Industry leaders headline
insurance symposium
The 2011 Ole Miss Insurance Symposium at the University of Mississippi featured an impressive list of speakers, including CEOs of six major companies and associations.
Hosted by the School of Business Administration’s Risk Management and Insurance program, “Road to Recovery” drew some 200 professionals to campus as well as nearly 100 students in March.
“Our theme this year reflects the gradual rebound in our national and regional economies,” said Larry Cox, professor of finance and Robertson Chair of Insurance.
This year’s speakers included Bill Berkley, chairman and CEO of W.R. Berkley Corp.; Jeff Bowman, president and CEO of Crawford and Co.; Powell Brown, president and CEO of Brown and Brown; Doug Gaudet, president and CEO of Penn Millers Insurance Co.; Robert Miller, president-elect of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; and Cynthia Young, president and CEO of Encompass Insurance Co. Sam Haskell, former executive vice president and worldwide head of television for the William Morris Agency, was the luncheon speaker. Haskell, also an author and philanthropist, is an Ole Miss alumnus.
The symposium generally attracts a good crowd of business professionals, mostly from Mississippi and Tennessee, said Camille Mitchell, RMI project coordinator for the business school. Attendees can earn up to nine continuing education units for Mississippi and Tennessee insurance licensees.
“While the sessions oriented toward property-casualty insurance markets took center stage in the main ballroom, we also had a veteran lineup of great speakers focusing on financial advising and planning for our breakout sessions,” Cox said. “I am extremely pleased with the variety of topics and the exceptional expertise of this group of speakers.”
