RIMS Industry Awards and Honors Presented at RISKWORLD

RIMS, the risk management society®, announced the winners of its series of industry awards presented during RISKWORLD® in Chicago. The awards were presented by RIMS leadership during four keynote presentations held at the conference.

RIMS most prestigious honor, the Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award, was presented to Randy Nornes, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Client Partner at Aon. This honor pays tribute to an individual who has furthered the goals of the Society and the risk management discipline through outstanding service and achievement. 

RIMS Risk Manager of the Year and Risk Management Honor Roll aim to raise the profile of the risk management profession and the outstanding programs practitioners have implemented within their organizations.

This year’s Risk Manager of the Year is Jennifer Pack, Vice President at Hyatt Hotels Corporation. RIMS Risk Management Honor Roll inducted Mark Saltsgaver, Vice President, Corporate Risk Management at Eli Lilly and Company.

The Volunteer of the Year Award pays tribute to individuals for their outstanding performance in furthering risk management at the chapter level. This year’s Volunteer of the Year is Neil Colclough, Vice President, Risk Management at Sage Hospitality Group, President of RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter, and Chair of RIMS Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council.

The RIMS Rising Star Award honors up-and-coming risk management professionals under the age of 35 or who have seven or less years of professional experience in the industry.  This year, Megan Smalter, Market Development Executive at Lloyds, was honored for demonstrating exceptional initiative, volunteerism, professional development, achievement and leadership potential.

The Risk Management Hall of Fame was created to preserve the history and tradition of the profession. This year’s inductees into the Hall of Fame were innovators who dedicated their careers to advancing the profession. The 2025 inductees include Dr. Gert Cruywagen, Susan Meltzer and Bradley Wood.

RIMS Chapter of the Year Award was presented to RIMS Greater Bluegrass Chapter for going above and beyond to deliver exceptional resources, programming and opportunities to local members in 2024. Accepting on behalf of the chapter was Greater Bluegrass Chapter President Erica Kiefer, Associate Manager, YUM! Brands, Inc. 

The RIMS Diversity Equity and Inclusion Chapter Leadership Award reinforces RIMS commitment to creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces for all risk professionals. The RIMS DEI Chapter Leadership Award was presented to RIMS Detroit Chapter for taking intentional and exceptional action to improve in this area.

RIMS also honored RIMS Atlanta Chapter and RIMS Oregon Chapter for successfully aligning their programming with RIMS strategic priorities to innovate, develop, engage and advocate for the global risk management community.