Virginia Bates
Virginia M. Bates is the president of VMB Associates, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in education, agency management, and automation issues.
Virginia Bates has over twenty years of experience consulting to agencies and carriers and managing insurance operations for both a carrier and a large regional agency. She has a background in all property and casualty lines, experience as director of a country-wide underwriting school and direct involvement in many automated systems. As co-founder of VMB Associates Inc., she has worked with many agencies and brokerages on intelligent selection and use of technology, profitability, reducing E&O exposure, internal operations, marketing strategies, merger/acquisition planning and implementation, valuations of books of business and agencies in total, carrier relationships and successful automation.
She speaks often on the evolving exposures and preventive strategies related to automation, web-based sales & service, electronic processing and documentation. She has conducted E&O audits and rehabilitation projects for agencies at the request of E&O carriers such as Fireman's Fund. She developed and produces the Vendor Comparison Workshops that have helped thousands of agencies determine their automation needs and options.
She is a member of ACORD's People and Computers national faculty and Alumni Seminar Team. She is a certified E&O instructor and regularly creates and conducts educational programs for many state agents' associations, carriers and vendor groups. These programs encompass both technical subjects (such as personal and commercial risk management, direct and indirect property coverages, advanced workers comp coverages and rating, and umbrella coverages) and management subjects (such as E&O prevention, business planning, disaster recovery, profitable use of automation, and procedures manual creation and implementation).
Rough Notes asked Virginia to coordinate and edit parts of its property and casualty continuing education materials. This series of intermediate and advanced subjects encompassed over thirty volumes of both personal and commercial subject areas.
Virginia's educational background includes an honors degree from Swarthmore College and graduate work in management science. She is a licensed broker and licensed insurance adviser.
Sample Review Comments (from classes and consulting work):
"Her positive attitude is always inspirational. Her knowledge of material is always enlightening."
"The industry should be proud to have her."
"The Best!"
"Virginia explains everything and she is able to keep it interesting!"
"Excellent - Good sense of humor."
"Real life examples and time went by so fast!"
"Relaxed yet comprehensive"
"She was fantastic!"
"I wish I had Virginia Bates for all my classes"
"I look forward to Virginia Bates teaching seminars"
"I love to have you in our office. Everything seems possible at the end of the day!"
Industry Educator:
Sponsors Include state and national trade associations (IIABA and PIA); national and local vendor groups; carriers, and agencies/brokerages.
Certified Best Practice Leader (IIABA National Program)
Programs for over 30 technical insurance topics (business income, commercial property, all personal lines, umbrella/excess coverage; commercial case studies, etc.)
Programs for Management and Agency Development (E&O loss control; Business Planning; Client Service Improvement; Agency Financial Management etc.)
Massachusetts Licensed Advisor Preparatory Educational program developer and deliverer.
ACORD’s – Originating member of “People & Computers” National Faculty.
Expert Witness Cases:
Marilee Koval v. Communicare. Attorney David Mellot, Benesch, Friedlander Coplan ARnoff (Chicago); workers comp process & coverage provisions. (case research, formal report).
Eliza Drews Case. Attorney Tyler Kolle, Berman & Simmons; Agent’s duty to secure coverage; (case research, formal report deposition, pre-trial testimony).
Morse Brothers Incorporated v. Desmond & Payne, Inc. Attorney Ralph Dyer, Law Office of Ralph Dyer; alleged negligence of broker in the procurement of insurance coverage; (case research, formal report, deposition, trial)
Insurance24.Com, Inc. and Doucette Insurance, LLC. Attorney Jeffrey T. Edwards, PretiFlaherty; alleged violation of binding authority; (case research, case in progress).
Virginia M. Bates
VMB Associates Inc.
115 Ashland Street
Melrose, Massachusetts 02176
(781) 665-0623