Pictured from left are David Marlett (Appalachian), Faith Neale (UNCC), Bob Hartwig (USC), Greg Niehaus (USC), Gene Lai (UNCC) and Tom Marshall (UNCC).
On June 20, 2018, faculty members from Appalachian State University partnered with those from the University of North Carolina Charlotte (UNCC) and the University of South Carolina (USC) to present an InsurTech Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The collaborative event was attended by more than 200 individuals, including insurance professionals, regulators and students studying risk management and insurance.
The symposium focused on the financing and innovation related to InsurTech — new technology designed to improve customer experience, simplify policy management and increase competition.
Event speakers included Robert Hartwig, director of the Center for Risk and Uncertainty Management at USC; Ray Lynch, InsurTech vertical lead at Liberty Mutual; Tom Wimberly, chief sales officer for Groundspeed Analytics; and Ryan Shaw, founder and CEO of Blockade Technologies. To see additional information from each presentation Click Here.
North Carolina Deputy Commissioner Michelle Osborne served as the keynote luncheon speaker.
Panel sessions allowed industry experts to share their thoughts on InsurTech and answer questions from the audience.
The first panel session, Innovation in Operations, was moderated by UNCC Professor Faith Neale and included Aubie Knight, CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina; Greg Moore, assistant vice president of Willis Re; and Brian Tajili, chief actuary for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
The second panel session, Innovation Meets Regulation, was moderated by Appalachian Freeman Professor of Insurance Lori Meddersand included Allan McVey, West Virginia’s insurance commissioner and Tim Johnson, property and casualty operations manager with the North Carolina Department of Insurance.
“I’m pleased the event was so well attended and how the audience was highly engaged in the presentations,” said David Marlett, director of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian. “It was particularly enjoyable working with faculty from UNCC and USC and combining our resources to offer a high quality program.”
Marlett noted that InsurTech is a key topic in today’s insurance profession.
“The symposium provided a timely forum to help educate the public and offer continuing education to insurance professionals,” he said.
Event sponsors included AAA Insurance, the IIANC, UPC Insurance, Worldwide Facilities LLC, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of South Carolina, AmWINS Group Inc., Travelers, NCSLA, Keystone Insurers Group, Correll Insurance Group, ECM Solutions, MassMutual Carolinas, Live Oak Bank, Liberty Mutual and The Institutes CPCU Society.
In addition to faculty members from the USC, UNCC and Appalachian, staff members from the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian helped coordinate the event.
The Brantley Center supports students as they prepare for a career in the insurance profession, assists the industry in the design and delivery of continuing education programs and helps educate the public as to the role of insurance in modern life.
To that end, the Brantley Center began the Insurance Symposium Series in 2008.
Past symposia have focused on a variety of topics pertinent to the insurance industry, such as insuring residential property, automobile insurance issues, workers compensation, insuring coastal properties, distracted driving and InsurTech.