Industry Leaders Headline Annual Insurance Symposium March 24-25

OXFORD, Miss. – The 2010 Ole Miss Insurance Symposium at the University of Mississippi features an impressive list of speakers, including CEOs of six major companies and associations.


“2010: An Insurance Odyssey,” set for March 24-25  and hosted by the School of Business Administration’s Risk Management and Insurance program, is expected to draw more than 200 professionals. “This year we have six CEOs of different organizations within the insurance industry on our main program,” said Larry Cox, professor of finance and Robertson Chair of Insurance. “This never has happened before, and I am thrilled, to say the least. The Ole Miss Insurance Advisory Board has done a terrific job of attracting these eminent guests to our campus.”

Speakers include J. Patrick Gallagher, president and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.; Robert P. Restrepo Jr., chairman and CEO of State Auto Insurance Cos.; Michael D. Miller, president and CEO of Scottsdale Insurance Co.; Michael J. Plavnicky, president and CEO of Montgomery Insurance; David Daniel, chairman of Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America; and Stephen J. Klingel, president and CEO of NCCI Holdings Inc.

Houston Nutt, head football coach at Ole Miss, is the luncheon speaker. The Ole Miss baseball team plays St. Louis University March 24, and food and beverages will be available at the Bullpen Club tent beginning at 6 p.m.

The symposium usually attracts more than 200 professionals, most of whom are from Mississippi and Tennessee, as well as nearly 100 students, said Camille Mitchell, RMI project coordinator for the business school.

Registration is $135, which includes an opportunity to earn up to nine continuing education units for Mississippi and Tennessee insurance licensees. It also covers an opening reception sponsored by Webb, Sanders & Williams PLLC. UM business students can attend most of the educational sessions free of charge.

“While the sessions oriented toward property-casualty insurance markets will be in the main ballroom, we also have a veteran lineup of great speakers that focus on financial advising and planning that will be speaking in breakout sessions,” Cox said. “I am extremely pleased with the variety of topics and the exceptional expertise of this group of speakers.”

To register for the symposium or for more information, contact Mitchell at 662-816-6024 or e-mail cmitchell@bus.olemiss.edu.

For more information about the business school, visit http://www.olemissbusiness.com. For assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-5820.