Claim professionals routinely navigate treacherous terrain andexplore creative avenues to deal with constraints imposed by anunforgiving economy and mounting policyholder demands.

Ever mindful of containing costs, they take it all in stride,carefully weighing mechanisms to process claims more efficientlyand drive organizational growth. This often entails redefiningbusiness strategies and implementing agile technology solutions, aswell as cultivating mentorship opportunities. Sure, there are manyobstacles in attaining claim nirvana — such as the increasingincidence of fraud — but ample resources can be found along theway.

One essential pit stop for all industry professionals is Vegas,baby. This year, ACE America's Claims Event returns to Las Vegasfor its 14th iteration. Steeped in a rich tradition of claimexcellence, the event takes place June 22-24, 2010 at the BellagioHotel. With informative sessions, abundant networkingopportunities, and dynamic roundtable discussions, ACE willcatalyze claim workforces. The fresh installment will feature adedicated track encompassing business operations and technologyeducation.

Each year the show's speakers excel at illuminating key issuesand proffering vital solutions, which is part of the draw, saysJosh Brous, director of programs at Summit Business Media (Summitis also the parent company to Claims Magazine). In fact,this year's attendance is currently projected to reach 625, anoticeable uptick from 2009. According to Brous, the swell is atestament to the show's relevance and valuable content.

“We are building from the momentum of a great show in 2009,”Brous said. “Attendance is pacing ahead of last year by close to 25percent. Aside from better market conditions, the increase can beattributed to the resources at ACE that facilitate learning andfoster collaboration in an exceptional way.”

Over the course of the conference, a series of keynotepresentations, panel discussions, interactive workshops, andgeneral sessions will be held. Roundtables will be oriented towardtechnology considerations, including the Web's impact on claims. Inaddition, the winner of this year's highly anticipated ClaimProfessional of the Year award will be revealed on Thursday, June24 at 9:00 a.m. Three tracks — technology, businessoperations/catastrophe, and fraud — will cover topics ranging froma managerial snapshot of the future to quelling medical fraud tothe evolving role of a claim adjuster.

The collective expertise of this year's keynote speakers is alsonoteworthy, as top-level representatives from Allstate, Chartis,and the National Insurance Crime Bureau will be leading discussionsabout the breakdown of fraud and technology, the interplay ofcustomers and the claim process, and more.

Ostensibly, each attendee will take away something slightlydifferent from the show. However, regardless of your level of claimfitness, this year's content will impact your professional journeyfor years to come. Are you ready to rise to the occasion?

For more information or to register for the conference, go towww.americasclaimsevent.com.