Gamma Iota Sigma Newsletter                           
September 2013 
 
In This Issue
Get Your Motor Running!
2013 Sponsors
Spotlight on: Jeff Lamb
Chapter News: Alpha Iota
Chapter News: Lambda
New GIS Career Center!
Free Subscription to Best's Review Magazine!
Calling All Recent Graduates and GIS Alumni
Quick Links

Mark Your Calendar!

 

DW Simpson Actuarial Science Scholarship Deadline

 October 31, 2013  

 

 Click here for a calendar of other deadlines and events

Executive Committee
 Jeffery W. Lamb

President

 

Dr. Alan C. Williams

Executive Vice President

 

Alan E. Hoffmann

Immediate Past President

 

John D. Meder

Past President

 

Lance A. Lancour

Secretary

 

Brian Bowerman

Treasurer

 

John Hammond

Vice President

 

Meg Allwein

Vice President

 

Josh Hart

Alumni Representative

 

Dr. RB Drennan

Faculty Representative

 

Christopher Place

Industry Representative

 

James Heuker

Student Representative

 

Noelle Codispoti 

Executive Director

 

Dear Students,
 
It's that time of year again... the Annual International Conference is upon us! Once again, the event has grown in terms of student and industry participation, the career fair is bigger than ever, and we are thrilled to bring you three days packed with personal and professional development opportunities. As you prepare for the conference and pursue the many other opportunities to prepare you for entry into the insurance industry, be sure to visit the new GIS Career Center! Read on for details.

 

Fraternally yours,

Noelle Codispoti, ARM
Executive Director, Gamma Iota Sigma
"Get Your Motor Running" at the 
 42nd Annual International Conference

See you in Charlotte! This year's conference takes place October 3-5 in Charlotte, NC and is co-hosted by the Rho Chapter from Appalachian State University.
 
 
Thank You, Conference Sponsors

 

TITANIUM

Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers / The Foundation for Agency Management Excellence (FAME)

Travelers

 

PLATINUM

AIG

Brown & Brown / Hull & Company

The Hartford Financial Services Group

Liberty Mutual Insurance

Lockton Companies

Markel Corporation

 

GOLD

Amerisure Insurance

Casualty Actuarial Society

CNA Insurance

Derek Hughes/NAPSLO Educational Foundation

RIMS Student Advisory Council

Spencer Educational Foundation

Swiss Re

Wells Fargo Insurance Services

USAA

 

SILVER

A.M. Best Company

ACE Group

American Association of Managing General Agents

Assurex Global

Atlantic Specialty Lines, Inc.

The Institutes

International Association of Insurance Professionals

Lloyd's America

Munich Re

The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research

National Interstate Insurance

Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, Inc.

Professional Liability Underwriting Society

Towers Watson

Westfield Insurance

XL Group plc

 

BRONZE

All Risks, Ltd.

Aon

AXIS

BB&T Insurance Services, Inc.

The Cincinnati Insurance Companies

General Reinsurance Corporation

IFGW

The Insurance Institute of Canada

Nautilus Insurance Company

State Farm Insurance

USLI

Westrope

Willis

Zurich North America

 

CAREER FAIR

Accident Fund Holdings, Inc.

ACTEX Publications

AmWINS Group, Inc.

American Risk & Insurance Association

Arlington/Roe & Co.

EMC Insurance Companies

Erie Insurance Group

Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment

Farm Bureau Life Insurance

GEICO

Great American Insurance Group

Griffith Insurance Education Foundation

Marsh & McLennan Companies

Motorists Insurance Group

Quirk & Company

Scottsdale Insurance Company

State Auto Insurance Companies

 


Sponsor Listing as of September 30, 2013
Spotlight on: Jeff Lamb, Markel
Gamma Iota Sigma Board President, 2011-13

How did you get into insurance?

 

My spring semester freshman year at Olivet College, I took a Principles of Insurance class and enjoyed the aspects of learning about different industries and facets of the insurance industry. Professor Mike Hubbel suggested I attend the annual management conference of Gamma Iota Sigma in Columbus, OH later that semester. The Gamma conference was unbelievable. 

 

We had dinner at Scioto Country Club. This was Jack Nicklaus' home golf club growing up. I read Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus every winter in Michigan to get ready for golf season. To be in the same place as the greatest golfer that ever lived gave me chills up my spine.

 

We took a tour of Ohio Stadium where the Ohio State University Buckeyes play college football. Since I was born in Toledo, Ohio, I have been a passionate fan of the Buckeyes. This was a dream come true for me.

 

Lastly, the chapter workshops and the awards ceremony made a lasting impression on me. The Alpha Alpha Chapter won the coveted Bowers Award. I witnessed leaders, Jeff Sandy and Randy Barnes, share experiences for other chapters to emulate. Other chapters included schools like University of Georgia, OSU and Temple. I was amazed that a 700-student school like Olivet College could compete with the major universities across the United States.

 

Gamma played a very important role in motivating me to be the best student and insurance professional I could be.

 

What do you love most about insurance?

 

The people. I have met so many interesting individuals from all walks of life. The insurance industry has such an important role in our economy and society. This attracts dynamic people into our industry. They are well-travelled, cultured, have strong business acumen, intelligent, hard workers and like to have fun. 

 

Why did you get involved with GIS?

 

Gamma has been such an integral part of my development as a college student and insurance professional. I was on the Executive Committee early in my career, but I struggled with contributing to the Board. The past ten years have been rewarding to see Gamma grow and thrive as a stronger organization. Under Noelle's leadership and direction, Gamma has elevated its game to the next level.  I love Macklemore's song "Can't Hold Us." I feel the same way about Gamma now, like the ceiling can't hold us!

 

What do you hope to see happen with GIS in the near future?

 

I would like to see 100 chapters with 2,500 to 5,000 student members in the near future. I would like to see an alumni base that gets stronger and stronger in our industry. A strong vibrant student membership along with a supportive alumni base would send shock waves through our industry that the time is now to re-build the foundation of the youth in our industry.

 

Parting words of wisdom and inspiration...

 

Wisdom - It is imperative that you choose a career and a company or organization that has a culture that matches your core values and beliefs. The money will come, but choosing the right place out of the gate will give you a head start on the competition!

 

Inspiration - Don't believe your own BS. You need to balance swagger with being humble. You need to be a lifelong learner.  Consistent pursuit of excellence in all of your endeavors, will guide you through your career and life forever.

Chapter News: Alpha Iota
Annual Membership Drive
On Friday, September 13, the Alpha Iota Chapter at St. John's University held its annual Membership Drive. This is how the chapter kicks off every school year. It is basically one big social night on campus that allows old and new members to meet before all of the Gamma Iota Sigma events get underway.

 

To start off the night, there were brief introductions with personal questions attached that allowed everyone to hear the members' favorite musicians, go-to place in New York, and even their most embarrassing moment so far at St. John's. The Executive Board then explained all of the reasons everyone should join this great business fraternity and showed a video to highlight the amazing journey they have had to date that tried to put everything that was said in words into context.

 

To end the event, there were 10 rounds of Speed Networking that allowed everyone to make at least five substantial relationships in their field of study. Freshman Tianya-Sophia Yu felt "very relieved about her career choice of Actuarial Science after talking to upperclassmen in a greater capacity." Everyone was very happy about the fact that they met new members and began to learn valuable information. They are hoping that these friendships will grow more and more as Alpha Iota gets deeper into the semester.

 

Submitted by Brittany Sakson, Secretary 

Chapter News: Lambda
Academic Year Kick-off 

Over the last few weeks, the Lambda Chapter has geared up for a new year. With two job fairs and multiple information sessions, the chapter is looking to be strong yet again. At the first board meeting, the goal of 75 total members was set, and it is looking like it will be very close to attaining that. The executive board at the Lambda chapter really worked hard to pull off a great recruiting season. Our first chapter meeting was on September 25th with representatives from the Innovation in Insurance Technology Program. We had great speakers from companies such as Arthur J. Gallagher, MetLife, and Preferred Specialty. Some of these speakers were members of the Lambda Chapter at the University of South Carolina.

 

We are also pleased to announce the addition of 5 new board members, which will bring our total executive board up to 12 now. Also this week, we were proud to announce Alexandra Fierszt as our President Elect. Planning for the future was a main focus at the Presidents' conference and we feel that we have taken a great step towards that. We will be sending 8 members to Gamma Nationals in Charlotte and look forward to seeing everyone there!

 

Submitted by Mike Kelly, President 

NEW GIS Career Center!

Be sure to visit our new Career Center, exclusively for Gamma Iota Sigma members! We are excited for you to become familiar with the site and add your resume BEFORE we formally publicize it to employers.

FREE Subscription to Best's Review!

Kick off the new academic year right, and be sure you are taking advantage of the special offer from our partner company A.M. Best! Students and faculty can access a FREE subscription to Best's Review magazine - digital version. Link to the registration page here! Best's Review is the premier insurance industry monthly magazine, providing the latest global news and trends, plus industry analysis and featured articles.
Are you a Recent Graduate or GIS Alumnus? Stay in Touch!

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