VCIA Staff left to right: Diane Leach, Rich Smith, Peggy Companion, Elizabeth Halpern, Megan Precourt, Isabelle Halpern (summer intern), Dave Rapuano and Janice Valgoi

Thanks to all who joined us in Burlington earlier this month for another great VCIA captive insurance conference!  As I tell everyone who asks me how the conference went, I have a great time meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. And the entire VCIA staff feels the same way.

You seem to agree, too: more than 84% of conference survey responses rated our conference the best or better than most. With over 1000 attendees from 44 States and 10 countries, where more than 25% were captive owner and 19% first time attendees. Our annual gathering in August has grown to be the place “Where the Captive World Comes to Meet”!

The conference had great energy and people liked the format and extra touches.  As a few of the  attendees stated the conference is “where the best and the brightest in the captive world come together to keep moving the industry forward”; “a participative educational forum, fostering business and personal relationships that last a lifetime!”; “the place where everyone is willing to share ideas and learn from each other”; “the premier captive insurance conference on the calendar, given its size, its sophistication….if I could only attend one captive conference per year, it would be VCIA.”

Attendees especially liked the new Captive Immersion program that was held on Monday, our Learning Circles which enabled attendees to share ideas and experiences, the exhibitor reception with the special Vermont beer and spirits samplings provided, and our two excellent keynotes: Laura Drabik from Guidewire and astronaut Mike Massimino.

Many thanks to our sponsors and exhibitors without whom we could not put on such an event, as well as to the hundreds of volunteers who make it happen. A special thank you to our Platinum Sponsors:

• A.M. Best
• Kroll Bond Rating Agency
• Madison Scottsdale
• Old Republic
• Performa
• Wells Fargo
• State of Vermont

Now after a little break, we are back to work again looking out for the captive industry. We have a bunch of webinars being planned for the rest of the year so keep your eyes on our website!

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