When a conference has been around as long as the Property Loss Research Bureau and the Liability Insurance Research Bureau's has been, it is easy to imagine that it might fall into a rut and become stale. At this year's event, though, claim adjusters are as likely to find the traditional educational aspects they have come to expect as they are to find new reasons to attend the Claims Conference and Insurance Services Expo.

PLRB/LIRB's conference has been around since post World War II, helping claim professionals stay on top of industry trends and events since the 1940s. This year, it begins on April 2 in Nashville, Tenn., and offers more than 100 breakout sessions divided into 13 tracks. The largest track, Adjusting Property & Casualty, will have at least 20 sessions dedicated to adjusting issues such as coverage and good-faith handling. At least half of the sessions will be new additions in 2006, which will help keep the conference relevant in regards to the shifting issues in the industry.

“We want to focus on interactive education,” said Scott Powell, assistant vice president of educational and technical services for PLRB. “With 110 classes, there are a lot of opportunities and choices. There are over 225 presenters, and attendance is expected to top 2,000, not including exhibitors.”

Sessions and Breakouts

Opening the general session on April 3 will be Tom Ridge, former secretary of homeland security. Ridge's presentation, “Homeland Security: More than Just a Cabinet Agency,” specifically will outline how countries, governments, organizations, and businesses around the world are threatened by international terrorism, and how best to manage these threats. He is expected to explain that the task involves establishing new measures and integrating the security efforts of our nation and other nations. As well, he will discuss how new advances and strategies in both peacekeeping and technology can lead to a more aware, more secure populace, and a safer world.

What is expected to be a popular draw on April 5, is a session entitled “Catastrophe: 2005 in Review,” which will analyze the large-scale disasters of last year. Eight presenters from companies and organizations such as State Farm, Allstate, Hanover Insurance, American Insurance Services, Safeco Insurance, and Louisiana State University's Hurricane Center will identify new claim issues that emerged in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and will discuss how to implement claim lessons learned from those storms. Questions on how to implement new claim technology to manage future catastrophic events will be answered, as well as how to utilize PLRB bulletins to their full potential during a catastrophe.

Expo and Demonstrations

In addition to the conference, the Insurance Services Expo also will be taking place April 3-4. “The Expo has grown, with over 400 booths expected,” said Powell. “There will be representatives from construction, engineering, accounting, subrogation, independent, and legal firms, as well as accident reconstruction, water mitigation consultants, and specialty groups,” he said.

Making its second appearance at the conference is a training session presented by leading claim technology companies. “We have five companies doing estimating systems training on their software, including Xactware, MS/B, Simsol, PowerClaim, and Symbility,” said Powell. “There are two levels — beginners and advanced — which allows adjusters who are using those systems to get a better working knowledge of how to use them effectively.”

Suppliers and company representatives help guide adjusters by using a hands-on approach and working directly with their software on computers supplied by them. Symbility, a newcomer to the marketplace, will demonstrate its hand-held computers for users.

Ceremony Honors Designees

Lastly, new to the conference this year is a ceremony and reception for adjusters who recently have achieved their Associate in Claims designation. The event will take place the evening of the first day of the conference and is presented gratis, but reservations are strongly encouraged at the time of registration.

“It's for the people who have achieved their AIC designation, which is a four-course program that serves as a gateway for newer adjusters, those who later on may want to achieve their CPCU,” said Powell. “What we're trying to do is bring them into the fold, getting them to attend this conference and getting to know various programs associated with the PLRB/LIRB.”

“It's a nice addition to the conference because it's honoring the people who are educating themselves in claims,” said Valerie Berka, meetings manager for PLRB. “AIC has been our partner for a while, but this is the first time we're having a conferment ceremony at the conference. We're anticipating a crowd of up to 300 people.”

The conference is provided at no cost for insurance company members of PLRB/LIRB and should appeal to adjusters, supervisors, managers, large-loss adjusters, subrogation specialists, fraud experts, underwriters, and trainers.

For complete conference and registration details, go to www.claimsconf.org.

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Long-Standing Conference Stays Young

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