Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/21/2026
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Categories
Join AFS Chicago on Thursday, May 21, for dinner, a Showcase Presentation on Financial & Operational Decision-Making, and a 2026 Insurance Market Update at Weber Grill in Schaumburg, IL.
The 2026 insurance landscape for foundries is a tale of two markets. While Liability and Workers’ Comp show continued stability, the Property market remains a “hot zone” for metalcasters, driven by valuation scrutiny and tightening capacity.
Join Shawn Staggs and Erik Grimestad for a technical, high-level briefing on how to navigate these shifts. Moving past the standard spreadsheets, we will dive into the “technical grit” of risk management, including:
- The 2026 Property Heat Map: Why rates remain volatile and how to leverage engineering data to win with underwriters.
- Casualty & Workers’ Comp Wins: How to capitalize on a stable market to offset costs elsewhere.
- Beyond the Policy: Why your “in-the-dirt” safety culture is your most valuable negotiating tool in the current market.
Register Today!
Agenda:
5:00 PM Check-in & Networking
5:30 PM Showcase Presentation on Financial & Operational Decision-Making with Lowell Mora, Founder of Impact CFO
6:00 PM Dinner followed by a 2026 Insurance Market Update from Marsh McLennan Agency
8:00 PM Adjourn
Registration:
- $45 AFS Members
- $55 Non-Members
- Students FREE with valid ID
Space is limited, register now to save your spot!
On the Menu:
- Weber’s Signature Family Style Dinner
If you are a vegetarian, please let us know at afschi@teamwi.com.
Register Today!
Sponsorship Opportunity:
$100 Drink Sponsorship Opportunity – Only ONE spot left!
Have your logo featured on drink tickets and table tents, giving your brand exclusive visibility throughout the event.
Sign up for this sponsorship through event registration.
About the Speakers:
Shawn Staggs is Vice President of the National Heavy Manufacturing Practice at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). He specialized in complex hard-to-place risks and working closely with underwriters to clearly articulate operations and exposures. Shawn focuses on helping manufacturing organizations secure appropriate coverage through a deep understanding of their operations, risk profiles, and loss control needs.
Prior to joining MMA, Shawn served as Vice President of National Heavy Manufacturing Practice at another insurance brokerage. While in that role, he built out several standard market programs with 15 years of loss control and risk engineering experience for manufacturing clients.
Shawn holds an associate degree in Residential and Commercial Construction and in Commercial Electrical Engineering and Installation. He holds multiple professional designations, including Manufacturing Risk Insurance Specialist (MRIS), Level 1 Thermography Certification,
HPR Engineer, OSHA 30, NCCER Certified, Certified Commercial Property Inspector (CCPI), Certified Roof Inspector (CRI) designations. He is also a member of the American Foundry Society and STI/SPFA. Outside of work, Shawn volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Illinois Food Bank.
Erik Grimstad is a Vice President of Heavy Manufacturing at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA). He works closely with manufacturing clients to understand their unique insurance needs and find the best coverage solutions that balance protection, cost efficiency, and long-term resilience. Erik builds strong, trusted relationships with his clients and is dedicated to protecting their business and employees.
He collaborates with his account management team and maintains strong carrier partnerships, enabling open, practical conversations around the evolving risks facing the manufacturing sector.
Prior to joining MMA, Erik served as Vice President in Manufacturing at another insurance brokerage, where he ran their National Heavy Manufacturing Program. In that role, he developed relationships with multiple carriers and worked extensively with clients in specialized manufacturing segments, including tanks and foundries.
Erik holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Actuarial Stats from Elmhurst College. He is an active member of Steel Tank Institute and American Foundry Society. Outside of work, Erik volunteers through his church, supports Feed our Starving Children, and participates in pet visitation at local nursing homes.
Showcase Presentation:
The current operating environment for foundries is defined by uncertainty. Costs are shifting, capital is tighter, and external pressures—from tariffs to lending conditions—continue to evolve. Yet most challenges aren’t rooted in strategy – they’re rooted in how decisions are made and managed day to day.
Join Lowell Mora of Impact CFO for a practical, high-level discussion on how to bring discipline to financial and operational decision-making. Moving beyond static reports and rear view metrics, this session focuses on the real-time tools and thinking foundry operations staff need to stay in control, including:
- Cash Flow Visibility: Why short-term forecasting (13-week or even 4–6 week models) is essential for maintaining control and avoiding surprises.
- Stages of the Business: How decision-making shifts depending on whether your business is in a growth phase or operating for stability—and why that distinction matters.
- Capital & Debt in Today’s Market: How to think about borrowing, liquidity, and lender expectations in a tighter, more selective environment.
- Filtering Signal from Noise: How to navigate ongoing uncertainty—from tariffs to cost volatility—without overreacting or losing focus.
This session is grounded in how experienced operations staff actually think and act—focusing on the decisions that protect stability, preserve options, and position the business for what’s next.
Lowell Mora is the Founder of Impact CFO, where he serves as a fractional CFO and strategic advisor to privately held and family-owned businesses. He works closely with leadership teams to improve financial clarity, strengthen operations, and support better decision-making across the business. Lowell is known for his direct, practical approach and his ability to translate complex financial concepts into clear, actionable insight.
He partners with business owners and operators to navigate challenges related to cash flow, profitability, growth, and organizational structure. His work goes beyond finance, helping companies align their financial strategy with day-to-day operations, people, and long-term objectives.
Before establishing Impact CFO, Lowell held senior finance and leadership roles across multiple industries, where he was responsible for financial oversight, operational performance, and strategic planning. He has extensive experience working with companies in manufacturing and other operationally complex environments.
Lowell is actively engaged in supporting business leaders through advisory work, speaking, and his “Ask the CFO” series, where he facilitates practical conversations around real-world business decisions.
