NeSLA Logowsletter
 

October 2015

In This Issue

 

2015 Board Members
  
Chris Nichols - President
PLS Claims
770-381-8855

Lawson Thompson - 
Vice President
Frontier Adjusters
770-951-0044

Gwendy Schulte - Treasurer
OneBeacon Insurance
781-332-8688
  
Robbie Maples - Secretary
Cunningham Lindsey
770-828-0098
  
Marilyn Roberts - Asst. Secretary/Treasurer
ACE North American Claims
678-795-4293
  
Executive Board
  
Dominic Thurston - Past President
FM Global
770-777-3641
  
Griffin Rogers
Crawford & Company
404-300-1262
  
Randall Campbell
Camco Claims
866-421-2219
  
Kristin Miller
AmWINS Brokerage of GA
404-920-3758
  
John Southall - Historian
770-331-8572
  
Howard Zandman - 
Financial Advisor
Habif, Arogeti & Wynne
404-813-4915  
Quick Links
  
    

 Schedule of Events

  

10/15/15 - Fall Golf Outing

 

10/15/15 - Scholarship Applications Due

President's Message
 
 
Greetings everyone,
 
Thanks to Andy Jesup of Southeast Studios, Inc for sponsoring our August luncheon and for his presentation on Codes and the Services of Design Professionals in Damage Repair, Renovation and Construction.  If anyone has questions or would like more information, Mr. Jessup can be contacted at pajessup@SoutheastStudiosInc.com.
 
As most of you know, next month in lieu of our monthly luncheon it is time once again for the Southern Loss Association's semi-annual Golf and Tennis Tournament.  This is always a favorite event, and registration for the golf tournament has already filled up - if you missed the registration window for this tournament please be sure to register early for our spring tournament!!
 
We do have some openings left for the tennis portion of our tournament, as well as dinner that evening.  For the non-golfers, this is an enjoyable time and makes for some great networking, especially at the dinner afterwards.  Karen Grizzard can answer any questions you may have about the tennis tournament and registration for this portion of our event - she can be reached at cag@bellsouth.net.
 
We have only a few open golf sponsorships available.  If you are interested in one of these please contact Susan Freeman with Haag Engineering at ( sfreeman@haagglobal.com ).
 
Please remember that the applications for scholarships are due by October 15, 2015! 
 
As we begin the final quarter of 2015, I continue to invite your feedback on how we may better serve you, our members.  I appreciate all of your ongoing support and membership.  I look forward to seeing most of you at Chateau Elan next month. 
   
Chris Nichols
President - 2015
  
Welcome to New Members
 
We'd like to congratulate all of the new members to our organization:
 
Full Membership:                                                
 
Brian Schuknecht - Cunningham Lindsey
Natalie Haar - Crawford & Company
 
Associate Membership:  

John Harter - Forensic Advisory Services
Dennis  Muron  -  PT&C/LWG
Ashley McNeil - ProNet Group, Inc.
 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
  
The Southern Loss Association is now accepting applications for scholarship awards to be awarded at the Christmas luncheon.  Do you know a qualified student? Please print this newsletter or follow the link to our website to print the application. 
  
 
2015 Southern Loss Association Scholarship Application

This application is for a scholarship awarded by the Southern Loss Association. To be eligible for this  Scholarship, the applicant must:
 
A) Must produce evidence of enrollment as a full time student at a post-secondary  institution accredited by accrediting agencies or state approval agencies recognized by the U.S.  Secretary of Education for the school semesters of Spring 2015, Fall 2015, and/or Spring 2016;  Include evidence of current GPA and Classification (i.e. Freshman, Sophomore...) 

AND either "B" or "C"
 
B) Be the child, grandchild, great-grandchild or a legally adopted child of a current dues paid member of the Southern Loss Association,

OR
 
C) Include a written letter of recommendation from a current dues paid full or associate member of the Southern Loss Association.
 
Please send a completed application to the following address:

Southern Loss Association Scholarship Applications
PO Box 421564
Atlanta, GA 30342
 
All scholarship applications must be post marked by October 15, 2015.

II. Personal & Education Information: (Please print)

Last Name First Name MI
 
Address City State Zip
 
Home Phone, Alternative Phone, and Primary Email Address
 
 
Southern Loss Association Member Sponsor Name & Contact Telephone
 
High School Attended Postsecondary Institution (College / University) GPA
 

III. Extracurricular: Activity Role & Responsibilities (Attach a separate sheet, if necessary)

1.
2.
3.

IV. Plans and Dreams for the Future: (Attach a separate sheet)
 
V. Essay Question:
What person or persons in your life have made a difference in your character development and why?
Please attach your typed essay. The essay should be no more than 250-300 words in length.
 
Applicant Signature


 
SLA Member Signature
 


              The 2015 Fall Golf and Tennis Outing
             

The 2015 Southern Loss Association Fall Golf and Tennis Outing will be held at Chateau Elan Golf Club on Thursday, October 15, 2015.

 

Registration begins at 10:00 a.m.  Golf begins at 11:30 AM - Tennis begins at 1:00 PM - Dinner at 6:00 PM

 

Fees are as follows:

         Golf & Dinner                $110.25           

Tennis & Dinner              $68.25

Dinner (per person)          $36.75

 

Register now!

 

 

  
Are They Really Employees?
 
By D.M. Studler, SDC CPAs LLC
  
The word outsourcing generates heated debates at parties and business meetings alike. According to StatisticBrain.com, in 2013, the U.S. outsourced 2.6 million jobs in areas of manufacturing, IT services, research & development, distribution, and call or help centers. While saving money is the number one outsourcing reason, others include freeing up internal resources, improving business focus, accelerating projects, and gaining access to expertise unavailable internally.
 
Advances in technology are affecting every aspect of the operations and organizations of business. Advances in technology are providing an opportunity for businesses to consider outsourcing more duties and responsibilities to third parties and in many cases to third parties in other countries, such as India, Indonesia and China. The technological advances have allowed companies to consider outsourcing legal and IT services, controller and CFO duties, finance and treasury, payroll, human resources, and building management and maintenance, along with many other roles and responsibilities.
 
While sending jobs overseas is what typically comes to mind with outsourcing, a local definition exists as well - contract workers. Companies may hire temporary employees to fill gaps during the ebb and flow of starting a company or gain expertise not available within the company.
 
A Changing World
 
Good or bad, outsourcing is not only here to stay but may be increasing. Social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn offers new outlets for business generation. Relationships that once took coffee meetings, lunches, and time are now just a click away. In addition, a new generation, Digital Natives ("Gen Z") is headed to the 2020 workforce. Having grown up on social media and rapidly changing technology, Gen Z will be more adept at contracting, working from home, or the local coffee shop. By 2020, outsourcing may be the employment model.
 
With such an expected evolution in employment, adaptation is a must. While outsourcing may save costs of a direct hire, companies will have the costs of checking temporary workers' backgrounds, reviewing the work product, and fixing or fighting the repercussions of inadequate results, not to mention dealing with any dishonest or criminal activity.
 
  An Expanding Definition
 
To keep up and be relevant to business needs, employee dishonesty and employee theft (fidelity) policies are expanding and changing to meet the needs of the growing concerns of companies outsourcing responsibilities and assets to third parties. Many carriers are offering multiple changes in their policies to address outsourcing. The definition of employee is expanding to include designated agents and management companies, parties with whom there is a written contract to provide agreed-upon services, vendors and payroll processors.
More companies are demanding their service providers and vendors provide proof of a crime policy that if the vendor's or service provider's employees steal the company's property or monies, the vendor's policy will address the loss. The carriers are providing policies that include the client's monies, securities and property as an interest covered by the service provider's policy. The monies, securities and other property is addressed, even if the client's property is not even held by the insured or at an insured's premises.
The policies continue to evolve to try to keep up with the ever-changing situations, especially with the increasing outsourcing and declining ranks of the traditional employee. The standard ISO form does not address independent contractors and authorized representatives per se. The definition requires:
a)     Natural person, not an entity,
b)     An individual compensated directly, and
c)     An individual directed and controlled while performing services.
 
It is part of the investigation to determine the issues as to the responsibilities of the individuals involved. The policy(s) for fidelity are changing in an effort to assist the changing marketplace. Meanwhile, claim professionals are challenged to assess the facts, the claim and the language of policies as new precedents are set in today's fast-paced business world.
 
DM Studler is the founding member and managing officer of SDC CPAs LLC, a global investigation and forensic accounting firm. Contact her at 630-820-5770 or info@sdccpa.com .


 
  
  

Become a Member of Southern Loss Association

 

Would you like to join Southern Loss Association or know someone who is interested?  We can now take your membership application right on line! 

 

Membership is limited and subject to approval by the board of directors and its membership body.  Please read all the terms on the application!

 

Apply today!

 

 

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We thank our advertisers for their support.  If you would like to advertise with us, please contact us at southernloss@gmail.com.