Connecticut Convention, a successful return

March 29, 2022

PIA held its Connecticut Convention on March 24-25, 2022, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown—a new venue for the event that gave attendees a refreshed location to learn, grow and network.

Hundreds of insurance-industry professionals from all over Connecticut earned continuing-education credits, learned the latest in InsurTech, attended a trade show where they discussed current and upcoming insurance products, ate delicious food and best of all—networked.

To see photos from this year’s Connecticut Convention, access the 2022 PIA Connecticut Convention album on Flickr.

Networking at the trade show

Connecticut Convention featured a sold-out trade show at which exhibitors invited attendees to ask questions, learn about new insurance products, discuss the trends of the insurance industry, and share ideas and experiences.

Agents networked with each other over bloody marys and mimosas, a buffet lunch, a Wine and Cheese Reception, and exhibitor contents and prize drawings. All smiles and chit-chat, everyone who attended Connecticut Convention made the trade show the best place for independent agents in Connecticut to be last week.

InsurTech demos

On Thursday afternoon, attendees learned about the latest InsurTech from Aureus Analytics–DONNA, Bolt Access, The Endurance Group, Quikfuzion and RecordLinker Inc.

Aureus Analytics–DONNA: DONNA teaches independent agents how to make their agencies data-driven by implementing artificial intelligence and a data-analytics platform that can expand agents’ insight into their clients’ needs in real time.

Bolt Access: Through monthly membership plans, personal- and commercial-lines independent agents can gain immediate access to preferred national carriers in a wide array of markets. Bolt Access helps agents write business and expand their agencies—from finding new markets all the way to processing renewals.

The Endurance Group: Through a new report generator called Commonality, insurance agencies can increase their sales and marketing engagement by tapping into their common connections with target prospects. The reports help agencies evaluate each agent to determine potential connections and analyze that data to reveal the best connections between agencies and their prospects.

Quikfuzion: Through a powerful agency management system, Quikfuzion enhances independent agents’ ability to streamline their processes through several technologies, including e-signatures, a customer portal, integrated premium finance, ACORD forms pre-fill and insurance accounting.

RecordLinker Inc.: RecordLinker helps independent agents compile all their client data into one, central location where they can define their own data and link it to records from all of their data sources. Then, all of that data is normalized, easier to access and linked—making agents’ jobs easier.

CE sessions with insurance experts

Connecticut Convention attendees could earn up to seven CE credits with top-rated insurance experts Cathy Trischan, CPCU, CIC, CRM, AU, ARM, AAI, CRIS, MLIS, TRIP, and John Fear, CPIA, CISR.

With Trischan, insurance professionals learned about commercial property coverages and how property value is the key to comprehensive understanding in Things Every Agent Should Understand About Commercial Property Coverage on Thursday morning. Homeowners and auto insurance were the focus in You’re Using Your House and Car for What? on Thursday afternoon.

With Fear, attendees learned about the implications of written and verbal client-communications on E&O claims in Avoiding Written & Verbal E&O Issues^FF^UN on Friday morning.

A change in administration

The PIACT and CTYIP boards of directors held their annual business meetings on Friday morning, at which their 2022-23 officers and directors were elected:

PIACT 2022-23 officers

  • President: Bud O’Neil, CPIA
  • President-elect: J. Kyle Dougherty, CIC
  • Vice president: Nathan L. Shippee
  • Vice president: Nick Ruickoldt, CPIA
  • Treasurer: Kevin P. McKiernan, CIC, CPIA
  • Secretary: Barbara J. Winsky, CPCU, AIS, ARM, ASLI, ARe, CIW, CRIS
  • Immediate past president: Shannon Rabbett, CIC
  • National director: Jonathan Black, LUTCF, CPIA, CLTC, NAMSA, NSSA

PIACT directors

The association elected the following individuals to serve on its board of directors:

  • Katie Bailey, CPIA, ACSR, CLCS
  • Marissa Barbera
  • Scott Burns
  • Nicholas Fanelli, CIC, CPCU, CLU
  • Nick Khamarji Jr.
  • Kevin P. McKiernan, CIC, CPIA
  • Herbert J. Olson, CIC, CPCU, ARM
  • Kimberly A. Tompkins, CIC, AIS, AINS, PHM, CRIS, ACSR, CPIA
  • Patrick Walsh

CTYIP 2022-23 officers

  • President: Ryan Kelly
  • President-elect: Justin Sloan
  • Vice president: Robyn Ricciardone
  • Treasurer: James Kannengeiser
  • Secretary: Jacklyn Meeker
  • Immediate past president: Anthony DeSalva

CTYIP directors

CTYIP elected the following individuals to its board of directors:

  • Kathleen Bailey, CPIA, ACSR, CLCS
  • Scott Burns
  • Jeremy Card
  • Christine DeFelice
  • Anthony DeSalva
  • Cathy Finlayson
  • James Kannengeiser
  • Ryan Keating
  • Ryan Kelly
  • Salvatore Liistro
  • Jacklyn Meeker
  • Robyn Ricciardone
  • Justin Sloan

Thanking our sponsors

From PIA to the sponsors, exhibitors and advertisers who helped make Connecticut Convention possible this year: Thank you.

Connecticut Convention 2022 Sponsors

A.I.M. Mutual Insurance Cos.Jencap GroupQuincy Mutual Group
The Andover Cos.Joseph Krar & AssociatesRT Specialty
Arbella Insurance GroupsMAPFRE InsuranceRussell Bond & Co.
Business Risk PartnersNLC Insurance Cos.Safeco/Liberty Mutual
Central Insurance Cos.Ohio Mutual Insurance GroupSageSure
ChubbOmaha NationalSERVPRO
EMC Insurance Cos.Plymouth Rock AssuranceState Auto Insurance Cos.
HagertyProgressive InsuranceUnion Mutual Insurance Cos.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Connecticut Convention a success. We are grateful we had the chance to see everyone in-person. Thank you to everyone who attended. We’ll see you next year! Save the date: March 23-24, 2023.

Alexandra Chouinard
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Alexandra Chouinard has editing, writing, advertising and publishing experience from her Alma Mater, Loyola University, where she earned a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in Writing and Communication.

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