Will you consider tomorrow's needs today? Do you know where you'll be 1,000 days out? Will you join us out on the edge for a look at the future? ACORD is building for that future and Technology Conference '99 is the staging area for making the journey.

More than 1,200 attendees will gather to exchange ideas on the future, share experiences and learn how technology can advance their competitive edge in the coming millennium. Join your colleagues at the only industry conference of its kind that brings together property/casualty and life agents and brokers who make up the distribution system, along with insurance company executives, IT professionals, and the vendors that help make it all possible.

GENERAL SESSIONS

What Will Be--The New World of Information

Dr. Michael Dertouzos, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science

The New World is an information marketplace where computers and their users everywhere will buy, sell, and freely exchange information and information work--that will soon add up to $3 trillion a year. To succeed in this New World, we need to understand how we can best exploit its new forces--electronic bulldozers, electronic proximity, speech understanding, and others.

All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Dr. Dertouzos' new book, What Will Be, courtesy of Progressive Insurance. He will be available for book signing.

TechnoStrategies™: Becoming a 21st Century Organization Now!

Daniel Burrus, Burrus Research Associates, Inc.

Take your awareness of the strategic tools of technology to the next level by hearing how other organizations have leveraged these tools in today's increasingly competitive marketplace. Mr. Burrus will provide valuable information on how to create knowledge, apply new technologies, open up new opportunities, and empower people to take positive action approaching the 21st century.

Town Meeting

Where You Speak Out

You can't miss this one. In ACORD style, this year's Town Meeting will present exciting perspectives and varying opinions, because they'll be yours. Look for more details as we get closer to Conference.

ACORD Implementation Awards

Upload and download together equal SEMCI. Each year, insurance companies and agency system vendors vie for the coveted Company of the Year and Vendor of the Year awards. Find out who are the winners for 1998 implementations!

A POWERFUL TRACK
DESIGNED FOR AGENTS!

Agents attending Technology Conference '99 will find a wealth of workshops designed especially to help them enhance their use of agency technology and learn what the next 12 months will bring.

Additional tracks for Business Strategies, Life Standards,
P&C Standards--37 workshops in all

10 IDEAS TO PROMOTE YOUR AGENCY
USING OFF-THE-SHELF SOFTWARE

Alan Shulman, CPCU, Shulman Consulting, Inc.

Discover how to create marketing tools using the standard PC software you already own. The publisher of "Agency Ideas" newsletter will show you how to generate new sales and retain more accounts by using your word processing, desktop publishing, and database programs creatively.

AUTOMATING YOUR WAY TO HIGHER PROFITS

Michael Weinberg, Gateway Insurance Agency, Inc.

Learn how to use your agency management system to help your agency maximize productivity and sales, and reach profit goals. This workshop will help you determine which departments, programs, lines of business, employees and agents are profitable and productive.

BANKING AND INSURANCE

Moderator: Martin Taylor, ACORD; Steve Match, BISYS Insurance Services; John Willemsen, Advantage Risk Management Services, Inc.; Jo Ann Litwin, Litwin, Castle and Christ Insurance Agency, Inc.

Banking and insurance is a hot topic. Agents are partnering with banks, and banks are expanding their alternative market efforts to include P&C insurance, life insurance, and similar services. Learn about how banks' involvement in insurance will affect the insurance marketplace.

DOWNLOAD WITH THE AGENT EXPERTS

Get an agent's perspective on download from a panel of agents who either represent the companies or use the vendor systems that won awards at last year's conference for their download achievements. Hear what the agent panelists have to say about commercial lines and personal lines interface with these EDI award winners.

NAIC: REGULATORY TRENDS

Martin Taylor, ACORD; Sam Meyers, South Dakota Insurance Department; Patricia Borowski, PIA

A review of the regulatory trends facing the insurance industry today, this session will help bring you up to date on such subjects as banking and insurance, proposed model laws, and other important regulatory trends.

NAIC UNIFORM AGENT'S LICENSING AND APPOINTMENTS, UNIFORM STATE FILINGS--A REAL WIN FOR THE INDUSTRY

Sam Meyers, South Dakota Insurance Department

A top NAIC executive will tell conference attendees about exciting new products already in place that impact every agent and company in the country--the Producer Information Network (PIN), simplified electronic rate and form filings (SERFF), and uniform financial reporting.

TOOL TIME: THE INTERNET AS A TOOL FOR AGENTS

Brian Bartosh, Applied Systems Client Network; Stuart Durland, Seely & Durland; Jim Lyon, Lyon Agency

Learn to "surf the Web" for potential new clients and new markets, get information or forms from state and federal governments and regulatory agencies; use the Internet to e-mail information, pictures, etc. Other agents are using the Internet in a wide variety of ways. You can too!

SALES MANAGEMENT FOR SURVIVAL

Mona Carpenter, Marketing Systems, Ltd.

Successful agencies are growing by 15%-25%. This session will discuss management methods necessary to change your agency into a thriving sales organization. If you are looking for a way to grow your agency, don't miss this session!

UPLOAD WITH THE AGENT EXPERTS

Get an agent's perspective on upload from a panel of agents who either represent the companies or use the vendor systems that won awards at last year's conference for their total upload achievements. Hear what the agent panelists have to say about personal lines interface, using the Internet and company editing with these EDI award winners.

YEAR 2000 AND THE APPROACHING CLAIMS DEBATE

Larry Eisenstein, Swidler & Berlin law firm

A new type of insurance claim, one that may rival the environmental and asbestos claims of past decades, looms on the horizon--the Year 2000 computer problem. A specialist in Y2K issues discusses coverage issues, E&O exposure, legal ramifications, and the fallout of the Y2K problem.

"We exhibit at a lot of shows. This one generates more discussion than any other show I've been to. I also enjoy the workshops; it's good to see that ACORD is addressing these issues."

—Chris Perini, Dun & Bradstreet

"The keynote speakers were excellent, energetic and thought-provoking. I liked the emphasis on the Internet as a force that can't be ignored. I'd like to see all carriers use the Internet to enhance the efficiencies of the independent agency channel."

—Chris Garson, Progressive Insurance

"I come to this conference because, unlike other conferences, it is neutral. I can find out what's going on today, but not from a vendor, company, or agency viewpoint. It's a good place to learn about the Internet, SEMCI, and the different avenues the companies are taking for electronic commerce in today's marketplace."

—JoAnn Litwin, Litwin, Castle & Christ Agency

"This Conference is always an excellent networking and educational experience. I always leave with great ideas to implement at my company."

"The ACORD Technology Conference is a reliable event for gaining new information and networking with industry personnel. It's always worth my time to attend."

"This is a great Conference for both networking and finding the latest technologies supporting the insurance industry. This Conference provides insight into the importance of companies and agencies working together to achieve the maximum workflow efficiencies."

"This Conference has a great variety of useful and meaningful information which appeals to all participants from our industry."