Newsroom

NEW YORK (April 30, 2014) — At the RIMS 2014 Conference & Exhibition Finale, RIMS Executive Director Mary Roth announced Temple University’s risk management student team as the winners of the Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge.  The team, comprised of four risk management students, competed against 15 other universities and delivered the award-winning risk management presentation in front 100 industry leaders at RIMS ‘14.

Members of the Temple University’s winning team included:

• Cathleen Gabriel
• William Thorsson
• Martin Leicht
•  Steven Costa
• Academic Advisor: Michael McCloskey

“The Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge is an engaging way to showcase the brilliant minds of these future industry leaders,” said Mary Roth. “In addition to giving students a platform to show off their risk management talents, the competition is also a reminder to established professionals at our conference about the importance of supporting the next generation of risk professionals. Congratulations to all the teams that participated.”

Brion Callori, the newly-elected Chairman of the Spencer Educational Foundation, said, “We are pleased to have provided RIMS with a grant to hold the risk management challenge. The competition showcased the knowledge, skills and abilities of tomorrow’s industry leaders while, at the same time, provided the participants with a tremendous learning opportunity. The students from all 15 schools were well-prepared and insightful, and we congratulate Temple University on winning this distinguished competition.”

The challenge began with 15 universities, three months ago, who were each presented with a risk management situation. The teams developed programs to address the situation and nine of the teams were selected to attend RIMS ’14.   During the conference, the field was narrowed to three and those finalists presented one last time in front of risk professionals on the conference’s third day.

Second place in this year’s Challenge was Florida State University and the third place team was Virginia Commonwealth University.  The first place university received $4000, second $3,000 and third $2,000.

About Spencer Educational Foundation: Established in 1979 to honor the late Robert S. Spencer, the Foundation is funding the education of tomorrow's risk management and insurance leaders. For more information, visit www.spencered.org.

About RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition: Launched in 1963, RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition attracts some 10,000 risk and insurance professionals at all experience levels, business executives with risk management interests, brokers, insurers and service providers for the ultimate educational and networking experience. The four-day event offers more than 120 educational sessions, keynote presentations, special events and an expansive Exhibit Hall with more than 400 exhibitors. Following Denver, the event will be hosted in New Orleans in 2015. For more information, visit www.RIMS.org/RIMS14.