The health and safety of our members, employees, and partners is our highest priority.

After careful consideration, and in light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, NYIA is postponing the 2020 Annual Conference–the premier New York property and casualty insurance industry event of the year, scheduled for May 27-29. We are currently considering alternate options. We may expand the program for the November Annual Meeting to a format similar to the conference (minus the golf tournament). Postponing the event will enable us to provide the experience that our members, and partners expect and deserve in a safe environment.

Nobody knows how the COVID-19 situation will continue to unfold. What we do know is that we believe we’ve made the best decision under the current circumstances to put our attendees, partners, and staff’s well-being first. 

We will keep members informed as plans develop. We look forward to hosting the next NYIA event.

Until then, stay safe and healthy! 

NYIA continues to monitor the quickly changing circumstances identified with the spread of COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). We understand that worries for health and safety, the effects on event participation, among many other concerns, are influencing decisions. There is no greater importance than the health and safety of our association community. As NYIA monitors and follows the recommended guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York State Department Health and the World Health Organization, we encourage all to do the same.

According to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guidance offered regarding attendance at large gatherings is limited to those at highest risk — the elderly and those with severe underlying medical conditions.

NYIA is proceeding on schedule with the annual conference as of now. The conference hotel is in Rye Brook. The major concerns center around New Rochelle, which is a different city in Westchester county. At this time, there are no advisories against holding public events or large gatherings in Rye Brook. NYIA is working closely with the conference hotel to ensure all appropriate sanitary, health, and safety measures are met and maintained; and to implement additional safeguards to protect those attending.

NYIA will continue to update and provide necessary information as the situation develops and any changes to the conference schedule. Please contact the association at 518.432.4227 or info@nyia.org with any specific questions about the conference.

Contact:
Cassandra Anderson
(518) 432-4227 or (518) 312-3315

NEW YORK TAKES A STAND AGAINST ROOFING SCAMS

ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 26, 2019—New York has put statewide protections in place for residents to help prevent roofing scams. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed S1405/A7531, sponsored by Senator David Carlucci and Assemblymember Marianne Buttenschon, into law helping ensure New Yorkers homes and businesses are properly and safely repaired.

New consumer protections include:

• Providing additional time to cancel a roof repair contract.
• Preventing a roofing contractor from abandoning a contract without cause. 
• Guarding against kickbacks for claim services referrals.
• Forbidding advertisements or promises to rebate an insurance deductible.
• Restricting a requirement for a deposit with payment for materials being due upon receipt by the customer.

In recent years, New York has seen instances where con artists flock to an area hit by a storm or natural disaster, posing as legitimate roofing contractors. These scam artists, known as storm chasers, take advantage of people to make some quick cash. They perform substandard work or simply take a homeowner’s money and run. New York saw this occur with a number of extreme weather events experienced across the state.

“The overwhelming majority of roofing contractors are honest and principled, but there are a select few whose sole goal is to cheat disaster victims,” Ellen Melchionni, president of the New York Insurance Association said. “These scam artists target the elderly and the vulnerable and profit at their expense. This new law will help consumers at a time when they are in the greatest need.”

The New York Insurance Association helped advance this legislation after insurance companies heard from concerned customers, working with a wide range of stakeholders to call for enhanced consumer protections.

The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA®) is a state trade association that has represented the property and casualty insurance industry for more than 135 years.

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Contact:
Cassandra Anderson
(518) 432-4227 or (518) 312-3315

 MARTIN HONORED BY NEW YORK INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

 BUFFALO, N.Y., June 7, 2017—The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA) honored Jay B. Martin with the Chair’s Distinguished Service Award at the association’s annual conference June 1 in Buffalo, N.Y. Martin is counsel for Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company (MLMIC).

“Jay is a tireless advocate for the property and casualty insurance industry,” Steven Coffey, NYIA chair and president and chief executive officer of Broome Co-operative Insurance Company said. “He embodies the essence of our industry as he is a loyal and ardent supporter of philanthropic causes and volunteerism.”

Prior to joining MLMIC in 2015, he served as the company’s principal outside counsel for more than 30 years. Most recently, Martin was a partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Insurance Practice group at Dewey & LeBoeuf, LLP and was managing partner of the firm’s Albany office for 10 years.

Martin serves on the NYIA Board of Directors and has been affiliated with the association for nearly 20 years. He holds a B.A. in history from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a J.D. degree from the Boston University School of Law. More recently, Martin was an Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University.

Martin resides in East Greenbush, N.Y. with his wife, Jeri Eisenberg. They have two adult children.

MLMIC is the largest writer of medical professional liability insurance in the state of New York and insures nearly 15,000 physicians, 4,000 dentists and dozens of hospitals.

The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA®) is a state trade association that has represented the property and casualty insurance industry for more than 130 years.

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A headshot of Martin and a picture from the event are available upon request.

MEDIA ADVISORY
For immediate release: May 25, 2017

NEW YORK INSURANCE ASSOCIATION 2017 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
New York Financial Services Superintendent Vullo to Deliver Keynote Address

Buffalo, N.Y.—The New York Insurance Association, Inc. (NYIA) is holding its 2017 Annual Conference to discuss critical issues impacting the property and casualty insurance industry and potential ways to enhance the insurance marketplace in New York. Superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services, Maria Vullo, will deliver the keynote address.

WHAT: 2017 Annual Conference
The agenda includes these additional sessions:

• The Changing Tides of Cyber Risk
• Fighting Fraud Together
• Debating Disruptors: Two Sides of the Same Coin?
• Town Hall Meeting with Legislators
• Washington’s Economic Agenda and the Outlook for Capital Markets
• Small Company Roundtable

WHEN?: Wednesday, May 31–Friday, June 2, 2017

WHO: Speakers include:

• James Trainor, senior vice president, AON Cyber Solutions Group
• Floyd Holloway, counsel, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
• Kevin Gallagher, director field operations – northeast region, National Insurance Crime Bureau
• Frank Orlando, director of criminal investigations – insurance frauds bureau, New York State Department of Financial Services
• David Rioux, vice president special investigations, Erie Insurance Group
• Candace Vogel, chief, special investigations unit, Erie County District Attorney’s Office
• Maria Vullo, superintendant, New York State Department of Financial Services
• Bernard Turi, senior vice president, general counsel, general auditor & chief risk officer, Utica National Insurance Group
• Michael Cronin, principal, Cronin Consulting Services, Inc.
• Alex Tsetsenekos, founder, Archimedes Analytics LLC
• William Melchionni, deputy head, U.S. federal and state government affairs, American International Group, Inc.
• Senator Chris Jacobs, New York State Senate
• Senator Timothy Kennedy, New York State Senate
• Assemblymember Stephen Hawley, New York State Assembly
• Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes, New York State Assembly
• Assemblymember Ray Walter, New York State Assembly
• Harry Starrett, senior client strategist, New England Asset Management Group
• Matthew Benedict, president, Midstate Mutual Insurance Company

WHERE: Hyatt Regency, 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, New York 14202

Additional information is available at www.nyia.org/events. Contact Cassandra Anderson at (518) 432-4227,

(518) 312-3315 or canderson@nyia.org with questions or to attend the event.

View the press release (PDF)