Educational Seminar Kicks Off Big ‘I’ of W.Va.’s Annual Conference

By | October 7, 2005

An educational seminar on “Glitches, Hitches and Fixes,” by Fred Macy of Gray Wolf Insurance Seminars kicks off the Friday afternoon opening of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (Big “I”) convention at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Shepherdstown, W.Va. The conference kicked off on a gray and rainy day, and weather forecasters predicted rain throughout the weekend.

According to Gray Marion, PIIAWV executive vice president, the conference agenda will feature many topics of great interest to the insurance industry. “When it comes to insurance education, Macy can take dry cornmeal and make a seven course dinner out of it,” Marion said.

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

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

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. Capehart was endorsed by the Big “I” during the recent West Virginia election as the Republican nominee for governor.

William Stiglitz, Big “I” national president will kick off Sunday morning’s general session at 10 a.m. and introduce West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane Cline. The commissioner told Insurance Journal Wednesday she will give a Powerpoint presentation in which she will describe her department’s new responsibilities as overseer of West Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Division.

Cline will discuss the commission’s efforts to regulate workers’ compensation regulations and watch for fraud. Her employee count has quintupled and she is going to discuss her goals for the new department.

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

The Sunday noon luncheon will feature Don L. Blakenship, chairman, CEO and president of the Massey Enegry Company. Blakenship will give an insider’s view of efforts to keep West Virginia on the straight-and-narrow.

An afternoon session will feature carrier reps that have in the past voiced concerns about “opening up” the climate there for insurance companies and will engage in a lively discussion moderated by American Insurance Association lobbyist T. Randolph Cos, of Spillman, Thomas and Battle PLC.

At 7 p.m., the annual awards and installation banquet will feature Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, now in her third term in the Hous.

Monday morning, representatives of West Virginia’s BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company will discuss long-range plans, followed by the final luncheon session.

Topics Legislation Agencies Virginia Training Development West Virginia

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