Welcome to the Mid-Year Educational Workshop for the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO). Over the years, I've found this meeting to be an excellent opportunity to reconnect, deepen my knowledge and cultivate long-term relationships so essential to our business. We're glad you're here. The strength of our organization lies in our members' participation and support.
While our nation's economy has been shaken by unprecedented financial failures and many companies are cutting costs, the excess and surplus lines industry remains on a solid foundation. History has shown, in hard or soft markets, our industry continues to emerge strong and solvent. We rise to fill needs in specialty market niches with creativity and flexibility. These trying times will be no different; we will meet the uncertainties our customers face by providing viable choices through products, expertise and service when and where needed.
As each of us has risen to fulfill customer needs, NAPSLO Committee members have risen to meet challenges on many fronts, too, with creativity and flexibility. There are lists of accomplishments by every committee, but here are a few highlights:
o The Communications & Technology Committee implemented a successful public relations campaign to build awareness of the unique role wholesalers play in the insurance value chain and improved upon internal communication vehicles by creating an electronic newsletter to replace the printed version. In addition, this committee is revamping the Web site–which will make it easier for members to find the latest news and keep in contact with one another–and plans to publish NAPSLO's first annual report to our board and membership.
o Our Legislative Committee has made strides with the Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2009 in the House and Senate and has been working alongside our Washington, D.C., lobbyists to have this legislation reintroduced since the Senate took no action prior to the end of the 110th Congress. Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) and Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) have announced that they would introduce the act in the House and indicated they hoped the bill would soon be introduced in the Senate.
o The Education Committee just recently completed the first NAPSLO Executive Leadership School at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. I attended this inaugural session and found it to be an impressive forum. The Leadership School was designed for senior-level members and future industry leaders who wish to broaden their perspective on social, political and economic issues affecting the future of our industry. Though we are still awaiting survey results, we received extremely favorable comments from the participants involved who said they would recommend next year's program to their colleagues.
o Our Career Awareness Committee has launched an aggressive outreach effort targeting colleges outside of the traditional risk management programs. The goal of this effort is to increase the number of students considering the surplus lines industry as a career option.
These are just four examples of the tremendous work being done by our board committees, and I invite you to learn more about the work of these and our other committees–Budget, Convention, International, Internship, Membership & Ethics, and PAC–to find out how you can be more involved.
Take some time this week to reconnect with fellow NAPSLO members and cultivate new relationships that will help anchor your business in uncertain times. As we look to the future, I know that together we can continue to meet the challenges with creativity and take advantage of the opportunities offered by our industry.
John F. Wood
NAPSLO President
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