Rising to the Top With NAPSLO’s Advanced School

For four days in early November, experienced surplus lines professionals will have the opportunity to study current trends and issues in their industry at NAPSLO’s Advanced School. Although “RISE TO THE TOP of Your Marketplace” will be held in Texas this year, it is open to NAPSLO member surplus lines professionals from all over the country.

The school will be held Nov. 1 – 4 at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. It is designed for insurance professionals with five or more years experience in surplus lines, and was developed in response to graduates of the NAPSLO E&S School who expressed their desire for an extended course of study. The school consists of classroom style teaching, student break-out sessions and case study groups that are designed to help attendees apply knowledge gained during the learning process. Students will have the opportunity to supply questions to the faculty in advance.

In addition, at a special session, a panel of leaders of excess and surplus companies will respond to attendees’ questions, followed by open discussion. Executives on the panel include: Don Curtin of GeneralCologne Re; Marti E. Dickinson from All Risks Ltd.; Thomas M. Kuzma, Nautilus Insurance Company; and Edward Levy of DVUA.

The school’s classroom sessions will address industry issues such as:
• Avoiding the Sting: Recognizing scams in the insurance industry.
• Behind the Walls: The effect of the mold problem – is there a health issue?
• Claims: A look at surplus lines claims as they relate to underwriting.
• E-Commerce: Internet distribution, multi-state concerns, efficiency and exposure issues.
• Finance: Financial accounting and analysis of a financial statement.
• Reinsurance & Alternative Risk: Current issues, trends and the impact on the marketplace.
• The Art of Brokering: The excess and surplus lines broker in a changing market.
• What You Can’t See Can Get You: Legal, regulatory and the implications of construction defects.

Advanced School faculty members include: Philip R. Ballinger, Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas; Richard M. Bouhan, NAPSLO; Donna Ferrara, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services; David M. Golden, NAII; Randall D. Jones, Maxum Indemnity Co.; Marshall P. Kath, HEATH Holdings USA Inc.; Jean M. Nelson, Scottsdale Insurance Co.; Marcus Payne, NAPSLO education coordinator; and Michael D. Ardis, director of Communications & Technology for NAPSLO.

John P. Mulhern of LeBoef, Lamb, Greene & McRae will open the school with the “Perspectives from the Top” presentation. Mulhern’s presentation will be on the need for rate and form exclusivity from the various states departments of insurance.

NAPSLO’s first Excess & Surplus Lines (E&S) School was held at the University of Vermont in 1990. The initial Advanced School took place in Indianapolis in 1995.

The maximum number of students the school can handle is 50. According to Bob McFall, co-chair of NAPSLO Education Committee, as of Aug. 22, 34 students had enrolled.

For more information on the NAPSLO Advanced School, visit the Web site at www.napslo.org or contact NAPSLO at (816) 741-3910. Registration deadline is Sept. 19.

Topics Texas Excess Surplus