NU's First Virtual Conference Features 'Battle of the Bobs'

NU Online News Service

Controversies over disputed hurricane and flood claims, credit scoring, federal regulation and the industry's profitability will be among the hot topics debated by two heavyweights--Robert P. Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, and J. Robert Hunter, insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America--in "The Battle Of The Bobs," just one of seven sessions in the National Underwriter Company's first "Virtual Conference & Expo," Nov. 14 and 15.

The two "Bobs" will face off on Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. EST on day two of "Facing The Future Of Insurance," a Web conference presented by Tech Decisions and two sister publications--Claims and National Underwriter P&C.

The conference, available exclusively over the Web on Wednesday, Nov. 14 and Thursday, Nov. 15, features sessions tailored for risk managers, agents and brokers, as well as insurance company personnel. Registration is free.

There will be one session put on by Tech Decisions alone and another put on jointly by Tech Decisions and Claims. Claims will put on one session and four sessions will be presented by NU's weekly property-casualty newsmagazine. Attendees will be able to question panelists during or after the sessions.

If you can't make it when a session first airs, or wish to refer colleagues to sessions you feel they would benefit from, the conference will be available online through Feb. 16, 2008. A virtual exhibit hall will be set up as well to allow attendees to shop for products and services from their desktops.

Attendees can register and learn more details about the conference by going to http://events.unisfair.com/rt/nuco~futureofinsurance.

The sessions include:

o Predictive Analytics--Traditional and Nontraditional Applications (Nov. 14, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST):

This session, put on by Tech Decisions, helps underwriters improve decision-making, as well as industry professionals who want to integrate models with business rules to assess a claim (and potential fraud) and determine which customers (and producers) are profitable.

o Technology's Influence on Customer Service (Nov. 15, 2:00-to-3:00 p.m. EST):

This session, jointly presented by Claims and Tech Decisions, offers insights on how insurers can enhance contact with customers, including the trends driving successful claims management.

o Fraud at the Forefront (Nov. 14, 12:30-to-1:30 p.m. EST):

Presented by Claims magazine, this session features three prominent fraud-fighting organizations talking about the latest attempts to keep fraud under control, as well as offering a peek into future efforts.

Among the four sessions put on by NU's P&C edition:

o Conquering the New Frontier--Enterprise Risk Management (Nov. 14, 11 a.m.-to-Noon EST):

The authors of "Enterprise Risk Management For Dummies" will lay out how risk managers can meet their growing responsibilities beyond standard property and liability issues into much broader exposures, such as company reputation, stock price, government-mandated disclosure requirements and political risk.

o The Search for Excellence in Workers' Comp Risk Management (Nov. 14, 3:00-to-4:00 p.m. EST):

A panel of risk managers from Belk Department Stores, Kitty Hawk Cargo and Rolls-Royce North America share the secrets of their success, which earned them honors in the inaugural "National Underwriter Award for Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management."

o The Battle Of The Bobs (Nov. 15, 11 a.m.-to-Noon EST):

Get ready to rumble as Bob Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute (and the industry's chief public defender), faces off against Bob Hunter, insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America (and the industry's highest-profile critic), over a host of controversial issues, with NU Editor-in-Chief Sam Friedman serving as referee.

o The Future Of The Independent Agent (Nov. 15, 12:30 p.m-to-1:30 p.m.):

Four winning principals in NU's sixth annual "Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year Award" program discuss the challenges facing independent agents, and how they go about serving as risk managers--as opposed to price-shoppers--for their clients, even in a softening market.

The first 500 people to register are eligible to receive a free Starbuck's gift card as part of a not-so-virtual coffee break.