Technology and its impact on every aspect of the insurance industry was the focus of the 89^th annual Insurance Accounting and Systems Association, Inc. (IASA) conference this week in Orlando, Florida.

Business intelligence products, accounting and investment firms, and a wide range of business and software platforms provided attendees with a variety of solutions to run their companies efficiently and effectively in order to best serve their customers.

Small steps towards dream

Former astronaut Scott Kelly opened the conference, describing how his journey as a less than stellar student eventually led him to the space program. After reading the book The Right Stuff, Kelly was inspired to become an astronaut. He knew that it would be a difficult journey and wasn’t convinced that he could achieve the goal. He began by taking small but manageable to steps and working towards his dream.

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

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

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

Both Scott and his twin brother Mark would eventually be selected for NASA’s astronaut program. Kelly went on to spend a year in space at the international space station. “The human body was made to live in gravity and odd things happen when you live without gravity,” he explained of his 340 days in space.

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

Importance of teamwork

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

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

IASA speaker Mike Rowe talks about hard work

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

The value of hard work

Television personality and the former host of the Dirty Jobs television show, Mike Rowe, opened the second day and shared how he got the idea to launch what would become the most popular show on cable television.

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

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

That unforgettable experience would be the impetus for the Dirty Jobs show, where Rowe would interview a series of workers across the country who do unglamorous jobs most people would never consider. He’d spend the day with them — sharing their experiences and actually doing the work like castrating lambs, cleaning bison skulls, gathering alligator eggs and raising pigs to name a few.

Rowe also discussed the profound skills gap in this country that led him to create the mikeroweWORKS Foundation and the Profoundly Disconnected campaign.

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

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

insurance firm JLK Rosenberger

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

Adventurer and team builder Robyn Benincasa, delivered the opening keynote address on the third day, sharing her experiences as an adventure racer, San Diego fire fighter and three-time Guinness world record kayaker.

Education sessions tackled topics ranging from the impending talent gap and cyber security to using technology to overcome today’s business challenges and the impact of driverless vehicles.

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

winged stilt walker at IASA

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

IASA exhibit hall

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

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IASA technology conference prepares insurers for the future

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