2009 AIPAGIA Mid-Winter Conference
The American Institute of Professional Association Group Insurance Administrators (AIPAGIA) held its annual Mid-Winter Conference March 12-15 in Del Mar, California. The annual event was sponsored by The Hartford Insurance Company.
The 64 conference attendees participated in two days of presentations, panel discussions and meeting. As an indicator of the conference’s success, attendance figures remained largely unchanged by the current economic environment. Featured speakers included Beverley Todd, executive vice president of JLT Insurance Management Ltd in Bermuda, who spoke on the Captive Concept, as well as American Medical Association President Dr. Nancy Nielsen.
Todd spoke on the topic of “the captive concept,” and how captive insurance organizations can be used as alternatives to traditional insurance companies. Two panel discussions followed her presentation. Neilsen, whose specialty is internal medicine, gave a presentation on the status of health insurance in America and the AMA’s position on the Obama administration’s proposed healthcare policies.
Saturday evening of the conference culminated with the President’s Reception and Dinner honoring 2008-2009 AIPAGIA President Charles Sellers III of Charles J. Seller & Co, Inc. At the reception, he was given a past president’s plaque and jacket in recognition of his year of leadership service to the organization. On Sunday morning, following Nielsen’s presentation, AIPAGIA held their Annual Business Meeting, at which Phil Super of USI Affinity Collegiate Insurance Resources was named as AIPAGIA’s incoming 2009-2010 president.
Conference attendees also enjoyed a full social calendar, including a whale-watching tour on board the “America” yacht, followed by dinner at San Diego’s Fish Market, and participated in the Johnstone Education Foundation Golf Outing. This annual event raises money for AIPAGIA’s charitable arm, the Johnstone Education Foundation, which each year awards a $2,500 scholarship to a student studying insurance or a related field as part of their investment in the future of the insurance industry.