Technology and its impact on every aspect ofthe insurance industry was the focus of the 89^th annualInsuranceAccounting and Systems Association, Inc. (IASA) conference thisweek in Orlando, Florida.

Business intelligence products, accounting and investment firms,and a wide range of business and software platforms providedattendees with a variety of solutions to run their companiesefficiently and effectively in order to best serve theircustomers.

Small steps towards dream

Former astronaut Scott Kelly opened the conference, describinghow his journey as a less than stellar student eventually led himto the space program. After reading the book The Right Stuff, Kellywas inspired to become an astronaut. He knew that it would be adifficult journey and wasn’t convinced that he could achieve thegoal. He began by taking small but manageable to steps and workingtowards his dream.

Kelly became a navy pilot and realized he wasn’t particularlygood at it, but he knew how to work hard and control the things hecould control. He was assigned to fly the F-14 tomcat and failed athis first attempt to land on an aircraft carrier during the day.Most people fail to land at night and the Navy wouldn’t allow himto fly again and land on the ship. His commanding officer said hewas too comfortable the status quo, which is dangerous forpilots.

“I had to learn to learn to constantly make small corrections,”he said. “We also have to be making positive corrections to makethings better.”

Eventually Kelly qualified and became a navy test pilot, but hestill didn’t think he had what it took to become an astronaut. Whenone of his colleagues was filling out the application for anastronaut, however, Kelly decided to file one as well.

Both Scott and his twin brother Mark would eventually beselected for NASA’s astronaut program. Kelly went on to spenda year in space at the international space station. “The human bodywas made to live in gravity and odd things happen when you livewithout gravity,” he explained of his 340 days in space.

“A year is not short, but it was very rewarding,” he added. “Butbeing in space is hard.”

Importance of teamwork

Kelly said he learned to live with very little stuff — evenwearing the same pants for six months. He stressed the importanceof teamwork from those on the ground as well as with his fellowRussian astronauts who shared the space station with him, andexplained how it transfers over into every aspect of life.

“If we can dream it we can do it if we are willing to focus anddevelop a plan and work towards it,” he concluded. “Teamwork makesthe dream work and the sky is not the limit.”

Mike Rowe said that meaningful work is something to whicheveryone aspires. (Photo:P.Harman/propertycasualty360.com)

The value of hard work

Television personality and the former host of the Dirty Jobstelevision show, Mike Rowe, opened the second day and shared how hegot the idea to launch what would become the most popular show oncable television.

He shared a graphic but humorous story about reporting from thesewers of San Francisco for the show Evening Magazine.

“I was on sensory overload — it’s bad down there. It’s somuch worse than you think,” he laughed. “It hits you like apalpable thing in the face,” he said as he described standing inabout 18 inches of a “chocolate tide” that was flowing with extremepurpose. “I kept thinking, ‘All smells are particulate,’” headded.

That unforgettable experience would be the impetus for the DirtyJobs show, where Rowe would interview a series of workers acrossthe country who do unglamorous jobs most people would neverconsider. He’d spend the day with them — sharing theirexperiences and actually doing the work like castrating lambs,cleaning bison skulls, gathering alligator eggs and raising pigs toname a few.

Rowe also discussed the profound skills gap in this country thatled him to create the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and the ProfoundlyDisconnected campaign.

“I get to talk to all kinds of folks — we have to dosomething to reconnect with work,” he shared. “I can’t drag thecountry through the sewer, but we need a wake up call. There isgreat dignity in all work.”

The foundation gives away work ethic scholarships. “We’ve givenaway $4 million in scholarships. Most scholarships are based onacademic achievement, athletics and other factors. We reward workethic,” he said.

Exhibitors were creative when it came to attractingattendees to their booths. (Photo: S.Moynihan/PropertyCasualty360.com)

Adventurer and team builder Robyn Benincasa, delivered the opening keynoteaddress on the third day, sharing her experiences as an adventureracer, San Diego fire fighter and three-time Guinness world recordkayaker.

Education sessions tackled topics ranging from the impendingtalent gap and cyber security to using technology to overcometoday’s business challenges and the impact of driverlessvehicles.

The exhibition hall featured approximately 200 vendors offeringa wide range of product solutions and services.

A winged stilt walker greeted attendees into the exhibithall on opening night. (Photo: P. Harman)

The IASA exhibit hall was full of valuable services andproducts for attendees. (Photo: P. Harman)