Daniel J. Kugler, RIMS-CRMP, ACI, CPCU, ARM, AIC, INS, CEBS

Dan Kugler was an incredible leader, educator, mentor and promoter for all aspects of risk management.  His energy was unmatched, sense of humor unrivaled and desire to teach everyone the importance of risk management during every step of his 35+ years in risk management was unparalleled.

Dan joined Snap-On Incorporated as a risk analyst in 1979. He held positions with increasing responsibility until he eventually led the risk management function for more than 20 years.   During his tenure, he developed multi-dimensional programs across the enterprise including the development of a specialty captive that provided specialized insurance coverage at a reduced cost for Snap-On’s distributors, a business continuity program, claims processes, physical security programs and an award-winning workers’ compensation program. He retired as assistant treasurer of Snap-on in 2014.

Dan went on to become vice president-enterprise risk management at the REV Group. There, Dan leveraged his years of experience to help build the organization’s strategic risk financing, employee benefits, security, business continuity, workers’ compensation and enterprise risk management programs.

In between Snap-On and REV Group, Dan spent two years as an educator at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he taught multiple risk management courses, created the Gamma Iota Sigma chapter and led a team of students through the university’s first Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge.

Dan worked tirelessly for decades to give back to the profession that he loved. Often described as “larger than life,” he captivated classrooms across the country, helping educate students and professionals alike about the world of risk management and insurance. Dan served on Spencer Foundation Board and participated in Spencer’s Risk Manager on Campus (RMOC) program – visiting hundreds of universities, engaging with risk management and insurance students, sharing insight and advocating for the profession.

Dan was an integral member of RIMS Board of Directors as well.  During this leadership role, he was instrumental in guiding RIMS first Enterprise Risk Management endeavors enabling the Society to become one the first risk management associations to embrace and support programming related to the emerging strategy.  His efforts resulted in RIMS creating a full-time staff position dedicated to ERM and other strategic risk management practices.  

Throughout his career, he received numerous industry awards including Risk Manager of the Year by Business Insurance (2002), National Underwriter’s Excellence in Workers’ Compensation Award (2009), Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Award (2010), Innovation and Leadership Award at the Katie School of Insurance and Financial Services of Illinois State University's Midwestern Insurance Innovation and Leadership Awards & Hall of Fame (2012), and the Captive Insurance Company of the Year Award (2014).

Dan was a lifelong learner himself.  He was part of the inaugural class to earn the RIMS-CRMP certification in 2016. He also held the ACI, CPCU, ARM, AIC, INS and CEBS professional designations.

Dan is survived by his wife, Margie, four children and three grandchildren.