Spencer Looks Back with P. Richard Hackenburg (Spencer Chair 2001-2005)

How did you become involved with the Spencer Educational Foundation?

My involvement with Spencer starts five years after Bob Spencer passed. I was a member of the RIMS Executive Committee and was serving as the RIMS representative on the Spencer Board. The administration of Spencer had been moved from Atlanta where the Foundation was started, to the New York office of RIMS. Initial contributions in memory of Bob Spencer were given by the Atlanta Chapter of RIMS and by Johnson and Higgins, and quickly grew to in excess of $200,000. The first two scholarships awarded were $750 each. If the Spencer Foundation was to grow and help more students, professional management of Spencer was needed.  Don Browne and Ron Judd had the foresight and vision to make this happen.

After serving as President of RIMS, I was asked to remain on the Spencer Board for a three year term. I remained on the Spencer Board for eight terms serving Spencer in the capacities of fund raising, scholarship grant approvals, risk manager in residence, and finally as Chairman for four years. The work of the Spencer Foundation and the impact that it had in improving people’s lives became the highlight of my career of service to others.

What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) memories about your time serving as Spencer Chair?

My work for Spencer permitted me to meet and interact with exceptional young students of risk management, insurance, finance, mathematics, and other related disciplines. While Spencer became the financial facilitator for the education of these intelligent and accomplished students, it was society that benefited by the development of future leaders whose contributions would assure the future success of the organizations for which they worked and lead. Spencer scholars are found in virtually every industry, in government, in education, in philanthropic organizations, and in many other endeavors.

The Spencer leadership team was and is currently comprised of very talented and committed industry leaders. Over the years, hundreds of individuals have made time, talent, and financial commitments to Spencer that have benefited people’s lives. I send out my thanks to all, and mention a representative few of those people, while apologizing to many others for omitting their names -- Anita Benedetti, Angela Sabatino, George Shattick, Jim Davis, David Adler, Pam Rogers, Scott Rich, Allen Goldberg, Jim Newton, Jim Smirles, Dick Heydinger, Donna Galer, Don Browne, Ron Winans, Ron Judd, Steve Wilder, Dan Kugler, Jeanne Braun, Ann Zug, Jim Blinn, Pete Heard, Al Silverstein, Tim Bunt, Bill Drum, Kathryn McIntrye, Robert Hoyt, Susan Meltzer, and so many, many more!

The people that have lead the Foundation over the years all were passionate, caring individuals that wanted to give others the opportunities to seek a great education, career, and good life. That passion exists today as it did in the past.

Make a contribution to Spencer today. You are providing opportunity for deserving young people.

Thank you to Richard Hackenburg for his hard work and dedication to Spencer!