Celebrating a Decade Together!

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

November 14, 2023

As the leaves change and the year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the journey of Berkley Design Professional. As you know, this year marks a significant milestone for us – our 10th Anniversary!

A decade ago, we embarked on a mission to provide outstanding service and expertise in the A&E professional liability insurance industry. Today, we’re proud to have achieved and surpassed many of our goals, thanks to your support and trust.

A Look Back

Over the past ten years, we’ve faced challenges, celebrated successes and forged lasting relationships. From our humble beginnings to becoming an industry leader, our growth story has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve introduced innovative solutions, expanded our reach and most importantly, served thousands of satisfied clients.

Our Gratitude

Our success would not have been possible without our dedicated team and you, our valued brokers. Your feedback, loyalty and partnership have been the cornerstone of our achievements. As we celebrate this milestone, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to each one of you. Your belief in our vision and services has propelled us to new heights.

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Design/Construction Standards and Building Codes Evolving to Address Climate Change

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Andrew Mendelson, FAIA
Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Management & CX Officer
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

October 23, 2023

Climate change is already having a significant impact on the design and construction industry and this impact is only going to grow in the years to come. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires and tornadoes are becoming more frequent and severe and buildings and infrastructure are increasingly being damaged or destroyed.

In response to these challenges, building codes and construction standards are changing to address climate and extreme weather concerns. Local, State and Federal agencies are also working to update design and building requirements, a meaningful factor in the evolution of the standard of care for professionals in the industry.

Changes to building codes and construction standards

One of the most significant changes is an increasing focus on resiliency. Resilient buildings are designed to withstand extreme weather events and quickly regain functionality when damaged.

Specific changes include:

  • Higher wind load requirements: Buildings in areas prone to hurricanes and other high-wind events are compelled to withstand higher wind speeds.
  • Flood-resistant design: Buildings in flood zones are required to be elevated above the floodplain and to have flood-resistant materials and construction methods.
  • Wildfire-resistant design: Buildings in areas prone to wildfires are required to utilize fire-resistant materials and to create site features such as defensible perimeters and flame-resistant plantings.
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Free Webinar: Project Risk Engineering for General Contractors

Posted by & filed under Events.

Presented by:
Andrew Mendelson, FAIA, EVP, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional
Timothy Brashear, P.E., Officer and VP, Construction Services, Rimkus

Thursday, November 2, 2023
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time
1.0 AIA Learning Units 
1.0 RCEP Professional Development Hour

Register Now

This one-hour webinar was developed to provide participants with a working knowledge of the due diligence and risk engineering recommended practices for a robust and formal risk assessment, project selection, and risk transfer process for construction projects. 

A comprehensive risk engineering process is necessary to determine the bid, preconstruction, design development, construction, delivery, and warranty risks associated with a project and to enhance a contractor’s ability to achieve an on-time, in budget, fit for purpose, project delivery.

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Complimentary Webinar: Could This Happen to You? A Compendium of Claim Tales and Lessons Learned

Posted by & filed under Events.

Complimentary Webinar: Could This Happen to You? A Compendium of Claim Tales and Lessons Learned

Presented by:
Diane P. Mika, Senior Vice President, Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional
Cindy Russell, Assistant Vice President, Senior Claims Examiner, Berkley Alliance Managers
Michael Cecere, Assistant Vice President, Senior Claims Examiner II, Berkley Alliance Managers
Liz Molina, Assistant Vice President, Senior Claims Examiner, Berkley Alliance Managers
Derek E. Steffen, Assistant Vice President, Senior Claims Examiner, Berkley Alliance Managers

Wednesday, October 25, 2023
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time
1.5 Health, Safety, and Welfare AIA Learning Units 
1.5 Technical, Health, and Safety RCEP Professional Development Hours+

Berkley DP policyholders who participate in this program can qualify for a 15% Risk Management Education credit. Contact your agent for further information*

Register Now

This program tells the tale of four claims. Each will be presented by a Berkley DP claims examiner who will set the stage by describing the project type, delivery method, and parties involved, followed by the problems that arose and technical factors that led to the claim. The resolution and lessons learned for each case will be revealed, including the impact of the design professionals’ errors and omissions on the project and its owners/users. These valuable insights will help participants examine and improve their business practices and project controls to avoid similar situations.

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Andy Mendelson Presenting at 2023 ACEC Fall Conference

Posted by & filed under Events.

Risky Business: Making the Go/No-Go Decision on Design-Build Projects

Presented by:
Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, EVP, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

Monday, October 16, 2023

Andy Mendelson, FAIA, executive vice president and chief risk management officer, will be presenting at the 2023 ACEC Fall Conference in Austin, Texas on Monday, October 16.

Andy will present “Risky Business: Making the Go/No-Go Decision on Design-Build Projects”.

Session Description

Because Design-Build is a more risky form of project delivery, it is essential to establish a Go/No-Go process to objectively evaluate your opportunities. Analyzing and understanding the conditions of the project and the capabilities of the design-build team are critical to making informed decisions in the pursuit and implementation of these projects. This practice-focused workshop addresses the identification of key factors in making the Go/No-Go decision on Design-Build projects, and offers a flexible yet strategic approach that encourages active thought and discussion to reach a reasonable conclusion.

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Diane Mika Presenting at Deltek ProjectCon 2023

Posted by & filed under Events.

From Scope Creep to Profitability: Managing Chance and Your Client’s Expectations

Presented by:
Diane P. Mika, Senior Vice President, Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Diane Mika, senior vice president and risk management officer, will be speaking at Deltek ProjectCon 2023.

Mika will present on “From Scope Creep to Profitability: Managing Chance and Your Client’s Expectations”.

More details on the event are below.

***

Change challenges the basic premise of project management: the control of resources to meet a certain objective by a specific date within a finite budget. Scope creep happens when there is an expansion of services provided without a corresponding increase in the design professional’s fees or recognition of additional risk exposure. The good news is that while change is inevitable, scope creep is not. This session will help you learn the triggers for change and how to manage the change process to maintain your client relationships—and your firm’s profitability.

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Deltek ProjectCon 2023

Posted by & filed under Events.

We’re exhibiting at Deltek ProjectCon 2023! Visit us at Kiosk 15B!

Deltek ProjectCon is the destination for project-based business professionals to gather for unparalleled inspiration, education and collaboration. Our annual conference brings together thousands of Deltek customers, partners and industry experts for a unique three-day learning and networking experience. Join us to expand your knowledge, build your network and make memories with Deltek Project Nation.

Berkley Design Professional is also a proud Silver Sponsor of the event.

October 16-18, 2023 at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida.

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Free Webinar with Deltek | Managing Project and Financial KPIs to Boost Firm Profitability

Posted by & filed under Events.

Presented by:
Andrew Mendelson, FAIA, EVP, Chief Risk Management & CX Officer, Berkley Design Professional
Megan Miller, Director, Product Marketing, Deltek

Wednesday, September 13, 2023
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Eastern Time
1 AIA Learning Unit
1 RCEP Professional Development Hour

Berkley DP policyholders who participate in this program can qualify for a 15% Risk Management Education credit. Contact your agent for further information*

Register Now

Managing projects goes beyond just schedule and deliverables, but also requires a focus on project performance and profitability as well as the overall impact of the project to the bottom line. In this session, attendees will gain insight into top key performance indicators (KPIs), identify industry benchmarks for KPIs, and understand how to leverage the metrics to boost profitability.

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Berkley Design Professional Now Participating in the Deltek Marketplace Partner Network

Posted by & filed under News Releases.

New Relationship Helps Bring Tailored Insurance Protection to Design Professionals

Monterey, California (August 8, 2023) — Berkley Design Professional, a division of Berkley Alliance Managers, a Berkley Company, is excited to announce it has joined the Deltek Marketplace. Now, it will be even easier for Deltek customers and prospects to learn about Berkley Design Professional’s specialized insurance products focused on the unique risk management needs of Architects and Engineers.

“This relationship enables Berkley Design Professional and Deltek to provide thought leadership in new, innovative ways that will help our mutual clients improve business practices, minimize risk and confidently build a better future,” says Larry Moonan, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Berkley Design Professional.

Berkley Design Professional’s coverage is specifically tailored to help protect firms from losses resulting from negligent acts, errors or omissions in the performance of professional services.

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