IIABA of W.Va. Conference and Expo in Shepherdstown

Commissioner Cline, Experts to Discuss Workers’ Compensation, Political Issues

West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane L. Cline and leading West Virginia insurance instructors, experts and officials will address the Oct. 7 to 10 annual Professional Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (Big “I”) convention at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherd-stown, W.Va.

According to Gray Marion, PIIAWV executive vice president, the conference agenda will feature many topics of great interest to the insurance industry, including the keynote address by Commis-sioner Cline and presentations by senior officers of BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company.

“Glitches, Hitches and Fixes,” by Fred Macy of Gray Wolf Insurance Seminars will be featured Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. Marion said Macy’s brother is William H. Macy, the actor.

“I’ve been told by people who attended his seminars that his brother’s influence rub-bed off,” explained Marion. “When it comes to insurance education, Macy can take dry cornmeal and make a seven course dinner out of it.”

The PIIAWV board of directors will also meet at 2 p.m.

That evening, at 6:30 p.m. there will be a welcome reception and dinner at the Charles Town Races sponsored by St. Paul Travelers.

Oct. 8, conferees will take a day trip to Washington, D.C., during which they will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery; tour the Smithsonian Museum at the National Mall; and meet at the Old Ebbitt Grill for dinner.

The industry trade fair opens Sun. Oct. 9 at 8 a.m.; and concurrently PIIAWV’s annual membership and business meeting will be held in one of the hotel’s ballrooms.

Rob Capehart, West Virginia Republican Party chairman, will address an 8 a.m. general attendees breakfast. Cape-hart was endorsed by the Big “I” during the recent West Virginia election as the Republican nominee for governor, and according to Marion, came close to being nominated to run for governor.

William Stiglitz, Big “I” national president will kick off the general session at 10 a.m. and introduce West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline. The commissioner will discuss her experiences, talk about the functions of the insurance commission and her new responsibilities as the overseer of West Virginia’s Workers’ Com-pensation Fraud divisions.

Cline will discuss what the commission is doing with workers’ compensation. Her employee count has quintupled and she is going to talk about her goals for the new department.

West Virginia passed a fraud bill last year and Cline became responsible for not only the workers’ comp personnel, a huge insurance fraud investigation unit came with it. Her fraud efforts have moved up to take a priority and she now has the resources to do something about it.

Taylor Cosby, American Insurance Association regional vice president, will follow Cline, and will give his national perspective to what legislation was enacted during the last session and what its effects will be on the insurance industry.

Marion will complete the morning lineup, discussing the results of an association membership survey completed six weeks ago.

At noon Sunday, luncheon speaker Don L. Blankenship, chairman, CEO and president of the Massey Energy Company, will give an insider’s view of efforts to keep West Virginia on the straight-and-narrow.

Blankenship chairs the largest coal company doing business in West Virginia. He spent $2.5 million to beat the incumbent in the 2004 State Supreme Court race; and in the spring of 2005, when Gov. Joe Manchin III floated a bond referendum, Blankenship was instrumental in torpedoing it. As a non-elected public person Blankenship is rocking the boat; he has called for the replacement of the head of the state Chamber of Commerce, the head of the state Medical Association and the head of the state Coal Association.

During the afternoon second general session, West Virginia’s carrier reps that have in the past voiced concerns about “opening up” the climate there for insurance companies will engage in a lively discussion moderated by American Insurance Association lobbyist T. Rancolph Cox, of Spillman, Thomas & Battle PLLC, with panelists Douglas Carpenter, chief personal line officer, Westfield Group; John Petrucci, vice president and director of corporate sales, State Auto Insurance Co.; James Swegle, director of property insurance for Safeco Insurance Cos.; Dennis McCormick, president Farmers & Mechanics Mutual Insurance Co. of WV; Andrew Rose, product manager, Drive Insurance from Progressive; and Stewart Borger, president of Smith-Nadenbousch Insurance Agency Inc.

At 7 p.m., the annual awards and installation banquet will feature Rep. Shelley Moore Capito. In her third term in the House, Capito initially joined the House Financial Services Committee as a freshman, is now on the House Rules Committee and is the “odds-on favorite” to replace Senator Robert C. Byrd when he retires.

Monday morning, representatives of West Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company will discuss long-range plans. Speakers will include Gregory A. Burton, president and CEO; R. Philip Shimer, vice president for operations; Philip A. Lynch, vice president for employer services; and T.J. Obrokta Jr. vice president and secretary.

The final luncheon session will take place at noon on Monday.