NYIA Navigates New York Reactions, 'Waters' Ahead at Lake George Annual Conference.

• Position: [IN THE ASSOCIATIONS] - Conference news

* The New York Insurance Association was joined by over 200 insurance industry professionals in Bolton Landing, New York, for the group's 2019 NYIA Annual Conference: Navigating New York Waters. The conference featured educational sessions on a variety of timely topics and included networking opportunities with industry experts, representatives from the New York State Department of Financial Services and New York State legislators.

The opening session on Thursday featured a real-deal Q&A session entitled Regulatory Reflections: A Conversation with Jim Wrynn. Insurance professional and former insurance department superintendent, Jim Wrynn, senior managing director of FTI Consulting and NYIA chair Elizabeth Heck, president and CEO of Greater New York Mutual Insurance Company, together chronicled Wrynn's more than 30 years of industry experience. They took questions from the audience and discussed the future of the insurance industry.

This opening discussion was followed by an insightful CEO panel discussion, View from the Helm: Staying the Course in New York, led by moderator NYIA first vice chair Mark Prechtl, executive vice president and CEO of Chautauqua Patrons Insurance Company. The session featured panelists Richard Creedon, chairman of the board and CEO of Utica National Insurance Group; Norman Orlowski, president and CEO of Erie and Niagara Insurance Association and Peter Vercillo, president and CEO of Dryden Mutual Insurance Company. The discussion explored the unique nature of the New York insurance marketplace and provided a CEOs' perspective on how to best prepare for future industry challenges.

Later that morning Laura Evangelista, executive deputy superintendent of insurance for the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), delivered the keynote address and talked about the critical role of property and casualty insurance companies in New York and the importance of regulatory and industry collaboration.

The morning sessions concluded with the panel discussion Flying with the Legal Eagles: Being Forewarned is Being Forearmed, featuring moderator Marc Craw, senior counsel at MLMIC Insurance Company and panelists Michael Brown, partner at Nicoletti Gonson Spinner Ryan Pinter LLP; Brian Heermance, partner at Morrison Mahoney LLP; Dan Kohane, senior member at Hurwitz & Fine, Pc. and William Matlin, partner at Hoffman Roth & Matlin, LLP These legal aficionados gave conference attendees an educational and engaging update...