The Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. presented its Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award to Daniel W. Houston, executive director, enterprise risk management and learning for The McCart Group, at its annual conference in April at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

RIMS also inducted two new members into its Risk Management Hall of Fame: David C. Sterling and Robert Spencer.

The Goodell award, named in honor of the first RIMS president, is given annually to the individual who has advanced the goals of the society and the risk management discipline through outstanding service and achievement.

“Thank you all for making risk management the greatest profession in the world,” Mr. Houston, who has more than 40 years of risk management experience, said while accepting the award during a luncheon ceremony. Duluth, Ga.-based McCart Group is an insurance and risk management consulting firm.

“After today, I feel like I've been awarded the Super Bowl award,” he said.

Mr. Houston was described during the presentation as a visionary who teaches and enhances risk management. His background includes authoring hundreds of articles on risk management, insurance and contractual risk transfer; speaking at dozens of events; and appearing on radio and television shows.

A video played at the luncheon quoting various people who have dealt with Mr. Houston described him as a great friend and colleague who was knowledgeable, humorous and dependable, someone willing to bring people together and a man who can answer any questions put to him.

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Hall of Fame inductee Mr. Sterling joined The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. in 1964 after serving in the army. He retired from the insurer as assistant vice president and senior risk manager after 42 years. He managed the insurer's worldwide risk programs and exposures to accidental loss.

He purchased and implemented one of the first employment practices liability insurance programs in the insurance industry and one of the first cyber risk liability, property and crime insurance programs.

He also implemented one of the industry's first blended multiyear programs for a financial institution, and rolled the program over several times to achieve significant savings.

His award was accepted by Robert J. Nighan, vice president-risk management for The Travelers Cos. Inc.

Mr. Spencer, who died in 1979, held numerous risk management positions, including vice president of insurance, during his 17-year career with Atlanta-based Fuqua Industries Inc. He is credited with setting standards on how captives deal with both domestic and international risk markets.

Mr. Spencer served the Atlanta chapter of RIMS in all officer positions, including president in 1973. He was vice president of the national RIMS organization from 1974-1977 and its president from 1977-1978.

The Spencer Foundation, which funds the education of risk management and insurance students, was founded in his memory. 

His award was accepted by his widow, Charlotte, and daughter, Libby Spencer.

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RIMS also recognized the following people during the awards luncheon:

• Janet Kerr, vice president of risk management at Boston Properties Inc., a Boston-based real estate investment firm, received the Richard W. Bland Memorial Award. The award recognizes someone with a commitment to legislation or regulation.

• Scott B. Clark, risk & benefits officer of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and former RIMS president, and Karin McDonald, Toronto-based director of risk and insurance for Hydro One Networks Inc., were each awarded the Ron Judd Heart of RIMS' Award. The honor is given in the honor of Mr. Judd, who was executive director of RIMS for 22 years, to individuals nominated by their local chapters for outstanding performance in advancing risk management.

• Ed C. Mitchell, director of risk management for Wilmington, Calif.-based Metropolitan Stevedore Co., received the Cristy Award. It honors the individual who earned the highest grades on three exams required to earn the associate of risk management designation.