E-mail: jrjone2@ilstu.edu
Industry Support
Programs
Students
Faculty
Insurance Advisory Board: Organizations represented on the Insurance Advisory Board include Afni, Amerisure Insurance, Aon, Argonaut Great Central Insurance Company, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Business Insurance, Chartis, Chubb Group, Connor & Gallagher, COUNTRY Financial, General Re, Harco National Insurance, Illinois Department of Insurance, Lockton Companies Inc, Munich Re, Nationwide Insurance, Pekin Insurance, RIMS-Chicago, RLI, State Farm Insurance, Surplus Line Association of Illinois, Swiss Re, Travelers, and Zurich North America.
Risk Manager in Residence: Rick Roberts, the Corporate Risk manager for Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc, spent 2 1/2 days on the Illinois State University campus. He presented to various insurance classes and also met with students during lunch and dinner.
Mr. Roberts has been a member of RIMS for 21 years. He has served as president of RIMS Connecticut Valley chapter and has participated on various RIMS Committees: Research (2000-2002), Nominating (2000-2006) and the Quality Advisory Council (2006 to 2008). He was named to the RIMS board of directors in December 2007 and is also on the board of trustees for the Aircraft Builders Council in London, England. Rick has been liaison for the ERM Development Committee, RIMS Canada Council (RCC) and most recently the Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC) portfolios while on the Board.
Mr. Roberts has earned the ARM-E, RF, ARM, CPCU, and ALCM professional designations and completed an MBA in Finance at the University of Hartford in 2007
Katie School Golf Classic: The 20th annual Katie School Golf Classic was held on June 19, 2011 at the Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora, IL. The program raised over $35,000 for enhancements within the Katie School and student scholarships.
Executive in Residence: Michael Smith - retired Risk Manager for Growmark, Inc. - continues as the Katie School's Executive in Residence. He maintained office hours during the academic year and provided oversight to student insurance projects, including the risk management non-for-profit service projects highlighting the Katie School Student Leadership Certification Program.
Scholarships: Grants and scholarships totaling over $100,000 were awarded to outstanding undergraduate students in insurance and risk management.
Insurance Education Institute: Fifteen high school guidance counselors from Illinois and around the country participated in a three day in-service training program in insurance education during July of 2012. The program was funded by a grant from the Insurance Education Institute.
Insurance Executive Forum: The 21st annual Insurance Executive Forum will be held at the Union League Club in Chicago on October 18, 2011 for over 200 industry leaders. The topic of the panel discussion is "Rising to the Challenge: Succeeding in the new normal."
London Market Study Tour: A one-week training program focusing on the U.S. Property/Casualty industry was held for 20 individuals from the Lloyd’s of London and Bermuda markets in Chicago and on the Illinois State University campus during one week every July. This is the 15th consecutive year this one-week course has been offered and it attracts underwriters, claims personnel, brokers and representatives from Lloyd’s, including the Corporation as well as the London insurance market and its service providers. The program offers interaction with an exceptional group of industry executives from the U.S. insurance market as well as with outstanding faculty from the Katie School.
Minority High School Scholars Actuarial Academy for the Study of Actuarial Science: The one-week program will be held on campus from July 8-13, 2012 and is designed especially for above average African-American, Hispanic and Native American high school students who excel in mathematics.
Redbird High School Risk Management Challenge: During this program - to be held next during July 15-20, 2012 - juniors about to embark on their senior year of high school competed on teams of four as senior risk management professionals. Each day the teams would strategically invest and make risk-related decisions while learning about various aspects of the industry through structured social activities such as bowling and games.
Katie School Symposium: “Building Business through Social media" was the topic of the symposium held on April 21, 2011 on the Illinois State University campus.
Ken Smith Financial Regulators Program: The 2010 program was held from June 22 - July 2. Topics covered include Risk Assessment and Regulation, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Reinsurance, and much more for the professionals in attendance. Faculty for this program was a mix of academics, industry professionals, and regulators.
(PISA) Producer Development Program: A program created in conjunction with the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois to meet the needs of producers with less than two years experience. This program helped in understanding customers, initiating customer relationships, and developing customer relationships. It was last held at Illinois State University from June 14-24, 2011.
Gamma Iota Sigma: The professional insurance fraternity is an organization for students interested in a career in the insurance industry. This year's membership exceeds 100 students. During the year, Gamma sponsors events such as group golf lessons, company visits, industry speakers on topics of leadership and business ethics, a Peoria Chiefs baseball game outing with RLI, community service projects, and coordination of CPCU mentors. This year, 11 officers of Gamma Iota Sigma represented the Katie School at the GIS National Conference in Columbus, Ohio in October.
International Internships: With the funding provided, the Katie School was able to place and support eight Illinois State University students in international internships in the Bermuda market (2), the Lloyd’s of London market (2), the South African market (2), and the Zurich market (2). 2011 was the first year students have been sent to South Africa. These interns gained insights and a valuable global perspective from working with underwriters, brokers, regulators, claims personnel, captive managers and many other insurance personnel during their internships. All of these students came back to campus with an elevated level of confidence and enthusiasm for pursuing careers in the insurance industry. With their acquired knowledge and skills, they will add value to any company they will work for in the future.
Industry Conferences: Many students had the opportunity to attend industry conferences around the country. Nearly 20 students received the benefit of attending the REBEX Conference in October, and this Spring students will be attending the RIMS conference in Philadelphia, PA. As Illinois State is hosting NAPSLO this year, a number of students are privileged to attend the NAPSLO Symposium in Chicago in the Spring as well.
National Awards: Students received national recognition for the RIMS Anita Benedetti Scholarship, the Angus Robinson Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Spencer Educational Foundation Scholarship, and the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW).
Student Leadership Certification Program: This program prepares top College of Business and Actuarial Science students for their careers in the insurance and financial services industry. The components of the program include communication styles assessment and feedback; assessments on character, personal risk profile, and motivators and rewards; team-building exercises at Upper Limits; group instruction by ISU faculty; leadership presentations by industry leaders; and group risk consulting projects for local non-profit organizations coordinated by a risk consulting expert.
Internships: Over 80 students participated in internships with insurance companies, agencies, and brokerages in Illinois and nationwide.
Professional Exams: Students are encouraged to take exams leading to professional insurance designations such as the CPCU, CLU, ARM, and INS. The Katie School offers funding for the first attempt at most exams as well as a financial aid reward if the exam is passed.
Student Enrollment: Over 800 students enrolled in insurance courses including nearly 300 insurance majors and minors.
Edmondson-Miller Endowed Chair: Professor Richard MacMinn, BA, MA, PhD, holds the Edmondson-Miller Chair in Insurance and Financial Services at the Katie School. Prior to his current position he held the Swiss Re Chair in the Management of Risk. He is also an associate editor for the Journal of Insurance Issues and the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Finance.
