E-News November 1, 2005

Matthew D. Nichols, ASLI appointed to NAPSLO Board
Matthew D. Nichols, ASLI, President of All Risks, Ltd., based in Hunt Valley, Md., has been appointed to the NAPSLO Board of Directors and will serve as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee. 

President Mac Wesson appointed Mr. Nichols to fill the remaining year of Past President Jim Griffith's unexpired term. Mr. Griffith recently resigned following completion of his term as Immediate Past President.

Mr. Nichols has been with All Risks since 2000 and began his insurance career with Colony Insurance Co. in 1992, holding positions in Underwriting and then later serving as Vice President of Marketing.

He has served on the NAPSLO Education Committee and the NAPSLO Education School Advisory Committee.  He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1992 and has received the Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI) designation.

NAPSLO members participate in Education Symposiums
NAPSLO members participated in two recent educational symposiums directed at insurance students. 

Approximately 60 students attended the Troy University Symposium in Montgomery, Ala.  NAPSLO Executive Director Richard Bouhan spoke on surplus lines regulation and NAPSLO Education Coordinator Marcus Payne spoke on Brokering. Internship Co-Chair Tim Makowski, along with Kevin Westrope and Jonathan McKenzie (a former intern and J.H. Blades scholarship winner), spoke on the NAPSLO Internship program.  

In addition, four former NAPSLO interns, Janna Davis, Lora Moncrief (the new J.H. Blades scholarship recipient), Kylee Kester and Tricia McKee also spoke on the Internship program and the value and experience the internship provided.  
 
Separately, Tom Stamm and Kurt Bingeman represented NAPSLO and the Derek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation at the recent Gamma Iota Sigma International Management Conference in Mackinac Island, Mich., discussing career opportunities in the E&S Industry; NAPSLO’s Internship Program and the Foundation’s Programs including Scholarships, the ASLI designation and the annual AM Best Co. study.

Gamma Iota Sigma is the International Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science Collegiate Fraternity. A number of E&S firms were represented at the recent management conference.

Louisiana Recovery Committee Update
For firms with interests in the New Orleans area, new information regarding the Operation Recovery and Redevelopment Committee established by the Louisiana Department of Insurance is being posted on the NAPSLO blog. 

Future announcements will also be posted on the blog and additional information is available on the Louisiana Department's web site.

NAPSLO Legislative Video
NAPSLO undertook a number of federal legislative initiatives during 2005 and to better explain its efforts and future goals the Association put together a video which was shown at the 2005 Annual Convention in San Francisco. 

A copy of the video was also mailed to all NAPSLO main member offices and is also available for download and viewing.

Upcoming NAPSLO Events
Advanced School - November 5-8 - Dallas - SOLD OUT
Committee Day - November 28-29 - Dallas
2006 NAPSLO Mid-Year Workshop - February 16-18 - Phoenix