Speaker discusses risk management field at annual three-day honor society gathering

By Emily Apisa
Collegian Staff
November 14, 2007

Speaking to students in the Dunleavey Assembly Room Nov. 12 for the seventh annual Risk Manager in Residence Program, the assistant vice president of risk management for BJ’s Wholesale Club emphasized the importance of continuing education after college.

While discussing important aspects of the risk management field, Edward Katersky, the keynote speaker of the three-day program, focused on life experience saying, “Learning does not end when you receive your college diploma.”

Katersky was brought to La Salle by the business department and the Risk Management Insurance program, in addition to a grant provided by the Spencer Education Foundation.

Over his three-day visit to La Salle, Katersky conversed about careers in risk management with members of the Alpha Delta chapter of the Gamma Iota Sigma business fraternity, risk management honor society.

Katersky seemed to make an impact on some of the students in attendance. Senior finance/risk management major Sarah Maleki felt that Katersky was “a dynamic speaker, I learned a lot.”

“He gave advice that your first job won’t necessarily be the one you stick with. He said to keep your options open, network and don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the job you want right away.”

The RMI program at La Salle concentrates on educating students about careers that involve risk management. Professor and Coordinator of the Risk Management and Insurance Program Kathleen McNichol considered the event to be a very effective way of accomplishing the department’s goal.

“The Risk Manager in Residence Program has become a highlight of the fall semester,” McNichol said. “Working with the selected risk manager creates a classroom experience that blends theory and practice.”

McNichol also added that the risk manager visits classes and talks about classroom concepts that relate to his job.

“His talks make it more real for the students,” McNichol said.

Maleki pointed out that since she has already taken risk management classes, she got to see the course material come to life. At the same time, younger students got to learn more about a topic they might be unfamiliar with, she said

The event was partially funded by the Spencer Educational Foundation, which is a national non-profit organization that awards grants to universities and research institutions. Since 1997, the foundation has given $292,125 in grants for the Risk Manager in Residence Program, according to their Web site.

In addition to La Salle, 14 other schools across the country and Canada participated in the program in 2007, including Temple, University of Calgary-Alberta and Ball State. Representatives from McDonald’s, Harrah’s and Omini Hotels, among others, spoke to students.

apisae1@lasalle.edu Additional reporting by Sam Fran Scavuzzo and Olivia Biagi