Continuing education and management training specificallydesigned for the surplus lines professional is hitting the spot forNAPSLO members, according to the co-chairman of its educationcommittee.

Gilbert Hine, co-chairman of NAPSLO's Education Committee, isparticularly proud of several upgrades accomplished in continuingeducation programs for surplus lines industry officials over thelast several years. He is also a member of the NAPSLO board ofdirectors.

Mr. Hine, president of McClelland & Hine, San Antonio,Texas, points to the Executive Leadership School developed byNAPSLO Education Committee members in conjunction with theUniversity of Virginia's Darden School of Business,Charlottesville, Va.

He also notes the establishmentover the last several years of online continuing education programsspecifically tailored for surplus industry members who need CEcourses in order to retain their property and casualtylicenses.

This program, developed with Success Continuing Education, aCalifornia-based firm, was established because surveys by NAPSLOindicated strong membership interest in such programs.

The Executive Leadership School program, now in its second year,was devised as part of long-range strategic planning initiatives byNAPSLO leadership aimed at facilitating the training of present andfuture surplus line management.

The next three-day session will take place April 7-10.

Mr. Hines explained that for a number of years NAPSLO hasprovided two schools, one for those employed by NAPSLO member-firmswith one to five years of experience in the industry, and anotherfor those with five to 15 years experience.

But the Darden program is aimed at providing management trainingfor the "future leaders of our industry."

He said that one of the unique features of this school is thatit gives those attending insight into management issues in otherindustries. "People have found this useful in adapting theseexperiences to our industry," he said.

The Darden School has served as a critical resource forbusinesses for over half a century, Mr. Hines said, and has adaptedto serve the surplus lines industry in conjunction with input fromNAPSLO.

It uses a case study approach, the same as that used by schoolswith well-known Masters in Business Administration programs, suchas Harvard and the Wharton School.

"But this program is unique, because it has been condensed intoan intense three-day period and is a lot less expensive," hesaid.

As for the continuing education program, it is administeredthrough Success CE and was instituted two years ago.

Under the program, NAPSLO member-companies staff are eligible togo online and take courses for CE credits in various states.

"The important thing is that NAPSLO people have access toSUCCESS CE," Mr. Hine said.

The NAPSLO Education Committee has worked with Success CE to setthis up. It covers property and casualty issues, and makes iteasier for licensed personnel at NAPSLO member-companies tomaintain their p&c licenses in the individual states.

Mr. Hine said NAPSLO surveys have indicated a high need forthese types of programs. He said officials of NAPSLOmember-companies receive a discount from Success CE for members whotake these courses.

"Our participation is designed to make these coursesparticularly relevant to NAPSLO members and save them the time andtrouble of finding these necessary programs on their own," Mr. Hinesaid.

He said the CE program is a long-range initiative by NAPSLO topartner up with a vendor that has an online CE product and willwork with NAPSLO over time to develop courses that are ofparticular interest to NAPSLO members and addresses our particularniche.