Registration is now open at www.AAISonline.com for the 2010 AAIS Main Event, April 11-13 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Main Event is an executive conference held annually by the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), a national advisory organization that develops policy forms and rating information used by more than 600 property/casualty companies throughout the U.S. The conference focuses on product-related issues of strategic importance to P/C executives and department managers.

"Harnessing Data for Results" is the theme of the 2010 Main Event, which features a lineup of speakers addressing practical considerations insurers face when implementing advanced data-based decision-making in underwriting and rating.

Jeanne Harris, an executive research fellow at the Accenture Institute for High Performance, will open the conference with a critical assessment of the benefits and limitations of data-based decisions in business today. Her presentation will draw, in part, upon research for her upcoming book, Analytics at Work. Harris will be followed by one or more P/C company executives who have gone through the experience of supplanting reliance on "gut" instincts with empirical, data-based risk selection and pricing.

Angelyn Treutel, vice president of an independent agency in Bay St. Louis, Miss., and chairwoman of the IIABA's Agents Council for Technology, will offer firsthand observations on how agencies react when new rating plans create profound changes in the classification and rating of customers. Mark Boozell, former Illinois insurance commissioner, now a government affairs advisor, will address what insurers are likely to encounter from regulators and legislators as they seek to develop new predictive factors for underwriting and rating policies.

In addition, Charles Chamness, president of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), will speak on public policy and regulatory trends at the state and federal level, including the impact of federal health policy on property/casualty insurers.

A highlight of the conference will be a presentation by AAIS staff on AAIS's initiative to develop and implement by-peril rating.

Greg Jaynes, AAIS chief actuary, Deborah Summerlin, vice president of insurance lines, and Susan Luecke, assistant vice president for personal lines, will describe how by-peril rating can be used in selecting and pricing risks. They will describe the upcoming AAIS Homeowners rating plan, the first to include by-peril rating, and discuss considerations for implementing it in other lines.

This year's Main Event is adding a special track on Tuesday, April 13, for inland marine specialists and for P&C executives who want to know more about the line.
Inland Marine at 'C-level': Jerry Theodorou, of Conning & Company, (left) and Patrick Carroll of General Reinsurance will provide an overview of current market conditions and the impact of inland marine on company operating results.

Rehab Projects: A window into Inland Marine: David Mistick, president of Circumspex, will describe exposures for rehab projects, and Robert Guevara, AAIS vice president for inland marine, will explain how AAIS's Builders Risk forms help you structure coverage for them.

The business program of the Main Event concludes with breakout roundtable discussions led by AAIS staff members. This year's sessions include:

• Executive, led by Paul Baiocchi, president;
• By-Peril Rating, led by Greg Jaynes, Sue Luecke, and Debi Summerlin (see above);
• Inland Marine, led by Robert Guevara (see above); and
• Farm & Ag, led by Sherry Taylor, manager of farm and agribusiness.

Main Event registration includes two receptions, lunch on April 13, and a closing reception and dinner. For additional fees, registrants can participate in a golf outing or boat cruise.

For complete information, or to register, go to www.AAISonline.com, or contact Joseph Harrington, AAIS director of corporate communications, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by calling 800-564-AAIS, ext. 217.