IBA West & San Diego Host May Conventions

This spring, agents and brokers will convene at two unique conferences. The first, IBA West’s 16th Annual Blue Ribbon Conference, will be held in Kona, Hawaii May 5-9.

The focus of the conference comes to play in the executive panel, entitled “Success Means Knowing Your Markets.” Panelists will include Gray Davis of Kemper Insurance, Walt Guzzo of Chubb & Son Group, Peter Niggeman of Benfield-Blanch Inc., and Roger Nulton of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company.

Featured speakers will include Michael McGavick, president and CEO of SAFECO, presenting “The SAFECO Story: An Industry and a Company in Transition,” Ken Bollier, president of the State Compensation Insurance Company, presenting “From the Helm of the World’s Largest and Most Misunderstood WC Insurer,” and Kevin Kelley, president of Lexington Insurance Services, presenting “What Lies Ahead? Global Perspectives of a Global Player,” among others.

Laurie Infantino of Insurance Skills Center will present “The Global Hard Market: Its Impact on Domestic Insurance Issues, earning agents and brokers two continuing education credits if attended.

“We are allowing some special time on the program for the CEO for the Employer’s Insurance Company of Nevada, which is in the process of buying the interest at Fremont Compensation Insurance Company, to make a presentation and talk about his company’s plans in California,” said Jerry O’Kane, CEO of IBA West.

“What’s unique about the event is that we strictly limit the total attendance to 150 participants plus guests,” said O’Kane.

Registration costs $1,095 for the attendee and a guest. Contact Maureen St. Hill by phone at (510) 285-3609, or e-mail, msthill@ibawest.com.

IBA San Diego will host its 51st Annual “I” Day on May 23 at the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego. This year’s theme is “Standing Behind America,” and close to 1,000 attendees are expected.

The event will feature two continuing education seminars: “EPL Basics,” presented by Chris Christian of London American, and “The Cost of Terrorism in Insurance,” presented by Robert Captain of Barney & Barney.

The exhibit hall, which opens at 10 a.m., will feature the “absolute cutting edge in technology products and services that are available in today’s markets, both to the agent, and broker, and to the consumer,” according to Cynthia Conte, executive director of IBA San Diego. Over 100 exhibitors are expected.

The event closes with a luncheon featuring comedian Frank King. In addition, “We’re recognizing and honoring the outstanding IBA members that contribute to the industry, the community and the association,” Conte said.

Registration is $40 for the seminars and the luncheon; admission to the exhibit hall is free and welcome to the general public. Contact Conte at (858) 552-0177.