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Good Vibrations
Billy Kenoi, the youthful mayor of the Big Island, decked out in flipflops and shorts, was part of a giant aloha hug that launched the Financial & Insurance Conference Planners’ 2014 Annual Conference. Kenoi explained that “aloha” is much more than a greeting, that it’s a way of life on the islands, an energy to tap into. And FICP’s energetic kickoff—which included Kenoi, traditional dancers, and a contemporary ukulele performance—launched a conference that is likely to be long remembered for its engaging speakers, excellent education, and delightful networking nights.
A Return to Hilton
It had been 30 years since Hilton hosted an FICP annual meeting, and Larry Luteran, senior vice president of group sales and industry relations for Hilton Worldwide, was on hand to welcome FICP to the Hilton Waikoloa Village. He called his colleague Francine Cobb, who has worked with customers in the insurance and financial services industries since the 1980s, “a model for specializing in a sector.”
Funny Guy
FICP’s quick-witted emcee Jim Cunningham had some fun on stage with Elizabeth Sjobeck, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America.
FICP Cool
First-timer Michael Lifson, CMP, CMM, Liberty Mutual (left), and Jeff Kiley, Renaissance Las Vegas, show off their Maui Jims. The sunglasses company was on site demonstrating its custom gift-giving approach.
Supporting J.A.
Junior Achievement International continues to be the grateful recipient of FICP’s charitable donations. A check for $48,243, raised through the conference silent auction and other donations, was presented to Kimberly Canepa, president of Junior Achievement of Hawaii (left), by Clarence Day, CMP, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; 2014 FICP Chair Jana Stern, Voya Financial; and 2014 Conference Chair Kelli Livers, CMP, CTE, Global Atlantic Financial Group Ltd. (right) J.A. Hawaii will divide the donation with the national organization. Both groups’ work to educate elementary and high school students about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy.
"Coasting Only Works Downhill"
The three conference keynoters shared an underlying message for the FICP crowd: Get comfortable being uncomfortable because it’s essential for growing as a person and being part of a team. Virtuoso guitarist and humorist Mike Rayburn had the audience in stitches with his musical mashups ("Green Acres" as performed by Bruce Springsteen?) and the songs tied back to his personal philosophy. He urged the audience to approach obstacles with the question “what if?” rather than taking a more conventional path. “Write music that you can’t play,” he said, challenging the audience to set goals that take courage even to think about.
"You Lose Sight, You Lose the Fight"
Keynoter Carey Lohrenz will never be accused of taking the easy way out. She was the first female F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy and shared her remarkable and uncomfortable journey into the cockpit. One takeaway from her talk: statistics about people who say they have learned important lessons from failures. Lohrenz quoted a study in which 95 percent of high-net-worth individuals agreed with the statement “failure has taught me what I’m good at.” Only 18 percent of low-net-worth people agreed.
The Power of Sharing
Robert X. Fogarty was both keynoter and the catalyst for an amazing FICP networking experience. Fogerty is a photographer who began a series of portraits in New Orleans after the Katrina disaster. He asks his subjects to write a message on themselves in bold black ink. “I take people’s portraits, but they are not just any portraits,” said Fogerty. “I ask people to share one message about someone or something that matters to them.” On the opening day of the Annual Conference, Fogerty talked about taking portraits of Boston Marathon bombing survivors, Syrian refugees, and the Duke University basketball team. Later that night, he set up his makeshift studio on the grounds of the Fairmont Orchid, which hosted FICP’s white-attire party, to take attendees’ message portraits. As attendees waited for their turns, and wrote on one another, many experienced the power of sharing the stories behind their messages.
Message Portraits
FICP’s executive director Steve Bova sent out a message to his team through his portrait by Robert Fogarty.
Cleary Steps Up
FICP Chair Jana Stern of ING turned over the gavel to Shelia Cleary, National Life Group. Stern will remain on the board next year and serve as conference chair for the 2015 Annual Conference at Atlantis. Joe Scully, John Hancock Financial Services, has been named as a new member of the FICP Board, and Caryn Taylor-Lucia, CMP, SEI, is the 2015 chair elect.
Final Day
Clarence Day, CMP, chair of the Hospitality Partner Advisory Council and director of insurance sales and national accounts at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, said an emotional thank you for his experience with the association and his time leading the Council. He passed the 2015 HP chairmanship to Kevin Regan, corporate and incentives sales director for Silversea Cruises, and announced Cosimo Bruzzese, Briggs Inc., as the newest Council member.
San Diego 2017
Tamara McDougal, senior sales manager for the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, was proud to introduce her 1,628-room property, which has been selected as the site for the 2017 FICP Annual Conference. The hotel will host the group November 12–15, 2017, following conferences at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, November 15–18, 2015, and Omni Nashville Hotel, November 9–12, 2016.
The Network!
Siiri Lobe, San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter and Riverwalk, and Jack Kolb, American Family Insurance, during The Network, FICP’s business exchange.
Making Connections
Francine Cobb (center), Hilton Worldwide, was thrilled to be hosting FICP’s Annual Conference. With Cobb are Barbara Orvis, Voya Financial (left), and Courtney Schwitzer, Transamerica Life Insurance Co.
Atlantis 2015
Next year’s FICP Annual Conference hosts get big points for enthusiasm! The team from Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, includes (from left) John Washko, Glenroy Pratt, and Tom Foley. The meeting is November 15–18, 2015.
The Gang's All Here
A picture perfect sunset with (from left) Josh DeSilva, DMCP, DeSilva Meeting Consultants; Todd Zint, CMP, CMM, NFP; Russ Kembel, Hilton Waikoloa Village; Matt Cuevas, Cappa & Graham; Cosimo Bruzzese, Briggs Inc.
Aloha!
Past president of FICP Michael Burke, CMP, is greeted at the Fairmont Orchid’s elegant lawn party.
The Old Guard
Enjoying the party at the Fairmont Orchid: (from left) Lance Wieland, CMP, CMM, Sun Life Financial; Bill Hopkins, Bill Hopkins Rock’n Orchestra; Rich Granger, Sun Life Financial; Lynn Averill, Premier Financial Alliance Inc.; and Mary Ellen Granger
Standing Room Only
Michael Dominguez, CHSE, senior vice president, corporate hotel sales, MGM Resorts, drew a packed crowd when he led an eye-opening session on the state of the hotel industry.
Effective Doodling
During each educational session, an artist from Collective Next created a visual story of the key content points.
Strategic Case Study
MetLife’s Karen Springfield led an FICP session on how her department has kept up with increasing demand for its services—without adding headcount!
Old Friends and New
FICP Board member Jeff Leggett (left) with Padraic Gilligan, Ovation Global DMC
What a Night!
The FICP final night dance party ended with a bang!
