When a conference has been around as long as the Property Loss Research Bureau and the Liability Insurance Research Bureau's has been, it is easy to imagine that it might fall into a rut and become stale. At this year's event, though, claim adjusters are as likely to find the traditional educational aspects they have come to expect as they are to find new reasons to attend the Claims Conference and Insurance Services Expo.

PLRB/LIRB's conference has been around since post World War II, helping claim professionals stay on top of industry trends and events since the 1940s. This year, it begins on April 2 in Nashville, Tenn., and offers more than 100 breakout sessions divided into 13 tracks. The largest track, Adjusting Property & Casualty, will have at least 20 sessions dedicated to adjusting issues such as coverage and good-faith handling. At least half of the sessions will be new additions in 2006, which will help keep the conference relevant in regards to the shifting issues in the industry.

“We want to focus on interactive education,” said Scott Powell, assistant vice president of educational and technical services for PLRB. “With 110 classes, there are a lot of opportunities and choices. There are over 225 presenters, and attendance is expected to top 2,000, not including exhibitors.”