Meeting Information

Jim started his legal career in the late 1980s working as an in-house attorney for a major life insurance company. After several years of handling life insurance related litigation, in 1990 Jim joined an upstate New York law firm specializing in the representation of insurance agents and brokers in all facets of their business. Jim chartered their New York City office, expanding it from a solo operation to a fully-staffed mid-sized office. In light of his enormous success with the New York City office, in 1999, he was asked to establish their Connecticut office with similar prosperity. Based upon his significant achievements, Jim was made a managing partner, heading up the firm's professional liability practice. In 2008 Jim started the law firm of Keidel, Weldon & Cunningham, LLP along with Chris Weldon and Steve Cunningham. Since 1990, Jim has exclusively handled high exposure, complex professional liability claims and lawsuits involving insurance agents and brokers, and has counseled insurance agents and brokers on loss prevention. Jim has been licensed by Insurance Departments in 50 states as a continuing education instructor. He has presented the annual E&O loss control seminar to members of IIABNY for approximately twenty years. He frequently presents private E&O seminars and conducts E&O audits at insurance agencies and brokerages across the country. He also represents insurance agents and brokers on all other facets of their businesses including regulatory work, contract negotiations and employment issues. Jim frequently serves as mediator and arbitrator in high exposure insurance coverage disputes. Community Activities: Ridgefield Insurance and Risk Management Committee 2002-2015 Ridgefield Justice of the Peace 2000-Present Ridgefield Connecticut Board of Education2015-Present

Ted Kinney is currently the Director of Education and Technical Affairs for the Alabama Independent Insurance Agents in Birmingham, Alabama. He is responsible for developing agent education programs and providing technical assistance to association members.

Ted is also the owner/President of Kinney Training and Consulting, LLC, which specializes in providing quality insurance training programs to agencies and companies throughout the United States. Ted has been in the insurance business since graduation from Ohio State University in 1973. During his career, he has worked as an underwriter, field sales manager, department supervisor, marketing specialist, and trainer. From 1994 to 2003, Ted was Director of Curriculum and Faculty Development for PIA of Ohio & Indiana. During that time, he developed over 150 training courses covering all aspects of the insurance industry.

Ted has obtained several insurance designations including Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), Associate in Underwriting (AU), Associate in Automation Management (AAM), Accredited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), Associate in General Insurance (AINS), Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA), and Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist (CRIS).

Ted is a member of the National Faculty for the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, the Certified Professional Insurance Agents Society, and the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America's "ask the expert" service. In addition, Ted is a member of the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, The National Alliance Research Academy, and the Society of Insurance Trainers and Educators.

Chris started his legal career in 1990 as an Assistant District Attorney. After leaving the District Attorney's Office in 1992, Chris continued in litigation, handling malpractice lawsuits and other types of actions, ranging from simple personal injury cases to complex contract and corporate disputes. In 1999, Chris joined a multi-state law firm and helped the firm to establish an independent Connecticut office. At that firm, he primarily handled professional liability claims and lawsuits involving insurance agents and brokers. Since that time, he has continued to focus his practice in the area of professional liability, not only defending insurance agents and brokers, but also representing attorneys, real estate brokers and architects and engineers. Through his representation of insurance agents and brokers, he gained significant experience with insurance policies and has used that knowledge to successfully resolve many insurance coverage disputes for insurance carriers as well. In 2008, Chris, together with Jim Keidel and Steve Cunningham started the law firm of Keidel, Weldon & Cunningham. Over the years, Chris has primarily focused his practice in New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, but, because of his significant expertise in the area of professional liability, he has been retained by carriers nationally and in the U.S. Virgin Islands, to become admitted pro hoc vice in order to work with their local counsel. Chris authors articles and lectures on the subject of E&O liability prevention for insurance agents and brokers. He is licensed as a continuing education instructor by the Insurance Departments in a number of states. Community Activities: Wilton Connecticut Fire Commission 2016-Present Wilton Connecticut Police Commissioner 2006-2016 Chairman 2012-2016 Wilton Connecticut Charter Commission 2008-2008 Wilton Connecticut Cell Tower Commission 2001-2002