Spencer Educational Foundation Update
Funding the education of tomorrow's risk management & insurance leadersOctober 2012 
Pictured (left to right): John Amore, Peggy Accordino, David Zuercher and Seraina Maag
Gala Dinner raises more than $720,000 for Foundation's mission
 
Industry celebrates Seraina Maag, David Zuercher
 
Seraina Maag, chief executive - North American Property and Casualty for XL Insurance, and David Zuercher, retired head of insurance for Wells Fargo & Company, were celebrated by 500 industry professionals at Spencer Educational Foundation's 2012 Gala Dinner on September 12 in New York City.
2012 Spencer Scholars Gisselle Escotto (left) and Drew Carey spoke at the Foundation's annual gala.
 
"At the gala all sides of the industry came together to help fund the education of tomorrow's risk management and insurance leaders," said Peggy Accordino, chairwoman of Spencer Educational Foundation. 
 

Among the evening's highlights were speeches delivered by two scholarship recipients. The first was by St. John's University undergraduate Drew Carey who is this year's recipient of the William J. Clagnaz/ACE USA Memorial Scholarship. The second speech was delivered by Spencer Scholar Gisselle Escotto. Gisselle is a New York University graduate student who is currently employed by Insurance Services Office, Inc.

 

The gala was emceed by John J. Amore, CEO of General Insurance at Zurich (ret.) and on the board of overseers for the School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science at St. John's University.




Spencer Swinson
Spencer Swinson
Profile: Spencer Swinson follows in grandfather's footsteps
 
Foundation's namesake's grandson pursuing risk management degree at University of Georgia

 

Spencer Swinson is a senior at the University of Georgia (Terry College of Business). He expects to graduate in December 2013 with a bachelor's degree in risk management and insurance.
Ropbert Spencer
Robert Spencer
was president of the Risk and Insurance Management Society from 1977-78 and vice president of Fuqua Industries.

He also is the grandson of Robert Spencer, for whom  the Spencer Educational Foundation is named.  

 

The following is a Q&A with Spencer:

 

Q: What interested you in majoring in Risk Management and Insurance?

When I was a junior in high school, we had to complete a project on our future career goals. I knew I was interested in the broad area of business, but had to narrow it down. I had always heard my mom talk about her dad and what he did in the area of risk management and insurance (RMI). I started researching RMI and clicked on RIMS website, which I recognized from talks with my grandmother. I became interested in the opportunities to work in the corporate world to prevent losses or minimize the effects caused by unpreventable losses. 

 

Q: While your grandfather passed away before you were born, how have the stories you have heard about him influenced you?
Even though I never knew my grandfather, I learned a lot from him by hearing about his career at Fuqua Industries. Being a corporate risk manager (CRM) allowed him the opportunity to provide excellent employee benefits while maintaining low risk to the corporate assets. I have met several people who worked with or for my grandfather that credit him for their success. Also, his business partners emphasized his strong belief in helping educate students majoring in risk management through the Risk and Insurance Management Society. 

 

Q: Is there one story or anecdote about your grandfather that sticks out in your mind that you can share that illustrates who he was?

From the stories told to me by my relatives and people who knew my granddaddy, he loved his career but especially enjoyed getting to meet people that were interested in learning about risk management.

 

 In listening to all the stories told about my grandfather, the one story that best illustrates him occurred at the conclusion of the RIMS meeting when he was president. He had met and spoke with the chairman of Lloyd's of London. He wanted to talk further with my grandfather regarding insurance and loss prevention, so he invited my grandparents to come back to London for an intimate dinner meeting. They arrived at Guildhall, "London's powerhouse setting since the 12th century for a banquet fit for royalty," as told to me by my grandmother. In attendance were some of the most influential corporate risk managers in the world. My grandmother said "that the kid from Iowa fit right in when talking about what he loved."

  

Q: Based on your learning so far, what do you see as the future for Risk Management & Insurance?

I feel that in the future, the area of risk management and insurance will play an even larger role in the accomplishments of a company. Corporate risk managers will be found in all successful businesses and will continue to provide the needed direction and information to prevent loss, which in turn, will protect the company's assets. 

 

Q: What do you hope to do following graduation?

I hope that after my summer internship (2013) and many discussions with my professors and department head, that I will have a better direction for my future employment goals. At this point in my life, I see myself working for a large corporation, possibly in Atlanta or Chicago, in their risk management department.  My goal is to be a contributing component to the company's financial success while limiting their level of risk.

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Featured Donor

  

Lockton Companies  
  
Lockton Companies has been a consistent supporter of the Foundation through board/committee involvement and financial contributions.
 
Thank you.

Available: RIMS Executive Report focuses on the  role of the risk professional

 

 
As the risk management profession evolves from a protective function to one that can create value for an organization, RIMS Executive Report, "The Evolving Role of the Risk Professional,"
 emphasizes that the need for determined and adept risk leaders to build risk management capabilities at every level of an organization has become an essential component to organizational success.

 
 
RIMS Chapter Recognition

The Foundation is affiliated with the Risk and Insurance Management Society and we would like to thank the following RIMS chapters that have already supported the Foundation in 2012:

 

Atlanta
Broward (Florida)
Connecticut Valley
Delaware Valley
Detroit
Golden Gate
Greater Quad City
  Houston
Long Island
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
Northeast Ohio
Ozarks
Piedmont
Potomac
St. Louis
South Texas
Southern Louisiana
Upstate New York
Washington
 
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Florida RIMS Conference bets on Spencer Educational Foundation, raises $2,200
  
The Florida RIMS Conference sponsored a casino night at its annual conference in July. The opening event, was sponsored by Chartis and Aon and proved to be a positive kickoff to the conference.
 
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Attention current and former Spencer Scholars:
We'd like to hear from you -- where you are and what you are doing.  Please drop us an e-mail with your current contact information. If you are interested in being profiled in a future newsletter please contact Andrew Miller.