NJ Agents Conference October 23-25, 2022 | ICONA Hotel Avalon
Get ready to reconnect! We are thrilled to welcome you back to the first in-person NJ Agents Conference in two years. As always, you can expect great information and great conversation. We cannot wait to see every one of you this October.
AGENDAOctober 23
3 - 6:30 pm | Registration Open Registration will be held in the hotel lobby. Get there early and register and you will receive a wristband to go and enjoy cocktails and football in the Brew Pub until 5 pm courtesy of the BIG I NJ.
6:30 - 9 pm | Opening Night Reception Sponsored by Selective Insurance Group, Inc. Coming in on Sunday night? Make sure to join us for cocktails, food stations and conversation on the beautiful Veranda. There's no better way to reconnect with friends and colleagues then by toasting the start of our 2022 in-person event!
9 - 11:30 pm | The After Party Sponsored by Cumberland Mutual It may have been a couple years, but who can forget the YAC After Party?! It's one of the highlights of the conference! Immediately following the Opening Reception, join us in the Brew Pub to keep the party going.
OCTOBER 248:00 - 10:00 am | Working from Home Opportunities & Insurance Solutions Sponsored by InsurBanc
Presented by Kym Martell, AAI, CIC, CRIS, CRM, MLIS Where do you work? Are you a remote worker, a hybrid worker or do you own your own in-home business? Personal and commercial clients are faced with the task of providing coverage for this changing landscape. Remote workers and in-home businesses create challenges and opportunities for insurance professionals to provide insurance and risk management solutions for this growing marketplace. This discussion will include identifying the unique loss exposures associated with remote workers and in-home businesses through a review of some of the personal lines coverage forms, the exclusions, gaps, and limitations, and offer possible insurance solutions, including endorsements, in-home business products, and commercial insurance coverage forms. Approved for 2 CE credits
10:15 - 11 am | Champagne Brunch Sponsored by New Jersey Agents Alliance, LLC
11 am - 1:00 pm | General SessionBusiness Meeting Chairman Hal Soden, Jr. will lead the 2022 business meeting where he will provide an overview of the state of the association, introduce recommended bylaw amendments for vote, announce the Chairman citations, and present our 2022 award winners. The New Face of Hiring - How the Pandemic Shaped Employee Recruitment Before the pandemic, business leaders preoccupied themselves with finding and inspiring the right talent needed to build their corporate brand and success. Fast forward to today, and those same leaders face those same challenges with the added complication of a tight labor market, skyrocketing compensation demands, and pressure to offer hybrid or remote work options. Things are rough. In this session, Claudia St. John, president of Affinity HR Group, will discuss the most current labor trends, present strategies for hiring exceptional talent in a virtual environment and highlight ways to ensure attendees don't fall victim to the Big Quit and its nefarious cousin, the Bored-Out. Joining Claudia are Big I NJ member agents who have experienced various challenge with recent hiring from in-office staff to remote employees.
Catalyit Steve Anderson, the industry's leading tech guru and CEO of Catalyit will take the stage to share his take on the industry's biggest tech revolution - Catalyit - and what it means for the independent agency system. State of the State Hear from Bob Fee, IIABA Chairman, as he presents the annual state of the state.
1:15 - 2:15 pm | Break-Out Session - Finding Top Talent: A Deeper Dive Presented by Claudia St. John, president of Affinity HR Group
The New Face of Hiring - How the Pandemic Shaped Employee Recruitment Finding Top Talent is a highly interactive breakout session designed to explore agency hiring strategies in greater detail. From where to post and how to head-hunt, to innovative benefits and workplace solutions, this Deeper Dive session brings agency leaders and Big I NJ's endorsed HR partner and recruiter to share strategies, ideas and creative solutions for your hiring challenges.
1:15 - 2:15 pm | Break-Out Session - What's Next? Tech Trends that will Transform Insurance and Your Agency Presented by Steve Anderson, Catalyit Insurance technology expert Steve Anderson discusses the latest technology and trends that are changing how agencies operate. Find out about specific technologies and innovations that can generate real value for your agency and clients like Carrier Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Keeping up with technology is a key to maximizing your customer experience. Steve will tell you which technologies to use and how to use them. You will also learn more about Catalyit – your new Big “I" go-to technology resource for independent insurance agencies. Catalyit helps agencies discover, evaluate, select, and implement the best technology for their organizations.
2:30 - 5:00 pm
- Scavenger Hunt:
Looking for a fun and unique way to explore the ICONA hotel and the town of Avalon? Sign up for the Conference Scavenger Hunt! This event is open to all conference attendees, and promises to be a great way to experience everything the conference has to offer. You must pre-register to join the hunt and be placed on a team.
- Hospitality Suites:
American Collectors Insurance - Fire Pit Insurance Agency Connection - Fire Pit Keystone Agency Partners - Cabana Trusted Choice IIABA - Fire Pit
7:00 - 8:00 pm | Chairman's Cocktail Reception Sponsored by Franklin Mutual Insurance Company Join us as we raise a glass to outgoing Chairman, Hal Soden, Jr. and welcome incoming Chairman, Chris O'Neill.
8:00 - 11:30 pm | Installation Celebration and Casino Party Sponsored by IIANJ Marketing Programs We'll keep the food and drinks flowing as we raise a glass to our incredible board of directors. This year's installation of the new board, and incoming Chairman Chris O'Neill will round out the evening as we reflect on how wonderful it has been to reconnect over the past day-and-a-half. Following the board installation, try your luck at our casino gaming room!
OCTOBER 257:30 - 9:30 am | Coffee Bar Sponsored by Travelers Grab your coffee before you hit the road in the lobby outside of Shimmers Bistro.
What To Wear... Sunday Night and Monday Day Attire Business casual attire (blazer, slacks, button down/collar shirt for men; pants or skirts with coordinating top/sweater for women). Monday Night Attire Chris O'Neill, incoming Chairman, is requesting all attendees to wear something with your agency or company logo to the installation and casino party.
Registration fee Member/Sponsor: $270 Non-Member: $460
A la carte package options, as well as additional registrant and spouse fees are available on the registration forms.
Online registration is currently closed. You may register on site on Sunday between 3 - 6 pm or Monday starting at 7:30 AM at the ICONA Resort in Avalon. We hope to see you there.
hotelICONA Hotel Avalon 7849 Dune Drive | Avalon, NJ 08202 Room Rate: $165 The hotel block for this event is currently closed. To make a room reservation, please call 609-368-5155, ask to speak with Amanda, and let her know your with the Big I NJ group.
AWARD NOMINATIONSAward Nominations are now closed.
Henry A. Franz Insurance Person of the Year Award Established by the IIA of Passaic County and dedicated to the memory of Henry A. Franz, past president, this award is presented to the individual who has made the most outstanding contribution to the health and advancement of the insurance industry. Richard Hardenbergh Community Service Award Presented in memory of Richard Hardenbergh, former Big I New Jersey leader and dedicated community volunteer, the recipient of this award is an individual who has made a significant contribution to the community on a voluntary basis. Nominee must live in New Jersey and be involved in the NJ insurance industry.
Cherize M. Gonzalez Young Agent of the Year Award This award is presented to a young agent who has demonstrated service to his or her agency, professional trade association, and community.
James F. Anthony Scholarship Created in 1995, the $1,000 scholarship is given in memory of James F. Anthony, a devoted friend to Big I NJ. The scholarship is bestowed annually to a deserving high school senior seeking further education who has demonstrated excellence in scholastic, extra curricular, and community activities.
| SPONSORSTo sponsor the 2022 NJ Agents Conference, click here.
Diamond IIANJ Marketing Programs, Inc. Platinum Cumberland Mutual Franklin Mutual Insurance Company Selective Insurance Group, Inc. Gold InsurBanc Liberty Mutual Insurance Plymouth Rock Assurance Progressive Silver Farmers Ins. Company of Flemington Kingstone Insurance Company New Jersey Agents Alliance, LLC Travelers Hospitality Row American Collectors Insurance LLC Insurance Agency Connection Keystone Agency Partners Trusted Choice/IIABA
First Time Attendee Imperial PFS Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Bronze ePay Policy Event Andover Companies Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC Farmers Mutual of Salem County First Insurance Funding Independent Ins. Agents of Central NJ ISU Insurance Agency Network Merchants Insurance MyHealthily Nationwide Savoy Associates Strand Insurance Finance Company UFG Insurance |