Ward Group Symposium Agenda

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In this session, Mr. Rieder presents Ward Group's highly anticipated annual review of the insurance industry. Highlights of the presentation will include an overview of operating performance within the insurance industry, key observations about industry trends, and a summary of notable changes.

Panel Members:

• John Schapperle, President and Chief Operating Officer, Island Insurance Company
• Dianne Lyons, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, United Fire Group
• Robert DeOrsey, Vice President, Underwriting and Loss Prevention, Beacon Mutual Insurance Company

In his session, Mr. Dunn will review the best thinking in the design of executive incentives in the context of the new regulatory, economic and shareholder environment. He will outline the major concerns of constituent groups, new ideas on how best to measure performance and describe the best thinking on incentive plan design. This will include an overview of pay mix, performance metrics and benchmarks and LTI design.

Claims organizations are challenged to measure and optimize the competing forces of loss, expense and service. Making an incorrect move in one area can have an unintended effect on the other. This presentation will review initiatives and programs carriers are deploying to balance the interplay between controlling loss severity, managing expenses and providing exceptional customer service.

Contrary to popular opinion, investments in technology do not guarantee improved operating efficiency or more robust business intelligence. It is important to align technology plans with corporate strategy and measure how successful you are throughout the process. This session will focus on key information technology benchmarks that measure the efficiency and effectiveness of IT operations, discuss what technology issues companies are addressing and how they manage information technology during changing market conditions.

While change is inevitable, success is not. In this session, Mr. Ricco will discuss how PEMCO manages change within their organization to promote successful execution of the change initiative. The presentation will include examples of PEMCO’s efforts to optimize areas of their organization such as organizational design, expense management, growth strategy and technology.

In the current market climate marked by reduction of exposures and aggressive underwriting strategies, companies are challenged to achieve underwriting profitability and stay competitive. While some companies rely on technology to differentiate and others focus on niche groups, most must be able to provide broad services to a diverse range of policyholders and agents. This session will discuss sales, marketing and underwriting business practices and review the processes adopted by top performers.