MONROE, La. — Eight University of Louisiana Monroe Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) students, along with ۽ֱ associate professor Dr. Christine Berry, were invited to attend the 2016 Mid-Year Meeting of the Louisiana Surplus Lines Association (LSLA), held at the Metairie Country Club in Metairie, La. on Oct. 6.
The theme of the meeting was “Creating Connections-Building Bridges…Together.” Berry was asked to introduce the students and talk about the quality and growth of ۽ֱ’s RMI program, which now has over 130 majors. Other speakers were Chair of the House Insurance Committee Kirk Talbot, Patrick Talley of Lloyd’s America and Insurance Commissioner James Donelon.
A reception followed, where students networked with more than 80 industry professionals primarily representing the surplus lines insurance industry. The ۽ֱ RMI program has an emphasis on surplus lines and, as such, many of ۽ֱ RMI graduates go on to work in the surplus lines after graduation.
“I was very proud of how our students represented ۽ֱ’s program and themselves at the meeting. Several professionals commented to me that they were extremely impressed with this group of students,” said Berry.
According to Berry, events like these are one of the reasons most ۽ֱ RMI majors intern before graduation and have accepted full-time jobs at the beginning of their senior year.
Students in attendance were Hayden Williams, Amanda Bartet, Luke Kemp, Parker Shoaf, Wyatt Medlin, Jacob Evans, CJ Nash, and Claudio Smith.
The Louisiana Surplus Line Association was established in 1958 as a vehicle to promote communication, education and professionalism within the Louisiana surplus line community.