ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame has announced the distinguished leaders selected for induction into its 2026 class. The honorees will be formally recognized during the annual Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 22, 2026, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

The Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose leadership, innovation, and service have made a lasting impact on Minnesota’s risk management and insurance industries. Since its founding in 2024, the Hall of Fame has celebrated professionals who have advanced their organizations, served their communities, and strengthened the broader insurance profession. 

The Center for Risk Management & Insurance at the University of St. Thomas is proud to again serve as the host of the Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame. The annual induction ceremony brings together industry and community leaders from across the state to the St. Paul Campus for an evening of recognition, connection, and celebration of the individuals who have helped shape Minnesota’s insurance industry. 

The 2026 Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame inductees are: 

• John DeSanto, Former AIG Minneapolis Branch Manager 

• Thomas Devine, President & CEO, Devine Consortium LLC; Regent Emeritus, University of Minnesota & Adjunct Faculty, University of Minnesota Carlson Business School, Insurance Department 

• Ted Dyste, President & CEO, Dyste Williams; Area President, Gallagher 

• Patrick D. Francisco, Former President, Patrick D. Francisco and Associates (now NorthView Financial Partners) 

• Kathleen Gallagher Burton, RPS Excess & Surplus Lines Underwriter/Broker; Minnesota Surplus Lines Board of Directors, Secretary/Treasurer 

• Stuart C. Henderson, J.D., CPCU, Former CEO and Board Member, Western National Insurance Group 

• T. Michael Miller, Former CEO and Current Chairman, Global Specialty Lines and Board Director of Intact Financial Corporation  

• Phillip Richards, Executive Chairman and Founder, North Star Resource Group 

“The members of the 2026 induction class represent the very best of Minnesota’s risk management and insurance community whose influence continues to benefit businesses, families, and communities throughout our state,” said Bill Ryan, 2026 Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame Chair and Vice President, Head of People & Culture and Learning & Development at Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. We are grateful to partner with the Center for Risk Management & Insurance at the University of St. Thomas, whose leadership helps bring our industry together each year to celebrate these remarkable individuals and inspire the next generation of insurance professionals. 

Registration is now open for the induction ceremony and all are invited to join in honoring the 2026 class. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are also available.  

For information about the event, please visit the Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame website or contact rmi@stthomas.edu. 

About the Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame 

The Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made enduring contributions to Minnesota’s insurance and financial services industries. Through its annual induction ceremony and ongoing recognition efforts, the Hall of Fame preserves the industry’s rich history while inspiring and funding for the future generation of leaders. 

About the Center for Risk Management and Insurance 

The Center for Risk Management and Insurance at the University of St. Thomas was founded in 2020 through industry collaboration and funding from the local insurance and risk management community. Aligning the University of St. Thomas mission to advance the common good with the insurance industry’s core purpose, the Center’s RM&I program provides a career pathway through its undergraduate certificate, industry connections and programming, and focused internships and entry level opportunities. 

The 2026 Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on October 22, 2026 at the University of St. Thomas. Preparations are well underway, and you are invited to submit your nomination for induction now.

To be eligible for consideration, nominees must:

• Have made significant industry contributions
• Have exceptional lifetime accomplishments
• Have a Minnesota connection
• Serve as role model for others in the industry
• Exhibit the highest standards of ethical conduct
• Have contributed to their community

The Minnesota insurance industry has a long, storied history, and we look forward to reviewing your submissions and honoring the next class of Hall of Fame inductees.

Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS) is a risk management and insurance (RM&I) fraternity at the University of St. Thomas. GIS members have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of events designed to deepen their understanding of the RM&I industry, including information sessions and panel discussions. The club also offers professional development workshops, such as resume reviews and interview preparation events to help students build essential career skills.

Each year, GIS hosts the RM&I Career Fair, which this year took place on Thursday, November 6, at Scooters in the Anderson Student Center. The event was a major success, drawing 29 RM&I organizations—including Travelers Insurance, Securian Financial Group, and Allianz Life. These companies offered students insight into a broad selection of internship and full-time roles, many of which are located in Minnesota, providing strong opportunities for those interested in staying local.

More than 90 students coming from a range of different majors attended the fair to explore career paths, connect with recruiters, and expand their professional networks. Several students also used the event as a chance to further engage with companies they have previously worked with or plan to work with in the future. Overall, the career fair was a great success and an amazing opportunity for students interested in RM&I.

In September, the Travelers Institute, the public policy division of property and casualty insurer Travelers, launched its Risk. Regulation. Resilience. Responsibility. initiative at the University of St. Thomas. The program, hosted by the university’s Center for Risk Management & Insurance and its Gamma Iota Sigma student chapter, brought together students, industry partners, local agents and Travelers leaders to explore how climate change, economic inflation and other trends impact the availability and affordability of insurance in certain markets.

Rob Vischer, President of the University of St. Thomas, and Rick Smith, Regional President at Travelers, opened the program with remarks on the collaborative spirit at the heart of the event. The day continued with a Cyber: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Restore panel hosted by Joan Woodward, President of the Travelers Institute. Carolyn Purwin Ryan, Partner at Mullen Coughlin LLC, provided a cyber threat landscape update, and Lauren Winchester, Head of Cyber Risk Services at Travelers, shared strategies to enhance cyber resilience. Rick Keegan, Executive Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer at Travelers, opened the Risk. Regulation. Resilience. Responsibility. symposium with a keynote address. Afterward, Keegan joined Michael Klein, Executive Vice President and President of Personal Insurance of Travelers, Eric Nelson, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Catastrophe Risk Management of Travelers, and Glenn Westrick, Senior Vice President of Government Relations of Travelers, on a panel, also hosted by Woodward, that explored how environmental changes, regulatory shifts and economic pressures are reshaping the insurance landscape.

The discussion highlighted key factors shaping the industry’s future, including:

· The importance of disaster preparedness for families, businesses and local governments.

· How insurance markets work today and the role of risk-based pricing.

· The impact of climate change and catastrophic natural disasters.

· The latest building science and the evolution of building codes.

· The current state of community infrastructure.

· The need for legal reform to address litigation abuse.

“We were thrilled to launch our insurance availability and affordability initiative at the University of St. Thomas, uniting thought leaders from various sectors to tackle this critical issue,” said Woodward. “By harnessing community insights and equipping agents, brokers and customers with the tools and information they need to make sound decisions, we can empower people to better navigate today’s risks and build stronger, more resilient communities for the future.”

Travelers Institute events are free and open to the public, including its Wednesdays with Woodward webinar series and the “Travelers Institute: Risk & Resilience” podcast. To learn more, visit www.travelersinstitute.org.

Is your company looking for interns for Summer 2026 or earlier? Do you have some full-time entry-level roles you are looking to get quality candidates for? The University of St. Thomas is hosting the 11^th annual RM&I Career Fair on Nov. 6^th, 2025 from 11 am to 1:30pm in the Anderson Student Center on the St. Paul campus. This event, organized by the university’s chapter of GIS, offers employers a chance to connect with UST students, recruit for internships and jobs, and raise your company’s profile on the campus of the University of St. Thomas.

To register your company, please go here.

There is a recommended $250 donation to attend this event. All donations are used by the GIS chapter to send undergraduate members to the GIS National Convention. Donations can be made here.

Save the date! We’re thrilled to announce the second annual Minnesota Insurance Hall of Fame.  Please join us to honor the following 8 Minnesota insurance industry legends.

Monica Engel
Retired SVP, President of Government Markets
Blue Cross Blue Shield MN
CEO of Blue Plus

Nyles R Gentz
Gentz Fincial Service

Bill Jeatran
Founder/Former CEO RFJ Agency
Vice Chairman Marsh McLennan Agency

Patrica R Johnson, JD
Former President and CEO
State Fund Mutual Insurance Company

Chris Schneeman CLU,ChFC, RHU
Employee Benefits Risk Advisor
Formerly SevenHill Benefit Partners

Mark Sheehan, CPCU
CEO Twin City Group
Founder of Park Glen National Insurance Company

Paul Steuven
Former CEO/Treasurer
Fairmont Farmers Mutual

Gloria Thompson
Professional Agent -North Risk Partners
Educational Consultant – Big I of MN

Location: Woulfe Alumni Hall, Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas

Date: October 9, 2025

Time: Cocktail reception at 5:30, dinner and ceremony at 6:30

Registration can be found here. If you or your company is interested in sponsoring this event, that information can be found here.