On the Scene (October 01, 2007)

Fred Plant assumed the role of president of the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association during the President’s Dinner at the association’s annual general meeting and conference in Winnipeg, Man.

Miles Barber, immediate past-president, passed the presidential hat, noting Plant would bring insight and a fresh perspective to the job. “Trust Fred,” he said.

Plant spoke of his enthusiasm for the position.

“It is an absolute honour to be standing here,” Plant said. “This is the Everest.”

The roughly 40 delegates in attendance watched as Plant donned the presidential hat and Miles Barber, outgoing president, received his past-president plaque and medallion.

In addition, Reno Daigle, education chairman, announced that Paul Tiller, Crawford Adjusters Canada, was granted the Chartered Loss Adjuster (CLA) designation.

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Delegates at the Canadian Independent Adjusters’ Association’s 23rd annual general meeting and conference set sail aboard the M.S. Paddlewheel Princess on the Red River, before returning to the hospitality suite at the Inn at the Forks Spa & Conference in Winnipeg, Man. There were also seminars and a trade show, in addition to a trip to the Assiniboia Downs Horse Racing Track during the four-day conference.

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Crawford Acquires Claimsstar.net

Crawford & Company has acquired Claimsstar.net, an online training program specifically for the property and casualty industry, in an effort to further its online training initiatives. The program will be re-branded as Crawford Online, a Crawford release says, and will be offered as a stand alone Internet solution — as well as a blended learning solution — incorporating classroom and online learning. “We intend to augment our industry-leading training position with Crawford Online and offer this educational service in North America and to our global clients,” Tom Crawford, president and CEO of Crawford & Company, said in a release.

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Christina Welton joins Kawartha Claim Services

Christina Welton has joined Kawartha Claim Services Inc. The former president of the Ontario Insurance Adjusters Association has been in the business for almost 30 years. Until recently, she was a partner in an independent adjusters’ office in Mississauga and Peterborough.

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Over 350 people congregated in Niagara Falls, Ont. for the 10th annual CARSTAR Industry Conference, Aug. 15 to 17. CARSTAR franchisees and their families, corporate employees, and insurance and vendor partners participated in the conference, themed “Strength and Endurance” to represent CARSTAR’s journey over the last thirteen years. A popular feature of the conference is the annual ‘OSCAR Awards Ceremony.’ The ceremony acknowledges the franchise owners who demonstrate distinguished service and outstanding leadership. The President’s Club award recipients were Weese CARSTAR Collision in Trenton, Ontario; Glacier CARSTAR Collision in Edmonton; Lawrence CARSTAR Collision in London; and Summit CARSTAR Collision in Scarborough and North York. The CARSTAR Pride award was presented to Bob Edwards, from CARSTAR in Thunder Bay. Conference delegates participated in sessions on marketing, succession planning, the global marketplace, industry and insurance trends, and lean business principles. Special guests included: Bill Johnson, former chairman and CEO of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada; David Lingham, IBIS (International Bodyshop Industry Symposium) moderator since 2003; George Cooke, president & CEO of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company; Glenn Gibson, CEO, The Americas, Crawford and Company; Mauro Convertini, VP of procurement for Aviva Canada; Troy Treleaven of Dale Carnegie; Richard Kunst of Art of Solutions and Jay Perry of Automotive Business Consultants Inc. Participants of the Insurance Panel session included Vic Pasnyk, Allstate; Paul Hicks, Aviva Canada; Brian Duffy, TD Meloche Monnex Inc.; Ken Boulton, The Dominion; and Keith Hudd, The Economical.