April 14, 2008
Event Sponsored by Joe Plumeri at
University’s Manhattan Campus
St. John’s University’s School of Risk Management,
Insurance and Actuarial Science (SRM) partnered with Willis Group Holdings Limited to
successfully debut the Samuel and Josephine Plumeri Student
Leadership Program yesterday in Manhattan, which will become an
annual event.
Joe
Plumeri, Chairman and CEO, Willis, funded this program in honor
of his parents and on the occasion of his acceptance of the
2006 Insurance Leader of the Year Award. The goal of the
program is to instill in students a deep sense of pride in the
insurance and risk management professions, and to educate them
about the far-reaching contributions of the industry to society’s
welfare.
Photo
Gallery
The program provided both inspirational and informational
perspectives on the insurance and risk management industry. Mr.
Plumeri delivered the keynote address entitled, “The Insurance
Profession: How the Industry Can Change the World,” to a standing
room only crowd of more than 100 risk management, insurance and
actuarial science students at the Saval Auditorium at St. John’s
University’s Manhattan Campus.
“The insurance industry is a positive force that helps protect
individuals and businesses—and is crucial to everything that
happens in the world. As issues such as global warming, cyber
risk, product liability and shareholder activism—to name just a
few—intensify, the need for what we do will only become more
important,” said Plumeri, “I want to instill in today’s risk
management and insurance students, our next generation of leaders,
an intense feeling of pride and a burning desire to build upon the
industry’s already admirable legacy.”
To further that goal, Plumeri also announced the establishment
of a new 2008
Willis Challenger Essay Contest at the SRM, which carries with
it a $1,500 prize. The topic of the essay question challenges
students to focus on the magnitude of economic security provided by
the insurance industry and to make recommendations as to how to
positively enhance the industry’s reputation. Essays must be
submitted by May 30, 2008 to qualify.
“As the future leaders of the insurance industry, our students
need to be inspired to take a leadership role in re-branding the
insurance business as vital, exciting and critical,” said Ellen
Thrower, Executive Director of the SRM. She added, “This
program more than accomplished that ambitious goal, and we are very
grateful to Joe Plumeri for his generosity and support.”
The half-day program included a combination of networking
opportunities, educational presentations and motivational energy
triggered by Plumeri’s dynamic featured address. Presentations from
Robert Hartwig, Ph.D., CPCU, President of Insurance Information
Institute on “Insurance Industry Contributions” and a “Practitioner
Presentation & Discussion” given by Shari
Natovitz, Risk Manager of Silverstein Properties, highlighted
the day’s itinerary.
For more detailed Willis Challenger Essay Contest information
and entry forms visit the University Web
site or contact Theresa Marro, Assistant Director,
Marketing and Industry Relations, SRM, by calling (212)
277-5113.
Interested media representatives can contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations by calling (718)
990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu.
For more information about Willis Group Holdings Limited
contact Marisha Chinsky, at (212) 915-8336 or e-mail inquiries
to marisha.chinsky@willis.com.