AAMGA Special Section

Strength through education

AAMGA University uses a variety of instruction vehicles

By Phil Zinkewicz

For more than 20 years, the AAMGA has provided technical-based education to its members and the members of NAPSLO. According to Jeff D. Henry, M.Ed., the AAMGA University Director of Education, the original plan was to provide classes that would “help our people understand the coverages that were provided by the E&S and Specialty marketplace and how they differed from the admitted/standard marketplace.”

Henry says that the first course offerings were in the trucking and auto specialty lines of business, expanding to property, general liability and professional. “Now we offer programs in everything from the technical insurance programs to human resources, agency management, claims, leadership, and interpersonal skills development. We also have created a basic fundamentals program, called ‘MGA Fundamentals,’ for new entrants into our business,” he explains.

Henry points out that there are four basic methods of delivering these programs: stand-alone programs; AAMGA University weekends; satellite programs; and annual and mid-year meetings.

He says: “The first method, stand-alone programs, represents the original format. A stand-alone course is typically given over a weekend for 12 hours of class time and filed for continuing education credits. These courses include the ‘trucking’ track of courses (3 levels)—garage risks, general liability, personal lines, and property. They are generally an in-depth review of the current policy forms in use and include discussions of the issues particular to the under-writing and servicing of accounts within the specific line of business.”

The second method is through University weekends, Henry explains. “In this format, multiple courses are offered in a number of different tracks. The tracks include underwriting, claims, sales, management and leadership, as well as human resources. The University weekend generally is held from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon and offers attendees the opportunity to choose from among at least two four-hour courses in five different time slots, or 20 hours worth of education.

“There are continuing education credits available during each of the five time slots,” Henry continues. “The University format has been operating successfully in Arizona for over 10 years, and it is now entering the second year in the Philadelphia area. We are experimenting this year with the Philadelphia program by including one of the stand-alone programs in the offerings.”

Henry describes the third method, the satellite program, as offering a number of four-hour courses that can be presented at the offices of both company and agency members—for their staff and/or customers. “These programs are generally the same programs offered at the University weekends, but they give a member the ability to bring it in-house and keep control over the costs. The University can also offer courses that are specifically built for a member’s need as well. These programs are filed for continuing education credits where applicable and can provide a good marketing tool for the members.”

Finally, the fourth method represents those classes specifically designed to be timely and offered in conjunction with the AAMGA’s annual or mid-year meetings, according to Henry. “The last couple of years have seen the mid-year meeting agenda focus on the legislative issues that are current and going to be of issue in the coming year,” he says.

In reviewing the past three years, Henry says the AAMGA has seen—on a conservative basis—the number of individual students increase from 853 in 2006 to 1,512 in 2007 to 2,080 in 2008. These numbers represent the number of individuals who attended any or all four of these formats mentioned above. “The future will see the AAMGA extending its outreach through the use of technology to offer programs via Webinars and distance learning.”

Another undertaking, according to Henry, has been raising an additional $1 million over and above the AAMGA’s regular revenue to donate to Georgia State University to establish an excess and surplus lines chair. “The AAMGA University has done a great job evolving to meet the needs of our members and industry from a technical standpoint; now is the time to take it to the next level. While we have been successful at laying the building blocks through the use of faculty from our own membership, we see the need to bring in expertise to make this next step.

“Georgia State University is highly ranked by a number of sources in providing business education,” Henry continues. “It is ranked fourth by U.S. News and World Report in the area of Insurance and Risk Management. Georgia State University has had a long history with Munich Reinsurance Company in providing training programs to the best of their worldwide class of upcoming leaders. It is with Georgia State as our partner that we will improve our structure, our offerings, our reach, and also have an academician paying particular focus on the E&S marketplace.

“We need to do a better job leveraging technology,” says Henry. “Georgia State has talked about the advances they are making in the technology area and has pledged assistance to us in this development. This can help us with delivery of programs specific to our industry without losing any time out of the office. One such advance in technology taking hold is the use of Avatars. This is a technology that is growing in use among college students and even younger kids. Through the use of Avatars, we potentially have not only a means to communicate information, but a training ground for social interaction.

“We need to do a better job in general, educating the masses of our professionals,” Henry continues. “This requires an understanding of the challenges the average person has in juggling his or her schedule. Georgia State is a leader in adult education and has been for a number of years. They have the knowledge on how to offer classes and programs for part-time students, particularly those who are working full time.”

Henry concludes: “With the support of our membership and the many opportunities that lie ahead, the AAMGA University is uniquely positioned to continue to bring members the most timely and relevant education available to the E&S industry.”