FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 3, 2010
CONTACT:
Melissa Wheeler, Director-Public Policymaker Education
The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation
623 High Street
Worthington, Ohio 43085
P: 614-880-9870
F: 614-880-9872
mwheeler@griffithfoundation.org
STATE LEGISLATORS FROM SIXTEEN STATES ATTEND INSURANCE 101 SEMINAR
Presentations include emerging issues and trends in Life & Health and Property & Casualty
COLUMBUS, OH (August 30, 2011)—Griffith Insurance Education Foundation conducted an
Insurance 101 Seminar at The Ohio State University August 19-21, which was attended by
twenty state legislators from sixteen states, eight of whom serve as Chair of their state
insurance committee and four who serve as Vice Chairs. Information presented by noted
professors in the field of risk management and insurance was intended to illustrate how
insurance can be used to manage certain kinds of risk.
“After 29 years in office, this was one of the best conferences I have ever attended,” said
Senator David O’Connell, Senate Minority Leader, North Dakota. “I am going home with a basic
knowledge about insurance, and I would recommend this program to anyone.” Added
Pennsylvania State Representative Marguerite Quinn, “I am in my third term in office, and I wish
I knew about this seminar 3 terms ago.”
The seminar provided an overview of emerging trends and issues within both the Life & Health
and Property & Casualty fields. Concepts ranged from the pooling of risks to workers comp and
from globalization of insurance to the regulatory environment and health care reform. State
Representative Wesley Richardson, Maine, Chair- Insurance and Financial Services
Committee, not only called the program “terrific,” but illustrated its potential impact on legislative
policy when he explained, “In our legislature, we have had a bill on fraud come before us twice,
and I was opposed. After this program, I am now in favor.”
The three day seminar featured academic sessions taught by Dr. John Fitzgerald of Ball State
University, Griffith Foundation board member Dr. Vickie Bajtelsmit of Colorado State University,
and Dr. Rob Drennan of Temple University. “The professors really talked about practical issues
and brought it down to our level,” said Senator John McComish, Arizona Chair-Banking and
Insurance Committee. The legislators also heard presentations from the National Conference of
Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety.
The seminar's final day included two panel sessions. The first dealt with Life & Health insurance
issues with representatives from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
(NAIFA), the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
(BCBSA), and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). The second panel covered Property &
Casualty insurance, incorporating presentations by The Property Casualty Insurers Association
of America (PCI), The National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds (NCIGF), and The
Insurance Information Institute (III).
All materials presented at the seminar can be viewed on the Griffith Foundation’s website at
http://www.griffithfoundation.org/public-policy/resources/
Attending legislators included the following state senators: John Andreason (Idaho), Colin
Bonini (Delaware), Bill Brown (Oklahoma), Maralyn Chase (Washington), Jack Crumbly
(Arkansas), Swati Dandekar (Iowa), Travis Holdman (Indiana), Jean Hunhoff (South Dakota),
John McComish (Arizona), and David O'Connell (North Dakota). State representatives in
attendance included: Nancy McLain (Arizona), Robert Megna, (Connecticut), Reginald Murdock
(Arkansas), Dawn Pettengill (Iowa), Marguerite Quinn (Pennsylvania), Wesley Richardson
(Maine), Dan Saddler (Alaska), Michael Stinziano (Ohio), Dennis Williams (Delaware), and
Ryan Yamane (Hawaii).
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About The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation: The Griffith Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit educational institution that promotes the study and teaching of risk management and
insurance. The Foundation offers risk management and insurance education programs and
resources for students, teachers, academic institutions, and public policymakers.
www.griffithfoundation.org