REBEX Conference

In 1992, the Chicago, Chicago Suburban, and Wisconsin Chapters of the Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc. (RIMS) joined to develop a regional risk management and employee benefits conference. Their goal was to create a forum where leaders in the industry could learn and exchange ideas. In addition, they wanted to attract top suppliers in the industry so that attendees could stay knowledgeable about the latest technology and industry services.

The first Risk and Employee Benefits Exposition (REBEX) was held in 1993 and has been held annually thereafter.

The conference allows students to learn more about insurance issues through educational sessions, to meet industry professionals to build networking skills, to have an industry mentor, and to visit exhibits about new services and products within the insurance and risk management market.

 

2008 REBEX Conference

The 2008 REBEX Conference was held at the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel in Wheeling on October 23-24, 2008. Sixteen Katie School students/Gamma Iota Sigma members were given the opportunity to attend. A special thank you would like to be given to this year's mentors:

• Greg Cooper
• Patty Grass
• Jack Hurley
• Alan Kubitz
• Ellen Marie Menas
• Ross Norstrom
• Jim Parizek
• Patty Zavala

 

Testimonials

"REBEX 2008 in Wheeling, Illinois was a tremendous experience and I am glad I was able to attend. Being given this opportunity to participate really provided students a taste of the insurance world. The sessions and workshops throughout the day gave insights to various topics such as environmental issues, safety programs, managing global risks, broker relationships and privacy liability. Each topic gave us as undergraduates a chance to explore what professionals in the field practice each and every day. At the same time we were able to learn about what other professionals do for a living in our mentor-mentee relationship. As students of the Katie School, we were assigned mentors throughout the entire conference and spoke frequently with them between sessions as well as eating lunch with them. It was a great chance to have a more personal relationship with a professional in addition to building our own network. With the Katie School of Insurance giving me the opportunity to attend such an event like REBEX, I believe that I have bettered myself professionally and expanded my knowledge of the insurance industry."

-Andy Vuong

 

"I found the REBEX Conference to be an extremely beneficial and rewarding experience. I was given the opportunity to benefit from numerous educational sessions which covered various topics relevant to the current insurance and risk management market. The most beneficial experience was definitely the enormous amount of networking that was available. Throughout the day, we had several Breakout Sessions in which networking could be done with hundreds of industry professionals. As students, we had the opportunity to be paired with mentors. Each mentor is an industry leader with years of experience, and a vast network of colleagues. The relationship I built with my mentor was my most rewarding experience. He was able to offer advice on potential career choices, an immense knowledge of the commercial insurance industry, and supply frequent opportunities to successfully network with industry leaders. REBEX coupled premier educational experiences with career-developing networking opportunities, and I can thank the Katie School for allowing me to attend."

-Mike Hayden