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The theme of this year’s CIECA CONNEX conference is “Racing to the Future: The Digital Transformation of the Collision Industry.”

Presentations will focus on current and future trends and technologies that will affect how data standards are created in the future.

The in-person event is being held Sept. 14-16 in Charlotte, NC. In addition to a line-up of top industry speakers, there will be networking opportunities, a gifting ceremony by the National Auto Body Council® as part of its Recycled Rides program and a tour of Hendrick Motorsports.

All industry stakeholders, including CIECA members and non-members, are invited to attend the conference and tour.

Featured speakers and topics include:

Sean Carey, “Collision Industry Update”

Carey, president of SCG Management Consultants, has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. He has consulted with all sectors of the automotive claims industry and has a keen understanding of the needs of insurers, repairers, OEMs, technology providers and a wide range of industry supply chain vendors.

Fred E. Karlinsky, “Impact of Regulatory Matters”

Karlinsky, co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Insurance Regulatory and Transactions Practice Group, has nearly 30 years of experience representing the interests of insurers, reinsurers and other insurance-related entities on their regulatory, transactional, corporate and governmental affairs matters. He is a recognized authority on national insurance regulatory and compliance issues, including automotive.

Kyle Weber, “Blockchain Case Study”

In his current role, Weber is a product owner in the Blockchain Concept Domain for State Farm. He led the Net Settlements for Subrogation Blockchain solution implemented in December 2020 with USAA. The Blockchain solution allows insurers to net payments together and settle them in a single payment on an agreed upon cadence.

Rob Bingler, “5G’s Impact on Industry”

Bingler currently serves as an executive sales manager at Panasonic, where he is focused on mobility, audiovisual and security solutions within the insurance and financial industries. His in-depth industry insight and product knowledge enable him to excel within this role, and he is continually recognized as a top-performing team member. He has been with the company since 2005.

Chad Knaus

Knaus, NASCAR champion crew chief and current vice president of competition for Hendrick Motorsports, will touch on topics including advancements made in the racing industry, not only through engineering, but also through correlations in the production vehicle market. His appearance will be presented by conference sponsor Axalta.

Brandon Laur, “Information Privacy”

Laur has been with CCi for the last 11 years, holding close to every position within the company throughout its expansion. Most recently, he has been driving the company’s accelerated transformation by focusing on industry sustainability, digital adaptability and profitability improvements within the collision ecosystem by collaborating with CCi’s strategic customers. Prior to the conference, CIECA’s Annual Meeting of Members will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 14. The annual meeting is a great opportunity to learn about CIECA’s upcoming initiatives, meet other members, talk about standards development and network with all industry segments.

Source: CIECA

Allstate, AGA Ordered to Schedule Settlement Conference in Windshield Lawsuit

by Rebecca Barnabi, glassBYTEs�com

U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel C. Irick issued an order in Orlando District Court on Sept. 1 for the scheduling of a settlement conference in Allstate* vs. Auto Glass America and Charles Isaly.

Just a couple weeks earlier, both sides argued over inclusion of witness testimony, which a judge ordered admissible.

An Aug. 19 order allows testimony by Allstate witness Keith A. Beveridge, MBA, who will provide testimony as an auto glass expert. The order also permits testimony by Allstate witness Dr. James Langenfield and G. Hartley Mellish, who is retained by AGA to respond to testimony by Langenfield.

Per the judge’s order, the parties involved had until Sept. 3 to file a joint notice in which three dates are proposed which they find “mutually agreeable” for a settlement conference.

Allstate filed suit against AGA in December 2018 for AGA’s allegedly pressuring “Allstate’s insured customers into hiring AGA for windshield repairs and replacements,” according to court documents. The conflict the case focuses on is about the incidence of windshield repairs vs. replacements, and payments for the replacements.

A settlement conference can be called in order to settle a case before it proceeds to a trial or hearing. *Allstate means Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, and Allstate Property and Casualty (Allstate).

(C) 2021 by glassbytes.com. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. For more information contact www.glassbytes. com.

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