Eastern Claims Conference 2009

Pay valid claims more efficiently and detect fraudluent claims sooner. These are just a few of the topics covered this year, and every year at the Eastern Claims Conference - the premier conference for the life, disability and medical claims industry.

Another terrific line up of speakers is slated for this year's Eastern Claims Conferece ("ECC") scheduled for March 1st - 3rd in bustling NYC! Top special investigative unit leaders, legal specialists, and industry experts will be speaking on the industry's latest trends and hottest topics. STOLI/IOLI, ERISA updates, Deposition prep, and a "Brass Tacks" Disability Round Table discussion group are just a few of the vital sessions you do not want to miss!

The ECC has established itself as the premier destination for nationwide and international claims professionals to gather and get the latest updates on industry devlopments while networking with their peers and the top vendors serving the life, disability and medical claims business. While some are "cutting back," the ECC has gone all out to secure top industry experts and leading professionals to share their knowlegde and experience during these difficult times. Don't miss your chance to learn from the best in the city that never sleeps!

For more information, go to www.easternclaimsconference.com.

ICMG 2009 - How To Run A Successful Conference In A Tough Economy

How do you have a successful conference during a time when almost everything else is trending downward? Two words; Value & Improvisation.

The Inter-Company Marketing Group has long been a unique venue for networking with other industry professionals and forging strategic alliances. Companies participate in ICMG because they have seen the solid track record of ROI for their time and money. In a day of tightening budgets, companies are looking to spend their marketing dollar only where they have the best chance of return. ICMG is well-known for the value they bring to their members.

It was for this reason that it was so surprising to find ICMG was working with marketing consultants from The van Aartrijk Group LLC to better understand what their members wanted and how to best provide it. Whether as a part of that strategy or in addition to it, ICMG also added a group on LinkedIn and enhanced the annual meeting by building it into a networking community. So rather than simply trust what had worked in the past, ICMG instead chose to build on that reputation and deliver an even better product for the future. Improvisation at its finest!

Brave New Workshop, led by Caleb McEwen provided comic relief while communicating the point that improvisation is paramount in today's business world. BNW covered the "8 Secrets of Innovation:"
* Accept all ideas (you don't have to adopt them all...just accept them for consideration)
* Defer judgement
* Share focus/accept all sytles
* Make a declaration (say what you think!)
* Create a "status-less" environment (everyone's ideas matter)
* Create a reward system that recognizes innovation (praise over critique)
* "Yes" first (accept and then add to ideas)
* Perceive change as fuel

If we allow the problems of our times to weight us down, we will be sure to sink. However, if we take hold of the rising tide of change, we can ride the wave of success. Well, if ICMG is any example of the results achieved by seizing the power of change and capitalizing on improvisation - count me in!