Director's Note from Dr. David Marlett | | |
One of the core missions of the Brantley Risk & Insurance Center is to connect students with industry professionals through meaningful engagement and experiential learning opportunities. This summer’s RMI Summer Summit was a wonderful example of that mission in action, bringing together high school and college students with insurance professionals and local businesses to explore careers in risk management and insurance. The program’s success reflects the willingness of so many people to invest their time, expertise, and encouragement in the next generation. Experiences like these help students better understand the opportunities available within our industry and inspire them to pursue careers in risk management and insurance. On behalf of the Brantley Center, thank you for helping us create opportunities for students while strengthening our industry and the communities we serve.
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RMI Summer Summit
This year the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center had the unique opportunity to host an insurance-focused summer camp for high school and college students to learn more about the insurance and risk management industry! Through the support of the IIANC, students had the opportunity to learn about independent agents, carriers, the excess & surplus market and professional selling. In addition to the classroom work, students were able to see the risk management relationship in action through tours of local businesses, the construction site at Peacock and at a ropes course in Blowing Rock. Campers also had an opportunity to explore the High Country with a trip to Grandfather Mountain where they performed a service project and were able to cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge.
This experience would not be possible without our board members and community partners providing real world knowledge and experience!
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5th Annual Top Golf Fundraiser 2026!
We're looking forward to hosting our 5th Top Golf Fundraiser on August 6th in Charlotte! This event is a fun opportunity to give back as all proceeds help us fund professional development activities such as student travel to conferences, dining etiquette dinners, and hosting speakers on campus as well as going towards student scholarships!
Follow the button below to register today!
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Walker Business Connections Career Fair
On October 1st, 2026, the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center and Business Career Services will host our Walker Business Connections Career Fair from 12-3pm! This is our largest fair of the year with an average of 1000 students, 120 total employers and 40 insurance employers. If you are looking to hire great App State RMI students for internship and/or full-time positions, click the button below to register today!
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Professional Development with the
Gamma Iota Sigma-Rho Chapter
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Builders Mutual Week
App State alumni Dan Carroll and Christopher Wetzel were guest speakers to various insurance classes.
On Monday, Chris spoke to an International Insurance Markets class discussing Reinsurance and the International Marketplace. He talked about both the London and Bermuda markets and the relationships between reinsurers, carriers and brokers.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Dan visited both Business Law, Principles of Insurance classes, and Commercial Insurance. He shared his background, career advice and the Builders Mutual story. He provided examples of commercial risks and emphasized the importance of relationships and curiosity.
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Dining Etiquette
We believe professional development goes beyond the classroom. Learning the nuances of dining etiquette is an important skill as students prepare for internships and networking events. It was wonderful to see them engaged, asking thoughtful questions, and gaining confidence in a setting that mirrors real-world professional environments.
In a welcome change to this event, the Brantley Board of Advisors joined students to network and brush up on their dining etiquette skills!
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JSA Shadow Day
We want to thank Jackson Sumner & Associates for hosting RMI students in their office! Students had the opportunity to learn more about the excess and surplus lines as well as spent time shadowing with JSA staff to get insight on the day-to-day lives of their underwriters.
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Career Fair and VIP networking Social
In March, we partnered with Business Career Services to host our 2nd career fair of the year in Holmes Convocation Center. This spring we saw roughly 800 students attend and meet with insurance companies from throughout the southeast and beyond!
These events are some the of the most fun each year, so if you're interested in participating in the Fall career fair, please reach out to Dillon!
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Nicholas Principi, Chubb
GIS hosted Nicolas Principi, a Solutions Architect from Chubb. He shared insights on how AI is transforming the workplace at Chubb, offered tips on how students can stand out in interviews, and discussed ways to learn more about AI to become valuable assets to their future organizations.
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RIMS Shadow Day
In April, 8 students traveled to Charlotte to shadow with risk management and insurance organizations such as Lockton, Willis, USI, Sealed Air, Zurich, and Corvel. Students spent the day with a professional and got a view of the day-to-day life of risk managers, account managers, producers, and claims professionals.
A special thank you to Brandi Falls and the RIMS Carolina team to organizing a great experience for students!
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Auto Owners Event
At App State, we are fortunate to have great alumni who are willing to come back to speak to our students, such as Jamie Whisnant, CEO of Auto Owners Insurance. Jamie spent time sharing his personal journey is a rare opportunity, and the advice Jamie offered was truly impactful for everyone in the room. We look forward to having Jamie back on campus in the future!
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GIS Regional-Atlanta
Students attended the Gamma Iota Sigma regional event in Atlanta this past February. At the event, students had the opportunity to network with professionals, alumni, and peers in GIS from across the country.
It was wonderful to see our recent graduates — Summer Schloss, Lauren Broadway, Mea Picone, and Zack Middleton! Introducing current students and alums is always a rewarding experience!
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Building Insurance Talent- New York City
Eight Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University students participated in the Build Insurance Talent (BIT) Program in New York City, sponsored by the Brantley Risk & Insurance Center.
During the visit, students had the opportunity to tour and meet with professionals at Amwins Global Risks, Acrisure Re and Everspan Group.
The goal of the trip was to help students gain a better understanding of the insurance industry and how pursuing a major or minor in Risk Management and Insurance can benefit their future careers. Professionals from each company shared their career journeys, discussed their areas of business, and answered many thoughtful questions from our students.
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London Trip
Each year, 12 students travel to London to immerse themselves in the insurance market surrounding Lloyds of London. During this year's trip, students are met with Beazley, Markel, Miller Insurance, Amwins, Acrisure, and Rokstone. Meeting with these different organzations, give students different perspectives to the brokerage and underwriting relationship inside and outside of the Lloyds marketplace.
Additionally, Todd Campbell of Builders insurance, met the group for a wonderful dinner in the historic Strafford Hotel.
Thank you to the NCSLA for securing the funding to keep this trip happening each year!
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The Brantley Center brought 11 students to Bermuda to learn about the reinsurance market, Bermudian culture, and climate risk. Throughout the week students were able to meet with leaders from companies such as ShorelineHudson | Insurance, Ascot Group, Ariel Re, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Chubb, Aeolus Capital Management, Acrisure, Acrisure Re, Wholesure, Conyers, Nephila Capital, and the ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.
We want to thank Wholesure and the Spencer Educational Foundation for providing funding to make this trip possible!
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Jack Cuddy
Jack Cuddy first stopped by the Brantley Center through the High Performers scholarship opportunity. He had not considered a career in insurance but was curious about taking the Principles of Risk Management Course with the attached $1000 scholarship provided by the NCSLA. A few weeks into the course, a new career path opened for Jack. Early in his Principles course experience, he started to get involved with Gamma Iota Sigma. This led him to being Vice President of the App State chapter of GIS as well as being the Student Advisory Council for GIS National. He also landed an internship with Wholesure and will be starting a full time role with Markel this upcoming summer. Jack took an opportunity to learn more about a field he was not sure of and made the most of his opportunity.
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Carolyn Coffey
Carolyn Coffey is an actuarial sciences student who has made the most of her time at App State. Initally, getting involved with the Brantley Center through the Building Insurance Talent (BIT) New York City trip, Carolyn has been a staple in the center ever since. She has gotten involved with Gamma Iota Sigma as the Actuarial Club Liasion, where she bridges the gap between GIS and the Actuarial Club on campus. This has led to more students from the Actuarial program getting involved with the Brantley Center. Outside of academia, Carolyn has completed an internship with the North Carolina Rate Bureau and will be starting with Builders Mutual in the Summer.
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Michelle O'Connor- Owner, O'Connor Insurance
Michelle O'Connor, the owner of O'Connor Insurance, an independent agent in Charlotte, is one of our newest Brantley Board Members but has made a great impact in her short time working with the Brantley Center Staff and Faculty. Michelle has been integral to the development of the RMI Summer Summit summer camp being held in Boone this summer by promoting the camp to her local community. Additionally, Michelle has worked with board members to explore and launch Invest chapters around the Charlotte area, which has the goal of promoting insurance education at the high school level. It's been a pleasure working with Michelle during her time on the board and we look forward to seeing how she expands the high school recruitment side of the recruitment committee.
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Dan Carroll- Director, Large Market Accounts, Builders Mutual
Dan Carroll of Builders Mutual jumped into the lead of the Recruitment Committee and hit the ground running. Dan visited campus and met with numerous students to learn about their experience at App, how they got involved and understand their career aspirations. On a visit to Raleigh, Dan hosted a handful of students for dinner and spent time learning about the students and getting ideas on how to recruit the next class of App State RMI students. Dan's can-do attitude and willingness to jump in where needed is much appreciated. We look forward to seeing how Dan and the talented members of the Recruitment committee expand on-campus recruitment in years to come!
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