What’s New: In Brief (June 11, 2008)

Vale National Training Centers Inc. has launched an online extension to its classroom-based proficiency development curriculum for claim professionals.
The training center has added roughly 500 distance-learning modules to its course offerings.
These are available immediately through a standard Web browser, according to a Cunningham Lindsey release.
“We’ve been working on this for several years, but see the rapidly evolving industry demands for fast, convenient and cost-efficient personnel education as the perfect environment for this new ser-vice,” said Steve LeClaire, president of Vale National Training Centers. “It not only eliminates employee travel and lodging expenses, but lost productivity from being out of the office as well.
“We can provide comprehensive training to new employees, supplementation to experienced professionals, focused training for specialized staff and career development for personnel throughout a company.”
This would include department heads, supervisors, appraisers, adjusters, examiners, as well as local office managers and sales agents.
For information on classroom, on-site or online training options, visit www.valenational.com.

Risk Management Solutions (RMS) is making its expert analysis publicly available on its Web site.
The RMS Cat Updates service which has long provided the insurance industry with damage summaries and loss reports following significant natural or man-made catastrophes applies expert scientific analysis to data from a wide range of sources, according to a release.
Information is posted within hours of a catastrophe occurring and is updated as the situation unfolds.
The service, launched in time for the U.S. hurricane season, is now accessible at www.rms.com/Catastrophe/Catupdates.