Conference education sessions to be offered via Digital Education Series.

MINNEAPOLIS ─ FEB. 5, 2021 ─ Today the Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA), announced the organization is canceling its 2021 International Conference scheduled for Mar. 14-16, in Scottsdale, Arizona due to ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and worsening conditions in Arizona.

The health and well-being of members, attendees and stakeholders is always our top priority”

Dan Towle, CICA President

“We hoped things would improve to make it possible to host an in-person conference. Unfortunately, Arizona has been experiencing record numbers of COVID-19 diagnoses and deaths since the start of the new year,” CICA President Dan Towle said. A Wall Street Journal article showed Arizona has the highest per capita rate of new Covid-19 infections in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the highest rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

“The health and well-being of members, attendees and stakeholders is always our top priority,” Towle explained. CICA monitored the situation closely but given the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the worsening conditions in Arizona, decided holding a March in-person conference is not safe or feasible at this time.

Due to overwhelming feedback from CICA members, there will not be a virtual conference. Plans are underway to offer the conference education sessions via a new Digital Education Series. On-demand video education sessions will be released weekly followed by a live Q&A session with the presenters later that week. “We hope this new Digital Series format gives session attendees the flexibility to watch at times that fit their schedules while also giving listeners the opportunity to ask specific questions that help them apply the information,” Towle said. The Digital Education Series will be offered free to members or at a very reduced rate if an adequate level of sponsorship is obtained. Full details on the series will be announced in the near future.

“We appreciate the support and understanding of our members, colleagues, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors throughout this process,” Towle said. “We will be in contact with stakeholders outlining next steps as the annual conference is unwound.”

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