I trust that everyone has returned home from RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition safely and energized with new perspectives and ideas to re-think the way risk management is being done within their organizations.
RIMS 2017 was a huge success. In four days, we welcomed over 10,000 risk professionals, hosted 409 solutions providers in the Marketplace Exhibit Hall and offered 168 educational sessions that touched on almost every aspect of risk management imaginable.
This was the 22nd RIMS Annual Conference that I have had the privilege to attend, and witnessing it as president shed a new light on the experience. It was gratifying to see our attendees’ enthusiasm for this profession that we are passionate about. The work of our volunteers and staff was clearly evident. The dialogue between chapter leaders, RIMS Delegates, RIMS leaders, existing and potential partners and other international risk management associations was invaluable.
We honored some amazing risk professionals in Philadelphia. The RIMS Risk Manager of the Year and Honor Roll, new inductees into the RIMS Risk Management Hall of Fame, the Society’s Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award, RIMS Ambassador Group award, the Rising Star Award, and awards to honor and recognize our outstanding chapters were presented at the conference.
And how could we leave out the many impressive college students who attended and competed in the Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge. Congratulations to St. Joseph’s University for winning this year’s competition, and to all finalists and participants!
Thank you all for being a part of RIMS 2017 and making it so special. Attendees can still download handouts from sessions in the Attendee Service Center. For those who were unable to attend, I encourage you to check out daily coverage of the conference in the RIMS Show Daily from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the conference.
Please be sure to mark your calendars for RIMS 2018 Annual Conference & Exhibition on April 15 – 18 in San Antonio.
Disruption can be positive. It is critical that we test and review traditional and sometimes outdated processes, and consider how we might change to improve and advance. Throughout the year, RIMS will continue to produce resources and professional development opportunities to help you challenge that status quo.
At the conference, the Society released three new publications: RIMS Benchmark Survey 2017, RIMS MARSH Excellence in Risk Management XIV report and the Society’s first Business Interruption Survey. Also, we’ve updated RIMS Professional Growth Model and developed the RIMS Risk Management Professional Core Competency Model. All of these great resources can be found in RIMS Risk Knowledge library except for the Benchmark Survey which is available at www.RIMS.org/book.
At the RIMS NeXtGen Forum in Austin, June 4 and 5, we will be offering opportunities for rising risk professionals – risk professionals in the early stages of their careers – to meet industry thought-leaders, boost your knowledge-base and, perhaps, your professional standing. The RIMS Canada Conference, which will be in Toronto from September 24 to 27, also has opened its registration. Hope to see you there.
There is no question that our time in Philadelphia highlighted new strategies and best practices to enhance our work and our careers. Now it is time to implement them. RIMS stands ready to guide you in that process. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events, and sharing more resources throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Nowell Seaman
RIMS 2017 President