Funding the diverse and talented future of the RMI industry.
The Spencer Educational Foundation is embarking on our 2nd annual comprehensive fundraising campaign, Funding Their Future, which aims to raise $1 million and will honor Peter Garvey (EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants) and Mary Roth (Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)).
Now through September 15, we will recognize longtime industry supporters and those who helped pave the way for the Foundation’s success, highlight the growth Spencer has achieved since its founding in 1979, and celebrate the diverse and talented students who have benefited from Spencer’s programming.
Hear From Our Honorees…
Read Peter’s interview where he discusses how he got his start in the insurance industry, his proudest career achievement so far, and more here.
Peter Garvey, Vice Chairman of Galway Insurance Holdings
“Spencer’s mission is one that’s important to me and should be to anyone who cares about the future of the insurance business. Attracting diverse, interesting and talented young people to an insurance career and supporting the education needed for them to thrive is one of the things insurance companies and brokerages have done poorly. The Spencer Educational Foundation has been doing something about that for some time now and we should all contribute the means to do more of it."
Mary Roth
CEO, RIMS
“Spencer has been a part of my career DNA since I joined RIMS in 1985. It's been a part of everything that I've done in my career, and I've supported the organization not only through my role at RIMS, but also personally. I feel that risk management is critical within any organization and it's critical that we train and develop the next generation.”
Listen to Mary’s RIMSCast interview where she discusses how the risk management profession has evolved over the span of her career, her advice for future risk management professionals, and more.
Memories from Spencer’s
Council of Advisors…
P. Richard Hackenburg
Former VP of Insurance and Risk Control Services, FOJP Service Corporation
Spencer Director of Distinction
Spencer Board Chair (2001-2005)
Spencer Board Member (1984 - 2007)
Donna Galer
Senior Advisor,
Hanover Stone Solutions
Spencer Council of Advisors
Spencer Board Chair (2007-2011)
Spencer Board Member (2002-2013)
“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.”
“As Chair from 2007-11, I realized that I had to work hard at fundraising since it was expected that the whole Board help develop funding and I wanted to set a good example. So, I made cold calls to various company executives. Some were not successful but some were. I remember calling FM Global and speaking to Roberta Butler. She got approval for a sizable contribution in 2007. Conversations continued with the company and in 2008 they followed that sizable contribution with the largest single contribution in Spencer's history, $525,000!”
Peggy Accordino
Former Vice President, Director of Risk Management, NFP Corp.
Spencer Council of Advisors
Spencer Board Chair (2012-2014)
Spencer Board Member (1998-1999, 2007-2017)
Brion Callori
SVP, Engineering and Research,
FM Global
Spencer Director of Distinction
Spencer Board Chair (2014-2015)
Spencer Board Member (2009-2017)
Zakia Phillips
Former EVP, Willis Towers Watson
Spencer Council of Advisors
Spencer Board Chair (2018)
Spencer Board Member (2012-2018)
Scott Rich
Former Director of Corporate Insurance, Flowers Foods
Spencer Council of Advisors
Spencer Board Member (1997-2013)
“I was lucky enough to be invited to the first Gala and watching it evolve over the years was amazing. Pre-Covid we grossed $1 million! I look forward to the next live Gala.”
“I always think of Spencer in terms of watershed moments:
We started out giving $300 scholarships, one to GA State and one to UGA. One year, Johnson & Higgins announced that they were discontinuing sponsoring the Wednesday night dinner at the RIMS Conference. Instead they were going to donate that money to Spencer. That donation gave credibility and real momentum to Spencer.”
Roger Andrews
Former Director of Risk Management,
E. D. Bullard Company
Spencer Council of Advisors
Spencer Board Chair (2011-2012)
Spencer Board Member (1999-2017)
Robert Hoyt
Moore Chair and Department Head, University of Georgia
Spencer Council of Advisors
Spencer Board Member (2005-2013)
“My favorite memory of my time on the Spencer Board was being part of the first Gala in New York City. We weren’t sure how it would be received, but that event and the subsequent ones ushered in a period of record growth in financial support to Spencer. Oh, and of course, every time I was able to be together with Angela Sabatino so that I could give her a hard time!”
The History of Spencer…
Robert Spencer
(1929-1979)
Robert Spencer was a seminal leader in the risk management field. For 17 years, he held numerous management positions at Fuqua Industries Inc., where he developed the organization’s diverse risk management program, co-founded the Bermuda-based Fuqua Insurance Company Ltd., set standards on the dealings of captives in the domestic and international reinsurance markets, and created a workers compensation, self-retention program adopted by 31 U.S. states.
In addition, Robert was a leader in RIMS, serving as president of the Atlanta Chapter in 1973, and as vice president (1974–1977) and then president (1977–1978) of the national organization. He was also a founding member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. In all these roles, Robert developed numerous programs — including RIMS’ Anita Benedetti Student Involvement Program — so that the principles of good risk management could be passed on.
Long after his death, in 1979, Spencer continues Robert’s legacy by providing educational opportunities for young people seeking to advance their education in business, insurance, actuarial sciences, and risk management.
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Help us fund the future.