Incoming FICP Chair Joe Scully (left), John Hancock Financial Services, and FICP Executive Director Steve Bova during a “talk show” at the closing general session.

The FICP Annual Conference is a can’t-miss event for anyone in the financial services or insurance event planning space. The 2016 conference took place in November with four days of education and networking in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nearly 700 people attended the record-breaking, sold-out event, which featured education from Delphi Group founder Tom Koulopoulos, U.S. Astronaut and retired Navy Captain Scott Kelly, as well as many industry leaders. Comedian Henry Cho served as emcee. Education sessions spanned risk management, the recent Department of Labor Fiduciary ruling, strategic thinking, global trends and much more.

Attendees found time to connect with one another during various networking events. The conference kicked off with an evening event at the new Music City Center in the heart of downtown Nashville. FICP’s marketplace-style session, The Network – Live followed the next morning, with hundreds of meetings between planners and hospitality partners from across North America and the globe. Attendees got a taste of real Nashville at the Wildhorse Saloon with line dancing lessons and traditional Music City fare. The final evening welcomed people back to the Omni Nashville Hotel with live music by Phil Vassar, former Journey lead singer Steve Augeri, and the nonstop party soundtrack by the Groove Merchants.

The 2016 FICP Annual Conference Event Team included Shelia Cleary, Chair, National Life Group; Kelli Livers, Forethought Financial Group; Lisa Ramsay, Protective Life Insurance; Carolee Weinstein, Omni Hotels & Resorts and Isabel Mahon, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts.

FICP’s five events each year provide opportunities for meetings and events professionals to learn and develop skills to leverage their positive impact and value in their companies and beyond. Learn more at www.ficpnet.com.

New Leadership Announced

Members of Financial & Insurance Conference Planners (FICP) announced the association’s leadership at the 2016 annual conference. By acclamation, Joe Scully, senior director, meeting and event management, John Hancock Financial Services, Boston, Massachusetts, was named the 2017 FICP Chair.

The board of directors appointed Marcia Merando, LLIF, FLMI, LUTCF, director of marketing, Frankenmuth Insurance, Frankenmuth, Michigan, as chair-elect. Merando will assume the FICP Chair role in 2018.

The board of directors appointed the following directors for three-year terms effective January 1, 2017:

• Erin Longo, CMP, director, conference and meeting services, Prudential, Newark, New Jersey
• Wayne Robinson, CMP, assistant vice president, FM Global, Johnston, Rhode Island
• Lynn Schwandt, CMP, senior event planner, Thrivent Financial, Appleton, Wisconsin

Also continuing on the board are:

• Caryn Taylor Lucia, vice president, Corporate Event Marketing, SEI, Oaks, Pennsylvania
• Michael Burke, CMP, director, conference and travel services, The Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester, Massachusetts
• Sherri Lindenberg, CLU, senior vice president, marketing, Crump, Roseland, New Jersey
• Katie Senkowski, CMP, manager, meetings and events, AIG Benefit Solutions, Neptune, New Jersey
• Executive Director Steve Bova, CAE, Financial & Insurance Conference Planners, Chicago, Illinois

Concluding their terms and departing the board at the end of 2016 are Shelia Cleary, AVP, recognition and conferences, National Life Group, Montpelier, Vermont; Karin Pontelandolfo, CMP, senior meeting planner, Liberty Mutual, Boston, Massachusetts; and Kathy Roche, director, meeting and conference planning, Western & Southern Financial Group, Cincinnati, Ohio.

To serve on the board of directors, one must be an FICP member in good standing for at least three consecutive years; be able to maintain their corporate and/or meeting planning responsibilities as well as their board responsibilities; have the full support of their company’s management; and have at least five years of work experience as a meetings and events professional.

Silent Auction Raises More Than $50K for Junior Achievement

Meetings professionals and hospitality partners at the 2016 Financial & Insurance Conference Planners (FICP) Annual Conference donated $51,616.59 to Junior Achievement Worldwide and Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee. Contributions were raised through the 15th Annual FICP Annual Conference Silent Auction.

Junior Achievement has been FICP’s philanthropic partner since 2012. This year, in keeping with FICP’s dedicated philanthropic efforts, proceeds of the Silent Auction benefited Junior Achievement Worldwide and Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee. The auction provides a way for conference attendees and members and hospitality partners not in attendance, to take an active role in making a difference in the communities that support their businesses by donating and bidding on items.

www.ficpnet.com, www.jaworldwide.org