Previously, applying AI to business challenges was considered“ innovation.” But the new normal is that AI is seen in the context of organizational transformation •
INDUSTRY NEWS
KANSAS MARKETPLACE HEADLINES
CEK INSURANCE ANNOUNCES MOVE
KAIA members CEK Insurance have announced their move to downtown Lawrence.
The new location for the agency ' s office is now 211 East 8th Street in Lawrence.
WORLD INS. ASSOCIATES ACQUIRES AGENCY WEST
World Insurance Associates LLC announced that it acquired the business of Agency West Insurance of Olathe, Kansas on February 1, 2026. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Agency West has been operating in Kansas for many years. They serve the insurance needs of both families and individuals, as well as businesses.
BIG I LAUNCHES THE NEW TRUSTED CHOICE. COM
The Big“ I” has launched its new TrustedChoice. com agency locator that helps consumers find and connect with local independent agents.
Available to all Big“ I” member agencies, the all-new agency locator maintains TrustedChoice. com’ s online recognition and popularity with consumers.
The Big“ I” now fully manages TrustedChoice. com, and all member agencies are automatically searchable on the site. Consumers can search by coverage needs and location, making it easier to discover and contact a Big“ I” member when they are actively shopping for insurance.
INS. COMM. SCHMIDT ANNOUNCES NEWLAND AS RUNNING MATE
The campaign for Kansas Department of Insurance
Commissioner Vicki Schmidt for Governor has announced that Kansas Farm Bureau president Joe Newland has been chosen as her running mate. campaign said.
Newland would also serve as the agriculture secretary in a Schmidt- Newland administration, the
DATA CENTER DEMAND MAY ALSO LEAD TO INSURANCE DEMAND
Per Insurance Journal, industry experts are saying that there may be“ substantial insurance demand” evolving for the warehouse-sized facilities of computer servers commonly being referred to as " data centers ".
According to a report from AM Best, there are no low-level hazards when considering primary risks associated with the building and running of data centers. Business interruption, the industry financial rating agency said, may be the most consequential since partial or total shutdowns could prove significantly costly, and data centers are part of an interconnected network that can affect other facilities, clients and services. Parts to repair or replace damages may be hard to come by, and claims disputes could also be a major factor.
THE SHIFTING AI CONVERSATION
The 2026 Insurtech Insights conference was dominated by all things artificial intelligence( AI). While AI has been the focus of the past two conferences, the messaging has evolved from“ What is AI?” to“ How is AI being deployed in your organization?”
Previously, applying AI to business challenges was considered“ innovation.” But the new normal is that AI is seen in the context of organizational transformation •
MAY / JUNE 2026
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