Enhance Your Credentials with a WIND Designation

Do you qualify for the WIND Designation Program?

Be among a distinct group of property and windstorm insurance claims professionals that make up the WIND Designation Program.

What is the WIND Designation Program?

The WIND Designation Program is not a certification class, but rather a distinct credential process for property and windstorm insurance claims professionals. Designees must meet high standards and are recognized for their experience, education, ethics, and engagement in the property insurance claims industry.

Why Become a WIND Designee?

The WIND Designation Program has been established to recognize industry individuals who demonstrate professionalism and technical knowledge in the field of property and windstorm insurance claims. Both designations recognize individuals who show a dedication to ongoing education in their respective concentrations.

NEW ONLINE DIRECTORY FORMAT COMING EARLY MAY 2017

Benefits of Becoming a WIND Designee:

• Receive a certificate of achievement
• Receive an electronic logo to use in your marketing and website
• Receive a custom lapel pin
• Receive recognition of you and your designation at annual WIND Conference
• Receive recognition with special name badge at annual WIND Conference
• Receive recognition in annual WIND Conference onsite magazine.
• Receive recognition on WIND Designation online directory
• Receive recognition as a leading industry professional

Application Fee

The application includes a one-time fee of $75 for WIND-P and $125 for WIND-F.

WIND Designation Application Guidelines

You may apply to be in the WIND Designation Program when you have met the following basic requirements:

Requirements – WIND Professional

• Five (5) years of insurance industry related experience – at least 50% of work related to insurance (i.e. legal, adjusting, contracting, appraisal etc.)
• Submit CV/Resume and 2 letters of reference from fellow insurance professionals
• Must maintain and be in good standing as a WIND Annual Member
• Attended and received continuing education credits from at least three WIND annual conferences
• Subscribe to WIND Professional Designation Code of Ethics

APPLY NOW FOR WIND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNEE  Note: You must first be an active WIND Member to access this application. Join/Renew WIND.

Requirements – WIND Fellow 

• Ten (10)  years of insurance experience – at least 50% of work related to insurance (i.e. legal, adjusting, contracting, appraisal etc.)
• Must maintain and be in good standing as a WIND Annual Member
• Attend and received continuing education credits from five WIND annual conferences
• Submit CV/Resume and 2 letters of reference from fellow insurance professionals
• Subscribe to WIND Designation Code of Ethics

Demonstrate higher level of education and participation by achieving 50 points from any combination of the following: (Each category can be used only once)

• Windstorm Insurance Conference presenter: 10 points
• Windstorm Committee member: 10 points
• Windstorm Insurance Network Board member: 10 points
• Bachelor Degree: 10 points
• Master Degree: 10 points
• Doctoral Degree: 10 points
• Letters of Reference (minimum 2 from industry professional): 5 points
• Insurance Industry experience: minimum 10 years 5 points
• Industry accreditation/designation:  10 points (i.e.: CLU, ASC, AIC, CLA, SCLA, CPCU, CIC and any other approved industry accreditation)

APPLY NOW FOR WIND FELLOW DESIGNEE  Note: You must first be an active WIND Member to access this application. Join/Renew WIND.

Application Process


After completing the online application and payment, submit verification of WIND Designation application requirements as well as letters of recommendation to info@windnetwork.com or mail to WIND, Attn: WIND Designation Program, 2929 Langley Avenue, Ste. 203, Pensacola, FL 32504.

Questions on becoming a WIND Designation Professional?

We’re here to help! Contact us at 850.473.0601 or info@windnetwork.com

Congrats to the 2017 WIND Board of Directors

The 2017 WIND Board of Directors was recently elected at the 18th Annual Windstorm Insurance Conference in Orlando.

The duties of the WIND board are to govern and assess our association’s goals and make strategic plans for growth and development. As ambassadors of WIND, the board also promotes the association at industry events, and is involved in membership recruitment and long-range planning.

This year’s board is a diverse group of professionals from all facets of the property/windstorm insurance claims industry.

The WIND officers include President, Susan B, Harwood, Boehm Brown Harwood, P.A.; First Vice President, Michael Ruskin, Disaster Pro Consulting, Inc.; Second Vice President Rick Tutwiler, Tutwiler and Associates Public Adjusters; Secretary Ken Gilvary, Haag Engineering; and Treasurer, David Cowheard, Cowheard, Singer and Company, P.A.

The WIND directors include Christina May Bolin, Alford Bolin, LLC; John Carroll, Twenty First Century Engineering; ; Mary Fortson, Merlin Law Group; Ken Gilvary, Haag Engineering; Pete Kappas, Onsite Claims Service Inc.; Gina Clausen Lozier, Berger Singerman, LLP; Dan Luby, Precision Advisors, LLC; David Neuhaus, Insurance Claims Unlimited, Inc.; Melissa Sims, Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC; Wayne Taylor, Mozley, Finlayson & Loggins, LLP; Jay Voelpel, CJW & Associates, Inc.; Brent Winans, Clear Advantage Risk Management.

The WIND board is here for you! Please contact them directly with any questions or concerns. They look forward to meeting you soon!

Andy Rock Honored with 8th Annual WIND Presidential Recognition Award

Congratulations to attorney Andy Rock of Rock Law Group as the recipient of the 8th Annual WIND Presidential Recognition Award.

The award was established to recognize annually a member who has contributed significant knowledge, service and leadership to better the Windstorm Insurance Network (WIND).

WIND 2016 President Curtis Hutchens presented the award at the Jan. 31 opening general session at the 18th Annual Windstorm Insurance Conference at the Renaissance Orlando Seaworld.

Andy has been active in WIND for many years, and has severed various committees and as a faculty presenter for numerous WIND Conferences.

Congrats, Andy, we are so happy for your award!

WIND 2017 Welcomed More than 1,000+ Attendees

On behalf of the WIND Board of Directors and the WIND 2017 Conference Committee, we’d like to thank the 1,000+ attendees who convened last week at the Renaissance Seaworld in Orlando, Florida for the 18th Annual Windstorm Insurance Conference.

From the kickoff Sunset Celebration networking reception, the frigid (for Orlando) WIND Golf Tournament at Walt Disney World, to the moving opening general session by former Air Force One Pilot Col. Mark Tillman, countless educational breakout sessions, and to the final night’s Roaring 20s Gatsby Casino and Game Night, the conference offered property insurance claims professionals numerous ways to connect, learn, and engage on important industry topics.

Save the date for next year’s conference, set for January 14 – 19, 2018 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. Stay tuned for conference pictures, coming soon.

For more information on WIND 2018, please contact us at conference@windnetwork.com

9 Reasons to Attend the Windstorm Insurance Conference

Connect. Learn. Engage.

This has long been the tagline for the annual Windstorm Insurance Conference. But it’s more than a slogan, it’s an actual experience at the 18th Annual Windstorm Insurance Conference set for Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 2017 at the Renaissance Seaworld in Orlando, Florida.

Here, you’ll meet and mingle with top industry professionals and influencers to engage and discuss current trends, hot topics, and recent developments in windstorm and property insurance claims.

And, you can typically knock out a year’s worth of your CE credits during this three-day event.

The annual WIND Conference is more than the average, status quo insurance industry event.

Nowhere else can you actually learn and engage with representatives from both sides of the industry. That’s what many of our attendees say makes our event so unique, and a huge learning opportunity for them.

Here are the 9 reasons to attend the annual Windstorm Insurance Conference:

1. Pay affordable registration fees.

We’re one of the most “bang-for-your-buck” industry conferences. Your conference registration fee includes attendance at all general sessions, attendance at CE workshop breakout sessions, numerous continuing education credits for multiple states and disciplines, three days of group food and beverage functions: breakfasts, breaks, lunches, and four cocktail evening receptions.

2. Increase your industry knowledge.

Learn from more than 25 sessions on hot topic issues. NFIP Adjuster Certification, WIND Appraiser/Umpire Certifications®, and claims software training.

Learn about industry hot topics: Assignment of Benefits, Appraisal, Carrier Adjuster Issues, Complex Residential CAT Losses from Inception to Trial, Cyber Security, Drones, Use of Technology in Claims Handling/Customer Service and CAT, and much, much more.

Professional development will also be the focus with the WIND 2017 keynote speaker, Col. Mark Tillman.

Tillman, who served as the Commander of Air Force One (2001-2009) and was the Air Force One Pilot on September 11, 2001, was the first to fly the President into a War Zone on the Zero Fail Mission to Iraq.

He’ll be presenting, Zero Fail Mission, which can be applied in both business and everyday life, and details planning, measurable expectations, and personal responsibility principles for insurance professionals.

3. Network with 1,000+ industry professionals and influencers.

Attendees come from all over the nation (and sometimes overseas) to attend the annual WIND Conference. Representatives from more than 35 states and international attendees make up the conference demographics. We’ve even had attendees travel from Singapore!

4. Meet a diverse group of property insurance claims professionals.

WIND attendees represent all facets of the property insurance claims industry.

You will find anyone from senior management to the independent adjuster, company adjuster, policyholder representatives, in addition to attorneys, engineers, underwriters, restoration professionals, contractors, as well as other related professions who attend to obtain information about industry trends and earn continuing education credits.

5. Earn a year’s worth of CE credits in just three days.

Florida adjuster and agent credits have just been approved, and additional states and organizations are coming soon.

The annual WIND Conference is a leading provider of CE credits for adjuster credits, bar associations, and professional organizations for property insurance claims professionals.

In 2016, we offered adjuster credits for 10 states, CLEs for seven state bar associations, and professional CE credits for seven industry associations.

6. Enjoy four nightly networking receptions, including our Roaring 1920s theme party.

This is where deals are made! The WIND conference evening receptions offer food and drinks, plus lots of networking. Don’t miss the final night’s event, the WIND Roaring 20s Speakeasy/Casino and Game Night party.

Calling all Great Gatsby guys and 1920s flapper ladies. Don your best Art Deco-era costumes (beads, feather boas, headbands, flapper dresses for the ladies; bow ties, vests, fedoras for the guys) for this fun and festive night in the WIND “Speakeasy.”

Heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks (no prohibition here!), games, and casino tables will be set up to test your skill and luck. And of course, lots of great prizes will be awarded to our lucky attendees. This is one party you don’t want to miss!

7. Access the latest industry products and services from our WIND Partner Exhibitor/Sponsor companies.

Find the products that best fit your company’s needs when you visit the WIND HUB. You’ll learn from the industry’s leading providers of good and services for property adjusters and insurance claims professionals.

Claims software training, engineering, law, construction, and housing service providers on hand to educate attendees. In addition our exhibitor/sponsor partner companies provide the opportunity to win major prizes in our WIND Partner Raffle. Many of our attendees walk away with valuable prizes, just for visiting our WIND HUB.

8. Golf at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Resort.

The annual WIND Golf Tournament will be held at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, rated by Audubon International as a Cooperative Wildlife Sanctuary and rated four stars by Golf Digest,

It’s the longest of the Walt Disney Resort golf courses and features elevated tees, spacious greens and challenging water hazards.

WIND Golf tournament players will enjoy 18 holes of golf, range balls, continental breakfast, post-tournament cookout, contests, prizes, and transportation to and from the course.

9. Get some R&R before or after the conference.

Don’t forget to leave some fun and relaxation time for your stay. We’ve arranged for discounted Orlando attraction tickets, and the conference hotel is located steps to SeaWorld. Many of our attendees come early or stay after, and bring their families to enjoy warm, sunny Florida and world-famous Orlando attractions.

Connect. Learn. Engage at WIND 2017.

Be sure to take advantage of early discounts and register today. The deadline for early registration is January 15, 2017. And be sure to book your conference hotel block soon, rooms are going fast and often sell out. We look forward to seeing you at WIND 2017!

Why You Need to Join Us in Orlando this January

Here are even more testimonials on how our attendees have closed important deals, landed new clients, received important certifications, and learned new perspectives on important industry issues.

All obtained in just three days at the annual WIND Conference.

What Hurricane Floyd and WIND Have in Common and How Property Insurance Claims Professionals Can Benefit

The Windstorm Insurance Network, Inc. (WIND) was officially incorporated the same day Hurricane Floyd hit the North Carolina coast: September 16, 1999.

It was a fitting start date for an educational association created for property and windstorm insurance claims industry professionals.

Although many hurricanes have blown since 1999, one thing has remained constant:

WIND is the only member association to bring together both defense and policyholder professionals together to connect, engage, and learn about important topics in the property/windstorm insurance claims industry.

“The idea for WIND was born out of a casual conversation with our firm’s managing partner, Rick Boehm,” says Janet L. Brown, partner of Boehm Brown Harwood, P.A, an Orlando-based insurance defense firm.

“Rick was curious as to why we were constantly sending our attorneys out of state for conferences on property issues and catastrophic losses. He inquired why we didn’t have something similar in Florida,” recalls Janet.

“Finally, he asked me to explore the idea for an association focused on training and educating property insurance claims professionals. The goal was to be balanced with participation from both the insurance industry and policyholder sides,” says Janet.

WIND’s targeted group included professionals involved in adjusting, sales, marketing, and underwriting of property/windstorm insurance coverage, as well other related professions involved with property/windstorm insurance claims issues.

As the concept of WIND emerged, an idea developed to organize an educational conference to review and discuss property/windstorm insurance industry topics.

Realizing the undertaking would require time, money, and more importantly, instant recognition, Janet Brown approached her contacts at the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association (FWUA).

“We decided a co-sponsor was needed to quickly launch the WIND idea in the insurance industry. Even if FWUA could only lend us their name, we felt we would instantly have clout,” says Janet.

After many meetings in the summer of 1999 with FWUA upper management’s Rebecca Fussell, Bill Schmitz, Bob Tice, and Dave Hisey, the WIND conference was approved.

With FWUA’s “named backing,” the Boehm Brown firm lent both its time and finances to plan and bankroll WIND in its first six months. “Once FWUA was on board, we had very little time to plan and promote the conference,” recalls Janet.

The short lead time didn’t deter the group; in just 90 days, Janet and her committee emerged with a full conference agenda.

The inaugural Windstorm Insurance Conference was held on February 16 – 18, 2000 at the Renaissance Airport Hotel in Orlando and was co-sponsored by FWUA.

Nearly 400 insurance professionals attended the three-day conference offering a lineup of keynote speakers, professional development workshops, continuing education credits, evening receptions, a vendor trade show, and a golf tournament.

It was evident that Boehm Brown’s idea had struck a chord in the industry. The registration numbers demonstrated a need to address property/windstorm insurance claims issues from various industry perspectives.

In February 2000, the WIND’s inaugural board of directors was selected from leaders from the insurer, accounting, adjusting, agency, engineering, legal, reinsurance, residual market, government, and scientific communities.

In addition, the inaugural membership grew to 200 industry professionals from across Florida and neighboring southeastern states.

Encore, Encore!

In 2001, attendance at the WIND conference nearly doubled, with more than 650 professionals convening for the three-day event. Famed hurricane researcher Dr. Bill Gray kicked off the conference as keynote speaker.

Attendance and recognition continued to grow, and by its 10-year anniversary, the WIND annual conference drew a record crowd of 1,500 attendees from 35 states and Canada.

In 2016, more than 1,000+ attendees convened in Orlando for the three-day event.

Expanding Offerings

In 2003, Janet recognized the need for a compilation of umpires in property insurance appraisal matters.

Soon after, the first annual WIND Umpire Directory was introduced to the property/windstorm insurance claims industry, followed by the inaugural WIND Certified Umpire class at the 2004 WIND Conference.

The WIND Certified Umpire Class is mandatory for WIND Certified Umpires, and it has been attended by hundreds of professionals since its first class in 2003. A WIND Umpire Recertification class was rolled out in 2007, and in 2012, the WIND Certified Appraiser was added to the line-up of WIND Certifications.

In 2009 – 2014, WIND Regional Symposiums were hosted throughout the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast States.

The first WIND Regional Conference in Houston was planned in just less than 90 days, and it was a sold out success. The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore served as the keynote speaker.

In 2014, WIND introduced the WIND Professional Designation Program, a two-tier credential process for property/windstorm insurance claims professionals.

The program recognizes industry individuals who demonstrate professionalism and technical knowledge in the field of property and windstorm insurance claims.

The Windstorm Insurance Network Professional (WIND-P) and Windstorm Insurance Network Fellow (WIND-F) designations recognize individuals who show a dedication to ongoing education in their respective professional concentrations.

Looking to the Future

Today, WIND proudly boasts a sizeable membership from across the nation and an impressive group of officers, board members, and past presidents.

The annual Windstorm Insurance Conference attracts 1,000+ attendees on average from across the United States, Canada, and Great Britain for three days of professional development and networking opportunities.

As WIND is soon to celebrate its 20^th anniversary, long-range planning goals have been put in place to ensure that WIND continues as the premier educational association for property/windstorm insurance claims professionals representing both the insurance industry and policyholders.

For More Information

Connect. Learn. Engage with WIND. Visit us at windnetwork.com and learn more about our membership, credential programs and annual conference.

WIND 2017 conference registration opens in soon. Visit events.windnetwork.com to learn more.

Questions? We can be reached at info@windnetwork.com or 850.473.0601. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

Countdown to WIND 2017 in Orlando

We’ve saved you a seat!

Be among a dynamic group of property/windstorm insurance claims professionals at the 18th annual Windstorm Insurance Conference on January 29 – February 2, 2017 at the Renaissance Orlando SeaWorld.

Here, you’ll meet and mingle with top industry professionals and influencers to engage, and discuss current trends, hot topics and recent developments in windstorm/property insurance claims.

And, you can typically knock out a year’s worth of your CE credits during the three-day event.

The annual WIND Conference is more than the average, status quo insurance industry event. No where else can you actually learn and engage with representatives from both sides of the industry. That’s what many of our attendees say makes our event so unique, and a huge learning opportunity for them.

WIND 2017 is a jam-packed three days of professional development, continuing education, and lots of networking events. Plus, it’s one of the best “bang for your buck” events for property/windstorm insurance claims professionals.

The WIND Golf Tournament will kick off the conference on Monday, January 30 at the Walt Disney World Magnolia Golf Course.

Our WIND 2017 Partner Companies will be showcasing their products and services in our WIND Expo Hall and during conference events.

The annual WIND Conference is not only a draw for warm and sunny Florida winter weather, but also our conference hotel is located just steps away from Seaworld, and a few miles from Orlando’s main attractions.

Editors’ Note: Conference and golf tournament registration will open in early Fall 2016, typically sometime in September.

More updates are coming soon, but for additional conference information, please contact the WIND Meeting Planner, Meeting Management Group at 813.988.0737 or email meetingplanner@windnework.com.

We’re here to help and look forward to seeing you at WIND 2017!

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