Category Archives: Ian Davis

Make Sure Your Register Because This Is The Last Call for #VCIA2022 Early Bird Rates!

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The Vermont state bird is the Catharus guttatus, more commonly known as the Hermit Thrush. However, the VCIA organizational equivalent is Primo Avis Mandare, for those not up on their Latin–the Early Bird! Leaving just as the Hermit Thrush arrives for its summer visit, the Early Bird’s call is ‘cheaper, cheaper!’ If you’re not quick you will miss its beautiful song because this seasonal visitor departs in just 6 days, having been seen by over 500 people. Primo Avis Mandare is certainly not shy and likes all kinds of attention, so grab your bird call whistle and binoculars and make sure you register for the 2022 VCIA Conference before the clock strikes midnight on Friday July 1st when Early Bird migrates away! I suggest you dally no longer and secure your spot at the captive industry’s biggest and best summer conference by booking your attendance via this link. 

The early bird gets the worm, or in #VCIA2022’s case, gets the best registration rates, which end June 30th!

VCIA’s 37th Annual Conference–our first in-person in 2019–promises to be an outstanding week of special events, productive networking, and, I’m not afraid to say it, the best captive education you’ll find on the planet.

The variety and depth of sessions, all incorporating the latest trends, emerging risks, and legal contexts, form the foundation of #VCIA2022. You will discuss captives and collaborate on ideas related to climate change, social inflation, tax developments, InsureTech (to name just a few). Simply put, nothing can match that experience without being on the ground in Burlington, Vermont the week of August 8th. Hundreds of captive professionals tend to agree with my perspective. We have attracted a strong crowd to register for the conference already, and we expect our current 500+ count to surge as the expiration of the discount approaches. 

Make memories at #VCIA2022. Register now to secure your early bird rate!

A major focus of mine as the new VCIA president is value. What value has VCIA brought to its members and stakeholders in the past and how can I improve upon that? I meet with people and companies on a regular basis to hear their needs and understand how VCIA can help. In the same way, #VCIA2022 is all about value. We’ve built into a week’s schedule as much as quality possible so you benefit from the value of the finest captive educational content and networking opportunities.

#VCIA2022 is all about value. We’ve built into a week’s schedule as much quality as possible so you benefit from the value of the finest captive educational content and networking opportunities.

VCIA President Kevin Mead

Don’t just take it from me. Dozens of talented captive professionals have been working hard for months to produce something special. I refer to the Conference Task Force and VCIA’s Director of Education and Programming Diane Leach. The 2022 Chair of the Conference Task Force, Ian Davis, Senior Vice President, Captive Insurance Relationship Manager at People’s United Bank, realizes the anticipation for #VCIA2022 is growing and can’t wait to share the fruits of our team’s labor. “We know how much it means for the industry to get together and you will see that on full display at the conference, guaranteed. We’ve designed the conference to emphasize engagement, to explore important ideas and how they can benefit our companies, and to celebrate how we all are moving the captive world forward.”

I for one am proud as hell for all the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve put into our Annual Conference. I’m also super excited. Together with some of you, this will be my first VCIA Conference, and I am really looking forward to being able to start and build relationships and connections that will mutually benefit the VCIA and the entire industry.

First step? Spot the early bird and register today! See you sooner than you think!

Happy Holidays!

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As we close out the year it is a great time to reflect on the last 12 months – or longer. It certainly has been a challenging year for all of us, but I can say without reservation how grateful I am to have been a part of this great industry for the past 12 years.

The friends I have made as head of VCIA are amazing. All of you have made my job joyful which is not something everyone can say, I know. You all know how fabulous the folks who work in the captive insurance space at the State of Vermont are – truly a pleasure to work with Dave Provost, Sandy Bigglestone, Dan Petterson, Christine Brown, Becky Aitchison, and Brittany Nevins.

VCIA’s Board of Directors day in and day out have provided their time, energy, guidance, and friendship through a year where they had to face many challenging decisions. My thanks to Andrew Baillie, Donna Blair, Joe Carter, Lawrence Cook, Tracy Hassett, Stephanie Mapes, Gail Newman, Jason Palmer, Dennis Silvia, Anne Marie Towle, and Derick White.

And to work with the great staff at VCIA in these tumultuous times has shown me just how wonderful they all are. Thank you so much Diane Leach, Elizabeth Halpern (who leaves us at the end of the year – sniff), Peggy Companion, Janice Valgoi, Dave Rapuano, and Meg Precourt for everything!

Even in these uncertain times, we are looking for a brighter future with 2022 and it gives me such comfort to know what good people there are out there.

Happy Holidays!

Rich Smith,
VCIA President

May Day!

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IanMay 1st is here and with it the signs of spring… new beginnings.

As you all probably have heard by now, Vermont’s intrepid Ian Davis is leaving the Mother Ship and heading off to a new position within the captive family as Senior Vice President, Captive Insurance Relationship Manager at People’s United Bank. Ian will be responsible for business development, qualification, expansion and overall relationship management for the bank’s captive insurance portfolio.

Ian served as Director of Financial Services at the Vermont Department of Economic Development, leading the marketing and business development activities in support of the State’s captive insurance industry for three years. In that role he stepped into large shoes left by Dan Towle, who is the current president of CICA.

I am so glad for Ian in his new position and so, so glad he is staying in our world of captive insurance. Don’t get me wrong: he will be missed in his role with the State as he was the consummate professional, truly representing Vermont’s best in captive insurance. But very smart of People’s to recognize talent by putting Ian in a leadership role in their captive insurance arena.

As the State looks to fill Ian’s position, the estimable Tim Tierney will step in as interim director. Tim is Director of Recruitment and International Trade at Vermont’s Department of Economic Development. He already was helping us on our planned Mexico Trade Mission this September, and I am looking forward to continuing our work.

So goodbye… and welcome, Ian! I look forward to our continued partnership and, more importantly, our good friendship.

Thank you and stay safe!

Rich Smith
VCIA President

Team VCIA + Team DED + TEAM DFR = Team Vermont

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2You may ask yourself (and others) just how is VCIA going to pull off a successful 100% virtual captive insurance conference this August. Well, we are still working out the details, but one BIG reason I feel confident it will be great is the support and brainpower we get from our colleagues at the State of Vermont’s Department of Economic Development (DED) and Department of Financial Regulation (DFR).

Often, when I go to captive insurance conferences, people talk to me as if I were a regulator from Vermont. Not surprising, many folks conflate our distinct organizations because we coordinate so well with each other. I will then explain that, no, I am not a State employee but staff the captive trade association. And even though we are separate organizations with our own missions, we absolutely work in tandem for the good of Vermont’s captive industry.

Now is one of those times I am truly proud of that essential teamwork. VCIA staff met yesterday via Zoom with Ian Davis from DED and the captive leadership from DFR: Dave Provost, Christine Brown, Dan Petterson, and Sandy Bigglestone, to discuss ideas on the best ways to make the VCIA Virtual Conference truly awesome. The State folks brought excellent ideas, innovative thinking, and, most importantly, terrific enthusiasm to the process. Their professionalism and broad perspectives underscored just how lucky we are to have their partnership.

So, keep an eye out for details. We plan to bring you a terrific conference – and could not have done it without Team Vermont!

Thank you and stay safe!

Rich Smith
VCIA President

And We Are Off!

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Thanks to all of you who joined us for another successful VCIA Legislative Day this week at Vermont’s State House in bustling Montpelier! Our members, including many who came from afar, got to hear from Vermont’s new Secretary of Commerce Lindsay Kurrle, as well as Vermont’s Commissioner of Financial Regulation Mike Pieciak during our luncheon. Later in the day our members met and heard from Vermont’s Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson, and House Minority Leader Patty McCoy. Although these dignitaries represent different parties under the Gold Dome, what they do have in common is their unwavering support of the captive insurance industry in Vermont.

At our luncheon, special guest economist Jeff Carr unveiled a recently completed economic contribution study of the captive insurance industry in Vermont. Suffice it to say that this industry is a tiny powerhouse here in Vermont! Immediately following, the folks from DFR provided a Q & A session for our members on recent updates and activities at the department. We provided a live stream via Facebook for our members.

In the afternoon, we testified before the House Commerce Committee, where Vermont’s Director of Financial Services, Ian Davis, and I gave updates on VCIA and the state of the industry. New VCIA Board Member, Tracy Hassett, President of EdHealth, did a terrific job describing her organization and the reasons they formed a captive in Vermont. In Senate Finance, Ian and I repeated our testimony and Deputy Commissioner Dave Provost concluded with a review of this year’s captive bill, S-255.

The great news is that the following day, Senate Finance voted out the bill 7-0 clearing the first hurdle in the legislative process. There are several sections of the bill, including lowering the minimum capital for sponsored captives from $250,000 to $100,000. The bill also proposes to expand to sponsored cell captives what we passed last year to all captives: provide flexibility in investments by giving companies the option to follow the old rules or develop a plan for DFR approval. Finally, the bill proposes to clarify disclosure requirements for agency captives – we may have been too prescriptive in the disclosure requirement built into the statute when passed last year.

Please click here to access a copy of the bill.

Thank you again to all of you who participated, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Rich Smith
VCIA President

The Numbers Are In

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2019 proved to be another successful year for Vermont’s captive insurance industry with 22 new captive licenses added, bringing its total to 1,159 with 585 active captive insurance companies. This is roughly the average number of new captives licensed yearly in Vermont over the past 10 years or more, regardless of the marketplace, highlighting the resiliency of both the captive marketplace and Vermont as a domicile.

The new formations were made up of 14 pure captives, 4 sponsored captives, 2 Risk Retention Groups (RRGs), 1 special purpose financial insurer and 1 industrial insured captive, with an estimated Gross Written Premium of $24.8 billion.  A healthy mix of sizes, types and industries, ranging from healthcare, manufacturing and financial services to religious institutions, entertainment and nonprofits, are all represented. As David Provost, Vermont’s Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance, always says, Vermont’s focus will always be licensing quality companies, not chasing numbers.

Don’t forget that next week on January 22nd VCIA is hosting its annual Legislative Day in the Vermont State House in Montpelier, Vermont.  This totally unique event underscores the excellent relationship that our captive industry has with Vermont’s policymakers. Register today to join us to meet with Vermont’s legislators, captive industry peers, and hear remarks over lunch from State Economist Jeff Carr who will be presenting the recently released economic impact study.  Go to www.vcia.com and register today!

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Mixy Business

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Many thanks to all you who joined us Wednesday night for VCIA’s annual Holiday Mixer. We had around 120 of nearest and dearest friends attend at the Hilton taking time to greet and socialize with fellow VCIA members on a cold and ultimately snowy Vermont evening.

Many thanks to our sponsors of the event: our friends at Crowe right up the street, and the folks of NAMIC Insurance Solutions (NAMICO) who came all the way from Indianapolis! Tim Sullivan, Kristen Strasser, and Ted Doughman braved the “friendly” skies to join us.  It is one of my favorite nights of the year, when friends come together with no agenda except to enjoy each other’s company as we head into the holiday season.

I also want to congratulate David Guerino as SVP & Managing Director of KeyState Captive Management.  Dave was there with some of his fellow KeyState colleagues as well, Jeff Vigne and Alicia Huskes. KeyState is a relatively new VCIA member and just announced plans to establish an office in Burlington, Vermont in early 2020.

Thank you again and I look forward to hearing from you!

Rich Smith
VCIA President

 

On The Road Again…

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VCIA is on the road again, coming to Boston on November 14 at the Seaport Hotel & Conference Center for our “world famous” VCIA Captive Road Show, where we preach the gospel of captive insurance in cities across the U.S. (and will even be presenting in Mexico City next year!)

The VCIA Road Show is an excellent chance to learn about captive insurance and enjoy a great reception afterwards, to connect with others in the industry.

The educational session will feature representatives from two captive programs, who will share their experiences.  Tracy Hassett, SPHR, is President and CEO of Educators Health, LLC where she played a key role in the launch of edHEALTH, a unique entity, a first of its kind consortium of colleges and universities with the mission of reducing health care costs while enhancing consumer knowledge of options, plan design, disease management and wellness programs. Gail Newman, Vice President of Risk Management for Bright Horizons Family Solutions is our second captive owner panelist. Gail’s program excels in providing best-in-class family-care solutions across North America, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and India. Gail is passionate about business process improvements and creating risk mitigation strategies that not only support healthy financials and the “right” insurance program, but also keep employees and clients of the business safe. With the inception of Bright Horizon’s captive (APEX) in 2017, the business has been able to realize better flexibility and financial health for their insurance program and innovate insurance coverage strategies that are unique to the business.

Others all-stars presenting that day will be:  Michael O’Malley, managing director for Strategic Risk Solutions; Dave Provost, Vermont’s Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance; and Ian Davis, Director of Financial Services for the State of Vermont.

If you are in the Boston area, I hope you will be able to join us! Click here for more information and to register.

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

Rich Smith
VCIA President

Give Peace (Church) a Chance

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My thanks to Phil Leaman and his board of directors at Peace Church Risk Retention Group (a reciprocal) for inviting me to join them for their meeting in Vermont last week. Phil is COO of Peace Church RRG, and spoke at VCIA’s recent Road Show in Philly.  Peace Church is part of a larger umbrella organization that provides services to approximately 140 organizations with programs for aging, disability and behavioral health.  Phil is also an active member of VCIA’s Legislative Committee and participates first hand in VCIA’s legislative and regulatory efforts.

I was on the panel with two absolute pros from Vermont’s Department of Financial Regulation captive insurance examination office, Dan Petterson and Heidi Rabtoy. We gave an overview of DFR’s regulatory regime, VCIA’s activities on behalf of our members, and how both organizations work cooperatively for the industry.  What a great opportunity for the State and VCIA to get directly in front of a captive board to report on our activities and take their questions! I think they left with an even better feeling of being domiciled in Vermont and being a member of VCIA than when they arrived – at least I know I did!

In speaking with Dan and Heidi afterward (and Deputy Commissioner Dave Provost), we all agreed we would welcome other opportunities to get before captive boards of directors.  So, keep us in mind for your next captive board meeting in Vermont. Having us there makes Vermont look good and can make you look good, too!

On another note, thanks to everyone who came out Wednesday afternoon and evening for VCIA’s Board Meeting and Annual Spring Mixer. The evening on the deck of the Burlington Sailing Center overlooking Lake Champlain was absolutely gorgeous. Add in good food and drink, and great friends, and it was a super event! Thank you to Johnson Lambert LLP for sponsoring the mixer.

 

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

Rich Smith
VCIA President

At RIMS in Beantown

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RIMS2B

I am down at the giant RIMS convention in my hometown – Boston – right now. There is a large contingent of Vermonters down here all being herded by Ian Davis, Vermont’s Director of Financial Services.

Our goal is to have Vermont stand out in a field of 10,000 plus attendees at this conference. Vermont brings down their “super” booth which draws a crowd every year for those who want to learn more about our innovative industry, to those who just want to come over and say “hi”. Janice Valgoi and I with a number of our members hold our own against the huge presence of many international insurance companies, brokers and service providers.

And sure, Bermuda gives out their bags every year (how many Bermuda bags can one own!), nothing beats Vermont maple syrup and the ice cream social we host every day. So, if you are at RIMS, please come by and say hello!

And speaking of conferences, online registration for the VCIA 2019 Annual Conference opens tomorrow! Some fantastic new features are in the works for this year including “Captive Immersion”, “Learning Circles”, an outing to Burton Snowboards for captive owners, and a longer exhibitor reception with samplings of Vermont spirits throughout the hall. We have two excellent keynote speakers; one is even an astronaut! It’s going to be a fantastic event. Check it all out at www.vcia.com and let me know what you think!

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

Rich Smith
VCIA President