The National Risk Retention Association hosted their annual conference last week in Chicago and I always enjoy going out there for it. The conference brings some of the leaders and brightest from the world of RRGs together for a few days to discuss hot topics in the industry and get “learned up”.

Executive Director Joe Deems has shaped NRRA to be a pivotal player in risk retention insurance; a place to exchange valuable and timely information regarding the RRG industry. NRRA has a long history of successful legal and regulatory representation of the interests of risk retention and purchasing group liability insurance programs, as well.

A few interesting sessions at the conference include Conducting a Cyber Liability Audit of Your RRG, obviously a hot topic for anyone in the financial services industry these days. Innovation in Risk Management and Taking a Hit – Strategies for Recovering from Bad News were also of interest. A member of DFR’s illuminati, Sandy Bigglestone, provided her outlook of the RRG industry on a panel called Raising Eyebrows: The Regulators’ Perspective on the Signs an RRG is Headed for Trouble. And yours truly participated on the panel Cultivating the Next Generation of Captive/RRG Leaders, another important issue facing captives and RRGs.

Since Vermont is home to almost half of all RRGs licensed, it was a little like old home week in the Windy City. Many of the panelists are Vermonters or have strong connections to VCIA, such as Joe Carter of United Educators, Clare Bello of VCM, Christine Brown of Vermont’s DFR, Nancy Gray of Aon, Tina Truax McCuin of TD Wealth, Anne Marie Towle of JLT Insurance Management (and VCIA Board member!), and Matt T. Gravelin of Johnson Lambert.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Richard Smith
VCIA President