The Rocky Mountain Public Insurance Adjuster Association (RMAPIA) will hold its Fall Meeting starting on Wednesday, November 3, in Denver. Yours truly will have two special Merlin Law Group attorneys, Larry Bache and Jon Bukowski, explaining what we see as the top property insurance claims trends throughout the Rocky Mountain states and the coverage gaps issue causing more problems for policyholders.

Here is the schedule:

In yesterday’s post, Colorado Asks For Response On Unilateral Insurer Timelines To Complete Construction or Replacement, I discussed how the Colorado Division of Insurance is asking for public comments about the deadlines placed in some insurance policies for the repair or replacement of property following a loss. RMAPIA leadership has done an excellent job having the Colorado Insurance Commissioner, Mike Conway, as its first speaker. Here is a biography about Mike Conway:

Michael Conway was appointed Commissioner of the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) by Governor Jared Polis on Dec. 21, 2018, and confirmed by the State Senate on Jan. 22, 2019. Prior to this, he was appointed Interim Commissioner of the DOI by Governor John Hickenlooper in January 2018. As Commissioner, Conway serves as the chief executive of the DOI and oversees the regulation of Colorado’s insurance industry. His role brings together consumers, the insurance industry and other stakeholders to create an inclusive, firm and fair regulatory approach to all lines of insurance such as auto, health, homeowners, life, property and casualty, title and workers’ compensation.

Conway served as the DOI Deputy Commissioner for Consumer and Compliance Services since March 2016. He was instrumental in developing and guiding the DOI’s strategies regarding health insurance during what was a tumultuous time for that industry. He advised the previous Commissioner and the Governor’s staff regarding the possible implications of federal changes to the regulation of health insurance in Colorado. His duties also entailed appearing before state legislative committees to advocate for the DOI’s positions regarding insurance and its regulation. He cultivated relationships with consumer groups and insurance industry to create a regulatory environment that helped Colorado consumers but was a fair, level playing field for the industry. He also worked within the DOI to establish objectives that provided for better protection of insurance consumers.

From 2010 to 2016, Conway was an assistant Attorney General for the Colorado State Attorney General’s Office, where he represented the DOI in all facets of regulation of the insurance industry including mergers and acquisitions of insurance companies, insurer rehabilitation/liquidation, and producer and company licensure litigation. While in the Attorney General’s Office, he worked with the Colorado Attorney General Pro Bono Family Law Clinic, advising clients on matters of divorce and child custody. He also worked as an attorney for Colorado Legal Services, advocating for indigent clients regarding housing rights, homelessness prevention, evictions and subsidized housing.

With the exception of three years spent in Miami for law school, Conway has called Colorado home for nearly 20 years since moving to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder.

This event provides an excellent opportunity for public adjusters to explain what you see in the field to the top insurance regulator in Colorado, including on the aforementioned topic about unilateral deadlines for repair and replacement.

There are eight Rocky Mountain states that make up this association, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. If you are a public adjuster doing business in any of these states, this will be a great time to get CE credits, catch up on the most meaningful insights about your practice, and you will get a chance to speak with the top insurance regulator in Colorado.

Thought For The Day

Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the lowest pits of Nova Scotia, with the Rocky Mountains piled on me, I would hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I would come out on top.
—Joseph Smith, Jr.