And, It's A Wrap!Tue, May 21, 2013 -
I’m happy to report that RIMS ’13 was a huge success. The conference boasted attendance numbers close to 9,000 making it one of our highest attended conferences in years. And, according to all the feedback, RIMS educational programming and the new schedule of sessions – including Power Hours and the Thought Leader Theater – significantly enhanced the conference experience for many.
A common theme throughout my presidency and the conference has been RIMS’ commitment to the next generation of risk professionals. For the first time, a panel of young risk practitioners addressed RIMS Board of Directors and provided their perspective on the profession and its future. The board learned a great deal from this discussion and we look forward to continuing these dialogues through our Young Risk Practitioners Group and working together to make their risk management journey a successful one.
In my address to members during the conference’s General Session, I challenged our younger professionals to get involved and help shape the future of the discipline through service with RIMS. I also challenged chapters to reach out, from a grass roots perspective, to this group and encourage their involvement. They are, after all, the future of the risk management profession.
One challenge that we faced in Los Angeles was the limited number of hotel rooms in close proximity to the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the subsequent commuting time to attend sessions, events and business meetings. Our annual conference venues are booked almost ten years in advance and, unfortunately, we were not able to predict or make up for the demolition of one downtown hotel and the loss of its 600 rooms. RIMS regrets any transportation inconvenience you may have experienced in Los Angeles as a result.
We are excited for RIMS ’14 in Denver, a city that has thousands of hotel rooms and top-notch dining options all within walking distance of the Colorado Convention Center.
Some updates from the Society, our Chapters, Committees & Councils:
First, I would like to extend an official President’s Corner Message welcome to our two new chapters: our Australasia Chapter based in Melbourne and our Peru Chapter based in Lima. As we announced at the Annual Conference, these two chapters are a testament to this Society’s commitment to expanding its global footprint.
By now, I hope most of you have had the opportunity to download the two new RIMS Executive Reports issued by our International Committee. The Challenges of Implementing an Insurance Program in China and the Maintaining Global Employee Benefit Coverage with Multinational Pooling reports are available for free in RIMS newly revamped Risk Knowledge online resource library.
RIMS Technology Advisory Council (TAC) continues to produce stellar work. Cyber risk management, data breaches, information security, privacy liability, cloud computing, mobile technology, big data, convergence, ERM tools, risk management information systems, all continue to be hot button issues around risk management circles. The committee, led by its Chair Emily Cummins, has established itself as a go-to resource for these issues and has had its members participate as panelists on a Risk & Insurance webinar, as well as being featured in a Business Insurance article.
As we speak about technology, some projects that are currently in progress include an upgrade to Avectra – the system that manages our member’s data, membership renewals and new membership additions – that is scheduled to be completed this summer, the streamlining of the “Contact Us” feature and the process for answering submissions. We have also added a “Find Chapter” button to the right section of the RIMS homepage to make it easier for members and nonmembers alike to locate their local chapter website. We are always looking for your feedback and have developed the following SURVEY to learn what website features matter most to you.
Finally, with little rest from Los Angeles, our Exhibitor Advisory Council (EAC) and Meetings and Events team have been in Denver the last week planning for RIMS ’14. This trip to the Rockies provides the EAC with first-hand knowledge of the layout of Denver’s conference facilities in order to effectively communicate those offerings to our exhibitors and coordinate the design of the Exhibit Hall, as well as to familiarize themselves with external sites – hotels, restaurants, and other meeting facilities – that will be used for networking events.
In the next month, I will be headed to Bermuda Insurance Day to speak on the importance of communicating the value of risk management and its impact on the development of a risk financing program. I look forward to sharing that experience with you and encourage you to explore RIMS exceptional professional development opportunities in the month of May.
Sincerely,
John R. Phelps
RIMS President Connecting Flight to LATue, Apr 02, 2013 -
A few weeks ago, I left my home in sunny and warm Jacksonville for Tokyo to visit with RIMS’ Japan Chapter. The Japan chapter is an important part of the Society’s global footprint that is continuing to expand. At nearly 10,000 miles away, it couldn’t be more clear how connected we all really are. Risk professionals in Japan face the same challenges and have the same questions as my colleagues back in Florida. Risk management truly transcends borders and RIMS will continue in its efforts to become the go-to resource for all risk professionals, wherever they are located.
While in Japan I delivered speeches in Tokyo and Osaka that focused on the value of accelerating an organization’s risk capabilities to achieve strategic objectives and heighten social responsibility…something that is very relevant to RIMS members, no matter what country they practice in.
And, it’s hard to believe that as soon as I returned from Japan, it’s practically time to board another flight for our Annual Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles. As president this year, I’ve been very involved in the planning of the conference and strongly believe we have an outstanding program planned for you.
Leading up to the conference, I’ve been asked several times “what advice do you have for someone who has never been to the RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition.” My answer seems obvious, especially for a risk practitioner, but I think it can go a long way in helping attendees gain the most from their RIMS ’13 experience. My advice for the risk professionals that are committed to improving themselves in order to increase the value they bring to their companies, is to develop a plan before they go.
Decide what you want to know more about. Which people do you want to talk with? What sessions will help strengthen your organization? Look at the list of vendors in the Exhibit Hall and see if there's something you want to explore or find more information about. Maybe there's an opportunity to put a new insurance carrier in your portfolio or finally automate your ERM program. So, make a plan and work through it, because if you don’t you will find it can be very overwhelming. You’ll return home wishing you had remembered to connect with a certain vendor or attend a session that could have helped you with an issue you are struggling with at your company.
To further assist first-timers and others who are still relatively new to the conference, RIMS Member Services Department put together a document (download it here) that can be used as a cheat sheet. Those attendees would also benefit from the First-Timers Orientation session scheduled for Monday, April 22nd at 10:15 a.m.
You might not be new to the conference but RIMS is always trying to create additional value for our members, offering new products, resources and, in this instance, conference features that include top-tier speakers that set us apart from the rest.
No RIMS Annual Conference experience should start without attending the General Session breakfast. This year we will have one of the great business thinkers, author Simon Sinek, deliver our opening keynote to get everyone energized and excited for the week ahead. Our Awards Luncheon has been completely revamped with a professional emcee and production to give it an Oscars-style vibe. And, last but certainly not least, our Conference Finale featuring author, comedian, TV personality Howie Mandel, who is all set to give us his spin on risk management.
Finally, some updates from RIMS’ Councils and Committees. In addition to having prepared a student session track for attendees at RIMS ‘13, our Student Advisory Council along with the Student Involvement Committee will host a Power Hour session focused on how to gain a competitive advantage in the workplace; a student luncheon; a speed networking roundtable; and another roundtable to give these aspiring students a glimpse of “A Day in the Life of a Risk Manager.”
Additionally, our International Committee is developing two new reports that will focus on strategies for conducting business abroad and captives. RIMS 2013 Compensation Survey that’s produced bi-annually by our Membership and Chapter Service Committee will also be released at RIMS ‘13.
There’s a lot in store for all of us in Los Angeles. Remember, if you have any questions about what to see or what to do, the volunteer members of RIMS’ many committees and its staff are standing by to help. We wish you safe travels to LA and look forward to seeing you all there.
And, for those of you who aren’t able to join us in Los Angeles, keep an eye out for the daily emails that RIMS sends during the conference. Their coverage of the events, education and networking taking place provide valuable information for even those not in attendance.
Sincerely,
John R. Phelps
RIMS President It's Only Just Begun...Tue, Feb 19, 2013 -
We have accomplished so much in such a short period of time and I could not have done it without the support of my fellow Board Members and RIMS’ dedicated staff.
In just my first week, President Obama signed the SMART Act, a long-standing legislative priority for RIMS that will streamline the Medicare reporting process for insurers. We have always believed that this legislation would benefit the entire risk management community and I’d like to commend the External Affairs Committee for their work in support of its approval.
Continuing on the legislative front, RIMS will host three regional legislative events in March that will give our members a chance to discuss the most relevant legislative risk management issues in their state and meet with their local elected officials to review them. On March 6 we will hold our State Legislative Conference in Tallahassee; March 12 -13 a regional RIMS on the Hill in Austin; and, March 19 – 20 RIMS on the Mall in Sacramento. I encourage all RIMS members who are interested to contact our External Affairs team to get involved. Don’t feel you need special knowledge to talk to your legislators. They want to talk to people like you who represent the buyers on issues.
I think it’s safe to say that RIMS 2013 Annual Conference & Exhibition is front and center and on everyone’s mind. I’m happy to report that exhibitor and sponsorship numbers are strong and that registration numbers are exceptional. L.A. is a terrific location and our conference planners have done an outstanding job lining up world class sessions, networking opportunities and an exhibit hall filled with companies eager to learn how they may be of service to you.
For me, the educational sessions are the heart of the Conference. It is there where we get to sharpen our skills and learn from the best our profession has to offer. This year, we wanted to make sure our sessions met your scheduling needs so we added some new features to the educational component of the Conference.
Look for RIMS Power Hours, shorter, one hour educational sessions on Tuesday morning. The RIMS Hub in the Exhibit Hall will offer “round-the-clock” educational programming for professionals looking to boost their social media skills. And, the Thought Leader Theater will feature more than 20, 25-minute risk management sessions not offered at any other time during the conference. We’re confident that these new additions will further enhance your time in LA.
RIMS Board of Directors met in New York in January for their first Board Meeting of the year. This meeting’s agenda was extensive and included a vote on a “hot button” issue that has been a highly debated at House of Delegates meetings for the past several years. That issue: Associates of the Society serving on Chapter Board.
After appointing a specially commissioned Task Force to review this issue and studying their strong arguments for and against Associates serving on Chapter Boards, RIMS Board of Directors has voted and made its decisions on this issue. We want all those affected to fully understand the methodology behind this process and the factors that were considered. So, I invite you click here to gain access to the background information, the process and the considerations we, on the Board, reviewed in order to make such an important decision on behalf of the Society.
Finally, in each of these President’s Corner Messages, I plan to give a quick update on the work of a couple of our National committees.
The ERM Committee is undertaking a new project on integrating ERM with traditional risk management and has plans to release a survey later this year. And, the Strategic Risk Management Development Council is undertaking a new project on reputational risk. We’re looking forward to seeing the product of their work.
Each year, PDAC – RIMS’ Professional Development Advisory Council – is charged with reviewing our workshops and webinars to make sure the content is on point and relevant for today’s risk professionals. That committee held its first meeting of the year and has begun that process.
RIMS Student Advisory Council (SAC) is hosting the GIS monthly webinar on Thursday, February 21 from 2:30 - 4:00pm. The topic will be “A Year in the Life of a Risk Manager.” Council Chair Debbie Rodgers will serve as moderator. Los Angeles Chapter President Ross Pebley and SAC member James Conoly will join the panel.
There are countless ways to be involved in RIMS, whether it be National service, conference participation, legislative advocacy or with your local chapter. This Society success depends on the invaluable contributions of our volunteering members. We truly appreciate all that you do for the Society that enables us to grow and thrive year-after-year.
Sincerely,
John Phelps
RIMS President RIMS 2013 President John Phelps Rings in the New Year and Sets Presidential Goals...Wed, Jan 09, 2013 -
Happy New Year. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays.
It is an honor and a privilege to write to you as RIMS 59th President. Serving on RIMS Board of Directors for more than nine years, I strongly believe that the invaluable resources and opportunities this Society offers today’s risk practitioners is a testament to RIMS outstanding staff, the work of my fellow board members, the remarkable work of our Chapter Officers and, most importantly, a result of our committed and dedicated membership.
As President, I am committed to paving the way for this Society’s growth, our membership’s success and the advancement of the risk management profession, and will focus on developing RIMS’ key resources that help organizations not only manage today’s risks, but prepare for those of tomorrow.
I’ve put a lot of thought into what I’d like to accomplish in 2013 and have divided those goals for myself and the Society into three categories: creating value, thinking globally and developing leaders.
CREATING VALUE
As the role of the risk manager continues to evolve, new value propositions within organizations are created. We will concentrate our efforts on supporting all risk professionals to strategically implement, maintain and advance their risk programs to capture that value. Offering resources for traditional risk management methods has always been a staple of this Society and will continue throughout my presidency. I will also ensure that we continue to focus the Society’s resources on helping all risk professionals achieve their goals.
THINKING GLOBALLY
Technology has enabled organizations to transcend borders, making it effortless for business to be conducted on an international scale. As our membership becomes more geographically diverse, RIMS too must think globally and take advantage of the many viable opportunities to expand the Society’s footprint, making our resources and network accessible to risk practitioners all over the world.
DEVELOPING LEADERS
The future of risk management hinges on the next generation that has chosen or will choose to pursue careers in this discipline. During my presidency, RIMS will demonstrate its commitment to this aspiring group by providing educational programming, networking opportunities and volunteer positions at the Society’s national level to further attract their participation in the many significant RIMS initiatives that year-after-year play an integral role in shaping the future of the profession.
Started not too long ago by RIMS President Scott Clark, these President Corner Messages are an effective way to get the word out about the many RIMS initiatives and updates impacting our global membership.
Building on this momentum, in the upcoming year we are going to increase the frequency of these messages and enhance their content. Now on monthly basis, I plan to include updates from our Committees and Councils, our Chapters, our Strategic and Enterprise Risk Practice, Professional Development and Government Affairs departments, and, of course, include news about our conferences. Also, to ensure that our members have access to this information and know that it’s available to them, we will also deliver these messages through our eGroups, as well as our social media outlets.
As I prepare for my Presidency, I can’t help but think of the upcoming year, the opportunities, the connections, RIMS’ bright future and the future of the industry. I look forward to continuing in the footsteps of my predecessors and am truly excited for the year ahead.
Sincerely,
John R. Phelps, ARM, CPCU
RIMS 2013 President John Phelps Named RIMS President for 2013 -- Board of Directors AnnouncedWed, Jan 02, 2013 -
JOHN PHELPS NAMED 2013 PRESIDENT OF RIMS
Society Introduces 2013 Officers & Board of Directors
NEW YORK (January 2, 2013) — RIMS, the risk management society, today announced that John Phelps, ARM, CPCU, CBCP will lead the Society as president for the 2013 term, effective January 1.
Mr. Phelps is the Director of Business Risk Solutions for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. He has been a member of RIMS for almost 33 years and on its Board of Directors for nine years. Previously, Mr. Phelps served as vice president and board liaison to the Society’s External Affairs Committee and RIMS Canada Council. He is a member of RIMS Northeast Florida Chapter where he served as president in 1997.
“For far too long, the mention of ‘risk’ has struck fear in board rooms around the world,” said Phelps. “As President of RIMS I want to focus on the resources and services that will better equip our members to demonstrate how a more comprehensive understanding of risk can help straighten the path for an organization’s success and exploit the opportunities risk offers every company. I sincerely look forward to the year ahead and to helping our members advance their organization’s risk management capabilities in all business disciplines.”
Phelps added, “The future of the profession is also a priority for my presidency. We, at RIMS, are determined to remain the ‘go-to’ resource for all risk practitioners, helping them to better define future risks, connecting them with the latest technologies and service providers and, most importantly, delivering opportunities for the next generation of risk professionals to develop and excel within the industry.”
Officers on RIMS 2012 Board of Directors:
- President: John R. Phelps, ARM, CPCU; Director, Business Risk Solutions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc.;
- Vice President: Dan H. Kugler, ARM, CEBS, CPCU, ACI; Assistant Treasurer, Risk Management, Snap-On Inc.;
- Treasurer: Nowell R. Seaman, CIP, CRM; Manager, Risk Management & Insurance Services, University of Saskatchewan;
- Corporate Secretary: Carolyn M. Snow, CPCU; Director, Risk Management, Humana Inc.
New Board Members:
- Gordon Adams, Chief Risk Officers, Tri-Marine International, Inc.
- Grace M. Crickette, ARM, SPHR, CCSA, CSHM; Chief Risk Officer, University California
Incumbent Board Members:
- Robert Cartwright Jr., CRM; Loss Prevention Manager, Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC;
- Al Gorski, Chief Risk Officer, Orange County Transportation Authority;
- Kim Hunton, MPA, FCIP, RF; Corporate Risk Manager, City of Ottawa;
- Leslie Lamb, Global Risk Manager, Cisco Systems, Inc.
- Deborah M. Luthi, ARM; Enterprise Risk Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; (Ex-Officio);
- Julie C. Pemberton, ARM; Director, Enterprise Risk and Insurance Management, Coinstar;
- Michael D. Phillipus, ARM; Director, Insurance and Risk Management, ATP Oil & Gas Corporation;
- Richard J. Roberts, Jr., ALCM, ARM, CPCU, RF; Corporate Risk Manager, Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc.;
- Frederick J. Savage, FCII, ARM; Director, Risk Management (San Ramon), Chevron Corporation;
- Lori Seidenberg, ARM, RF; Senior Vice President, Enterprise Risk Management, Centerline Capital Group.
For more information about RIMS leadership, visit www.RIMS.org. Farewell Message from Deborah LuthiTue, Dec 11, 2012 -
It has been an honor to serve as RIMS 2012 President.
As I’ve traveled far and wide this year on behalf of RIMS, I’ve been so impressed with the individual and collective power of volunteerism exhibited by RIMS members and Chapters. With the push, pull and pressures of our day jobs and personal lives it, indeed, takes an above and beyond level of commitment to further and mature this business discipline we practice.
Our Chapter Officers’, active members’ and our industry partners’ invaluable dedication to RIMS, combined with RIMS exceptionally talented and supportive staff, is what makes this Society great and empowers us to achieve our goals and advance risk management for you and your organization’s success.
I strongly believe that RIMS is moving in the right direction to shape the risk and insurance profession in an advantageous way for all practitioners. RIMS leadership and staff stand ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We will continue to address issues most relevant to the industry; ensuring that RIMS provides the best service and cutting-edge knowledge for our members.
Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this year so special for me. I wish you all a happy holiday season and a successful – and prosperous – 2013.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Luthi
RIMS President Power...Tue, Nov 06, 2012 -
Power. Lately, this word has been thrown around when referring to electricity (or the loss thereof) but I would like to use it as a sentiment of encouragement for the countless families who have been afflicted by the superstorm known as Sandy. We at RIMS wish you the power and strength for a speedy recovery, health and safety.
RIMS headquarters in New York was unaffected by the storm but the lives of our dedicated staff and our valued chapter members in the region have been turned upside down. Please bear with us during this recovery period. Again, our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Just this past week, while chaos ensued in the Northeast, we held our second annual RIMS ERM Conference in San Antonio. The conference was a glowing success and delivered an outstanding program designed for risk practitioners at all levels.
The winner of the ERM Award of Distinction – presented at the conference – was the YMCA of Greater Toronto whose sophisticated risk intelligence program demonstrated its value through a suite of strategic risk tools and techniques. Their program included a collaborative project risk assessment, aligned with the organization’s mission, vision and strategic plan objectives. In its early stages, the program’s success contributed to an average 25% growth in monthly membership sales at one of its Health, Fitness and Recreation centers. And, its success quickly became a model for other communities.
The honorable mention, Sysco Corporation, also has a dynamic ERM program. With the difficult task of coordinating the work of 185 distribution facilities that serve more than 400,000 customers, the company’s powerful ERM program was instrumental in supporting a business transformation from a culture of siloed businesses, to a cohesive, interconnected, and better informed network of companies focused on uncovering untapped opportunities.
RIMS is powered by the collective knowledge of our membership and I want to thank both organizations for sharing their stories.
This September, RIMS released an executive report entitled the “Evolving Role of the Risk Professional” that explores the history of risk management, from its evolution from a traditional or defensive approach, to a more advanced, integrated approach, and then to the contemporary risk management discipline that we refer to as ERM. The report also takes an in-depth look at the responsibilities of today’s risk professional, potentially helping others better understand what they can expect from and how best to position risk management within their organizations.
And, this week RIMS unveiled a new publication, the “Strategic Risk Implementation Guide” – a 68-page book designed to walk organizations through a strategic risk management framework and give them an inside look at how some of the world’s leading organizations have developed a balanced risk-taking approach. This guide was created by members of our Strategic Risk Management Development Council.
This week, I will represent RIMS on a President’s Panel at the Enterprise Risk Forum in Bellevue, Washington exploring with the Financial Executives International and the Institute of Internal Audit the challenges that will test our governance, risk and compliance capabilities. In December I will participate in another panel at the Business Insurance Women to Watch Leadership Workshop honoring women doing outstanding work in commercial insurance, reinsurance, risk management, employee benefits and related fields, such as law and consulting.
Finally, it’s that time of year. Registration for RIMS ’13 – our Annual Conference & Exhibition scheduled for April 21 – 24 in Los Angeles – will open December 3rd. We look forward to, once again, offering you a powerful lineup of risk practitioner presenters representing all aspects of the risk management discipline to comprise a comprehensive and thought-provoking program. I hope to see you there.
Over the course of the upcoming months, RIMS is positioned to provide you with top-notch professional development opportunities and, as always, is proud to be your go-to source for the latest in risk management.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Luthi
RIMS President Off To The Races...Wed, Sep 05, 2012 -
It feels as though someone has waved the white flag to indicate the last lap to the end of my presidency. Aside from the couple of months leading up to the Annual Conference, I’ve quickly learned that, by far, September and October are the busiest times of year for RIMS.
This well-oiled machine continues to move along, providing outstanding thought leadership pieces and professional development opportunities for our members. In fact, this summer, we’ve had tremendous success and attendance at our workshops and webinars that can probably be attributed to the evolution of our profession.
As more and more organizations realize the value of risk management, and as our members continue to demonstrate a real desire to advance their risk programs and their careers, RIMS will be leading the way to provide them with the resources to get to that next level.
Yearly, RIMS holds conferences, summits and participates in events around the world to share our Society’s collective knowledge and experiences.
In September RIMS will host a handful of regional events including: the RIMS Canada Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on September 9 -12; the Western Regional Conference that will be held this year at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs on September 17-20; and REBEX in Chicago on September 20-21. I always found RIMS regional conferences to be highly informative and interactive. And, perhaps more importantly, intimate venues to meet your fellow colleagues who might be working on similar projects in offices around the corner from yours.
Mid-September I will be headed to Panama for the ALARYS Conference where I will speak to over 100 risk and insurance professionals from the region about challenges and strategies to implementing a risk management program in the public sector.
Following ALARYS, I will hop on a plane to Mexico City for the Risk Mexico Conference scheduled for October 4-5. Organized by the members of our RIMS Mexico Chapter, I will have an active role on the program delivering speeches on “10 Easy Steps to Implement ERM”, “Developing a Risk Management Program for Your Organization”, as well as participating on a panel titled “Lessons Learned” that will include myself and panelists from other industries who will share their experiences implementing risk management programs.
At the end of the month, RIMS will host the 2nd Annual ERM Conference from October 29 – 30 in the beautiful city of San Antonio. The two-day conference will explore a spectrum of organizational risks that industry professionals are currently encountering, best practices for creating value through an interrelated risk portfolio, as well as strategies for communicating that value to senior leadership. The conference will feature keynoter Robert Stevenson, author of the best-selling book 52 Essential Habits for Success, who will offer tips to help attendees be successful, beat their competition and remain highly competitive in the marketplace. Once again this year, we will present the ERM Award of Distinction to an organization that has proven its commitment to ERM and that has been able to create value for itself as a result of the program’s existence.
Finally, but certainly not least, I wanted to remind everyone that the Spencer Educational Foundation Gala will be held on September 12 at The Waldorf Astoria New York. This year we will honor risk management stalwarts Seraina Maag, chief executive – North America property and casualty for XL Insurance, and David Zuercher, retired head of insurance for Wells Fargo and Company, for their contributions to the advancement of risk management and insurance educational opportunities.
I personally hope that everyone has had a wonderful summer, is well-rested and ready for the 2012 home-stretch.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Luthi
RIMS President Transcending Boundaries: One State, One Country at a TimeThu, Jul 05, 2012 -
The theme of this past RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition was “No Boundaries.” If we take that at its most literal, to mean state lines and international borders, in the last two months, RIMS has crossed many, continuing to share its collective knowledge to advance the risk management profession.
A recap of our travels:
In May, RIMS sent two representatives – former RIMS President Christopher Mandel and former member of RIMS ERM Committee Dr. Joseph Milan – to Dubai to deliver keynote addresses and facilitate workshops at the 2nd Annual Enterprise Risk Management MENA (Middle East Northern Africa) 2012 Conference. In front of a crowd of about 80 business leaders and risk decision-makers they presented RIMS “Strategic Risk Management – Integrating ERM & Strategic Planning” and “ERM Implementation – Accelerating ERM Theory into Practice” professional development workshops.
Also in May, Carol Fox, RIMS Director of Strategic & Enterprise Risk Practice, spoke at the ISO 31000 Conference in Paris, France where she gave a presentation titled, “Raising Awareness About ISO 31000: A U.S. Perspective – Adopt or Adapt?” Later in June, Carol presented “The Tipping Point of Risk Management” webinar as part of the first-ever World Risk Day.
On June 3-5, RIMS hosted its 14th Annual RIMS on the Hill in Washington, D.C. that featured remarks by Federal Insurance Office Director Michael McRaith and well-known pollster and political pundit, Stuart Rothenberg. Our attendees also had opportunity to meet with more than 70 congressional offices to discuss important federal issues such as National Flood Insurance Program, Insurance Regulation Modernization and the SMART Act or “Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers Act.”
I’ve personally have had the privilege and pleasure of facilitating a brainstorming session on “The Intersection of Risk and Quality” at the American Society for Quality Conference in Anaheim; as well as participating in a panel discussion on the “Future of Risk Management” at ISACA’s World Congress in San Francisco. ISACA, the worldwide association of Information Security professionals, is dedicated to the audit, control, and security of information systems
And, at Insurance Day Summit 2012 my remarks on “The Better Risk” were very well received and sparked further discussions throughout the conference on the importance for insurers and reinsurers to understand their clients’ enterprise risk management programs.
Just as important as sharing our perspective at venues around the world, we strongly believe that meeting and collaborating with RIMS dynamic members – a group of talented and knowledgeable professionals at all stages and levels of their risk management careers – is essential to expanding the Society’s reach and to increasing membership numbers. Within the next month, RIMS will unveil a new membership incentive program to reward members for introducing new risk professionals to RIMS. Details will be available soon and we’ll be sure to keep you posted on this initiative.
Another successful offering that has really taken off recently has been RIMS Professional Development “In-Company Training.” Member and non-member companies – from insurance brokerage firms to casinos to banking institutions – have saved on their travel expenses and have had RIMS experts come to them. All of our professional development topics are offered in this format. For more information, please contact our Director of Professional Development Kate Powers to see how you can arrange for a RIMS professional development workshop at your office.
Before I sign off, I want to remind everyone that RIMS is now accepting submissions for program suggestions for RIMS 2013 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles. If you’re interested in submitting a session, visit www.RIMS.org/2013PSF. The deadline is July 23.
On behalf of RIMS, I’d like to wish you all a fantastic summer, be mindful of those summertime risks, but leverage them for lots of wonderful summer opportunities. We’ll see you back here in the “Corner” in the Fall and thank you for your continued support.
Deborah M. Luthi
RIMS President
No Boundaries & No Slowing Down!Thu, Apr 26, 2012 -
As I’ve stated before, I have been a member of RIMS for 32 years and have had the privilege of attending many RIMS conferences – the exact number, well, I've lost count. This year was, for obvious reasons, extremely special and memorable for me.
In addition to the many advantages of attending this world-renowned event (that for many includes meeting with business partners, reuniting with old friends, making new ones, benefiting from the outstanding educational sessions and enjoying the evenings at one or more of the social get-togethers) as President this year, I had the opportunity to experience the conference from the inside, out.
The work that goes into hosting an event of this magnitude, and making it flow so seamlessly, is truly a testament to the invaluable efforts of all RIMS Staff and your risk management colleagues on the Conference Planning Committee. Congratulations to you all and I sincerely thank you for allowing me to be a part of this spectacular event.
For our members and, soon to be members, who were unable to attend, pick up your favorite risk and insurance trade publication or online journal and read or watch the more than 150 articles and video interviews about the conference. If traditional media isn’t your thing, do a little back tracking and check out the tweets featuring #RIMS2012 or download our mobile app to get a glimpse of some of the conference highlights.
And, just when we thought the hard work was over, planning has already begun for 2013 in Los Angeles (actually, since there are no boundaries, planning is underway for our next five conferences!)
In the next couple of months, we will be preparing for our annual RIMS on the Hill (ROTH) event scheduled for June 3-5 in Washington, DC. This will mark RIMS 14th ROTH conference – a fantastic forum to discuss the most pressing legislative issues relevant to the risk and insurance profession with nationally recognized government affairs experts. Our featured speaker this year is Stuart Rothenberg, one of Washington’s most highly respected political analysts and the editor of the Rothenberg Political Report. Details for the conference can be found in the External Affairs section of our website. I'll be there, so I hope to see YOU in Washington D.C.
After visiting our nation’s capitol, I will hop on a short flight to Bermuda where I'll be the keynote speaker at Insurance Day Summit 2012. At this conference -- primarily attended by insurance executives, underwriters and reinsurers – I will focus my remarks on ERM and its propensity to help insurers more accurately evaluate their client’s and their potential client’s current exposures…as well as facilitating risk practitioners and insurers to collaboratively and creatively explore underwriting new and emerging risks identified through the ERM process.
Speaking of ERM, a few professional development workshops are on the horizon in May including "Enterprise-Wide Risk Management: Developing and Implementing" in Atlanta, as well as “Risk Assessment Methods” in Ottawa; “Mergers and Acquisitions and Risk Management” in New York and “Techniques of Risk Management” in Denver. Registration is open – for members and non -- so sign up now.
It’s safe to say that our post-conference “break” is way over. We have a lot in store for you this Spring and we’re excited to continue to provide you with the opportunities and resources for your - and your organization's - success!
Deborah M. Luthi, ARM
RIMS President Spring Ahead to PhiladelphiaTue, Mar 20, 2012 - When I began my service as RIMS president for 2012 my predecessors told me that it would be a lot of fun, I would be extremely busy and time would fly by. They were right on all three accounts. As I write this, the conference is less than 25 days away. It’s so hard to believe that it’s this time of year again.
I’m writing this President’s Corner Message as I (practically) pack my bags for Japan. I was honored with an invitation to speak at the RIMS Japan Chapter and Association of Risk Management Japan annual meetings in Tokyo and Osaka. My remarks will focus on the basic principles of an Enterprise Risk Management program, as well as the significant role it can play in helping risk managers protect their organizations against the devastating effects of supply chain disruption.
Key to the success of RIMS is our position as a thought-leader and, to that end, we will continue to explore new opportunities and venues for myself and the board to deliver RIMS’ perspective on issues that are shaping the profession. In addition to engaging in speaking opportunities around the world – that could potentially include travels to Panama, Bermuda and France -- I will continue where past RIMS leaders left off, visiting several of our chapters and attending as many RIMS regional conferences as I can throughout the year. These forums allow us to REACH – one of my three R’s for the year – new audiences, attract new members, foster chapter growth and align perfectly with RIMS new strategic goals.
Also on the thought-leadership front, in the last few months we have released two new executive reports.
RIMS announced the release of the newly revised Certificates of Insurance Manual in January that offers an in-depth introduction to certificates of insurance and valuable insight on topics that include: drafting insurance requirements; special language and endorsements; and distribution and management. The electronic manual also includes information on the ACORD changes implemented in 2011, as well as convenient checklists and a glossary of commonly used terms. And, for the first time in RIMS history, the report is available for the Kindle and Nook e-readers.
In February, RIMS jointly released an Executive Report -- “ERM Best Practices in the Cyber World” – with partners Identity Theft 911 and the USLAW NETWORK.
As the title suggests, the 29-page “how-to” guide is designed to help organizations successfully manage data risk through an enterprise risk management approach. The report explores:
- the best data risk management practices, concepts and challenges;
- the advantages and potential pitfalls of data risk assessments;
- steps to undertake an attorney-directed assessment project;
- practical solutions for weathering the cyber storm; as well as
- possible coverage opportunities under existing or newly available insurance policies.
Both reports are available in the RIMStore and, in the upcoming months, we plan to release a few more reports and white papers. Stay tuned!
Cyber risks, supply chain resiliency, natural disaster preparation, workers’ compensation and product liability are just a sample of the risk management issues that will be covered at RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition next month. This year’s conference – the 50th! -- will feature extraordinary keynote presentations by famed Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane and business mogul and author of the only authorized biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson.
Registration for this year’s conference has been fantastic rivaling the success RIMS saw at similar conference locations in Boston in 2010 and Philadelphia in 2005. Exhibitor turnout has also been terrific, once again making RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition a can’t miss event.
Although “Advance Registration” has expired, for the first time, online registration will remain open leading up to the conference.
Every year, our members submit session ideas that were not included in the original program that they believe are relevant and that would be highly beneficial for our attendees. This year’s “Hot Topic” is “Backwards and Forwards: Legal Issues and Cases to Watch from 2011 that will Impact the Future.” Details about this new session and all of our sessions at the conference can be found at www.RIMS.org/RIMS12.
We hope that you have already made your plans to join us in Philadelphia and are ready for four-days of exceptional sessions, thought-provoking discussions and exciting networking opportunities. It “takes a village” to prepare for this annual event and I want to thank ALL RIMS staff for their hard work and dedication to making this conference the best conference yet. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Luthi, ARM
*Arrangements for the appearance of Billy Beane made through Greater Talent Network, Inc., New York, NY.
Setting the Course for RIMS in 2012 and BeyondMon, Jan 23, 2012 - It is with great honor that I write my first President’s Corner Message and introduce myself in this forum to RIMS members and the rest of the risk management community. These messages are a wonderful opportunity for me to provide my perspective on the state of risk management and the industry, Society happenings and future RIMS events and initiatives. I’m delighted to take over where my colleague and good friend Scott Clark left off.
Just a bit about me: I am the Enterprise Risk Manager for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission serving 2.5 Million people in the Bay Area with high quality, reliable water and waste water services and providing clean, green power to San Francisco’s municipal operations.
I’ve been a member of RIMS for about 32 years (of course, I was a child risk management prodigy) and on the board for 11 years. This past year, as Vice President, I served on RIMS’ Finance Committee and Spencer Educational Foundation Committee. I am a member of RIMS Golden Gate Chapter; as well as RIMS Sacramento Valley Chapter, which I helped to co-found in 1991.
During my presidency, it’s my privilege to provide leadership to ensure the Society is in an advantageous position to achieve its goals and, through that achievement, to truly deliver on the Society’s newly developed mission statement: “advancing risk management for your organization’s success.” I strongly believe we can accomplish this by strengthening the Society’s Relationships and Relevance within the industry and with our member’s organizations, as well as expanding the Society’s Reach. These “Three R’s” will frame my presidency.
When I speak about relationships, I am referring to RIMS strategic goals that focus on growing membership and strengthening chapters, and remaining committed to working in tandem with our industry partners. These relationships are invaluable to the Society and it’s important that we foster them through networking and educational activities such as conferences, committee and volunteer opportunities, chapter and mentoring programs and educational workshops.
RIMS has a competitive advantage in providing risk managers with the most relevant and current information to help them be successful in their jobs. From expanding the definition and responsibilities of a “risk manager” to recognizing opportunities that add value to an organization, RIMS is and will continue to deliver content that is on the cutting edge. Throughout the year, RIMS will unveil a variety of resources, educational offerings, reports and more, to ensure the Society provides the thought leadership and tools necessary for risk management success.
Raising the profile of RIMS and risk managers is essential for the organization’s sustainability and growth. Expanding our reach includes geographical expansion, political advocacy, fortifying new industry and media relationships and increasing our digital and social media presence. Growth in these areas will support even greater relationships, the development of more resources and knowledge and additional opportunities to benefit our members and chapters.
I, along with my fellow risk managers on the RIMS Board, have set the bar high for 2012 but I am confident that with the support of RIMS dedicated staff, our committed volunteers and chapter leaders and our engaged members that together we can achieve these goals. I look forward to working with you, hopefully meeting many of you personally, and proudly serving as the Society’s 58th President.
Sincerely,
Deborah M. Luthi, ARM To Continued Success in 2012…Mon, Dec 12, 2011 -
The saying is true. Time really does fly when you’re having fun. This has been a remarkable year. As President of this Society, I’ve had the privilege to work closely with the RIMS staff, meet many of our chapter presidents and members and represent the Society at conferences around the world. Before I get into my “thank yous,” I wanted to give a brief update on what RIMS has been up to in the last month.
In early November, RIMS held its first-ever ERM Conference. The event was in San Diego and the turn-out was terrific. More impressive was the number of industries and practices that were represented by the risk managers in attendance. The three-day conference was packed with great sessions and industry leaders who shared their experiences implementing successful ERM programs within their companies.
At the conference, we presented the first-ever RIMS ERM AWARD OF DISTINCTION to Paychex, Inc. for its commitment to ERM, as well as the program’s ability to not only protect, but to create and enhance value for the organization. Planning for the 2012 ERM conference is underway and reminders will be sent out soon about nominating a company for next year’s award. We’re also looking for suggestions on where you think the next conference should be – let us know via Facebook.
I recently had the privilege of representing RIMS at two international risk conferences. I attended the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) in Stockholm and was the keynote speaker at the Risk Management Institute of Australia’s Annual Conference (RMIA) in Melbourne.
The bi-annual FERMA conference had more than 1,500 attendees with representatives from 21 risk management organizations, 19 countries and approximately 450 corporate risk managers. The conference focused on efforts to integrate the increasingly complex rules governing global compliance and the efforts of risk managers, insurers and brokers to try and make the laws, regulations and rules pertaining to taxation more coherent.
Recently, I gave the keynote presentation at RMIA that focused on the evolution of risk management in the wake of current economic conditions. My speech focused on the practical application of an ERM program or how it wasn’t completely understood – or partially neglected – during the economic crash in 2008. I went on to speak about how it is just as important to have a strong board governance system in place to manage a corporation’s risk strategies.
Also in November, RIMS launched the website for the Annual Conference scheduled for April 15-18 in Philadelphia. Just a friendly reminder that early-bird registration – with early-bird rates – is now open and I hope to see you there.
The theme of my presidency has been to reinforce the importance of our membership by engaging our local chapters. This has always been important to me during my 10 years on the RIMS Board and the four years I served as an officer. I have had some really wonderful opportunities to represent the Society, but I truly believe that the best part about this presidency was sitting down with many of our chapter leaders and talking about RIMS, about what we’re doing right and areas we need to enhance.
Although my term as President has come to an end, I know that our slated incoming President, Deborah M. Luthi, shares my opinion on the benefits of chapter engagement and will continue to keep these lines of communication open.
Finally, I want to thank RIMS staff led by Executive Director Mary Roth. There is really no way to understand the level of support the RIMS President has until you’ve lived it and breathed it. As I traveled across the world representing RIMS, it quickly became apparent how envious other international societies are of the team at RIMS and the value they add.
I want to thank all of our members for their support and feedback. I am not going away. I will remain on the RIMS Board and a member of the Executive Committee for one more year. More importantly, through the remaining years of my career, I will continue to be an active member of RIMS, especially in my local chapter. I also look forward to joining the Society’s Past President Group to help guide RIMS into the future. It is all of our members, the ones who voice their opinions and offer us feedback, that make this organization great.
I wish you all a happy and safe holiday.
Sincerely,
Scott B. Clark, AAI
President
RIMS
RIMS: Paving the way...Tue, Oct 04, 2011 -
I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and was able to take a little time for themselves, get outside and re-energize for what we think will be an exciting end to 2011. Despite the beautiful weather – minus a few tropical storms – and all the other summertime distractions, RIMS has been hard at work putting together a Fall and Winter calendar that’s packed with new conferences, workshops, training sessions, webinars and other thought-provoking opportunities for our members.
Before jumping into some of the latest news and programming from RIMS, I thought it would be important to call your attention to the Society’s new mission statement and goals.
Stemming from our July Planning Meeting, the Board of Directors along with the RIMS senior staff, have revamped the messaging that defines who we are, what we stand for and where we see ourselves in the future to better reflect changes in the industry. Our new mission statement: “To advance risk management for your organization’s success” truly speaks to how we will align ourselves moving forward. We have also identified five strategic goals that will touch on themes of membership growth, chapter strength, thought leadership, profile and influence and operational efficiency. The mission statement and goals will influence all aspects of how RIMS responds to the industry and its membership, including everything from the publications we offer, to the sessions we secure for our annual conferences, to the topics our future presidents choose to speak on.
One of those topics is Enterprise Risk Management. The RIMS team is actively preparing for the inaugural RIMS ERM Conference 2011. In just over a month (Nov. 1-3 in San Diego), we will host this three-day event that will feature more than a dozen expert-led sessions, addressing some of the most pressing issues affecting risk professionals at every level. Keynoter Nate Booth, author and strategist, will round out the conference with his presentation “Thriving on Change.” The registration deadline is approaching fast. We hope you’ll be able to join us.
In addition to our own national events, I will be travelling this fall to meet with risk professionals from around the world to share the Society’s insight and perspective on some of the most topical risk management issues including Enterprise Risk Management and Strategic Risk Management, cyber risks and natural disaster preparedness. My trips include a speaking engagement in Stockholm for the FERMA Risk Management Forum and Australia for the Risk Management Institution of Australasia’s Annual Conference. I recently visited our local chapter in Anchorage, Alaska, and will soon take-off for our chapters in Quebec and in Northeast Florida.
We’re also proud to announce the availability of the RISK PAC Tool Kit. The kits provide RIMS members who are U.S citizens or who have permanent resident status everything from soup to nuts on how to conduct a solicitation – from power point presentations to talking points; to sample invitations and thank yous. This Fall we released the first edition of the RISK PAC Newsletter, giving readers the inside scoop on all RISK PAC happenings. To get your Tool Kit or for questions about the PAC, we encourage our members to contact RIMS External Affairs Director Kathy Doddridge at kdoddridge@rims.org.
October is budget time for RIMS. During the month, we will take a close look at our financials and make sure that RIMS remains focused on providing members with exceptional resources and that our Professional Development programs are appropriately funded so that we can continue to offer an expansive selection of educational and networking opportunities for all risk professionals.
Finally, this President’s Corner message would not be complete without acknowledging the groups who orchestrated two highly successful RIMS conferences.
In August, RIMS held its 36th Annual Florida Regional Conference in Naples – an event that I have chaired on three different occasions over the past 20 years. All seven of the Florida RIMS Chapters were well-represented and the conference was a huge success in large part due to the generous chapter members who volunteered their time and efforts to the cause. I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Senator Garrett Richter for joining us at the conference.
RIMS Canada Conference 2011, held last month, brought more than 1,200 risk professionals and service providers and 75 exhibitors to the beautiful capital city of Ottawa. The RIMS Canada Council and the Capital Chapter of RIMS did a magnificent job in hosting the event and, as the former board liaison to the Council, I can truly attest to all the hard-work that’s involved in presenting a first-rate event of this magnitude.
Congratulations to both groups.
We wish everyone continued success in 2011 and will be sure to keep you up-to-date with the latest Society news.
A Summer of ChangeWed, Jun 01, 2011 -
RIMS’ staff, volunteers and as well as my peers on the RIMS Board of Directors are still buzzing over the excitement and energy that made RIMS 2011 a great success, and I would like to thank all of you for your contributions and participation. Since leaving Vancouver, I’ve heard from attendees, exhibitors and members that many of them had one of their most productive RIMS conferences in years. We had great attendance numbers that rivaled those of Boston and were very happy to see a substantial presence from the international community—Brazil, Peru, the United Kingdom, Bermuda and, of course, Canada were all well represented. During the conference several key announcements were also made, including the newly formed RISK PAC that I am confident will be a key tool to furthering our influence in Congress, as well as the RIMS definition of Strategic Risk Management.
The next couple of months will build on this momentum as RIMS hosts its annual legislative conference in Washington, D.C., as well as its annual Planning Meeting in July.
Our meetings in DC during RIMS on the Hill will focus on strengthening the Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers Act of 2011; expansion of the Risk Retention Act to include property insurance; and limits on deductibility of reinsurance premiums ceded by domestic insurers to offshore affiliates, included within the “Neal bill.” Ron Brownstein, who you may know from Meet the Press, This Week, Face the Nation, Washington Week in Review and CNN, will also address the group during our Luncheon. If you haven’t registered, I would encourage you to do so. This is an opportunity to really speak to—both literally and figuratively—your representatives in Congress whose legislative choices affect your work on a daily basis.
RIMS Annual Planning Meeting in July will be an especially affecting one, as the Board of Directors and senior staff members will be taking RIMS official mission statement under consideration. The meeting, in New York July 15, 16 and 17, will be a forum for candid discussion about how the changing face of risk and the resulting changing needs of our members require RIMS to evolve. Historically, RIMS has remained a relevant resource for its members by adapting to the changing business landscape and, given the unprecedented changes in recent years to business, our industry and the world at large, now is one of those times that calls for change. During this meeting we will correspondingly be focusing on a three year business plan for our professional development department that will flow from the direction of the newly formed mission statement. A business plan for our Strategic Risk Management model, services to RIMS chapters and membership growth will also be on the agenda.
Related to membership growth, RIMS is in the process of conducting a membership study to identify opportunities for membership changes that would provide added member benefits and expand our potential member market, while maintaining a consistent revenue stream. The research will be completed in October and oversight for the research is being provided by risk managers who are volunteers on the Member & Chapter Services Committee. I know this is a topic of great concern to many of you, and I promise to be very vocal about any developments in this area.
I hope to see many of you later this month in Washington, D.C. As always, I ask for and welcome your input on any of RIMS upcoming initiatives. |
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