William H. McGannon & David Mikulina Inducted into Risk Management Hall of Fame

NEW YORK (April 11, 2016) —RIMS, the risk management society™, and American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced William H. McGannon and David Mikulina as the 2016 inductees to the Risk Management Hall of Fame (RMHF).  The RMHF serves as a means to maintain the history of the field of risk management and recognizes risk practitioners who have made significant contributions to advancing the discipline. Both honorees were officially inducted at RIMS 2016 Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

The RMHF Selection Committee considers the following criteria for membership in the RMHF: considerable contributions to the field; significant achievements, innovation and trend setting; demonstrated leadership, character and service; and the highest caliber of ethical and professional conduct. 

“Although the risk management profession has evolved significantly, the achievements of its early pioneers continue to have lasting influence on the processes and strategies used today,” said RIMS Chief Executive Officer Mary Roth. “Whether it was enhancing their organization’s already complex risk program or devoting themselves to supporting the promising careers of future risk management leaders, this year’s Risk Management Hall of Fame inductees have unquestionably made substantial contributions to the profession and RIMS.”

“AIG is proud to continue our partnership with RIMS and to support the risk management community as it honors this year’s inductees into the Risk Management Hall of Fame,” said Rob Schimek, CEO of AIG Commercial. “We are pleased to recognize Bill and Dave for significant achievement in their professional careers and their contributions to shaping the risk management discipline.”

The 2016 inductees to the RMHF are:

WILLIAM H. MCGANNON

William H. (Bill) McGannon had a resounding impact on Canada’s risk management profession. 

Bill was a risk management pioneer.  He was one of the first Canadian risk managers to establish a full-service risk management department that included loss prevention and statistical support at NOVA Chemical Corporation in Alberta.  His unique and integrated approach to this business function that combined risk management, safety, health and environment and could be considered a premature version of Enterprise Risk Management. 

Although Bill retired in 1998, his work in the profession was far from over.  Upon his retirement, the William H. McGannon Foundation was established in his honor. Formed following the release of a study by the RIMS Canada Council, the Foundation continues to provide resources in the form of scholarships, research grants and student involvement initiatives to advance risk management by way of education, research, mentorship and work experience programs.

Bill frequently lectured at the University of Calgary where he was instrumental in setting up the Chair of Risk Management position and served as 'Executive in Residence' from 1998-2000.  Additionally, Bill participated in the Risk Manager in Residence program, travelling to the University of Caledonia in Glasgow, Scotland to mentor aspiring risk management and insurance students.

He was an active member of RIMS. A frequent presenter at RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition, Bill held several Board positions with the Society’s Southern Alberta Chapter.  He was also the co-chair of the 1998 RIMS Canada Conference in Calgary where he was presented with the Donald M. Stuart Award – the highest honor presented to a Canadian risk professional. 

William passed away in 2015.  He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren and has left behind an unparalleled legacy on the risk management community.

David Mikulina, retired Vice President of Risk Management for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, was a member of the risk management profession for almost 35 years. 

 

Dave graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967 and shortly thereafter entered the Army, serving with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam.  He later embarked on a career in risk management and insurance, holding positions in such companies as GATX, Kraft, Alexander and Alexander, and, in 1984, Hyatt, from where he retired in 2007. 

 

For 23 years, Dave headed the Risk Management department at Hyatt as the organization grew from 130 hotels to 350 hotels worldwide. In what was already an excellent program, Dave played an integral role in expanding and further developing the program in such areas as risk transfer methods, claims management, risk management training, and crisis management, to name a few.

 

At Hyatt, Dave was also highly successful in enhancing important partnerships with operational department leaders in the corporate office and in the field to integrate risk management into the day-to-day life at the hotels. From adding medical professionals to his risk management team as a means to address workers’ compensations exposures, to establishing Risk Seminars for all employees, Dave drove the culture of safety and risk management at Hyatt Hotels and the organization continues to implement many of his strategies today. 

 

Dave was committed to advancing the industry both through professional opportunities he bestowed to his risk management team and to the greater Chicago-area risk management community.  A longstanding RIMS member, Dave is always willing to share his insights with new risk managers and experienced colleagues alike.  He had been a contributor on carrier advisory panels, has given risk management presentations at various RIMS conferences, as well as schools such as the University of Wisconsin School of Business and DePaul University School of Hospitality Leadership, and served as Chairman of the Risk Management Committee of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. 

 

Dave and his wife Sheila have two daughters (one in the insurance industry and one an attorney) and four grandchildren.

The Risk Management Hall of Fame (RMHF) is home to those risk professionals who have made exceptional contributions to advancing the risk management discipline. RMHF is a joint venture of the RIMS and AIG, and was created to preserve the history and tradition of the profession. Founded in 2011, nominees are considered from around the globe and inductees are selected by the RMHF Selection Committee. New members to the Risk Management Hall of Fame are announced yearly at the RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition. For more information, visit www.RiskHallofFame.org. 

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. Founded in 1919, today we provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement products, mortgage insurance and other financial services to customers in more than 100 countries and jurisdictions. Our diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Stock Exchange. 

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