Diane Mika Presenting at Society for Design Administration (SDA) EDConnect22

Posted by & filed under Events.

Risk Management Essentials of the New Normal

Presented by:
Diane P. Mika, Vice President, Director of Risk Management Education, Berkley Design Professional

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

AEC firms are in a continual state of transition with new leaders emerging, senior leaders retiring, and executives planning for the future. The focus tends to be on improving core service offerings, often at the expense of the organization’s business aspects.  Whether working to develop next-generation talent inside a firm or positioning a company for potential acquisition, it is critical to evaluate and improve non-core areas, including professional development, strategic planning, marketing and business development, knowledge sharing, culture, and financial management. Attend this session and learn ideas for business improvement that will help develop your business acumen and position your firm for future success.

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BDP Risk® Delivers Mutually Assured Success

Posted by & filed under BDP Blog.

By Diane Mika
Vice President, Director of Risk Management Education
Berkley Design Professional, a Berkley Company

At its simplest, insurance can be described as “a piece of paper and a promise.” Customers buy a
piece of paper (an insurance policy) and the insurance company promises to pay in the event there
is a claim.

It’s no secret that professional liability claims against architects and engineers can be expensive—both to the insurance company (cost of resolving claims and paying damages) and to the policyholder (paying deductibles). In addition to the hard costs of resolving a claim, design firms must also absorb the soft costs: lost staff time, lost opportunities, diminished relationships and increased future insurance premiums.

Therefore, the key to mutually assured success is mitigating claims. That’s where BDP Risk® comes in!

Our risk management education program provides relevant learning from the practitioner’s perspective coupled with the wisdom of decades of experience in the insurance industry. Based on a solid understanding of what factors and situations lead to claims against architects and engineers, our BDP Risk® training resources, materials and courses are designed to teach effective practices and strategies that can be put to immediate use to help customers avoid risk and reduce the frequency and severity of claims.

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Complimentary Webinar: Managing Risk through Effective Contracts

Posted by & filed under Events.

Presented by:
Diane P. Mika, VP, Director of Risk Management Education, Berkley Design Professional
Andrew D. Mendelson, FAIA, Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Management Officer, Berkley Design Professional

Thursday, June, 2, 2022
10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
1.5 AIA Learning Units
1.5 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*

Your professional services agreement is an essential tool in managing your exposure to risk. An equitable contract fairly apportions risk, while an onerous contract can shift inordinate—and sometimes uninsurable—liability to you. The terms and conditions of the agreement establish the roles and responsibilities of the design professional and the client. The contract review and negotiation process provide you with an opportunity to set reasonable expectations with your client. And, in the event of a claim or dispute, your contract is the first piece of documentation the claims examiner will request.

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