Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays to all our VCIA family! I think we all will be glad to see the backside of 2020 and look forward to happier times in 2021. It was tough on all of us, and tragic for many, as we climb out of the grips of the pandemic. With the advent of the vaccines there is lightness on the horizon… even as we head into our shortest days.
2020 was not all bad, however. The captive industry continues to see exponential growth in numbers of licenses and interest around the country and around the world. Vermont has licensed more that 35 captives (not including many, many cells) already, and there is a stack of them waiting to get out of the gate on January 1st.
This is the time of year to look back on things to be grateful for as well. Now, more than ever, family and friends are so important to our wellbeing. I am also extremely grateful for working in such a wonderful and collaborative industry – it truly feels like family as well. My thanks to Dave Provost, Sandy Bigglestone, and their team at Vermont’s Department of Financial Regulation for their continued steadfast regulation; to Brittany Nevins, who so quickly and successfully slipped into Ian Davis’ shoes fighting to keep Vermont as the premier captive insurance domicile. Their good work flows beyond the borders of Vermont, positively impacting the captive industry overall.
Thank you to VCIA’s Board of Directors for all their support and guidance over the past year to the association, especially during these challenging times. I want to especially thank Jan Klodowski of Agrisurance Inc. as our chair until October and the captive attorney extraordinaire, Stephanie Mapes of Paul Frank + Collins, as out new chair since then. Many thanks to our new vice chair Andrew Baillie of AES Global Insurance Company, independent consultant Donna Blair, Lawrence Cook of Sedgwick, Dennis Silvia of Cedar Consulting, Anne Marie Towle of Hylant, Derick White of SRS, Tracy Hassett of EdHealth and Jason Palmer of Willis Towers Watson. And a fond farewell and heartfelt thanks to former board chair Wilda Seymour who has recently stepped off the board. All have provided their amazing talents and time to the association.
We continue our strong focus on events and on legislative and regulatory issues on behalf of our members. Many thanks to Jim McIntyre, and his partner Chrys Lemon, in Washington and Jamie Feehan in Vermont for their wonderful service to VCIA. And my great thanks to the VCIA staff! Without their hard work, smarts and enthusiasm, we would not be able to accomplish any of the wonderful things we do for our members. Thank you to Diane Leach, Elizabeth Halpern, Peggy Companion, Janice Valgoi, Dave Rapuano and Megan Precourt!
Most of all, thank you for all your support and see you next year!
Rich Smith
VCIA President
Captivated 