American Agents Alliance to Stir Up Ideas at 2001 Conference & Expo
A two-day “Agency Management Training Camp” is among the highlights of the American Agents Alliance 2001 Conference & Expo, to be held Sept. 19-23 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
The two-day camp, which will be directed by Jack Fries of Fries & Fries Con-sulting, will focus on employee management, agency financial operations and workflow procdures, as well as an over-view of profit center staffing, recruitment, hiring, goal setting and employee development.
The Conference & Expo offers five days of insurance discussions exploring everything from the various exposures and coverages that are part of personal lines policies, to running an insurance agency.
According to Conference Chairman David Lewis, the event is a great opportunity for agents to share and learn new ideas. “When you add it all up, there are 60 hours of continuing education,” Lewis said. “On Saturday, there is an additional continuing education seminar for tentative CE credits for the newer agents roundtable. This has always been something that is an asset for new agents in the business, getting some great ideas.”
After a day of registration on Wednesday, the event kicks into high gear on Thursday with seminars on personal auto, businessowners policies, personal lines, and the legal environment of the current insurance marketplace.
On Friday, attention will focus on agency operations, a roundtable discussion on operating a successful large agency, how to manage CDI investigations, workers’ compensation, and designing an agency blueprint.
Saturday’s schedule includes a Speaker’s Luncheon and Opening General Session with California Insurance Commissioner candidate and Assemblyman Thomas Calderon.
“He’s an interesting guy,” Lewis said. “I think he shares the views that we’re looking toward expressing more than probably anyone else who is going to run, although we don’t know the full slate.”
A Trade Show and Idea Fair will be held from 2 to 5 p.m., with a hospitality party concluding the day.
The 2001 Idea Fair will highlight the best idea/forms that have streamlined office procedures, acquired new clients and saved time and money. The two categories in the Fair are Best Form and Best Idea. Awards are handed out in each category for first place ($75), second place ($50) and third place ($25). A $250 Best in Show award will also be given out.
A closing general session concludes the event on Sunday morning, highlighted by a visit from former Insurance Commissioner Roxani Gillespie.
Lewis notes that the Alliance, which is expecting close to 1,500 agents to attend this year’s event, always attempts to make each convention better than the last one.
“We always ask for feedback and we try to utilize whatever information we get,” Lewis commented. “The continuing education is an obvious benefit, the roundtable meetings are excellent. The unknown quantity is the hospitality suites. That’s where the real networking comes out. Sharing ideas, a lot of information comes out of those sessions.”
For more information on the event, call (626) 795-0519 or log on to www.agentsalliance.com.