MINNEAPOLIS, MN — January 13, 2026 — The Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) today announced that Noelle Pikus Pace, an Olympic silver medalist, 2x World Champion, and 26x World Cup medalist in the sport of skeleton, will be the keynote speaker for its 2026 International Conference, March 8-10, at the JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California.
Noelle’s keynote, Where You Look is Where You Go, uncovers what she learned after being ranked #1 in the world to getting struck by a runaway bobsled in a freak accident that shattered her leg and Olympic dreams. She remarkably came back the next season to become the first American woman to win the Skeleton World Championships, and she did it by the largest margin in the history of the sport.
From being named the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) “Moment of the Games,” best-selling author, speaker, mindset coach, and currently writing a new book called “No Excuses,” Noelle proves to all of us what’s possible when we focus on eliminating doubts, fears, and worries from our daily lives. Her story proves the importance of setting specific goals every day, recognizing that it is those small decisions that will ultimately shape our habits and who we will inevitably become.
Diana Hardy, CPA, CFE, Chief Operating Officer at RH CPAs, PLLC, the sponsor of the keynote address, says, “Noelle’s story is a powerful testament to resilience and focus. Her message reminds us that where we direct our attention truly determines where we go – both in life and in leadership.”
“We are excited to welcome Noelle to our 2026 conference and share her important message with our attendees,” says CICA President Dan Towle. “Her story of maintaining perseverance and purpose despite the trials she faced is something our industry can incorporate to successfully navigate the future of captives.”
The 2026 CICA International Conference offers over 30 education sessions, 120+ industry experts, professional development opportunities, student essay contest winner presentations, and networking receptions and events. For information on the conference program, travel and registration details, please visit the CICA website.
Special thanks to our Conference Sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Arch Insurance; AXA XL; Captive Resources, LLC; EY; HDI Global Insurance Company; Helio Risk LLC; IPFSDirect; Johnson Lambert LLP; Milliman, Inc.; MW Premium Finance Captive Specialists; Oklahoma Insurance Department; Sequoia Risk Partners; Spring Consulting Group, an Alera Group Company, LLC; State of Hawaii Insurance Division; State of Vermont; Tennessee Captive Insurance Department; and Zurich North America
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