Boston - The 78th Annual Educational Conference & Business Show held by Insurance Accounting and Systems Association Inc. (IASA) concluded today after three days of events. More than 1,100 pre-registered for the show in Boston
Durham, N.C.-based IASA provided attendees with more than 80 technical sessions. Attendees also joined a number of Vendor Connect Tours, in which they were guided throughout the more-than-160-exhibitor show floor, stopping at specific vendors that specialize in certain areas of the insurance business. Areas included policy administration systems, accounting systems, outsourcing services, document management, as well as others.
Keynotes
Three keynote speakers addressed the attendees throughout the conference. Addressing a standing-room only audience, Monday's keynote speaker, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, touched on leadership principles drawn from his experience in office, including the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. While he commented that he didn't know when or if he would run for president, he did provide the audience with his idea of key points of leadership: Possess a set of beliefs, be an optimist, understand your accountability, be courageous, be prepared and communicate.
Frank Abagnale, an expert on white-collar crimes and subject of the movie "Catch Me If You Can," took the stage on Tuesday to provide attendees with information to protect their business and personal finances. Abagnale pointed out how much easier it is now than in 1950 to carry out white-collar crimes, such as fraud, check forgery and identity theft, largely due to advances in technology and the diminishing teaching of ethics both in school and at home. Abagnale offered attendees a few new features that will make it more difficult to alter checks, such as thermochromatic inks, which react to temperature (eg. human touch). Abagnale is based in Washington, D.C., and offers tips on his website: www.abagnale.com.
Tom Morris, chairman of the Morris Institute for Human Values, Wilmington, N.C., wrapped up the keynote events on Wednesday. He discussed top-of-mind issues that affect the insurance industry today and drew from his experience as a professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame and the many books he has written-most recently "If Harry Potter Ran General Electric."
Technology Achievement Award
On Monday New Haven-based Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) and San Ramon, Calif.-based Valley Oak Systems Inc. received the 2006 IASA Technology Achievement Award for the implementation of the iVOS claims management solution.
The award, chosen by a panel of industry judges, was based on Valley Oak's ability to deliver innovative and measurable business impact in the insurance industry. CIRMA implemented the iVOS claims management system in 2005. The iVOS one-system design and browser-based platform helped CIRMA improve operational efficiency, implement best practices, reduce administrative costs, optimize human resources and provide new Web-based capabilities to its members.
Source: Insurance Networking News and IASA
