The judging of the ICTA nominations to determine winners has been refined for the 2012 awards. This year it will be a three-step process, involving a panel of peer judges from the award categories and judges who focus on the use of technology in insurance.
- During the latter part of November, the panel of judges will review the nominations and select up to nine finalists across the three categories - insurer, distributor and supplier. These organizations will be informed that they have been selected as finalists.
- During December and into early January, Canadian Insurance Top Broker magazine will interview each finalist. A description of each will then be published in the February issue of CI Top Broker, which will also be distributed at the conference.
- During January and early February, the judging panel will review the nominations for the finalists and make their selection of one deserving winner in each category. The ICTA winners' plaques and certificates will then be prepared in time for the conference.
Judges
The judges are to be commended for their insight and diligence. As senior industry people, they volunteered their services. They brought with them a strong mix of Canadian insurance leadership, a keen awareness of the value of technology in support of the P&C business, experience in running and judging technology award programs and an analytical understanding of the role and value of technology.
Many thanks to the seven 2012 ICTA judges:
- Mark Breading has over 25 years of insurance and information technology experience in a variety of leadership roles. He leads the research program at SMA and has exceptional knowledge and experience across the insurance value chain. Mark has held both technical and business roles in sales, consulting, marketing and business strategy.
- Jim McGregor is the President and Owner of Precept Insurance & Risk Management, which has a long history of excellence in providing customers with outstanding insurance product and service, based on deploying technology where it can best help Precept's people serve their customers. Jim and Precept have been diligent in pursuing continual improvements.
- Greg Maciag is president & CEO of ACORD, the nonprofit industry organization created in 1970 to provide data standards to support the exchange of insurance information among trading partners. He is the author of two books, The Real-Time World and The Business Information Revolution. His blog is at www.acordceo.org.
- Rick Orr is co-owner of Orr Insurance Brokers in Stratford, President of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario, a member of the IBAC Technology committee and a board member of CSIO. Rick believes the future of the independent insurance broker channel is dependant on improved technology, both to interact with companies and with consumers.
- Colin Smith brings well-rounded perspective to the business of technology in the insurance industry. During his career he has held the positions of CEO, COO, and CIO at several insurance related corporations, integrating and managing businesses that served the industry. Most recently, Colin held the senior strategic business/technology leadership position of CIO at The Economical Insurance Group.
- Catherine Smola, president of CSIO, is responsible for advancing CSIO’s central mandate of seeking ways to provide a competitive advantage for the Independent Broker Distribution Channel in Canada. Catherine held a variety of regional and national roles at Intact since 1997, culminating with her appointment in 2006 as President of Grey Power Insurance Brokers.
- Craig Weber was appointed CEO of Celent in January 2012, previously serving as Senior Vice President responsible for Celent's global insurance practice. Mr. Weber has been a management consultant and analyst for over 22 years, mostly various positions within the insurance industry. He has advised dozens of insurers and vendors on IT and business strategies.
Most if not all of the judges will be present at the ICTConference where they can be recognized - we hope you will take the opportunity to welcome them.
Presentation of the ICTAs
The ICTA winners will be announced and the awards presented at a ceremony during the Insurance Canada Technology Conference luncheon on Monday, March 5 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto. Join us.
