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Chicagoland Cooperator’s Expo

Chicagoland Cooperator’s Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo

The Chicagoland Cooperator’s Condo, HOA & Co-op seasonal Expo took place at the Navy Pier Convention Center, on Wednesday, November 18^thfrom 10am-4:30pm. The Expo is for board members, property managers, condo, HOA and co-op decision makers. Dwight Zivo of Parr Insurance Brokerage was an insurance expert in one of the Advice Booths, a free advice panel available to attendees of the event.. The event was free.

The Chicagoland Expo is the largest expo in the state entirely dedicated to connecting condo, HOA, and co-op managers, board members, and residents with the professionals and service providers their communities need on a regular basis. Between nearly 300 exhibitors, countless product demos, free advice booths, and full roster of educational seminars, it’s literally a one-stop, custom-built marketplace for vendors, products and ideas.

“The express purpose of the Chicago Expo is to help attendees make useful, productive connections, gain valuable information, and network with their peers,” says company president Yale Robbins. So if you’re a decision-maker for a condo, homeowners association, or co-op community—or even if you just call one home—and you have a pressing legal issue or an important project waiting in the wings, you owe it to yourself and your community to drop by the Expo and experience what it has to offer. It would take months to meet with the same number of vendors and professionals a typical Expo attendee will interact with in one afternoon on the show floor.

A Learning Experience

One of the biggest reasons for board members, managers, and owners to visit the show is the Chicago Expo’s full slate of free educational seminars. Custom-built to help anyone involved—or even just interested—in the administration of a residential building or homeowners association, the 2015 seminar panels will provide in-depth discussion of the legal, administrative, management, and financial concerns pertinent to the region’s HOA managers, board members, and residents.

If you are interested in attending the expo as an audience member to enjoy one the free seminars, network with fellow individuals in your particular field of expertise or promoting yourself and business as an exhibitor next time around please visit http://fall.ilexpo.com/ to register!

SOFA Chicago Art Exposé Navy Pier

This weekend marks an important annual date on the city’s arts calendar. That’s because the art fair Sofa Chicago docks at Navy Pier the first weekend of November. SOFA stands for “sculptural objects and functional art,” but the content of the fair has an even broader scope.

Tom Neis, Dwight Zivo, Amelia Sweet, and Melissa Neis, representatives of Parr Insurance, were all present at the VIP Opening Night Preview. The event was hosted by Chubb Group of Insurance Companies (http://www.chubb.com), the standard bearer for high value homeowners insurance .

Donna Davis, Fair Director for SOFA Chicago, says you can expect to see modern and contemporary art and design, objects and sculpture. “You’ll see world-class galleries showing fiber, glass, ceramic, wood and studio jewelry,” Davis said. This year, SOFA also included painting, photography and works on paper. The nearly 70 galleries represented at SOFA include both local stalwarts and visiting galleries from around the world, including those from London, Paris, Turkey and Italy. Davis says that many exhibitors return year after year. “They like to come back,” she said. “But we also have 17 new exhibitors this year, which is a record for us.”

At times the range of work can feel overwhelming to some, so there is a selection of choices put together by critics called Sofa selects. “It is a selection noted tastemakers – curators, critics, designers, architects – who select their favorite pieces in the fair before the fair opens,” Davis explained. “You can go to SOFAexpo.com and select ‘Sofa selects’ and see those people who have chosen those pieces and why.”

SOFA Chicago runs Nov. 5-8 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, from 5-9 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. General admission tickets cost $20; $15 for seniors and students. For my information visit http://www.sofaexpo.com/visit

Collaboraction – Beggar’s Banquet!

Collaboraction, the Chicago-based theater company dedicated to social change, collaboration and original work, launched its 20th season in Wicker Park with its always popular Beggars’ Banquet, this year honoring Collaboraction founder and nationally acclaimed director Kimberly Senior. Parr Insurance was one of the sponsors of Collaboraction. Melissa Neis, VP of Parr Insurance Brokerage, was the event Chairperson.”

Over 200 supporters raised more than $50,000 for the company while having an absolute blast at the time-traveling celebration of the company’s origins, 20-year history and exciting new future. The evening kicked off with paparazzi shots, cocktails and a delicious Chop Shop buffet, followed by a raffle and live auction. Kimberley Senior founded Collaboraction in 1995, and current Artistic Director, Anthony Moseley, joined the company in its third show and collaborated with Senior on numerous productions before taking over the helm. Moseley says “The first 20 years of Collaboraction cultivated a tremendous volume of theatre and relationships and amazing shared moments. It is a tremendous privilege, to take a moment, to remember and share and celebrate these accomplishments, before getting sucked back up by the excitement around our unique new work and mission we have laid out for the next five years to use all this energy we have created to make a positive impact on Chicago.”

Proceeds will help fund Collaboraction’s Teen Youth Ensemble program with After School Matters, Collaboraction’s Crime Scene tours to Chicago’s parks each summer, new play development, and salaries for dozens of local actors, performers and artists each year.

Excess Deposit Bonds Press Release

Excess Insurance Bond Protects Deposits In Excess of FDIC Limits

Chicago-Based Parr Insurance Brokerage Unveils Policy

(CHICAGO) August, 2015 – Both financial institutions and large depositors will benefit from the excess Deposit Insurance Bond (EDB) now offered by Chicago-based Parr Insurance Brokerage that guarantees payments in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) $250,000 limit.

The single-policy program, which will protect deposits up to $10 million, enables banks and credit unions nationwide to help attract larger deposits, avoid pledging securities and facilitate compliance with state regulations. EDB features easy-to-use applications and forms; premiums based on limits used, not on limits available; and, with its competitive rates, is more cost effective than brokered deposits.

For depositors, in addition to the robust $10 million maximum limit, the EDB maintains insured status and the right to file a claim, and offers a certificate of insurance issued in the depositor’s name.

“This comprehensive protection streamlines the process for banks and credit unions to manage much greater sums of cash and better serve their clients,” said Melissa Neis, vice president of Parr Insurance Brokerage, which has extensive experience insuring financial institutions and also specializes in protecting high-net worth individuals and families.

“In turn, the EDB offers a guarantee to government entities including municipalities, school districts and park districts that the substantial sums of cash they often generate via referenda and bond issues will be protected,” added Neis.

Individuals, too, can benefit from the EDB, according to Neis. “We know of cases where a person receives a major inheritance of several million dollars and, yet, has issues when faced with the FDIC limits when planning to deposit the huge sum,” she said. “Those concerns are alleviated with this policy.

“And, for those individuals and government units who prefer to keep their money ‘at home’ in the community at a local institution, the EDB can help.”

Additional information regarding the application process, limits, rates and other criteria are available by visiting www.parrinsurancebrokerage.com or contacting Melissa Neis at 773.489.3001 or melissa@parrinsurancebrokerage.com.

Parr Insurance Brokerage is rated A.M. Best A (Excellent).

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Insure Your Fine Pieces of Art

Pieces of fine art are soaring in value with collectors willing to pay increasingly high prices for art. Insure your fine art to ensure peace of mind. Read more about how prices for fine art are soaring by clicking here and be sure to read more about ensuring piece of mind with your fine art by clicking here.

ACE Acquires Chubb

Chubb has agreed to be acquired by ACE Limited for $28.3 billion. ACE will adopt the Chubb name in a respect for the heritage of quality and service it represents. ACE is one of the world’s largest multiline property and casualty insurers. With $30 billion in capital and operations in 54 countries, ACE provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. For more information, please click the link. ACE Acquires Chubb

Summer Renters Insurance

Click the link to learn more about how renters insurance is even more of a necessity in the summer months.

Suite Protector is an easy way for property managers to implement and track renters insurance for their tenants. To learn more about Suite Protector, click the link.