The night before CIS’ Virtual Conference in February, the Willamette Valley experienced significant snowfall that prevented some staff from making it to the studio to participate live in the conference. Thankfully, CIS’ conference planner had pre-recorded some of the presentations, which made the annual conference move forward smoothly, despite the snow. More than 400 people attended, and based on the post-conference survey, nearly all appreciated the expert speakers and informative sessions. Each conference session is still available and can be viewed in the CIS Learning Center.
With the popularity of the virtual conference, it wasn’t surprising that the overall conference was rated 91% Excellent/Good. Many attendees took the time to comment about the conference.
You guys continually amaze me. While in-person you usually exceed expectations too, your virtual conferences are by FAR the best that I’ve experienced, and this one was no exception. Fast paced and packed with important/relevant/timely info. Can’t thank you enough!
Very well explained and the presenters were well prepared.
Glad that it was a virtual event for many reasons: because of the weather conditions, the expense of traveling, time away from the office and limiting group exposure to any type of virus going around. Participants get the information they need for budget purposes sooner.
Given the weather, first of all, everyone must be congratulated for making this go off without a hitch! The technology and the music were just right.
Perfect kind of event to announce rates! Appreciated the bullet point style way of taking about the categories of risk that affect rates.
Learned about the current pressures on rates and why they are increasing.
Virtual Conferences are challenging, and the CIS crew did an amazing job (as usual)!
I thought it was great and informative and everyone did great, considering the snow/changes in venue due to the weather.
Looking Back at 21 years of CIS Conferences
After the many complimentary comments received about CIS’ February virtual conference, they reflected on how this signature event has changed over time. CIS launched their first Annual Conference back in 2002. It began as the “Annual Meeting and CIS Risk Management Conference.” The purpose was to increase member involvement in CIS activities. It also served — and continues to serve — as the annual membership meeting as required by CIS’ governance policy.
Today, the conference highlights the coverages and plans available to members, provides updates on changes that affect our communities, and educates attendees about ways to avoid claims and control losses. Because risk management and pre-loss are core functions of our operations, they’re featured prominently. It’s about fostering good risk management practices that lead to reduced claims so CIS can keep rates stable. It’s important to help counties protect their financial health, so the CIS conference packs the most risk management education into a single event.
The event represents CIS’ mission, vision, and values in a single event.
MISSION: CIS provides property, casualty, and employee benefit solutions tailored to the needs of Oregon’s cities and counties.
VISION: Together, CIS helps Oregon’s cities and counties to be safer, stronger, and healthier.
VALUES: Financial strength, innovation, expertise, adaptability, collaboration, integrity, and diversity and inclusion.
CIS sat down with their Communications, Events, and Projects Manager Julie LaMarche, to learn more about how the conference has evolved since 2001. Besides managing and producing the conference, LaMarche manages CIS’ communications efforts, including reviewing, editing, and designing publications, announcements, and presentation materials.
Q: When did you become involved in the planning for the CIS Annual Conference?
A: When I started at CIS in 2005, the conference was coordinated by CIS’ Executive Assistant, who led an internal conference committee. Later in 2007, it was taken over by two CIS staff. When they left CIS — two months before our 2009 conference — I was asked to step in. I’ve organized the conference ever since.
Q: How has the conference evolved over time?
A: When I started 17 years ago, the conference was held at the Embassy Suites near Washington Square in Tigard. Similar to today, it was held in February, and we offered one complimentary registration and covered one-night hotel stay for every member.
The 1st Annual Meeting and CIS Risk Management Conference was held in 2002 at the Ramada Inn & Suites near the Portland Airport. Prior to 2002, the conference was like a road show. It was similar to our Fall Supervisor Training series, where our presenters traveled around the state and held sessions regionally.
In 2007, we introduced electronic survey evaluations. In 2010, we went green by discontinuing handing out large binders for each attendee, and instead provided them with electronic copies of the presentation materials.
In 2011, we celebrated our 30th Anniversary and 10th Annual Conference by introducing longevity awards of 20, 25, and 30-years for those Members who had continuous coverage with the CIS Property/Casualty Trust. Later in 2016, 35-year awards were created, and 40-year awards were added in 2021.
In 2012, we introduced a conference mobile app, and started recording select sessions so members and agents could watch sessions they missed. We also introduced a 4th track for law enforcement/public safety.
In 2016 we began live-streaming select sessions so members and agents could still receive pertinent information from the convenience of their desk.
In 2017 the law enforcement track split off and we created a new conference for public safety.
In 2020 we introduced the Shark-Tank session, awarding grants of $1,000, $2,500, and $5,000 for innovative safety-related programs.
In 2021, due to the pandemic, we held a three-day all virtual conference.
By 2022, we transitioned to a fully hybrid conference where members and agents had the flexibility of attending in person, virtually, or a combination of the two.
Q: How do you see our conference evolving after the pandemic?
A: I think there will be more demand for all events — conferences, trainings, workshops, meetings — to be hybrid.
I know people have missed meeting with each other in person because they appreciate the higher level of engagement. It’s been difficult to achieve when meeting virtually. Members have told us that they enjoy attending sessions, sharing meals, networking, and interacting with CIS employees.
Other Members have told us that they truly appreciate the flexibility of being virtual — while some of our smaller-county members have said they like signing in remotely because they don’t have the budget to travel, or they don’t have anyone to cover for them while they’re out of the office.
The pandemic has shown that we can offer both options.
Q: Where do you see our conference 5 to 10 years from now?
A: We’ll continue to seek member input and innovate. Just like in the past, we will find ways to improve the conference. One thing that I’m confident about is that we will give people the option to attend in-person or online. It’s really about how we can best serve our Members and Agents.
Q: What do you enjoy most about the conference?
A: It’s all about making the conference valuable, educational, and enjoyable for members, our partners, and agents. What I enjoy most is striving to make it better than the year before. I also really enjoy working with each CIS employee, as they are key in making the event successful. I know that attendees really enjoy interacting with them. Those personal connections make our conference almost like a family reunion.
Contributed by: Bill LaMarche | CIS Public and Member Relations Manager
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