2004 MSU Insurance Day to examine 21st century threats

Contact: Sammy McDavid

"A New Dawn: Opportunities and Challenges" is the theme for the 17th annual Mississippi Insurance Day at Mississippi State University.

Sponsored by the College of Business and Industry and its Peter K. Lutken Chair of Insurance, the April 21 event includes a series of continuing education sessions led by professionals and others involved in the insurance industry. Company attorneys, claims adjusters and agents--as well as fire investigators, legislators, municipal and county managers, and law enforcement officials--are among traditional participants.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner George Dale, along with Lawrence H. Mirel and Gregory V. Serio, his respective counterparts in the District of Columbia and New York state, will discuss current insurance climates in their areas during the 8 a.m. opening ceremony in the Wise Center. Other programs of the day also will take place at the west-campus center.

The commissioners will be followed at 9:15 by two concurrent sessions, including:

--"Is the Industry Prepared for Challenges of the 21st Century: Globalization, Terrorism and Natural Catastrophes?" led by William E. Bailey of Boston, Mass., special counsel to the Insurance Information Institute and host of the radio talk show "It's Your Money"; and

--"Trends in Financial Services," a panel discussion with financial and insurance planners E.T. "Ernie" George of Starkville, Rob Rice of Tupelo and Scot Thigpen of Jackson.

Other concurrent sessions on a variety of related topics follow from late morning to mid afternoon. Among them will be a 1:30 p.m. update of the current Mississippi legislative session by Sid Salter, syndicated columnist and Clarion-Ledger "Perspective" editor.

Sylvester Croom, MSU's new head football coach, will address participants during a post-luncheon program to begin at 12:45 p.m.

The complete schedule may be viewed at http://www.cbi.msstate.edu/iday. For additional information, telephone Ed Duett or Tammi K. Riddle at (662) 325-2341.