It'sbeen a month since we wrapped this year's ACE America's ClaimEvent, and despite troubling economic conditions, the show, itsspeakers, and the number of attendees proved that Claimsstill knows how to put on a show.

If you weren't able to make it out to Caesars Palace in LasVegas, worry not. Below are a few personal awards I'm handing outto those who contributed to some of the conference's biggesthighlights. Drum roll please….

Biggest Laugh: We were excited to presentFarmers Alliance's John Foster with our claim professional of theyear award due largely in part to his professional accomplishments.What we didn't know was that he also has an exceptional sense ofhumor. During his acceptance, Foster brought forth laughs from thecrowd as he described his anticipation of what the award would looklike. Examples included the Vince Lombardi trophy and the seductiveleg lamp from the movie A Christmas Story. A major award,indeed.

Most Interesting Fact: I've worked with GEICO'sSIU Investigators Jim Hammonds and Steven Rutzebeck for severalyears, having always found them to be a fantastic tag team ofpresenters when it comes to insurance fraud topics. During theirjoint session on vehicle fires, I learned that potato chips havesuch a high grease content that fraudsters are using them to ignitevehicles. The chips leave no obvious signs of intent — unlikegasoline or some other accelerant — so criminals stand a betterchance of escaping suspicion since an adjuster might only see someburned-up crumbs. The creativity of criminals is only matched bytheir aggressiveness.

Best Use of Video: National Insurance CrimeBureau's President and CEO Joseph Wehrle delivered day two'sopening keynote and spoke about some of the crimes his agency istracking. In addition to noting that medical fraud is increasing atan alarming rate, Wehrle showed a video of a staged auto accidentthat was captured on a traffic camera. Seeing criminals at workhelped shed light on the problem for attendees — and made me muchmore wary about making left-hand turns across traffic.

Most Dynamic Speaker: Few can match the panacheof International Insurance Institute's President and CEO Carl Van,especially in terms of stirring up audience interaction andparticipation. During his hour-long presentation on the final dayof the show, Van addressed some of the more intangible aspects ofclaim management, which included how to drive employee performance.When you have a rapt audience at 9 a.m. at a conference beginningits third day in Vegas, you've done something special.

Timeliest Topic: Kathy Donovan closed out theshow with her session on compliance and regulation issues intoday's market. Amidst deadlines that were being adjusted that veryweek, Donovan outlined the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP ExtensionAct of 2007, and showed how steep penalties for failure to complymeans you shouldn't gamble with the Feds.

Best Session No One Saw: Four hours prior tothe start of the conference, 20 or so insurance claim executivesand I gathered to discuss the biggest issues affecting theindustry. It was an eye-opening conversation and one you'll seereflected in the future content in the magazine. Stay tuned.

All in all, it was rewarding to once again be part of an eventthat focused on educating claim professionals. It goes withoutsaying that the programmers, conference staff, and show managerswho helped make the show's lofty goals a reality deserve most ofthe credit. As one attendee and speaker told me after the showconcluded, “I just wanted you guys to know that I thought theprogram you put together this year was outstanding.” See you nextyear.