Virtual MLPA Event Recap
By Sabine Voigt, Loss Control Consultant
While this year has brought unimaginable challenges, we were thankfully able to gather in September, albeit virtually, for the 2020 Mutual Loss Prevention and Adjusting event.
Attendance was a record high, with 75 participants. They had 1,200 combined years of insurance industry experience, ranging in personal experience from 1.5 years to 41 years. About 30% of the attendees were client managers and the rest were a combination of inspectors, claims adjusters, underwriters and agents.
One factor in this year’s record attendance was that it was virtual —not having to travel made it easy for more people to participate. Additionally, this year’s shift toward a blended loss prevention and claims event also appealed to an expanded audience. Sessions were constructed to offer a breadth and depth of information and were designed with all experience levels in mind.
WRC’s Information Services helped make it possible for the event to go off without a hitch and everyone could connect despite the challenging environment we are working in. With the Zoom chat functionality, a song playlist and prizes, we were still able to learn together and share a few much-needed laughs.
WRC Vice President of Mutual Assistance Greg Gonnering and Marketing Representative Tyler Vancura spoke about disaster planning and storm activity by region, examining the August 10 derecho in Iowa. WRC Senior Network Administrator Jason Tolley discussed phishing and explained how to maintain cybersecurity.
WRC Property Loss Consultant Steve Carroll and Manager of Property Loss Consulting Jeff Blevins spoke about solar power systems. They touched on claims and loss prevention considerations, and claims situations where ordinances and building code requirements are factors.
On the second day, WRC Executive Vice President Jason Fogg offered reinsurance snapshots and insights during his opening remarks.
During the inspections session, Mike Linahon of Heartland Mutual Insurance discussed a risk that had changed drastically over a three-year period. This served as an excellent example of the importance of establishing a regular inspection schedule and risk review. We also shared the results of a mutual inspections survey, CPSC product recall, approaches to inspections and recommendations.
Sharon Kreft of United Mutual and Heather Techlin of Ellington Mutual co-presented case studies involving snowload claims in which an engineer had been retained. We shared claims large loss figures, snowload resource websites and talked through what to look for from a layperson’s perspective.
To download the PowerPoint presentations from each session, click the links below:
- Impacts of the Derecho Storm and the Importance of Catastrophe and Disaster Planning: DOWNLOAD
- Building Codes & Claims: DOWNLOAD
- Solar Panel Systems: DOWNLOAD
- Phishing Links – Fighting the Good Fight: DOWNLOAD
- Snowload: DOWNLOAD
- Inspections: DOWNLOAD
The Advisory Committee is instrumental in the planning stages and delivery of the event and we thank them for their many contributions. As Heather Techlin departs from the committee after contributing so much, Crystal Aguirre of Ellington Mutual joins as the newest member. Heather Wagner of Rails County Mutual serves as Chairperson.
If you have any questions or suggestions about MLPA, please contact WRC Mutual Assistance team members Sabine Voigt, Jeff Blevins or Steve Carroll, or contact an Advisory Committee member at any time. Committee members for 2021 are:
- Heather Wagner, Ralls County Mutual, Center, Missouri
- Mike Linahon, Heartland Mutual, Algona, Iowa
- Sharon Kreft, United Mutual, Medford, Wisconsin
- Chris Stoutner, West Central Insurance Services, Whitehall, Wisconsin
- Crystal Aguirre, Ellington Mutual, Hortonville, Wisconsin