In addition to the many informative sessions that take place at PLUS conferences, there's a vast amount of networking that occurs.  Here are pictures from last night's opening reception for the 2010 PLUS D&O Symposium as well as some from the AmWins party that took place later in the evening. 

Blair McCloud of Chartis, Rosine Roberts of Aon and Simon Beynon of Chartis discuss their love for the PLUS Blog. 

Frank Blasio of Navigators Pro, Brian Braden of Valiant and Michael Fetchko of Navigators Pro discuss which company is driving down pricing the most.  They each thought it was the other guy.  It appears that a young child wrote Brian's name tag for him.  Speaking of which...

Rich Luca of ACE USA proudly shows off his hand-written name tag at the PLUS reception.  Rich's ancestors came from Italy to this country so that they could work hard and gather the resources to enable Rich to one day have his very own hand-written name tag.  He was overheard saying that he will be framing this name tag once the conference is over.

A happy crowd gathers outside the reception's men's room.  Don't ask me why.

Sal Collura and Rich Luca of ACE USA innocently pose for a photo not suspecting that I'm going to say mean things about them in the caption.  Nah, they're both good guys. I don't know about those ties however (but Rich's goes well with his name tag.)  Sal's lack of a name tag will be investigated by the PLUS Police, we don't like party crashers....

No, Glamour Magazine wasn't holding a photo shoot at the PLUS reception.  Stephanie Hazen (Beecher Carlson), Courtney Coletti  (ACE), a woman whose name I forget (sorry) and Jane Hahn (Beecher) provide a welcome contrast to the picture of Sal and Rich above.  

It's rare to see Phil Voluck without his good friend Michael Jordan in tow, but our dogged photographer managed to corner Phil for a solo photo in the Marriott's elevator.  He was on his way, no doubt, to Michael Jordan's steakhouse for dinner and some laughs. 

 Kevin Healey of AmWins Atlanta, Erin Burns of RCM&D in Virginia and Rich Fernandez of AmWins Atlanta smile for the camera at the AmWins after party at the Bourbon Street Bar.  AmWins is one of the leading U.S. wholesale brokerages and it throws a heck of a party.  Rich is the new head of AmWins' D&O practice in the U.S. and he's smiling despite that fact.  Healey looks like he's up to no good but who am I to say? 

Andy Pritchard of AmWins, one of the leading insurance brokers for asset managers in the U.S., catches up with old friend and talented underwriter Jen Hickox of PIA.  Andy was one of the co-hosts of this enjoyable party.  

Carol Lundgren Matthys, Andy Coleman and Mary Moran Henderson at the PLUS reception.  I know I'm skipping back-and-forth here, just deal with it. 

Tom Zach of Integro Atlanta, one of the fastest growing brokerages in the industry, tries to recruit server Kelsey of the Bourbon Street Bar into the insurance industry.  Don't laugh, more than one insurance professional got their start this way.

 Lyndsey Bauer (Paragon London), Lee Philips (Chartis London) and Ian "Theo" Theato (Elvis Costello's Band  Allied World) share stories of good times in the U.K. at the AmWins party.

That's it for today's pictures folks.  Be sure to return tomorrow to read a recap of today's sessions, including the intriguing final session featuring senior executives from various companies.  There will also be pictures and a recap of tonight's Statesman Dinner honoring Todd Jones of Willis.