Insurance and Risk Management Academy (IRMA)

Last week, we were so fortunate to have Mike Strakhov, CPCU , Agency Banking Market Leader from Westfield Bank, visit our students as part of our guest speaker series. His vast experience within the industry provided our students with a clear overview of many directions the industry can take you. The insurance space is everchanging, as Mike encouraged students to be open to new opportunities and experiences. We are so grateful for Mike’s expertise and guidance he provides our students with. Our program is so appreciative of your time, and we look forward to the next visit! #OhioDominican #IRMA

Last week, our students had the great opportunity to visit the Encova Insurance headquarters where we heard from leaders of various departments at the company. We appreciate the time you took out of your busy days to share advice and personal experiences within the industry with our students. A huge thank you to Encova for having us and being a supportive partner of our program. Experiences like this are invaluable to our students and provide a chance to see what it’s like to work in our industry. Also, special thanks Mark Peacock and his team for organizing this wonderful visit! Matt Street, Casey Jordan, Anthony Cook, Sarah Devor, Randy Perez, and Leslie Myles (She/Her) #OhioDominican #IRMA #EncovaInsurance

Meet Kailyn Ciborowski, another one of our Co-Vice Presidents! Kailyn is a junior majoring in Marketing and Public Relations. In addition to her involvement in the PRSSA chapter, she is a member of the ODU Women’s soccer team and is a marketing and social media intern at Insurance and Risk Management Academy (IRMA) ODU. This is both her first year of membership with the program and her first year as an officer. Kailyn says she is “looking forward to what we can accomplish as a group and organization.” Join us in congratulating Kailyn in the comments!

Meet Cecilia Scott one of this year’s Co-Vice Presidents! Celia is a double-major in Business Administration and Marketing & Public Relations and will be graduating this December! In addition to her involvement with PRSSA, she is a member of the ODU Women’s soccer team, a SAAC representative, the Social Media and Marketing Intern at Insurance and Risk Management Academy (IRMA) ODU and is an account coordinator for Market Retrievers. She has been a member of PRSSA for all four years of her college career but this is her first year as an officer. Celia says she is “looking forward to our events and guest speakers.” Join us in congratulating Celia on her position!

Members of the IRMA group took a trip to Vandalia, OH to visit one of the White Castle manufacturing facilities, where insurance and risk management principles are critical in the everyday operations. Seeing these elements being applied in real life puts what the students are learning from the program into perspective, as White Castle is diligent with their protocols with the goal of smoothly manufacturing products as safely as possible. A huge thank you to Don Desender for organizing the trip and providing our students with this amazing opportunity. Our program is grateful for your support and willingness to provide our students with these hands-on experiences. #OhioDominican #IRMA #WhiteCastle

It’s always great to have Tim Buren back on campus to engage with the IRMA students. Tim had the original idea of IRMA, and having him back to engage with the students, on his past experiences and insights throughout his career, is extremely valuable. His knowledge for understanding your "why" for the future resonated with the students, as knowing your purpose can guide you in making impactful career choices. IRMA is grateful for Tim’s time and dedication he devoted to this program. His stories motivate the students to reflect on their paths and encourage them to pursue their passions with intention. #IRMA #OhioDominican

Thank you Andy Smith with Encova Insurance for chatting with the IRMA group this past week. The amount of fraud that's going on in the marketplace is insane (estimates put it at about 308 BILLION annually!!). We appreciate the detailed breakdown you provided as well as hearing about the steps you and your team are taking to combat this. Interactions like these are a big part of our student's journey in this industry, and we couldn't be more thankful for the partners that support us through this! #IRMA #OhioDominican #EncovaInsurance

Stay up to date with all things IRMA by checking out our October newsletter, featured on Secured Advantage website: https://lnkd.in/gEUP7c_Q Explore the highlights from our engaging guest speakers, as well as hear from two of our students: Cole Sherburne and Ruth Kamanga Ruth shares her unique perspective of the insurance industry through the lens of a political science major, as she compares RMI and creating policy by stating both are “aimed at allowing for smooth function in society.” Read more below!

Huge shoutout to Ryan Binau, CPCU, CPRM with Encova Insurance for engaging with our group this past week! Ryan provided invaluable insights on the evolving landscape of personal lines insurance, the latest trends, challenges, and upcoming changes in the market. You sparked great conversation amongst the group and opened their eyes to all that personal lines has to offer. We appreciate your time and look forward to staying connected with you as we navigate our careers within the industry. #OhioDominican #EncovaInsurance #IRMA

Critical thinking and resiliency! These were the two themes that stood out during our last guest speaker Philip Renaud. With risk constantly changing and evolving, Phil emphasizes that resilient companies weather through the storms. He further challenged us to be more creative in our approach as aspiring risk management professionals. We thank Phil for taking time out of his day to share his experiences with our group! #OhioDominican #IRMA #RiskManagement