FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Executives from Amwins, Sompo, Travelers, Westfield Specialty, and RIMS – the Risk & Insurance Management Society join Spencer to help advance the future of risk management and insurance education
New York, NY (January 2026) – The Spencer Educational Foundation, a leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing education and career pathways for future risk management and insurance professionals, announced the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors, including representatives from two newly added companies – Sompo North America and Westfield Specialty – as well as RIMS’ President-Elect who holds an ex-officio position on the Spencer board each year. The appointments are effective as of January 1, 2026
These new appointments reflect Spencer’s continued commitment to engaging senior industry leaders who are passionate about investing in students and strengthening the talent pipeline across the risk management and insurance profession and underscores the growth plans for the foundation over the next five years.
The newly appointed board members are:
Tony Chimera, Chief Administrative Officer, Westfield Specialty
Christy Kaufman, President-Elect, RIMS and VP, P&C Risk and Compliance, USAA
Alycia Kiley, Senior Vice President, Amwins
Jonathan Monks, EVP, Head of Business Development, Sompo North America
Sean Ramalho, EVP, Enterprise Distribution, Travelers
Johnell Holly, Chair of the Spencer Educational Foundation Board of Directors, welcomed the new members, stating:
“Spencer’s mission is powered by leaders who believe in the importance of education, access, and opportunity. We are proud to welcome Tony, Christy, Alycia, Jonathan, and Sean to our Board. Their collective experience across carriers, wholesalers, and industry associations will bring valuable perspective as we continue expanding our programs and deepening our impact for students pursuing careers in risk management and insurance.”
Spencer thanks outgoing board members Ben Sloop of Amwins, Elizabeth Ricciardelli of Travelers, and Manuel Padilla of RIMS for their outstanding service and contributions to the mission.
To view the full roster of Spencer Board members and learn more about the foundation’s leadership, visit www.spencered.org/leadership.
About the Spencer Educational Foundation
The Spencer Educational Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing education and career pathways for students pursuing careers in risk management and insurance. Since 1979, Spencer has supported thousands of students through scholarships, grants, internships, and industry-connected programs that help build a strong and diverse future workforce. To learn more, visit www.spencered.org.
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About the Spencer Educational Foundation:
The Spencer Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to fostering the education and professional development of risk management and insurance students. Since its establishment in 1979, the foundation has been helping students succeed by providing scholarships, grants, and internships to talented individuals pursuing careers in these fields. To learn more about the Spencer Educational Foundation and its programs, please visit www.spencered.org.
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Media Contact:
Daniel F. Perez
Program Manager
Spencer Educational Foundation
daniel@spencered.org
