Top risk-management professionals from the public sector opened up about their professional rewards as well as the challenges they face during a forum sponsored by the Risk & Insurance Professional Studies Program in the College of Business at the ΒιΆΉΣ³».
The event built important connections between the University, its students and the profession.
Lydia Thiess, among the students who attended the forum, said she gained useful background about the differences between public- and private-sector risk-management positions as she begins her search for an insurance-related job.
“The forum was a great way to individually connect to professionals that I may not get to connect with in a larger class setting,” Thiess said.
Those connections are equally important to the industry professionals who participated in the campus event, said Thomas Wood, risk manager for the .
“We want to inspire and attract dedicated, hardworking individuals into our profession,” Wood said. “It’s important that we build connections with students, foster relationships and offer guidance where we can. It’s a privilege to help guide students.”
Learning wasn’t a one-way street during the seminar, said Adria White, the risk manager for the She learns much from listening to other professionals.
“There may be a risk-mitigation technique that I learn about that worked at another organization that I can now borrow and modify it to see if it may work at my organization,” White said.
Leaders of insurance and risk-management organizations in ΒιΆΉΣ³» are paying close attention to the three-year-old Risk & Insurance program as it builds ties with the profession.
“The University is fortunate to have the leaders who developed and are currently involved in the innovativeβ―Risk and Insurance Professional Studies program,” said Marshall Smith, risk manager with the β―, a nonprofit that provides insurance coverage for more than 120 public entities in ΒιΆΉΣ³». “An event like this provides real-world insights, career considerations, relevant skills development, and networking opportunities to students in the program.”
Other professionals who participated in the forum were Mike Payne, risk manager for the , and Dennis Monahan, the University’s insurance risk manager.
The forum was organized by Brandon Lewis, an adjunct faculty member in Risk & Insurance program who works in the insurance industry. He said more events are under consideration, and the idea is strongly supported by the professional community.
“Risk management and insurance professionals are eager to share their experiences and provide guidance to students entering the field,” Lewis said.
