI automation and bringing to life AI agents that work across your operations every day, handling the routine so you can focus on what matters most.
Anupam heads up our Product helm, which makes him the tech wizard, if you will. He’s been in the tech industry for nearly 25 years – just don’t ask him to write code. Family is everything to Anupam. He has a wife and two kids who keep him grounded and motivated. He lives in rainy Seattle but, ironically, has a sunny disposition that’s hard to miss.
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Danielle Cunningham
Vice President of Solution Consulting
Applied Systems
Danielle Cunningham
Vice President of Solution Consulting
Applied Systems
Danielle Cunningham will showcase innovations that are building the future of insurance operations – from AI-powered workflows to new levels of carrier connectivity.
Danielle is basically the person you want in your corner when technology and insurance need to play nicely together. Before joining Team Applied, she spent 15 years as an agent, so she knows the challenges you face because she's lived them herself. When she's not helping agencies solve big problems, she's probably planning her next adventure – most recently checking "watch the Jamaican bobsled team at the Winter Olympics" off her travel bucket list.