NU Online News Service, May 18, 3:36 p.m. EDT

ORLANDO, FLA--The development and widening adoption ofcommunication standards have promoted efficiency and improved theinsurance industry's bottom line, but those committed to the causecannot afford to become complacent, said ACORD President and CEOGregory A. Maciag.

"Standards don't run on electricity--they run on commitment.They don't come in a box--they come with people whose persistencemakes them a success, no matter how the economy is doing," Mr.Maciag said here during the ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum.

While hailing the hard work of all those who participate in themany committees and subgroups that create and help implementstandards throughout the industry, Mr. Maciag reminded everyone howcritical it remains to keep telling co-workers and seniormanagement about what standards mean to a company's efficiency,productivity and profitability.

"It's not only decision-makers who matter when it comes tostandards, but influencers as well," he said. "When it comes toinfluencing decisions on adoption and implementation of standards,everyone's involvement is critical."

He said an ongoing drive to educate company personnel about theimportance of standards is especially important, given the"revolving door in our business," with people leaving and enteringon a regular basis.

"We can't assume that everyone even knows what ACORD does or howstandards contribute to operational efficiency and the company'sbottom line," he warned. "You must keep spreading the word."

Mr. Maciag said the challenge is "how do we bake standardscompliance into your everyday process? How do we raise awarenessthat without much fanfare, standards deliver a tremendous return oninvestment?"

One way cited by Mr. Maciag is his group's new continuingeducation initiative, culminating in the creation of a newdesignation--ACE, which stands for ACORD Certified Expert.

"Part of our goal is to create a community of ACORD expertsaround the world who can serve as standards advocates at theirorganizations and increase the rate of standards adoption,"explained Mr. Maciag.

Another is by collaborating with other industryassociations--the latest being the announcement here that ACORD andthe American Association of Managing General Agents have joinedeach other's organization.

Mr. Maciag also cited development of e-forms and the new ACORDFramework initiative to facilitate progress on standardsintegration.

In addition, Mr. Maciag released his second book here--"TheReal-Time World: Enabled By ACORD Standards"--which, he said, canserve as "a tool to educate and stimulate discussion about thevalue of ACORD standards."