Gamma Iota Sigma Newsletter                           
October 2013
 
In This Issue
Conference Wrap-up
Thank You to Our Supporters
Alyssa Bouchard: 2013-14 co-ISR
Mike Kelly: 2013-14 co-ISR
Chapter News: Iota
Chapter News: Phi
Chapter News: Beta Gamma
GIS in the News
Calling all Alumni!
Seeking Scholarships
Quick Links




Board of Trustees
 

Margaret Accordino, ARM

 

Khadine Adams

 

Meg Allwein*

 

Lauri Atkinson

 

Michael Boa

 

Alyssa Bouchard*

 

Brian Bowerman*

   

Noelle Codispoti, ARM*

 

Glenn Dorr

 

RB Drennan, Ph.D.*

 

Karen Epermanis*

 

Brittany Foye

 

Jacob Galecki

 

Wesley Griffiths

 

John Hammond*

 

Josh Hart*

 

Derek Hazeltine

 

Jeffrey D. Henry, M.Ed.

 

Alan F. Hoffmann*

 

Peter Hohman, FCIP, CRM, CAE, ICD.D

 

William J. Hold

 

Cynthia Hornby

 

Mike Kelly*

 

Tim Kelly

 

Matt Kletzli

 

Julia Kramer

 

Jeff Lamb*

 

Lance A. Lancour

 

Tim Leman

 

Lyric Lewis, AIC, FLMI, AIAA, ACS

 

Steve Marohn

 

Stephanie McElroy

 

John Meder

 

Peter Miller, CPCU

 

Christopher Place, FSA, EA*

 

Paige Stiefel

 

William Tarinelli, Jr.

 

Jason Terrell

 

Jacob Timmins*

 

Jason Warden

 

Dr. Alan C. Williams, Emeritus

 

Decker Youngman

 

 

* Executive Committee Member

42nd Annual International Conference
A Roaring Success!

Gamma Iota Sigma boasts the best and brightest students preparing for careers in the insurance industry, and many of you had the chance to meet some of them in Charlotte, NC October 3-5.
 
Over 600 industry practitioners, supporters, students and faculty descended on the Westin Charlotte for our highest attended conference yet. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this year's event a success, and to our co-host, the Rho Chapter from Appalachian State University.

 

Conference highlights:

  • 430 students and faculty in attendance
  • 38 participating colleges and universities
  • nearly 200 industry representatives present
  • 3 days of networking and professional development opportunities, educational sessions and first round interviews
  • 2-day Career Fair featuring 60 exhibitors
  • 65 industry sponsors - more than ever before
  • 4 applicant chapters in attendance

We were thrilled to hold the chartering ceremony for the Beta Theta Chapter at East Carolina University during the opening night reception. This was the first time a chartering ceremony was held at the conference, particularly poignant as the other 36 schools present and many of our sponsors and industry representatives in attendance were able to share in the event.

 

Congratulations to this year's award winners, as well as to Alyssa Bouchard of Rho Chapter and Mike Kelly of Lambda Chapter, who were elected the 2013-24 co-International Student Representatives.

 

Stay tuned for details on the 2014 conference in Dallas, Texas!

 


Thank You to Our Supporters!

 

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

Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund

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

Angus Robinson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Foundation

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

 

Alyssa Bouchard, Rho Chapter, Appalachian State University
2013-14 co-International Student Representative
 

The key values of Gamma Iota Sigma are: lasting friendship, a desire for knowledge, a dedication to integrity, and faithful fidelity. As previous International Student Representatives have shown, it is imperative they exhibit these qualities in order to fulfill his or her duty to the organization. Based on these qualities, I believe I'll serve you well as International Student Representative.

 

My passion for the risk and insurance industry stems largely from the emphasis on building relationships. Through GIS, I've formed friendships with many of you that I know will last the entirety of my career. I plan to use this ability to foster relationships with the members of the Grand Chapter and serve as a liaison between the Executive Committee and each of you, my fellow student members.

 

I have a strong desire to learn and better myself through Gamma's educational opportunities. I take advantage of conferences, Webinars, and seek to gain knowledge from industry professionals. I am confident that my desire for knowledge will allow me to make myself aware of issues in the risk, insurance, and actuarial fields, and build additional value into your Gamma Iota Sigma membership by constantly revamping the services Gamma provides in accordance with those issues.

 

Integrity is one of the most important values you can have in this industry. As your International Student Representative, I promise to facilitate open and honest communication, and uphold GIS's high standard of integrity.
 
Above all, I am loyal and dedicated to this organization. I want to see Gamma Iota Sigma grow and succeed not only on the national level, but with each one of your individual chapters. You can be confident that, as your International Student Representative, I will put Gamma Iota Sigma first and passionately promote the organization on behalf of our entire student membership.

Michael A. Kelly II, Lambda Chapter,
University of South Carolina
2013-14 co-International Student Representative


There are three things that I want to stress as International Student Representative: Growth, Stability, and Succession.

 

First, I want Gamma to grow at the Grand Chapter level by adding new chapters and helping chapters reactivate, like I did with the Lambda Chapter. I also want to help the smaller chapters grow and continue to be strong. Next, we need our big chapters to continue to be stable. I want our superior chapters to continue every year to compete for the Bowers Award. I don't want to see chapters become inactive either, that is something that would really hurt us as a whole. Finally, I want to tie everything together with succession. We need our chapters to continue to grow every year. I think that this is the most important thing every year our chapters get stronger.

 

I want to thank everyone for your votes. I am looking forward to representing all of you along with Alyssa. I want to stress to every member that I am here for you. Please do not be afraid to contact me and let me know what we can do for you.


Chapter News: Iota
Rallying after Reactivating

 

Since the beginning of the Fall semester, the newly reactivated Iota Chapter at Florida State University has been hard at work building up our presence on campus. There has been a wide variety of events hosted by our chapter, such as the kickoff with John Phelps, ARM, CPCU, Director of Business Risk Solutions for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and current President of RIMS. Mr. Phelps presented about a career in risk management and gave our students advice for when they enter the industry.

 

Around the time of our university's career fair, we brought in three insurance companies - Amica Mutual, Bouchard Insurance and Allstate Insurance - to host sessions on interviewing and networking skills. This was a great opportunity for our chapter to get advice from employers about what companies are looking for during an interview and what is appropriate behavior during networking opportunities.

 

One of our chapter goals is to foster camaraderie between members, so during the FSU vs NC State game we have invited our alumni to come back for an alumni tailgate. We are hoping that this will become an annual event and that alumni will look forward to coming back every year for it. We are excited to finally be a part of GIS again and we have big aspirations for the future of our chapter! Go Noles!

 

Submitted by Joey Neeley, Iota Chapter President
Chapter News: Phi
Tales of Excel(ling)

From professional engagement to memorable fun, the Phi chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma has been excelling in the fall of 2013. Our chapter leadership and membership have worked hard to stand out at Ball State and bring out some of the best opportunities imaginable for our members. 

 

From hosting well over a dozen interactive company presentations and professional development workshops to creating this year's International Conference winning roll call skit, our members know what it takes to Excel... I mean excel... in the insurance industry and in Gamma Iota Sigma. Each week we hear the success stories of members passing actuarial and risk management exams, getting a new internship or having a great experience at an industry conference, and our chapter celebrates with fun events like tailgating and pizza parties.

 

In other news, the Phi Chapter is expanding our alumni records and working on a new automated record-keeping system. Furthermore, the RMI side of the club is gaining ground with connections to new insurance companies and opportunities. We have a lot of great ideas for continued chapter growth and involvement and look forward to the exciting changes that are going on with us, other Gamma Iota Sigma chapters, and in the insurance industry.

 

Submitted by Dulton Moore, Phi Chapter Secretary
Chapter News: Beta Gamma
Risk Management in the Public Sector

The Beta Gamma Chapter at Cal State Fullerton launched the school year with their first guest speaker, Steven NyBlom, who is the Chief Risk Manager for Los Angeles County. Steven spoke to members about the importance of risk management within the public sector and how everyday activities fall under his responsibility. Steven is responsible for public safety, public works projects, schools, public relations, and so much more. Risk management touches all industries, but it also affects our daily lives.

 

Steven also shared his career experiences, which took him from underwriting to Chief Risk Manager of one of the largest counties in the United States. Steven also emphasized the importance of networking and continuing education. Beta Gamma members learned the importance of risk management in the public sector, networking, and always staying competitive through continuing education.  

 

Submitted by Dymphna Menendez, Beta Gamma Chapter President
GIS in the News
WIN Magazine Feature Story by Noelle Codispoti

GIS Executive Director Noelle Codispoti's article, "Mind the Talent Gap: Attracting Students and Young Professionals to the Wholesale Insurance Industry," is the lead story in the Fall 2013 issue of Wholesale Insurance News (WIN) Magazine. Thanks to our industry partner AAMGA for the feature; read the full issue here.

The wholesale insurance community's international trade association, AAMGA was founded in 1926 on the principles of integrity and professionalism. Today, the AAMGA represents over 500 corporate members and is respected as the leader in and voice of the wholesale and excess and surplus lines insurance industry.

Calling all GIS Alumni - Stay in Touch!

Help us keep your contact information currentGIS boasts an alumni base of over 16,000 individuals from our 56 chapters, and we need your help in updating our current records. Please use the link below to update your information, and pass it on to as many alumni as you can.

Request for Scholarships
Matching Talent with Resources

Does your company or organization offer scholarships to students? Let us help spread the word among Gamma Iota Sigma members! Please email Sharla Floyd with the details or for further discussion.

__________________________________________________________

Noelle Codispoti, ARM
Executive Director, Gamma Iota Sigma
www.GammaIotaSigma.org                                       View our profile on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook