Jeff Warner

Science of Settlement: Psychology & Mediation

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30
Wednesday 10:30 - 12:00

Anne Kevlin, Esq., Mediator | Arbitrator, Kevlin Mediation PLLC
Katherine Koener, Esq., Partner, Kelley Kronenberg
Jeff Warner, Mgr.-Comm'l Property Claims, Markel

Understand the difference between a "litigation mindset" and a "mediation mindset," and why that difference matters

Understand how to manage extreme emotions of oneself and others during a mediation: anger, frustration, despair, helplessness -- and how to ensure extreme emotions do not derail a negotiated settlement

Create "calibrated questions" during mediations as a more effective alternative to leading questions, or "why" questions

Develop tools to validate the emotions, perspectives, and needs of the other party during mediation to promote resolution

Shannon Warren

Household Calamities: Subrogation of Everyday Things

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Monday 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00

Mark Majewski, PhD, PE, Principal Consultant, Envista Forensics/AREPA
Dan Nucci, CSRP, Operations Manager, Hanover Insurance Group
Shannon Warren, JD, Member, Cozen O'Connor

Develop an understanding of common failure modes for appliances, everyday consumer electronics and household goods leading to a loss event with significant damages from a variety of perils.

Understand how a subrogation investigation proceeds from loss event to recovery. Appreciate the communication and teamwork required to assess subrogation potential, preserve evidence through a chain of custody and ultimately recover claim dollars paid. This will include explanation of the scientific method, the application of NFPA 921 and other standards as well as common product liability and tort recovery theories.

Recognize the legal hurdles in domestic and international product liability subrogation and litigation, including knowing when to abandon pursuit. Assess nodes within the chain of commerce causing or contributing to the product failure loss, including offshore manufacturing, distributors, component manufacturers and retailers.

Witness examples of failure scenarios using exemplar household products and consumer electronics that have precipitated fire and water damages to property. Case studies to be developed to illustrate concepts above.

Alissha Watley

PLRB Presents! Tech Challenges & Opportunities

Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30

Mike Brode, VP Meetings & Education, PLRB
Lars Daniel, EnCE, CCO, CCPA, Practice Leader-Digital For., Envista Forensics/AREPA
Tim Havlir, JD, Counsel, PLRB
Neel Sus, CEO, Susco Solutions
Alissha Watley, Sr. Meetings Manager, PLRB

Fitness Wearables and Trucking: Transforming More Than Waistlines
Presented By: Lars Daniel EnCE, CCO, CCPA, CTNS, CTA, CIPTS, CWA, Practice Leader - Digital Forensics, Envista Forensics
The escalating popularity and sophistication of fitness and wearable devices increase their value as a source of digital evidence, as these devices can provide forensic artifacts about when and where something happened, such as a medical event while driving, or to determine the historic sleep quality and duration of a driver as part of a lifestyle analysis.

How Personal Transformation Drives Digital Transformation
Presented By: Neel Sus, CEO & CPO, Susco
This talk will explore how leveraging paradigms in digital transformation can yield massive breakthroughs in personal transformation and vice versa. Topics will include “The Power of Why,” common pitfalls in allocating enough time & money, and defining stakeholder engagement.

What’s the Scenario? with PLRB: Help! They Stole My Facebook Followers!
Presented By:
Tim Havlir, Coverage Counsel, PLRB
Mike Brode, VP Educational and Technical Services, PLRB
Alissha Watley, Sr. Meetings Manager, PLRB
In each episode of PLRB’s new podcast “What’s the Scenario? with PLRB”, the PLRB team addresses a claims or coverage scenario and answers interesting insurance questions. In this live taping, they’ll tackle this scenario: The two head pastors of a megachurch had a falling out. One pastor left to start his own ministry, but just before he did, he changed the megachurch's Facebook password. He now has exclusive control of the account and sole access to the 100k+ followers, so the church filed a theft claim with its first-party insurer. Is this a direct physical loss to the church's property? Are Facebook followers even "property" with any means of valuation? Subscribe anywhere podcasts can be found, or check us out on YouTube.

Meg Weist

Rethinking Mentorship for Insurance Excellence

Wednesday 1:30 - 3:00
Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30

Amy Cooper, Founder & CEO, RISE
Katerina Garavito, President, RISE
Tandeka Nomvete, Director, External Engagement, Spencer Educational Foundation
Shannon O'Brien, Vice President, Amica Mutual Group
Meg Weist, SVP, Chief Claims Officer, EMC Insurance Companies

gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and dynamics of reverse mentoring in the insurance industry, exploring how this approach challenges traditional mentorship structures

analyze real-world examples and case studies to recognize how reverse mentoring transforms collaboration within insurance organizations and effectively bridges the digital skills gap in the rapidly evolving industry

examine how reverse mentoring contributes to fostering a culture of innovation in insurance companies, exploring ways in which cross-generational collaboration can lead to creative solutions and adaptability in the face of industry challenges

Build a conduit of insurance talent to fill your own company’s needs in open positions

engage in hands-on, practical learning through the Reverse Speed Mentoring workshop, actively participating in mentor-mentee interactions

Justin Whedbee

Appraisal: Tracking the Next Normal

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

Daniel L. Petrilli, Esq., Partner, Horst Krekstein & Runyon, LLC
Justin Whedbee, AIC, CCP, Executive General Adjuster, MAS Solutions
Shawn Woodie, CIC, AIC, AIS, Property Claim Examiner, Erie Insurance Group

Evaluate Appraisal demands where there are coverage disputes/partial denials

Explore appropriate means and methods for Appraiser/umpire instruction and communication

Identify timing, cost and competency considerations relative to post-Appraisal court intervention

Address emerging trends following proposed/recently passed legislative changes intended to limit appraiser conduct/umpire selection and potential handling strategies

Paul Whitfield

Negotiating Strategies in Bodily Injury Claims

State Approved CE Credits:DE FL NH NC TX

Monday 3:30 - 5:00
Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00

Robert Ushkevich, AVP Complex Claims, National Claim Services LLC
Paul Whitfield, JD, Attorney, Anderson, McPharlin & Conners

Identify the key components of an effective negotiation strategy

Build an effective negotiation strategy based on the merits of the case

Describe what tactics to employ to effectively negotiate a bodily injury claim

Apply the strategy and tactics to successfully negotiate the claim from the defense and plaintiff's point of view

Kevin Willging

Multiple Claimants & Insufficient Policy Limits

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Monday 1:30 - 3:00
Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00

Joel Maxwell, Member, Cozen O'Connor
Kevin Willging, JD, Executive Counsel, Travelers Companies

Describe the issues involved where multiple claimants seek compensation under a policy or policies with insufficient limit

Survey the statutes and cases that may apply to multiple claimants or multiple insureds with insufficient limits

Identify hot spots and predicaments that pose potential exposure to bad faith liability because of insufficient limits

Develop practical approaches to handling claims in situations presenting insufficient limits

Kevin Willging

Third-Party Bad Faith Claims: Emerging Issues

State Approved CE Credits:FL NH NC TX

Monday 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00

Geoffrey J. Repo, , Partner, Gordon & Rees, LLP
Kevin Willging, JD, Executive Counsel, Travelers Companies

Spot warning signs of bad faith exposure in third-party contexts

Review emerging bad faith issues and trends in the third-party claims

Identify warning signs of bad faith "set-ups" by third-party claimants and develop responsive action plans

Jonathan Williams

Continuous Underwriting: Building Continuity Between Risk Management & Claims Settlement

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Monday 1:30 - 3:00
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

Jeremiah Kiefer, Founder | CEO, Deft Group
Baer Philipbar, CPCU, AVP Property Claims Manager, W. R. Berkley Group
Jonathan Williams, PE, Partner, Grindley Williams Engineering

Understand how a shift away from underwriting has contributed to challenges with claim settlement

Evaluate how claims handling and building science expertise can greatly contribute to closing gaps in coverage

Know why it's the carriers obligation to better understand what they are writing in order to stay profitable and relevant (especially in more challenging markets like Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Illinois)

Understand how superior technology helps us align risk management expenditure appetite (or lack thereof) and the capture of pre-loss data to an extent that it will actually move the needle

Kenneth P. Williams

Autonomous Vehicles: Liability & Coverage Issues

State Approved CE Credits:FL NH NC TX

Tuesday 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

Kenneth P. Williams, JD, Shareholder, Segal McCambridge Singer et al

Identify various parties who may be liable for loss arising out of the use of driverless vehicles such as manufacturers, engineers, designers, and retailers

Examine likely theories of liability that may be asserted against these potentially liable parties

Describe liability insurance coverage available to potentially liable parties

Explore the coordination of insurance coverage among these parties

Claire Winston

Mediation Techniques & Strategies that Work

State Approved CE Credits:FL NH NC OK TX

Monday 3:30 - 5:00
Wednesday 8:30 - 10:00

Michael Pritchett, AIC, Sr. Claims Specialist, Cypress P&C Insurance
Andy Rock, JD, Partner, The Rock Law Group, P.A.
Claire Winston, Director-Claims Litigation, GeoVera U.S. Insurance Group

Describe optimal strategies to employ when preparing for a mediation

Identify qualities that contribute to a successful mediation

Demonstrate persuasive presentation techniques to enhance negotiation leverage

Evaluate steps to take to conclude mediation with enforceable settlements

Lindsay Wood

Leveling the Leadership Field for Women

Monday 3:30 - 5:00

Katrina Pitt, Property Claims Mgr., Amica Mutual Group
Jenny Pye, CPCU, AIC, API, Dir.-Comm'l Claims Operations, PILOT
Lindsay Wood, Sr. Dir.-Quality Improvement, Liberty Mutual Insurance

Create strategies to level the leadership field

Prioritize flexibility, employee well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) – all in a day’s work

Shift the focus on how you manage

Shawn Woodie

Appraisal: Tracking the Next Normal

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Tuesday 10:30 - 12:00
Wednesday 3:30 - 5:00

Daniel L. Petrilli, Esq., Partner, Horst Krekstein & Runyon, LLC
Justin Whedbee, AIC, CCP, Executive General Adjuster, MAS Solutions
Shawn Woodie, CIC, AIC, AIS, Property Claim Examiner, Erie Insurance Group

Evaluate Appraisal demands where there are coverage disputes/partial denials

Explore appropriate means and methods for Appraiser/umpire instruction and communication

Identify timing, cost and competency considerations relative to post-Appraisal court intervention

Address emerging trends following proposed/recently passed legislative changes intended to limit appraiser conduct/umpire selection and potential handling strategies

Richard I. Woolf

Code Upgrades vs. Pre-Existing Conditions

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC TX

Monday 1:30 - 3:00
Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00

Mike Rose, PE, Forensic Engineer, The Vertex Companies, LLC
Richard I. Woolf, JD, Partner, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Define terms in the policy associated with code upgrade requirements

Learn the vocabulary from the codes and requisites of upgrade analysis

Describe scenarios impacting code updates and investigation of prior damages impacting/ adjustment of property damage claims

Richard I. Woolf

Minor Auto Accidents: Major Damages

State Approved CE Credits:FL NC

Monday 10:30 - 12:00
Tuesday 8:00 - 9:30

Jared Martin, Claims Examiner, American National P&C Group
Richard I. Woolf, JD, Partner, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Recognize third-party minor accidents/incidents that have the potential to become more significant, and examine how to address them early to avoid exasperation of damages

Evaluate minor injury claims and describe positive claims handling in settling those claims early

Analyze alleged soft tissue injuries and the viability of certain injuries in low-speed impact accidents

Examine damages claims that appear inflated based upon the accident/incident and the disconnect between the accident/incident and the claimed injuries/damages