Attendee Page

2003 TechDEC Exposition & Conference

October  26-28, 2003

 Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle, WA

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! [a new window will open]
To assist you in completing your registration, please keep this page/window open and see below for the current program guide. Some session names have been modified within the on line registration form due to space restrictions. Registration for on-site exhibitor personnel is not available on line. Badge registration forms are located in the Exhibitor Marketing Kit, scheduled to mail May 15. 
 
If you would prefer not to register online, please print and mail/fax a pdf registration  (download acrobat)
 

Make your plans NOW to attend the TechDec Annual Claims Exposition & Conference held in Seattle, WA on October 26-28, 2003.  

Registration Procedures
To register, please complete the registration form and fax or mail using the information provided. The registration process is not complete until full payment is received. All conference registrations received will be confirmed via email. All admission materials and conference badges (including guest badges) for pre-registered attendees are available for pick up at the Convention Center, 6th floor, during posted registration hours only.

Tax Deduction
Conference expenses may be tax-deductible. Treasury regulation 1.162-5 generally permits an income tax deduction for educational expenses (registration fees and qualifying travel, meals, lodging) undertaken to: (1) maintain or improve skills required in one’s employment or (2) meet express requirements of an employer.


Conference Program Information
Phone: 800.253.4432
E-mail: bfield@nuco.com

Registration & Housing information
Fax: 330.963.0319
E-mail: techdec2003@conferon.com

Conference Registration includes

• Technology Demonstrations

• Roundtable Discussions

• All Sessions & Conference Materials

• Exhibit Hall Pass

• Continental Breakfasts & Beverage Breaks

• Welcome Reception & Exhibit Hall Grand Opening

• Networking Lunch, located in the Exhibit Hall

• Closing Reception, located in the Exhibit Hall

Guest Activities

• Exhibit Hall Pass

• Welcome Reception & Exhibit Hall Grand Opening

• Networking Lunch, located in the Exhibit Hall

• Closing Reception, located in the Exhibit Hall

• Guest Program (Tour the sites of Seattle – separate fees apply / details forthcoming)

Guest Program
ACE-SCLA and TechDEC Private Tours!

Relax and enjoy the sights, sounds and history of Seattle! The ACE-SCLA and TechDEC Conference Committees, along with Seattle Hospitality, are proud to offer three private tours, open only to participants of the ACE-SCLA and TechDEC Conferences. You can choose between: Ride the Ducks City Tour, The Art of Glass Blowing and the Underground City Tour, or Backyards of the Rich and Famous. All three tours are fascinating, and will be hosted by Seattle Hospitality. These are optional tours so additional fees will be charged. For tour details, prices, times and registration click here.



Registration Hours
All conference badges (including guest badges) are available for pick up at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, 6^th floor, during registration hours only.

Hotel Accommodations
click here for Housing Information (see page 2)
Hotel accommodations can be made at the time of registration or at a later date. No direct reservations will be accepted by the hotel. All housing accommodations are handled through the conference housing authority as noted on the Registration/Hotel Form. However, a limited number of rooms at special rates have been set aside for attendees of TechDEC. Rooms are subject to availability, so reserve early. All rates are subject to sales and occupancy tax.

Conference Substitution / Cancellation Policy
Registrants may send a replacement or substitute at any time prior to the conference at no additional cost. Those submitting written notice of cancellation prior to August 15, 2003 will receive a full refund, less a $50 administrative fee. Individuals who do not attend or who do not cancel prior to August 15, 2003 are liable for the entire conference fee, which at that time is non-refundable and transferable to TechDEC 2004.
 

Who Attends TechDEC?
 

TechDEC, presented by Tech Decisions magazine, is THE annual forum for straight talk on insurance technology insights, trends and techniques. NO infomercials.  NO “sell” sessions.  NO vendor presentations in the educational sessions!  Join your peers in beautiful Seattle for TechDEC – the industry’s premier event for senior technology and business executives at life & health and property & casualty insurance companies.

The educational program will provide bottom-line-boosting solutions at over 15 educational sessions.  Plan to attend Pre-Conference Events scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2003.  You will have the opportunity to network first-hand with innovators during Roundtable Discussions and preview technology trends and expand your solution horizon during Technology Demonstrations.

 TechDEC has even more for insurance tech professionals like you:

• Network first-hand with innovators at 12 Roundtable Discussions

• Learn technology trends and expand your solution horizon at 12 Technology and Product Demonstrations

• The TechDEC expo features technology products and services YOU need from key industry suppliers

• Experience bonus trade show exposure with the co-located ACE·SCLA Annual Claims Exposition Conference featuring 175 exhibitors of the latest insurance claims technology, products and services

We know budgets are tight and every expenditure must return real value. That’s why TechDEC is packed with three full days of educational and networking opportunities.

TechDEC is the industry’s premier event for senior technology and business executives at life & health and property & casualty insurance companies.  TechDEC and co-located ACE·SCLA hosts over 1,000 attendees.  Additional information about ACE·SCLA is available at www.ace-scla.com.

Here is a sampling of companies who sent attendees to the 2002 conference. 

Conference Agenda/Program

Conference At A Glance
 

Tech Decisions’ team of expert editors, led by Sharon Schwartzman, worked with a Steering Committee of top industry leaders to develop the not-to-be-missed curriculum that will be the core of this year’s TechDEC program.  Committee members include:

• Michael Connly, CIO, The St. Paul Companies

• James Fridenberg, Acting VP, Applications Development, Farmers Insurance Group

• Glenn Headley, VP and CIO, Republic Group of Insurance Companies

• Jim Lester, CIO, AFLAC

• Vincent Oliva, VP & Research Group Director, Gartner Financial Services

• Dr. John Rockart, Senior Lecturer of Information Technology, MIT Sloan School of Management, Member, Board of Directors, Selective Insurance Group, Inc.

• Bruce Wilkinson, CIO, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

New this year!
TechDEC Breakout Sessions will address Industry Issues and provide Creative Solutions with real take-away value.

Industry Issues
A forum for discussion of the newest developments driving several of the most pervasive trends in insurance today. These sessions will tap into some of the best and brightest minds in the industry who have tested prevailing wisdom and either found it met their expectations or chose to strike out in unique and inventive directions. The focus will combine the latest in industry thinking with proven tips and tactics.

Creative Solutions
These presentations will assist technology professionals to think out of the box--and, most likely, very differently about their jobs. Every case study addresses critical challenges confronting nearly every insurer today. Each enterprising company combined a dose of innovation with some perspiration to resolve their business problems by implementing results-achieving technology solutions.

Monday, October 27th

8:00 – 8:45 am      Continental Breakfast

9-10:15 am      Keynote Address - The Game Has Changed
Fun. Uplifting. Down-to-earth. That’s how audiences describe John Cassis, one of America’s most requested speakers and TechDEC keynote presenter. Meeting the challenges of change is no longer a choice – it’s a way of life. John shares his experiences - including being a pre-game inspirational speaker for the Chicago Bears under the indomitable Mike Ditka - using positive ways to embrace change, ignite new potential and launch into success.
Speaker: John Cassis, President, The Cassis Group

10:15 – 10:30 am      Break

10:30-11:30 am       Opening General Session
Path to Greatness
The Business/IT Partnership: Should IT Lead? Commonly accepted wisdom tells us that IT is only successful when it aligns itself with business, and business leads IT. But does great IT come from that—or merely good IT? Many technology initiatives that have the potential to change a business for the better may never have been part of the business side’s purview. Business leaders at times might be shortsighted, caught in the rut of their business delivery. Can/should IT get out of the back office and into the decision process? How can IT justify the technology’s value to the business audience? And what role does the CEO/CIO partnership play in the dynamics of a productive, innovative business/IT partnership? A panel of Senior IT and business executives will reveal all.
Moderator: William B. Jenkins, Managing Partner, SolvIT Consulting Group (formerly SVP and CIO, General Accident Insurance
Panelists: Glennon C. Headley, Jr., VP & CIO, Republic group of insurance companies;

Yom Senegor, SVP, Chief Strategy Officer and CIO, Safeco Corporation;
Vittorio Severino, SVP and CIO, Hartford Life

11:30 – 1:45 pm      Networking Luncheon
Enjoy lunch in the Exhibit Hall with co-workers and colleagues. Preview more than 150 technology suppliers and claims products, and service providers. Mingle with technology professionals, ask questions, and make important business connections.

2:00 - 2:50 pm

(Industry Issues) Are You In or Out? Infrastructure—The decision to optimize in-house or outsource.
In today’s world of mergers and acquisitions and aging legacy systems--not to mention tight human and financial resources--outsourcing may or may not make a lot of sense. If IT is a core competency at your company, then you might be a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to optimizing computer operations and support. On the other hand, if IT doesn’t have the manpower or expertise or that expertise is better applied elsewhere, then having IT as an inside service may prove to be a hindrance, perhaps forfeiting a competitive advantage. In this session, The St. Paul Companies will describe its new infrastructure and explain why it never considered outsourcing, fully intending to keep its initiative in-house. Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield will address why it chose to select a partner on the outside and how it is taking its infrastructure to its critical next step.
Speaker: Michael R. Connly, Chief Information Officer, The St. Paul Companies;
Michael Galvin, VP, Chief Infrastructure Officer, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield

(Creative Solutions) Internet I: Use It to Cut Costs
Republic group of insurance companies has successfully deployed Internet-based services for its agents—to quote property, and auto policies; submit applications electronically; handle claims and billing inquiries; and submit changes. The numbers tell the story. Since the project began in 1998, Republic has saved about $2 million a year by significantly reducing in-house processing staff. Most costs for processing personal lines have been pushed out to the point of sale. And now 99 percent of new business comes in via the Internet. Learn how to leverage the Web for bottom-line benefits.
Speaker: Glennon C. Headley, Jr., VP & CIO, Republic group of insurance companies

3:00 - 3:50 pm
(Industry Issues) Insurance 2003: Update for IT
Technology is changing fast. The marketplace is moving in new directions just as fast. That’s now become the norm for IT executives. They must come up with the right solution, no matter what the problem, in the most cost-effective way—getting it done yesterday. To successfully take control of (rather than being controlled by) the business pressures that inevitably wind up as technology pressures, IT professionals must have a solid knowledge of the issues facing today’s CEO. They must have an understanding of where those requests to IT are coming from in order to fulfill them and derive the greatest possible benefit. What are the issues confronting the insurance industry, and how can an IT leader better respond to them?
Speaker: Vincent A. Oliva, VP & Research Group Director, Gartner, Inc.

(Creative Solutions) Changing the Claims Process to Achieve Results
American Express Assurance Company improved internal claim-handling performance and redesigned business workflows to improve the customer's claim experience. This session will discuss how the project team used metrics to develop baselines and identify key success factors that would be used to dramatically improve performance. Discover how to identify measurable business goals and metrics; identify change points that impact results; simultaneously work all sides of the people, process, and technology triangle to optimize results; change and actively manage processes that are rooted in cultures and values; and set expectations and measure for results.
Speaker: Dianne L. Wilson, SVP Insurance Operations, American Express Assurance Company

4:00 – 6:00 pm      Exhibit Hall Closing & Reception
Win a prize and have some fun! To show our appreciation for your attendance we are hosting an Exhibit Hall Game with prizes at the close of the exhibit hall. In addition, all attendees are eligible to register for the Exhibit Hall Grand Prize --- 3-night cruise for you and a companion to the Bahamas or Mexico compliments of the Rainbow International Carpet Care & Restoration Specialist Nationwide Network of Franchisees. MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.

Tuesday, October 28th

7:30 – 8:00am      Continental Breakfast

8:00-8:50 am
(Industry Issues) Foreign or Domestic? Will you have your business process and application here or to go?
Cultural issues, communication gaps--these are just two of the challenges companies face when they decide to outsource application projects or business processes. Increased focus on core businesses and lower expense ratios are just two of the reasons companies give for taking software development and implementation global. Find out from insurers that have tackled the commute whether global sourcing is a passport to IT heaven or a one-way ticket to trouble--what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Speaker: James M. Fridenberg, VP Information Technology Applications & Development, Farmers Insurance Group, Inc.;
Shelley  McIntyre, 2nd VP/SBSO-Information Technology, Guardian Life Insurance Company

(Creative Solutions) Internet II: Success Story—One System for All
Go from a legacy, proprietary-based policy administration to an open, n-tiered, Internet-based system in three easy steps—NOT! Citizens Property Insurance Corp. was using a system that was not flexible nor did it meet the company’s needs. It now has a complete Internet-based system that helps agents, underwriters, claims staff, and adjusters in the field do their jobs more efficiently. Agents quote and rate in real time and submit the application. Underwriters “work” the application and gather missing information. Claims staff utilizes the system to assign the claim to a third-party adjuster in the field. Adjusters use it to set the reserves, adjust the claim, report tier findings, and request the claim payment (which the system produces and mails to the insured). And just to keep things interesting, Citizens managed all this with a merger going on. Walk through the process Citizens took to determine its business requirements, select a vendor/system, design and develop the system, and then roll the system out to the agents.
Speaker: Bruce  Wilkinson, CIO, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation

9:00-9:50 am
(Industry Issues) Cyber Security: IT Solutions for the Real Threats to Your Business
With tight technology budgets now the norm in the industry, insurance companies must be certain their security initiatives match the real—rather than perceived—threats to their operations. Find out from the experts where these threats are headed, which are truly worth the worry, and ways to frustrate the bad guys. Learn from an insurer how it is separating fact from all the hype, implementing its strategy to achieve business value, and keeping its IT operations safe and sound.
Speakers: Kenneth  Tyminski, Chief Information Security Officer, Prudential Financial;
Julia H. Allen, Sr. Member of the Technocal Staff, CERT® Coordination Center

(Creative Solutions) Leverage Your Most Precious (and Abundant) Commodity
Insurers have the answers to almost all their questions in their data warehouse. But are they mining it for all its worth, or are they missing major opportunities to raise the bottom line? Presenting several examples of information delivery techniques used for product management and development at Prudential Property and Casualty, this session will explore the business issues related to data warehouse development and implementation in the insurance industry. Gain an in-depth understanding of how to implement data warehousing and information delivery systems for lucrative insurance product development and efficient performance tracking.
Speaker: Abraham  Phillips, Director, Information and Decision Support, Prudential Property & Casualty Insurance Co.

10:00-10:50 am
(Industry Issues) What Is XML, and Does the Reality Match the Hype?
Everywhere we look these days we see the familiar acronym: XML. Perhaps even your CEO is asking you about it. XML is ubiquitous and cannot be ignored. But what will eXtensible Markup Language actually do for you? Is it just another EDI standard in disguise, or is it more than that? What are the true business implications of adopting it in your shop? Vendors boast their whole systems are designed around the XML model—but what does that mean? How pervasive is it, really? Explore the latest developments and get the facts, not the hype.
Speakers: Mele Lynn  Fuller, Interface Architect, Safeco Insurance Company;
Paul  Rolich, Director, Multi-Media and Software Development, The National Underwriter Co.

(Creative Solutions) Risky Business: Successful Strategies in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
Enterprise risk management is not merely about business continuity and disaster recovery planning. New causes of loss and dismal financial results have taken risk management to heightened levels. While there are packages that handle the standard predictions on underwriting loss, manage the company’s investment portfolio, or evaluate an insurer’s own susceptibility to loss from such events as employee fraud or geopolitical crisis, there’s no one system that can do it all. Nevertheless, leading-edge insurers are going where no one has gone before—enterprisewide assessment and management of risk. Learn about the proactive strategies some forward-thinking companies are implementing to break down the functional silos of business to assess and manage exposure to multiple events.
Speakers: Vincent A. Oliva, VP & Research Group Director, Gartner, Inc.;
Lilian  Hee-Karstadt, VP Risk Management, RBC Insurance Services, Inc.

(Creative Solutions) Case Study (To be announced)

11:00- Noon      Closing General Session
What Would You Do With a Dollar?
Imagine this: You have one dollar and several buckets lined up in front of you, each representing a different technology project hungry for that cash. How would you split that buck up? A few years ago, this scenario might have seemed unrealistic. In today’s tough economy, it’s not hard to make the leap. Hear how some of the industry’s leading IT professionals are setting their priorities in response to increasing business pressures and the ever-present struggle to achieve and maintain competitive advantage.
Moderator: Paul  Rolich, Director, Multi-Media and Software Development, The National Underwriter Co.

Panelists: Vittorio Severino, SVP and CIO, Hartford Life;
Michael R. Connly, Chief Information Officer, The St. Paul Companies;
Yom Senegor, SVP, Chief Strategy Officer and CIO, Safeco Corporation;

Noon
Conference Grand Prize Giveaway
Panasonic ToughBook Computer – Must be present to win

 

Pre-Conference

Plan to attend Pre-Conference Events scheduled for Sunday, October 26, 2003.  You will have the opportunity to network first-hand with innovators during Roundtable Discussions and preview technology trends and expand your solution horizon during Technology Demonstrations. 

Sunday, October 26

9:00 am – 12:00 pm      Roundtable Discussions
Start the conference off by attending our Roundtable Discussions. Each 50-minute session includes a short presentation by a leading industry company followed by a moderated discussion. These sessions allow you to share ideas and get feedback on the latest developments affecting the insurance industry. Peer-to-peer learning is one of the best ways to find out what’s working in your industry.

Roundtable Discussion

Time:	Company:
	ROOM #606	ROOM #607	ROOM #608
9:00 am - 9:50 am	Results Int'l	Hyland Software	Easy Link
10:00 am - 10:50 am	DMA Housing Assistants	Visibillity	Insurity Inc.

IASA Technology Town Meeting 1:00 PM - Room 609 Moderated by: Mark O'Brien, VP of Client Services - Martino & Binzer Speakers: Craig Lowenthal, CIO - Hartford Financial Products Marek Jakubik, Managing Director - Insurance Technology Group Dan Mets, VP of Insurance Solutions - Agile Technologies This interactive session provides a highly participatory Q&A forum for insurance professionals facing challenging technology decisions.  Attendees have the unique opportunity to discuss their technology issues with experts from insurance carriers, technology vendors, and consulting firms - seasoned veterans who have "Been there. Done that."  Find out why some carriers shy away from system renovation or replacement projects, and what other companies are doing to mitigate risk of those projects.  Talk freely about new products like IASA's x-Fire and other technology products that are solving critical issues facing our industry today and tomorrow.

1:00 pm – 3:45 pm      Technology / Product Demonstrations
Tough times call for no-nonsense strategies and our Technology Demonstrations let you see technology products presented by companies with new and innovative solutions to technology dilemmas. Technology Demonstrations give you practical ideas to help you achieve your goals in today’s challenging environment.

Technology/Product Demonstration

Time:	Company:
	ROOM #606	ROOM #607	ROOM #608	ROOM #609
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm	FC&S Bulletins	Metaserver	Trumbull Services	N/A
1:45 pm - 2:15 pm	ADP Claims Service	INSTEC	CORVEL	N/A
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm	MountainView	Visibillity	Optical Image	Insurity
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm	Citrix	Bottomline Technologies	Transwheel Corp	Virtual Adjuster

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Exhibit Hall

Experience BONUS trade show exposure – TechDEC and ACE·SCLA Claims Exposition + Conference, sponsored by Claims magazine, are co-located! ACE·SCLA is the premier industry event because it is the only claims conference and exposition produced by claims professionals, for claims professionals.
www.ace-scla.com

New in 2003!
Wireless Solutions Pavilion

Wireless is increasing productivity, improving the bottom line, and connecting field personnel to crucial information stored in home offices around the globe. Tour the Wireless Solutions Pavilion in the Exhibit Hall to find the latest hardware, software and solutions that you and your organization need to do wireless the right way.

Sunday, October 26

4:00pm - 7:00 pm      Welcome Reception & Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
Don’t miss this exciting kick-off to the TechDEC Exhibition and Conference. Meet and network with the industry’s “Movers and Shakers” while previewing more than 150 technology and claims products suppliers and service providers.

Monday, October 27

11:30 – 1:45 pm     Networking Luncheon
Enjoy lunch in the Exhibit Hall with co-workers and colleagues. Preview more than 150 technology suppliers and claims products, and service providers. Mingle with technology professionals, ask questions, and make important business suppliers connections.

4:00 – 6:00 pm      Reception - Exhibit Hall
Win a prize and have some fun! To show our appreciation for your attendance we are hosting an Exhibit Hall Game with prizes at the close of the exhibit hall. In addition, all attendees are eligible to register for the Exhibit Hall Grand Prize --- 3-night cruise for you and a companion to the Bahamas or Mexico compliments of the Rainbow International Carpet Care & Restoration Specialist Nationwide Network of Franchisees.
 

TechDEC Exhibitors [click company name for more information]
Exhibitor Full Registration Form       (download acrobat)
Exhibit Hall Only Registration Form

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AQS, Inc.
AscendantOne
Blackberry
CheckFree Financial and Compliance Solutions
ChoicePoint
Citrix
Cognizant Technology Solutions, Inc.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Delphi Technology, Inc.
Dexterra
Docubase Systems, Inc.
DST Output
Duck Creek Technologies
eAgency, Inc.
EasyLink Services Corporation
ePolicy Solutions
ESI International
GenSource
Global Insurance Technology
Group 1 Software
Hi Touch Imaging Technologies
IASA
ImageRIGHT
Imaging Business Machines
InsBridge / SCSI / Fair Isaac
INSTEC
Insurity Inc.
Itronix Corporation
Mayfare Software Solutions LLC
Metaserver, Inc.
Mobitor Corporation
Motion Computing, Inc.
NAT, Inc.
National Underwriter Company, The
Oasis Group, Ltd
Optical Image Technology, Inc.
Palisades Research, Inc.
Panasonic Computer Solutions Co.
PureEdge Solutions, Inc.
Qualcomm Incorporated
QualCorp, Inc.
R. L. Polk & Company
Results International Systems, Inc.
T-Mobile
Taliant Software, LLP
Tech Decisions Magazine
TeleVantage NorthWest
Trumbull Services
Verizon Wireless
Virtual Adjuster
Whitehill Technologies, Inc.
XDimension Technologies, Inc.

 ACE·SCLA Technology Exhibitors [click company name for more information]
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ADP Claims Services Group
Bottomline Technologies
Bridium
Canon USA, Inc.
Captiva Software Corporation
CCC Information Services, Inc.
Coalition America, Inc.
Corporate Systems
CSC Financial Services Group
Cunningham Lindsey U.S., Inc.
FileNet
Fiserv
Hyland Software, Inc.
ImageNow
ISO ClaimSearch
Mitchell International, Inc.
MountainView Software
Orca Software Inc.
Panasonic Computer Solutions Co.
Quest Claims Services / Pilkington
Visibillity
 

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Testimonials

Here’s what TechDEC 2002 attendees told us:

“I had an opportunity to see how the corporate world thinks.”

“The presentations were more than I expected. My field is technology – the speaker had very interesting points on where technology has been and where it is going.”

“I found the sessions to be very informative and the speakers knew their subject matter quite thoroughly.”

“I thought the keynote address on “Outsourcing, E-Commerce & the Promise of the Internet” was insightful as it summarized the state of IT and the insurance industry.”

“The session on cost reduction offered innovative solutions to business growth and development, which we value for continued success.”

“Build vs. Buy vs. Outsource was the most informative and thought provoking session of the conference.”
 

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Sponsors

On behalf of the conference staff, we thank the following companies for their partnership.  Their efforts help make this conference a success for everyone.  Thank you.

PLATINUM LEVEL
GOLD LEVEL
SILVER LEVEL