Education Committee Report: June 30, 2021
Table of Contents
Continuing Education Program Overview: Live Courses
We are pleased to share the following summary of our live course progress through June. Courses were attended by approximately 1700 licensed brokers, compliance, and legal professionals. To date we have offered 13 CE credits and provided CE credit to 1421 licensees.
Following please find the remaining courses that have been confirmed in 2021. These topics will provide 22 CE credits. Two additional courses are being considered for October/November but may be rescheduled for early 2022.
| Month | Course | Presenters | Credits |
| July | Risk Transfer Contract Requirements for Indemnity and Insurance | Robert J. Marshburn | 3 |
| July | Underwriting Data Breaches in the 21st Century | A Panel Discussion: Spencer S. Pollock, Shawn Melito, Jamie Singer and James F. Reed | 2 |
| August | Commercial Auto and Motor Carrier Considerations | Joe Hutelmyer | 3 |
| August | The DNA of Fire | Ulises Castleton | 3 |
| September | Underwriting Under Uncertainty | Michael Brown | 2 |
| September | E&S Market Trends – Panel Discussion | A Panel Discussion led by Chris Behymer | 3 |
| October | Active Shooter | Paul Marshall | 3 |
| November | Ethics: Course Title TBA | TBA | 3 |
Continuing Education Program Overview: On-Demand
The Learning Center currently hosts four courses which provide 7 CE Credits to our licensed members. There are an additional four courses being finalized and submitted to the CDI for approval for use as on-demand.
Please see the following summary of our on-demand courses which were attended by 211 licensees to date.
Continuing Education Program Overview: SLA University
The SLA is developing a curriculum that will provide training to brokers and support staff that are new to the surplus line insurance market. Courses will be available on-demand and will provide CE credits or a certificate of achievement. We have already produced the Commercial Property module and a standalone segment on Wholesale Broker E&O. We have plans to record additional courses and to launch the program by year end.
Education Outreach Program Overview: Compliance Connections
Compliance Connections is a new series launched by the Education & Compliance Department in 2021. The program endeavors to improve compliance and to offer a foundation of education for brokers placing surplus line coverages in California. The target audience includes licensed brokers but is especially geared towards filers, compliance, finance and other support staff. Topics are presented by various team member across the SLA and have been attended by over 1000 members to date.
SLA Membership
2-Hour Training
California insurance code section 1765(f) requires that all surplus line business entities provide two hours of training to its employees who solicit, negotiate or effect insurance coverage with a surplus line insurer. To date, the 2-Hour Training has been attended by over 200 members.
The training has undergone a significant overhaul and redesign to provide a more engaging experience for our broker member teams. We are currently working with our IT Support team on the release plan and communications. The Education and Compliance team is also documenting requirements to improve the current tracking process in RAPID which will support efforts to increase compliance with this requirement.
| Month | Resident Individual | Non-Resident Individual |
| January | 28 | 14 |
| February | 16 | 5 |
| March | 64 | 40 |
| April | 45 | 24 |
| May | 20 | 5 |
Membership Outreach Program
The Membership Outreach Program, launched in April 2020, provides members a personal connection to the association. It also provides the SLA an opportunity to learn more about member preferences so that we can provide educational programs and services that better meet their needs. To date we have reached out to 315 individual brokers and entities which resulted in 62 meetings to discuss compliance and operational topics. This new level of engagement has been well received by the membership; broker members have continued to follow-up with additional inquiries, training requests and other concerns.
Education and Compliance is responsible to reach out to every new member to welcome them to the SLA and to provide a membership packet that includes the filing requirements and available programs and services. The team worked with CDI and was successful in transitioning to an electronic packet with an automated distribution process. In the upcoming quarter we are further enhancing the process to include a personal phone call in conjunction with the welcome packet received. We are also developing a “Member Spotlight” program to encourage networking and further opportunities to engage with the SLA.
Education Committee Roster
Mr. Timothy Chaix – Education and Compliance Chair
R.E. Chaix & Associates Insurance Brokers, Inc.
Mr. Kristopher Bauer
Wholesale Trading Insurance Services, LLC
Ms. Carolina Calvo-Betdashtoo
UFG Specialty Insurance
Ms. Jeff Chase
M.J. Hall & Company, Inc.
Mr. Matthew Dutton
Worldwide Facilities, LLC
Mr. Mitchell Jawitz
Anderson & Murison, Inc.
Mr. Benjamin Marks
Independent Agent
Ms. Clancy Marie Johannsen
Burns & Wilcox Brokerage
Ms. Jo Ann Del Gatto – Staff Liaison
The Surplus Line Association of California