2016 - 2017 - Kimberly O. Smith, J.D., CPCU

President and CEO of Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Company

This year's Leader in Action is Kimberly O. Smith, J.D., CPCU, who has served in numerous leadership positions in the insurance, higher education, and not-for-profit industries.

Smith’s insurance career began in 1980 when she joined Indiana Insurance Company (now Liberty Mutual) in Indianapolis as a claims attorney. She went to Indiana Farmers Mutual Insurance Company in 2000 as general counsel and vice president of human resources. She was elected executive vice president and general counsel in May 2012. Smith became President and CEO of Indiana Farmers in January 2014.

In addition to her service in the insurance industry, Smith is on the board of trustees of Indiana State University and is immediate past chair of the Indiana State University Foundation board of directors. Smith has served as a board member for the Insurance Institute of Indiana, the Indiana Guaranty Association, the Indiana Compensation Rating Bureau and the advisory board for the Indiana State University School of Business, Department of Insurance and Risk Management.

Smith holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Indiana University School of Law (cum laude) and a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana State University (magna cum laude). She also holds the Chartered Property and Casualty designation.

<< 2016 Event Flyer (PDF) >>

2015 - 2016 - Mark Henderson

President and CEO of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Lockton

This year's Leader in Action is Mark Henderson, President and CEO of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Lockton, who will speak at the Scott College of Business on October 6, 2015.

Mark has been at Lockton since 2001. Mark’s 25-plus years in the brokerage industry have focused on client development and leadership activities. He was also the Leader in Action's first speaker when the program started in 2007. Lockton Companies is the world's largest privately held insurance and risk management consulting firm.

<< 2015 Event Flyer (PDF) >>

2014-15 - Matt Eckert (ISU '96)

President & CEO, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Matt Eckert is the President & CEO at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and has been with the organization for 15 years. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari employs well over 2,000 employees and has been recognized as a World Leader in the Industry.

Prior to joining Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Matt was a senior auditor with Arthur Andersen in its Indianapolis office.

Matt is a graduate of Indiana State University, where he obtained his Bachelors of Science in Accounting and Insurance. He serves on the Dean’s Executive Council for the Scott College of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant. In addition, he is on the School Board of Trustees for Southeast Dubois School Corporation, the Board of Directors for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Strategic Planning Commission for the Evansville Diocese, the Dubois County Community Foundation Board and its Finance Committee, and is a Certified Attractions Executive with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. He resides in Schnellville, Indiana with his wife Tonya and three children – Abby, Claire and Drew.

<< Matt Eckert named President/CEO >>

2013-14 - Rob Hillman

President and General Manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana

A 30-year veteran of the health insurance and managed care industry, Robert Hillman in 2007 was named President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana, the largest health benefits company in the state, with nearly 4,500 associates serving more than 3 million members. Prior to becoming Anthem’s president, he held various sales and operations management positions, including Vice President of Sales for Acordia Financial Industry Benefits; Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Acordia of Northeast Indiana; Regional Sales Director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana; and Regional Vice President of Anthem’s Large Group Sales. Hillman serves on the board of Special Olympics of Indiana, United Way of Central Indiana, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Develop Indy, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, and the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee.

<< Flyer >> << News Article >>

2011-12 - Jon Greenlee (ISU '85)

Managing Director, Financial Services Regulatory Practice, KPMG, LLP

September 22, 2011 - "After the Crisis: The Transforming of Financial Services"

Jon Greenlee, (ISU degree in finance, 1985) is Managing Director of Financial Services Regulatory Practice, for KPMG, LLP, in Washington, D.C., and was formerly with the Federal Reserve Board there as Associate Director of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation.

He brings over 24 years of senior bank regulatory experience dealing with financial services risk management issues, developing regulatory policies, and representing the Federal Reserve in Congressional and public forums. His experience as a member of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System allows him to help clients identify and address key regulatory and risk management issues facing the financial services industry and develop effective responses to the challenging regulatory environment.

<< Flyer >> << News Article >>

2011-12 - Robert Restrepo

Chairman/President/CEO, State Auto Insurance Cos.

October 18, 2011 - "An Industry in Transition"

Robert Restrepo is Chairman, President and CEO, State Auto Insurance Companies. He has a broad and deep background in the property casualty insurance industry, encompassing both national and regional companies.

Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the independent agency system. His varied experience includes senior executive roles at Aetna, Travelers, Hanover, and most recently with Main Street America Group in Jacksonville, Fla. He is a graduate of Yale University.

2009-10 - Robert Jones

President/CEO, Old National Bancorp

March 30, 2010 - "Ethics in Financial Services"

<< Flyer >>

2008-09 - Jack North

Former Senior Executive Vice President, State Farm

March 24, 2009 - "The Art of Leadership and Being Led"

Jack North had a long career with State Farm and was one of five members of the Office of the Chairman. His successful career led him to start his own business to help companies develop the kind of leadership environment that he fostered on the job for over 25 years. Including his time at State Farm, he has spent nearly 40 successful years in the people business as an executive, teacher and coach. North earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Slippery Rock State University, respectively.

<< Flyer >>

2008-09 - Jim Britt

Managing Director, Marsh USA

"Building Leaders One on One"

<< News Article >>

2007-08 - Mark Henderson

Executive VP, Chief Operating Officer, Lockton Companies

Lockton Companies Official is First Insurance and Risk Management Leader in Action

April 2, 2007

Mark Henderson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lockton Companies, LLC, will be Indiana State University's first Leader in Action (LIA) Series presenter for Insurance and Risk Management, April 10-11. LIA events are sponsored by the College of Business' insurance and risk management (IRM) program and the Gongaware Center.

During his stay on campus, Henderson will be making a presentation to students at 3:30 p.m. April 10 as part of a capstone insurance and risk management course. This presentation is open to the general public as well and will take place in room 105 of the College of Business. Following his classroom presentation, he will participate in a reception, dinner and presentation with members of Gamma Iota Sigma (the ISU chapter of the national collegiate actuarial, insurance, and risk management society) in ISU's Hulman Memorial Student Union.

The Leader in Action Series is designed to bring top industry executives and leaders in insurance to campus to share their time and talents with students, faculty and the community, said Mary Ann Boose, professor and program coordinator for the IRM Program at Indiana State. "These exchanges build long-term bridges with our industry partners, which will, in turn, provide timely, cutting-edge education for our students and countless opportunities for those students and the company representatives to network."

<< Full Story >>