The Surplus Line Association of California

We are thrilled to announce that Iona Vinson has been promoted to Director of Operations and Projects! Since joining the team, Iona has been a trusted and dependable leader whose organization, initiative and professionalism have elevated our operations. She has played a vital role in coordinating major projects and events, supporting executive leadership and ensuring that day-to-day processes run smoothly. Iona’s thoughtful approach and commitment to excellence continue to make a lasting impact across the organization. Please join us in congratulating Iona on this well-deserved promotion! #SLACAL #SLACulture #Leadership #PromotionAnnouncement #CareerGrowth

From promise to peril: AI is reshaping how we manage risk. Join us live on Tuesday, Oct. 21, for a 2-hour CE webinar: The Light and Dark Side of AI for Insurance Agents & Brokers. Hear from experts Theresa Le, Myriah Jaworski Esq., CIPP/E, CIPP/US and Philip Dawson as they break down how AI is being used across industries, the risks it creates and what it means for coverage. Here’s what you’ll take away: ✅ What AI can and can’t do today ✅ Emerging exposures insurers need to watch ✅ How policy language addresses AI risks ✅ Practical insights to reduce E&O exposure and better serve clients 📅 Tuesday, Oct. 21 🕙 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PDT 🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/48c6c1O 🎥 Watch the teaser below and secure your spot today. #InsuranceEducation #ArtificialIntelligence #RiskManagement #Underwriting #Claims #CECourse #ProfessionalDevelopment #SLACAL #SurplusLines

An annual autumn insurance tradition in the Bay Area, the IICF Western Division invites you to join us next week for our 10th annual Casino Night, Thursday, October 16th: https://lnkd.in/gN8HT7RB Enjoy a fun filled evening of lively gaming and industry networking benefiting the IICF Community Grants Program, which awards grants supporting local community nonprofits with a focus on children at risk, education and human services. Your sponsorship support of this event is vitally important to the communities we serve and special thanks to Platinum Sponsors: Chubb, CNA Insurance, Lockton and The Surplus Line Association of California; Gold Sponsors: Berkley Enterprise Risk Solutions (a Berkley Company), Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, Newfront and Zurich Insurance and all generous sponsors making this event possible as #insurancegivesback Join us as we come together, through IICF, to make a positive impact when it is needed most! Reserve you place here: https://lnkd.in/gN8HT7RB #IICFimpact #insurance #IICFwesterndivision #IICFsanfrancisco #bettertogether #caringaboutcommunity

Artificial Intelligence is changing the insurance game. Join us live on Tuesday, Oct. 21, for a 2-hour CE webinar exploring the light and dark side of AI. This interactive session will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries—and the unique risks and exposures emerging in the insurance space. With industry experts Theresa Le, Myriah Jaworski Esq., CIPP/E, CIPP/US and Philip Dawson, we’ll explore the opportunities AI presents while addressing coverage considerations and liability challenges. Key takeaways include: ✅ Learn what AI is, what it can (and can’t) do and how it’s being used across industries ✅ Spot new risks and exposures created by AI adoption ✅ See how today’s policy language does or doesn’t cover AI-related risks ✅ Gain practical insights to better support clients and reduce E&O exposure 📅 Date: Tuesday, Oct. 21 🕙 Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. PDT 🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/48c6c1O #InsuranceEducation #ArtificialIntelligence #RiskManagement #Underwriting #Claims #CECourse #ProfessionalDevelopment #SLACAL #SuplusLines

California’s insurance market is evolving rapidly, and surplus lines are filling critical gaps for businesses and homeowners where traditional coverage options fall short.    We’re proud to see our CEO, Benjamin McKay, featured in AM Best's Best’s Review, sharing his perspective on how these systemic changes are reshaping access to coverage across the state.  #InsuranceIndustry #AccessToCoverage #CaliforniaInsurance 

⏰ Last chance to register! Don’t miss the SLA’s upcoming Compliance Connections webinar on the new SL-2 web form with Docusign integration. The new SL-2 web form goes live September 22 — and the very next day you can join us to see it in action: ✔ Demo of the new process ✔ Live Q&A with the SLA’s Legal Compliance and Data Analysis teams in collaboration with the Docusign team ✔ Learn how this update makes the process faster and more reliable 📅 Webinar: September 23 at 10:00 AM PT 🔗 Register now: https://bit.ly/41IC0Y6 #SLACAL #Compliance #Docusign #SurplusLines #InsuranceEducation

This week, we’re celebrating three well-deserved promotions at the SLA. James Greene has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Membership Services. Paul Cruz and Sandhya Dhital have both been promoted to Assistant Vice President of Data Analysis. These promotions highlight not only the talent and dedication of our team, but also SLACAL’s commitment to growing and evolving to meet the needs of our members and the market we serve. Please join us in congratulating James, Paul and Sandhya on their outstanding achievements!

A special thank you to Kristopher Bauer, Ross Paxton and Phyllis Modlin for sharing their expertise during our recent CE course, Construction Risks in 2025 and Beyond. We also recognize the outstanding work of our Policy & Training and Digital Communications teams in delivering impactful educational programming. Explore and register for upcoming CE courses through our Learning Center here: https://lnkd.in/gVtVSuQ. #SurplusLines #InsuranceIndustry #CECourse #SLACAL #Construction #ConstructionRisk #ExcessAndSurplus #InsuranceEducation #RiskManagement #Underwriting #ClaimsManagement 

Big news for California surplus lines brokers and agents: The SLA is launching a new SL-2 web form with Docusign integration—making the process faster, more reliable and easier than ever. We worked closely with a committee of members to test the new form, and here’s what they had to say: 💬 “The SL-2 webform is a big improvement for our team. It makes the whole process smoother and more efficient.” — Lauren (McLean) Thatcher, VP Compliance Manager, Brown & Riding 💬 “Completed forms can be sent directly to wholesale partners, making filings more efficient. This update reflects SLA’s commitment to streamlining use and reducing errors/tags for members.” — Jenifer Oshita, SVP Casualty Brokerage Division, Amwins 💬 “The new SL-2 webform’s user-friendly interface makes data entry straightforward. It's a smart, efficient solution that supports both compliance and productivity.” — Utah Findley, AVP Surplus Lines Tax Compliance Supervisor, Lockton 🔹 Want to see it in action? Join our upcoming Compliance Connections webinar, presented by the SLA’s Legal Compliance and Data Analysis teams in partnership with Docusign. This interactive session includes a demo and LIVE Q&A. 📅 September 23 at 10:00 AM PT 🔗 https://bit.ly/41IC0Y6

California’s construction market is evolving fast, and brokers can’t afford to fall behind on the risks that come with it. From supply chain volatility and rising costs to emerging exposures like data centers, today’s projects require sharper strategies and stronger coverage insights. 📹 In this short video, we spotlight one of those risks—data centers—and preview the type of timely analysis you’ll gain in our upcoming CE course. Don’t miss the full 2-hour live webinar on construction risks this Tuesday, September 9. Led by experts Kristopher Bauer (moderator), Ross Paxton and Phyllis Modlin, the session will break down current underwriting and claims trends while offering real-world strategies to reduce liability and protect your clients. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gxF-qn-w 📅 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9 🕙 Time: 10am–12pm PDT #ConstructionRisk #InsuranceEducation #RiskManagement #Underwriting #ClaimsManagement #SurplusLines #ExcessAndSurplus #SLACAL