LAAIA Convention Panelists to Discuss Florida’s Property Market; CE Sessions Begin July 5

Seven distinguished panelists will discuss the state of the property market in Florida, the difficulties faced by the Department of Financial Services following the 2004 hurricane season, and the importance of depopulation of Citizens Property Insurance Co. to kick off the opening general session of the Latin American Association of Insurance Agents 35th annual convention and exhibit at the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood, Fla. The opening general session begins July 7 at 5:30 p.m.

Panelists speaking during the opening session will include: Lisa Miller, Department of Financial Services chief of staff; Bob Ricker, Citizens CEO; Susan Strakes, Coral Insurance Co. CEO; Hon, Kim Barsfield, state representative; Jeff Grady, Florida Association of Independent Agents CEO; Daniel Baptista, LAAIA immediate past president; and Rudy Valdes-Diaz, LAAIA past president and moderator.

LAAIA sponsors educational seminars four times a year and will again offer 30 CE credits over four days during this week’s event, according to Dulce M. Suarez-Resnick, president and education president.

Pre-convention events will feature training courses, including a special two-day training course on “positioning for Long-Term Profitability and Growth,” July 5, 2 to 5 p.m., and July 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., presented by First Floridian and Travelers and taught by Lloyd “Skip” Daigle.

July 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a training course, “Commercial Account Selling” sponsored by CPIA/AIMS Society, taught by Keith Savino; 9 a.m. to noon, the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida will sponsor, “Lessons Learned from Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne,” taught by Ron Silverman; and a PIA of Florida Course from 2 to 5 p.m., “Ethical and Legal Obligations of Insurance Agents, taught by Ron Silverman.

July 7 training courses include an F.S.L.S.O. course from 9 a.m. to noon, “The Retail Agent’s Role in the Surplus Lines Marketplace,” taught by Matt Wester; from 2 to 4 p.m., “Condominium Law & Coverage Update,” taught by Keri M. Rayborn; and from 2 to 4 p.m., “Citizens Wind Only Policy Review, taught by Scott Mathis.

A CPIA Society/AIMS Society course on July 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, “How to Turn Your Technical Knowledge into $$$,” will be presented by Kitty Ambers; and from 9 a.m. to noon, Fidelity National Property & Casualty Insurance Co. will sponsor a course on “Personal Lines & Commercial Lines – Why Flood Insurance is Important to Both,” taught by Shawn L. Tinsley.

“In Pursuit of a Vision,” will be the topic of the association’s luncheon, Friday from noon to 2 p.m., featuring keynote speaker Don Hurzeler, chief marketing officer of Zurich Commercial Insurance. Hurzeler, president of the CPCU Society, will discuss “Winning in the Marketplace Together,” will present ideas from his book and speak about the power of belonging to a professional association in our diverse society.