The eighth annual Ole Miss Insurance Symposium will be hosted by the Insurance and Risk Management program of the University of Mississippi’s School of Business Administration on Thursday, February 27, 2003. The increasingly popular conference continues to be one of the largest non-athletic events on campus, generally drawing over 225 people from across the region to the Oxford campus. “We are pleased the event is so well respected and attended,” said Dr. Larry Cox, Associate Professor and Robertson Chair of Insurance for the University of Mississippi.

The Ole Miss RMI program, recently named the eighth largest college program in the country by Business Insurance Magazine, proves to be a leader by continuing to host this event dedicated to improving industry education in the state. The 2003 Ole Miss Insurance Symposium features over a dozen speakers with expertise in the insurance field, such as Haley Barbour, Chairman and CEO of Barbour, Griffith & Rogers Inc. in Washington, D.C., John Cay, Chairman and CEO of Palmer & Cay, Inc. of Savannah, Georgia, and Bob Rusbuldt, CEO of Independent Insurance Agents of America, Washington, D.C. Insurance professionals and students will benefit from the discussions of what can be done in Mississippi to meet the challenges of the presently turbulent insurance markets.

“At a time when some doctors are closing their doors, legislators continue to seek remedies for our tort liability system, and the largest insurer in the state will not accept new business, I believe that our scheduled topics and speakers are right on target,” said Cox.

Luncheon speaker Haley Barbour expressed his concern for the current changes facing the state. “This is a challenging time for the insurance industry and for all of the people who rely on it: agents, employees and insured parties,” said Barbour. “Lawsuit abuse remains a huge problem in Mississippi.”

The Ole Miss Insurance Symposium is a favorite annual event of attendees. “I am honored to be asked to speak before such an outstanding group,” said featured speaker John Cay. “With the difficulties facing our business, it is most important that insurance brokers and companies develop strong partnerships to better serve our clients.”

The Ole Miss Insurance Symposium will be held at the new Gertrude B. Ford Center for the Performing Arts in Oxford. Those interested in more information on the conference should contact Allyson Mize at the University of Mississippi’s School of Business, 662-915-7481.

Location:  http://www.bus.olemiss.edu/viewnews.aspx?articleno=278