Every January VCIA hosts Legislative Day in Montpelier, Vermont, for our members to get close up to the folks who pass the laws and remind them how successful the captive industry has been to the State – not that Vermont’s legislators need reminding!

In an ever grim world of battered budgets and various crises, it’s nice when an industry can walk into the State House to just say “thank you” for the work our Representatives and Senators do to support our cause. Over 70 VCIA members from as far away as Oklahoma (thank you Heather McClure!) descend on the capitol to make contact. And what we hear back from the members of the General Assembly and Administration is “what can we do for you this session?”  I had one prominent senator come up to me and succinctly describe the issue of self-procurement taxes and their impact on captives! I find Legislative Day to be one of the most enjoyable captive events of the year and I think the members who are able to join would agree.

On another note, our sincerest congratulations to John Thompson who was just named to succeed Dan Labrie as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Housing Authority Risk Retention Group, Inc.  HAI Group is a family of companies that serve the public and affordable housing community with special, niche insurance programs as well as other value-added products and services, and is a longstanding member of VCIA.  I have known John for some years now from his position as the director of captive insurance for the Connecticut Insurance Department. He is a great choice to take over from one of the giants in the captive world and I look forward to working even more closely with him going forward.

Thank you all very much, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Rich Smith
VCIA President