Buck Hill Falls Golf Course

Address: 357 Golf Dr, Buck Hill Falls, PA 18323
Shuttles to and from Skytop are available starting at 12:10pm in the hotel lobby.

Meeting location: Skytop Lodge lobby

Are you a fan of the Amazing Race? It’s time to put your team to the test with our own Amazing Race team building activity at Skytop Lodge. This thrilling activity will immediately engage your team and create a friendly sense of competition among employees. Each team will earn envelopes and dodge unexpected roadblocks as they dash around the property in an attempt to finish the race first. Watch as your employees develop a strong sense of camaraderie during our Amazing Race. It’s sure to make your company retreat a big hit!

 Activity level: Moderate

Evergreen Porch and Ballroom

Shuttles will be available from the Skytop Lodge lobby beginning at 5:50 pm, guests are also welcome to walk to the Streamside Lodge (Approx. 0.25 miles)

Enjoy a picturesque evening overlooking Mountain Lake with food stations, beverages and lawn games.

Windsor Private Area (Middle Windsor)

Windsor is where guests and locals alike gather for breakfast and dinner. With a focus on the seasons, we serve inventive and inspired traditional cuisine in a classic setting. The large garden available right on the property, as well as our local farmers and ranchers, help fuel our Executive Chef Christopher Chludzinski’s passion for farm-to-table cuisine.

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John Davis, Doylestown Borough Manager

DVPLT Executive Committee Chair

John Davis, Chair of the Delaware Valley Property & Liability Trust, will deliver the welcoming remarks at the 2025 DVPLT Educational Conference. John has served on the DVPLT board since July 2004, and has been our DVPLT Board Chair since January 2011. His opening remarks will set the tone for the conference, highlighting the importance of navigating the evolving landscape of municipal property and liability risks. 

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This session will review relevant underwriting updates pertaining to the Delaware Valley Property & Liability Trust, including what the Trust is doing to reduce property costs, reinsurance breakdown, and various impacts to premiums.

Presenters:

Elizabeth A. Avery, CPCU, ARM

Ms. Avery is a Consultant with Insurance Buyers’ Council, Inc. She joined the firm in August 2016. Ms. Avery provides support to the Senior and Principal Consultants. Projects include compiling loss data, gathering renewal information and reviewing renewal proposals, certificate of insurance tracking, preparation of schedules of insurance, contract abstracts, invoice and endorsement review. She began her insurance career in 2015 as an Underwriting Intern with an excess and surplus lines wholesaler in South Carolina. Responsibilities included maintaining client and policy files as well as issuance of binders, invoices and policies to clients. Ms. Avery holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in risk management from the University of South Carolina. She was a member of the Gamma Iota Sigma insurance fraternity. She completed her Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation and her Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Christopher L. Anderson, CPCU, ARM

Mr. Anderson is a consultant with Insurance Buyers’ Council, Inc.  he joined the firm in 2018.Mr. Anderson began his career in the risk management field in 2017 as an intern for a nation-wide senior living community.  He was able to lead a project that tackled Workers’ Compensation fraud and increased workers’ safety. This program was implemented at 18 different senior living communities across the U.S. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual focus in risk management and finance from the University of South Carolina.  In addition, he obtained the designations of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM). Mr. Anderson works closely with governmental entities and educational clients, specifically group self-insurance pooling.  His role includes underwriting prospective pool members, assisting in insurance renewals, contract review and issuance of certificates of insurance.  Mr. Anderson also reviews contracts and insurance requirements for real estate clients, provides insurance policy analysis for several high net worth individuals and assists in coverage review for various commercial entities.

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Delve into the latest best practices and emerging trends in cybersecurity, covering topics such as the importance of robust cybersecurity measures, navigating minimum experience requirements for reinsurers, leveraging immutable storage, the role of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), addressing pain points of cyber renewal, developing written incident response plans, and current discussions among cyber professionals. Additionally, we’ll explore technical aspects like firewalls, Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS), and endpoint security solutions. This session is essential for anyone looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity, offering valuable insights and practical knowledge to enhance your organization’s security posture.

Presenters:

Neil McGarry, Director of Information Technology

Neil serves as the Director of Information Technology and HIPAA Security Officer for Delaware Valley Trusts. With over 35 years of experience in the IT industry, Neil has designed and coded multiple user applications, installed networks, and successfully served as a Database Administrator. He leads a team of professionals, overseeing all aspects of the trust’s Information Technologies and introducing innovative solutions to enhance workflow efficiency. Neil and his team ensure the integrity and security of digital data, which includes managing data protection, access, email communications, and disaster recovery. Additionally, Neil has implemented Electronic Data Interchange, ensuring accurate and secure data transmission to business partners.

Marie Wade, General Counsel

Marie joined Delaware Valley Trusts in January 2023. She provides guidance on a wide range of legal and compliance issues for the Trusts including contractual, employee benefits, employment, investment, regulatory, legislative, governance and risk management matters. She is passionate about ensuring the Trusts can fulfil their commitment to intergovernmental cooperation and member support in a compliant manner. Marie came to the Trust with fifteen years of in-house legal and corporate experience at Fortune 500 companies. She earned a B.A. in Social Relations and International Relations at Michigan State University and earned a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude and served as an editor for the DePaul Law Review. She is a lecturer on legal issues and contracts in Drexel University’s Music Industry program. On the weekend, you can find Marie spending time with her family and two ill-behaved dogs, working on crossword puzzles, making puns, and continuing her lifelong journey to find the worst movie ever made.

Christopher L. Anderson, CPCU, ARM

Mr. Anderson is a consultant with Insurance Buyers’ Council, Inc.  he joined the firm in 2018. Mr. Anderson began his career in the risk management field in 2017 as an intern for a nation-wide senior living community.  He was able to lead a project that tackled Workers’ Compensation fraud and increased workers’ safety. This program was implemented at 18 different senior living communities across the U.S. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual focus in risk management and finance from the University of South Carolina.  In addition, he obtained the designations of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM). Mr. Anderson works closely with governmental entities and educational clients, specifically group self-insurance pooling.  His role includes underwriting prospective pool members, assisting in insurance renewals, contract review and issuance of certificates of insurance.  Mr. Anderson also reviews contracts and insurance requirements for real estate clients, provides insurance policy analysis for several high net worth individuals and assists in coverage review for various commercial entities.

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Join the DVPLT Claims Team for an exciting and interactive trivia game! Test your knowledge, compete with colleagues, and have fun, and win prizes while learning more about DVPLT.

Presenters:

Mark Harris, DVPLT Claims Manager
Christine Broadwell, Sr. Litigation Specialist
Elizabeth Bottino, Claims Specialist
Bill Beedenbender, Litigation Specialist
Margaret Hetzel, Sr. Property Claims Specialist

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In this dynamic session, we will explore the complexities of police liability in the context of modern technology, including body cameras, tasers, drones, and accreditation. Through engaging role play examples and real-world case studies, our expert counsel will provide valuable insights into the legal challenges and best practices for managing these technologies. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate liability issues effectively, with our counsel even taking on the role of plaintiff counsel to illustrate key points.

Presenters:

David MacMain, Managing Partner, MacMain Leinhauser, PC

David J. MacMain is the Managing Partner of MacMain Leinhauser PC, located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His practice focuses on defending public entities and officials in a wide variety of civil rights and employment claims including police misconduct, zoning/land use, sexual harassment, discrimination, licensing, First Amendment, prison-based and work-place claims in Federal and state courts throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. David has also been specially retained to defend high exposure/high profile §1983 and municipal liability cases throughout the country. David has extensive trial experience having tried over a hundred and twenty-five (125) cases to verdict in favor of his clients.

David is a frequent speaker on civil rights, municipal liability, employment litigation, police and prison-related issues, zoning and land use, trial skills, and ethics to a variety of audiences, both locally and nationally, including law enforcement agencies and organizations, public officials, lawyers, solicitors, and insurance professionals. He has been named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” the field of Civil Right since 2006 and is rated “AV” Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell. He is member of the Defense Research Institute, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. After graduation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, David served as a Pennsylvania State Trooper stationed at the Avondale, Chester County Barracks where he engaged in all aspects of police work in the twenty-seven (27) municipalities that the Avondale station covered. David is cum laude graduate of Temple University School of Law. David serves as Solicitor for the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and the West Chester Borough Civil Service Commission, and as a Zoning Board member for Pennsbury Township.

Nicholas Cummins, Member, Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg, LLC

Nick Cummins is a member of Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg LLC, and is the managing member of its Marlton, New Jersey office. Nick practices in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and State of New Jersey. His practice focuses primarily on police liability claims and insurance coverage and bad faith. Over his nearly twenty year career, Nick has represented hundreds of police officers, corrections officers, and other law enforcement personnel in civil rights claims in state and federal court. Nick commonly defends law enforcement officers against claims alleging excessive force, false arrest, malicious prosecution, fabrication and suppression of evidence, state created danger, and Eighth Amendment violations. Nick has successfully tried police liability claims in both state and federal court, and is well versed in issues pertaining to Monell liability, qualified immunity, and claims arising under the Fourth, Fourteenth and Eighth Amendments. In addition to police civil rights claims, Nick also defends school districts and municipalities against civil rights claims arising under the constitution, including substantive and procedural due process claims, First Amendment retaliation claims, and Fifth Amendment takings claims.

Nick has been an attorney since 2006, and a member of Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg since 2015. He is the most recent past President of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute, and is currently a sitting Board Member. Nick handles appellate matters in both state and federal court, and has successfully argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He lives in Mount Laurel, New Jersey with his wife and two sons.

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Chief Linskey’s presentation takes the audience on a journey through his career, culminating as Boston’s top cop during the Boston Marathon Bombing Attack. His presentation offers lessons on leading before, during, and after crises. Chief Linskey emphasizes the importance of leadership and staying cool under pressure, demonstrating how these qualities helped him guide his team through unthinkable challenges. He also shares how he relied on his “File Cabinet of Leadership,” a mental repository of knowledge and experiences, to lead effectively during the crisis.

Keynote Speaker:

Daniel Linskey – Former Superintendent-in-Chief with the Boston Police Department

Kroll Managing Director, Boston Office Head, Investigations and Disputes

Daniel Linskey is a Managing Director in Kroll’s Investigations and Disputes practice and is head of the Boston office. As the former Superintendent-in-Chief of the Boston Police Department (BPD) and a 27-year veteran of the force, Dan provided strong leadership through some of the most tragic and contentious events in the city’s history, including the Boston Marathon bombings and the Occupy Movement.

Dan serves clients in diverse industries with uncommon experience in investigations, crisis response, and risk management, as well as personal, physical, and operational security strategies. Widely respected for his knowledge of the complexities inherent in law enforcement and homeland security, Dan has also consulted with numerous national and international government agencies on a broad range of challenges, including large-scale event management, crisis leadership, and preparedness and community engagement strategies. During his long career in law enforcement, Dan developed a strong commitment to translating the lessons learned from large-scale events, crises, and tragedies throughout the country into training and policies aimed at avoiding the mistakes of the past while also replicating successful strategies. For example, Dan contributed to a report produced by the firm of Edward Davis, LLC that reviewed a large-scale disorder event at the University of Massachusetts and presented a set of recommendations to prevent future occurrences.

Upon retiring from the Boston Police Department prior to joining Kroll, Dan founded the Linskey Group. In this role, he provided clients with security, law enforcement, and emergency management services, including dignitary protection, cyber security, and confidential investigations, as well as incident reviews and training exercises designed to prepare agencies and facilities for crisis. After joining the BPD in 1986, Dan rose through the ranks before being promoted to Superintendent-in-Chief, the department’s highest sworn member. In this role, he managed the day-to-day operations of a 3,000-person department with a budget of over $300 million while overseeing a 30% reduction in major crimes over seven years. While serving as Superintendent-in-Chief, Dan was also the Jurisdictional Point of Contact for the City of Boston, working with the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management to develop, implement, and oversee a regional homeland security strategy addressing all hazards.

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When you work within a municipality, there is no such thing as a typical day. Accidents, acts of violence, labor strife and environmental hazards can turn your plans upside down. To make matters worse, reporters always seem to get wind of bad news before you are ready to share it. What is the best approach when the press starts to call? Could you have taken steps sooner to prepare your stakeholders for bad news? This informative workshop will examine three types of bad news which typically hit municipalities.

• Respond Now! Bad News
• Strategically Communicated Bad News
• Good News Turned Bad

Strategies for handling each type of bad news will be presented, as will the pros and cons of employing certain communication methods. Bring your bad news scenario with you and you’ll leave this presentation with a comprehensive strategy for communicating it.

Presenter:

Leza Raffel, Owner, Communication Solutions Group, Inc.

Leza Raffel, founder and president of The Communication Solutions Group, Inc. is the driving force behind her 32-year old public relations and marketing company. A graduate of Ithaca College with a BS from the School of Communications, Leza specializes in overseeing the development and implementation of public relations and community engagement programs for government entities, non-profits, charitable organizations, and educational institutions. She also excels at media relations and regularly provides media training to associations and nonprofit leaders.  In addition, Leza has extensive experience in crisis communications. She has worked with townships and boroughs throughout Pennsylvania, promoting their good news and helping them implement a strategy for communicating bad news. She is a past speaker for the League of Municipalities, PSATC, PSATS and the PSAB and a contributor to PA Borough News and the Pennsylvania Firemen. Her company received the “Soaring 76 Award” and “Philly 100 Award” from the Philadelphia Business Journal twice because of its rapid growth. Leza was recognized as one of the “Best 50 Women in Business” by Pennsylvania’s Governor.

Skytop.com

Streamside Lodge, followed by campfire and activities.
Evergreen Ballroom as rain backup.

Skytop Lodge offers a “garden to table” or “farm-to-table” dining experience at its Windsor Dining Room. This approach is driven by the lodge’s Executive Chef, Christopher Chludzinski, who utilizes ingredients from the large on-site garden and local farmers and ranchers.

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Join us for an engaging panel discussion where experienced defense counsel share their insights on what makes or breaks a case. This session provides an overview of key factors that influence case outcomes from the perspective of defense attorneys. Our panelists will discuss the qualities of clients who contribute positively to their cases, as well as common pitfalls that can hinder success.

Presenters:

George H. Knoell, III, Partner, Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer, LLP

Mr. Knoell graduated from Ursinus College in 1973 and Villanova Law School in 1976. He has practiced with the firm since 1976. His areas of particular concentration include municipal defense, medical malpractice, hospital defense, and employment discrimination. He has defended numerous municipalities in southeast Pennsylvania in trials of civil rights and discrimination matters involving police, labor, and zoning issues. Mr. Knoell’s litigation experience has included hundreds of jury trials since 1977, over 160 of which have gone to verdict in the Federal Courts, Common Pleas Courts of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Berks, Bucks and Lehigh counties, all Pennsylvania appellate courts, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Bar Association and on its Judiciary Committee. Mr. Knoell’s experience as co-chair of the Montgomery County Medical/ Legal Committee included informal resolution of professional disputes between physicians and attorneys. His twelve-year tenure as a civil service commissioner for Lower Merion Township involved extensive interaction with police and municipal officials and presiding over civil service hearings. Mr. Knoell is a member of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American College of Trial Lawyers and American Board of Trial Advocates. He has delivered seminars to physicians on medical malpractice avoidance and to municipal officials on municipal immunity defenses. His personal interests have included membership in the Long Beach Island Fishing Club, Radnor Hunt Club, and the Willistown and Brandywine Conservancies. He is the current President of the Aqua Beach Condominium Association. He is married and has three children.

Michelle Turner, Member, Bennett, Bricklin & Saltzburg, LLC

Michele E. Turner is a member of Bennett Bricklin & Saltzburg, LLC and is proud to serve on its Executive Committee.  She is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Municipal Liability team where she principally handles premises liability matters from case inception to trial. Michele leads as Chair of the firm’s Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement Committee and in that role, is dedicated to promoting a more diverse and inclusive environment within Bennett Bricklin and beyond.  Michele graduated from Howard University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, then received her Juris Doctor from the Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in 1992, receiving recognition for her outstanding advocacy skills. While in law school, Michele mentored Philadelphia high school students through Temple’s Law, Education and Participation program (“LEAP”) and coached these students in city-wide mock trial competitions. She also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Clifford Scott Green, former Senior Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In 1992, Ms. Turner was a founding member and Assistant Executive Editor of the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review.

Michele served with distinction as an Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia Law Department for seven years, serving for a time in the Civil Rights Division, and then in the Claims Division. In the Civil Rights Division, she handled cases stemming from alleged police brutality, false arrest and section 1983 claims against the City of Philadelphia. In the Claims Division, Michele handled many claims arising under the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, ranging from slip and falls to catastrophic injury and death cases. She has conducted countless depositions, participated in numerous arbitrations and has tried many cases to verdict, all with great success.

Michele is regularly appointed as a Judge Pro Tem for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and has served as an arbitrator for the court as well.  She is a hearing officer for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  She has served as a volunteer attorney for the Support Center for Child Advocates, an organization committed to quality legal representation for abused and neglected children in Philadelphia. In this role, she was selected for the First Judicial District Honor Roll for Pro Bono service in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and she is a 2000 fellow of the Academy of Advocacy. She has lectured for the PBI to other attorneys about courtroom tactics, and to judges about case valuation and alternative forms of dispute resolution.  She has lectured on the topic of diversity in numerous forums, and even delivered a sermon focused on uplifting and supporting women to her church!  Michele is a proud member of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Bar Association and serves on the Executive Board of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, where she also serves on the Programs Committee.  She is admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania trial and appellate courts. She has extensive experience from both sides of the courtroom, having represented defendants and plaintiffs during her career.

Outside of law, Michele enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. She also enjoys cooking, loudly cheering for all Philly sports teams and reading.  Michele is most devoted to uplifting, mentoring and encouraging youth through her various board appointments, youth-focused organizations, her church and sorority.

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In this segment, our risk control team will review a selection of contemporary best practices designed to reduce the frequency and severity of property and liability losses. You might discover one or two strategies you haven’t considered before! Following this, the team will highlight the value-added resources offered by the Trust, aimed at helping members sleep better at night.

Presenters:

Peter Erndwein, Dir. of Risk Control
Linda Wolf, Sr. Risk Control Consultant
Lauren Conway, Sr. Risk Control Consultant
Marc Medori, Rick Control Consultant