Saint Joseph University Wins 2019 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge

April 30, 2019

At the Spencer Educational Foundation reception, case-study provider Robert Zhang, RIMS Board Director and IKEA China’s Risk and Compliance Director, announced Saint Joseph’s University student team as the winners of the 2019 Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge. The team, comprising four risk management students, competed against 28 other universities and delivered the award-winning risk management presentation in front industry leaders at RIMS 2019 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Boston.

Members of the Saint Joseph’s winning team included:

  • Joseph Angelina
  • Katherine Branson
  • Ashley Myers
  • Daniel Tan
  •  Academic Advisor: Michael Angelina

“Spencer is committed to delivering educational opportunities, like the Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge, that create a pathway to rewarding risk management and insurance careers,” said Spencer Chairperson Marya Propis. “The Spencer Board could not be more proud of this year’s winner Saint Joseph’s University and all of our 2019 university teams.”

“Beyond the remarkable presentations delivered by each university team, our Spencer-RIMS Risk Challenge students continue to demonstrate the highest-degree of professionalism and an exceptional grasp of sophisticated concepts,” said RIMS CEO Mary Roth. “Congratulations to Saint Joseph’s University, our 2019 winner, our runner-ups and all who participated. We look forward to welcoming these aspiring professionals to the RIMS community in the very near future.”

The challenge began with 28 universities, eight months ago, who were each presented with a risk management case-study, provided by IKEA.  Asked to identify the top five risks of integrating new physical and digital commerce opportunities for IKEA’s customers, the teams developed solutions and nine of the teams were selected to attend RIMS 2019. During the conference, the field was narrowed to three and those finalists presented one last time in front of risk professionals at the conference.

Second place in this year’s Challenge was St. Mary’s University and the third place team was Butler University.  The first place university received $4000, second $3,000 and third $2,000.

About Spencer

Spencer was founded in 1979 and to this day remains the premier organization funding the education of tomorrow’s risk management and insurance leaders. Since its beginning, Spencer has awarded more than 1,050 scholarships totaling over $6.9 million, and $3.25 million in grants to universities and professional institutions for educational programs and conferences. To learn more about Spencer, 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 160 educational sessions, keynote presentations, special events and an expansive Marketplace Exhibit Hall with nearly 400 exhibitors. Following Boston, the event will be hosted in Denver in 2020. For more information, visit www.RIMS.org/RIMS2019.

For more information, contact:

Josh Salter, Director of Communications, (212) 655-6059 or JSalter@rims.org

About RIMS

As the preeminent organization dedicated to promoting the profession of risk management, RIMS, the risk management society®, is a global not-for-profit organization representing more than 3,500 industrial, service, nonprofit, charitable and government entities throughout the world. Founded in 1950, RIMS is committed to advancing risk management capabilities for organizational success, bringing networking, professional development and education opportunities to its membership of more than 10,000 risk management professionals who are located in more than 60 countries. For more information on RIMS, visit www.RIMS.org

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