August will mark one year since I stepped into this role, and in many ways VCIA26 is the culmination of a year’s worth of work. The planning, the relationships, the conversations about what this association means to its members and to Vermont — so much of it comes together in Burlington each August.
I’ve been around this conference long enough to know what we always say — and what we always say is true. The programming is exceptional. The networking is unmatched. The community that gathers here is unlike anything else in the industry. But this year, I find myself genuinely torn about how to spend my time. That’s not something I say lightly, and it’s a real testament to the program our staff and the Conference Task Force have put together.
We open Monday with Captive Immersion, and if you haven’t attended, there is no better place in the industry to get a true grounding in captive insurance. The full landscape, taught by experienced practitioners, all in the same room. Whether you’re brand new to the industry or looking to refresh, this is the primer the rest of the week is built on.
Monday evening, we head to ECHO on the Burlington waterfront for the VCIEL Reception — and this is one event we take real pride in. The Vermont Captive Insurance Emerging Leaders initiative has done extraordinary work exposing students and young professionals across Vermont to this industry — and the support our members have shown, through volunteerism, sponsorships, and opening their doors, has been inspiring. The State of Vermont has been a true partner in advancing this initiative and is a proud sponsor of the event. ECHO is a beautiful setting, and there’s something fitting about beginning conference week there: a chance to meet fellow attendees in a relaxed setting, on the lake, before things really get moving.
We start Tuesday with our Annual General Meeting and Newcomers’ Orientation – combined by design, and always first on the agenda. Newcomers experience real association governance from day one, and leave understanding that their voice matters in the direction of what we do.
The session I’m looking forward to most on Tuesday — and one I’d encourage everyone to prioritize — is our new Pulse Check with Christine Brown, Deputy Commissioner of Captive Insurance at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. DFR has always had a significant presence at this conference, and rightly so. This will be Christine’s first time on this stage in her new role, and she’s already leaving her mark. I’m expecting something interactive, current, and useful for anyone trying to understand where the captive market is heading – here in Vermont and globally.
Tuesday closes with our Exhibitor Reception, and with a sold-out exhibit hall featuring 75 exhibitors and Vermont fare, it’s always one of the highlights of the week.
Wednesday is a full day of programming that spans every level of experience — AI and innovation, cyber liability, actuarial and auditing best practices — and I’d be surprised if anyone makes it through the day without wishing they could be in two sessions at once. The sessions I’m most excited about for captive owners — and we’re expecting more than 300 this year — are the Captive Owner Focus Groups: three concurrent sessions organized by captive structure (pure captives, RRGs, and sponsored and protected cells), each moderated by an experienced captive owner. This is the kind of peer-to-peer learning and candid exchange that simply doesn’t happen anywhere else. It’s one of the things that sets VCIA apart.
We close the day at Hotel Vermont, which is always an attendee favorite, and for good reason. The timing works well for those with evening commitments, and we have a special announcement in store that we’re not quite ready to share yet — but it will be a wonderful celebration for our industry. Stay tuned.
Thursday is the closing day, and it may be the strongest day of educational programming I’ve seen at this conference. The Directors Boardroom Boot Camp runs in two parts: Part I covers the fiduciary duties, governance standards, and regulatory expectations every captive director should understand; Part II puts those principles to work through live mock board scenarios — responding to a regulator’s request, debating a surplus note repayment, managing a spike in claims. Running concurrently, The Economic Landscape and Your Captive’s Portfolio brings a rigorous look at macroeconomic conditions and what they mean for captive investment strategy, grounded in real case studies from Vermont captive owners. And the Captive Owner Exchange — building on the Focus Groups from Wednesday — creates a candid town hall environment for owners to benchmark ideas and share experience across structures and industries. Thursday morning is the kind of programming I’d clear my schedule for entirely – if only that were possible.
Everything builds to our Closing Keynote Luncheon on Thursday afternoon, and we’re thrilled to be bringing it back as a signature part of the program based on member feedback. This year’s speaker is Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, presenting on The Theory of Creativity. I couldn’t have asked for a more timely or fitting subject for this industry — and for an association that prides itself on what’s next. I’m expecting something energetic, thought-provoking, and fun.
And then, just like that, we wrap. Many attendees stick around for board meetings, business partner conversations, or to enjoy everything Vermont has to offer in August — and we encourage that. For me, this year will mark the second year of a new family tradition: heading straight to Maine following the conference for a week of vacation. In a way, that feels right. VCIA is a tradition for so many of us — a fixed point in the year when the whole captive industry comes together, does meaningful work, and is reminded why this association matters.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Burlington in August. Safe travels.