Linda Rice honored by international insurance association

July 2008

Clemson administrators have always thought Linda Rice did a great job as the university’s risk manager, but now it is official — she is among the best in the world.

Rice was recently honored as the Risk Manager Professional of the Year by the National Association of Insurance Women.

Despite the name, the National Association of Insurance Women is actually an international organization that is open to men as well as women in the insurance industry. According to its stated mission, NAIW “provides professional education, an environment in which to build business alliances and the opportunity to make connections with people of differing career paths and levels of experience within the insurance industry.”

Rice was nominated for the organization’s international award after receiving the same distinction for NAIW’s Region III, made up of six southeastern states.

She was very excited to bring back this award from the group’s annual convention in Scottsdale, Ariz., in June. But being in the spotlight is nothing new. Since becoming Clemson’s first risk manager in 1981, she has received numerous accolades from her peers, including the 2006 Distinguished Risk Manager Award from the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. She has also held leadership positions in several related organizations.

The university has benefited greatly from this participation. “We share information and learn from each other,” says Rice. “It’s great to have others I can call to ask how they would handle a particular situation.”

As risk manager for the university, Rice wears many hats – insurance agent, claims investigator, contract administrator and safety trainer. And she wears them 24 hours a day when responding to emergency calls.

“I was once called at 1 a.m. when a ruptured pipe caused flooding in the Brooks Center,” says Rice. “When things like this happen, people often don’t know what to do.” But Rice does.

She deploys the personnel necessary to investigate the incident, document the damage for insurance purposes and get things back to normal. “These can be stressful situations for everyone, but I have always found Clemson people to be a joy to work with,” says Rice.

 “There are many issues that put the university and its faculty, staff, students and visitors at risk,” says Rice, whose job it is to minimize those risks as much as possible and to mitigate the outcomes.

 “We have a back-to-work program that helps employees return to work sooner after on-the-job accidents,” says Rice. This program is the responsibility of Denise Godwin who was recently hired as workers compensation coordinator, replacing Freddie Harbin who retired after 26 years of service.

The proactive part of Rice’s job involves recognizing potential risks, and everyone benefits when members of the campus community keep their eyes open to possible hazards. “I really appreciate receiving calls or e-mails from people who see problems,” she says. She works closely with the university police to identify and resolve safety issues that could put people, property and the university at risk.

To emphasize the importance of this risk management-police collaboration, Rice developed the Insurance Women of the Piedmont’s annual public safety awards for EMS, fire and police officers, which the association awards to public safety personnel who have gone “beyond the call of duty” in the three Upstate counties served by the group: Anderson, Oconee and Pickens.

She also has developed a course on “Workplace Violence and its Impact on Insurance.” She spent more than a year researching this issue that all too often makes the headlines. The course, approved for three continuing-education credits, will be available to state agency insurance personnel.

“We are all extremely proud of Linda Rice's achievements and her many contributions to Clemson University,” said Clay Steadman, general counsel, chief legal officer and head of the office overseeing risk management.

“Sometimes, we tend to overlook the importance of the efforts of individuals like Linda since if they are doing their job and doing it well, nothing bad happens. But I cannot overstate the value she has brought to the university, the money she has saved us and the number of people –students, staff and faculty – whom she has helped,” Steadman said. “This recognition by the International Association of Insurance Women reinforces my own personal opinion that she is the very best at what she does.”

Rice’s extensive experience in commercial insurance made her a good candidate for the position when Clemson recruited its first risk manager. Since joining the university staff, she has earned her bachelor’s degree in management and business administration in 1987 and her master’s degree in human resource development in 1991.

Her self-selected user ID, “busyone,” seems to say it all. Yet she has found the time to serve on the board of the Foothills Chorale for the past 15 years and she recently completed a three-year term as its president. “I don’t sing in the chorale, but I enjoy being a part of it,” says Rice.

And there is always time for her family: husband, Rod, and their 12 grandchildren.

With equal measures of love and pride, this active grandmother is happy to talk about favorite summertime activities with the little ones. “I never thought I would go down a Slip’n’Slide, but I have … and I love it,” Rice says, referring to the popular backyard water amusement. For an afternoon of fun with the grandchildren, this is a risk she is willing to take.

Risk management, a part of the office of the general counsel, maintains an excellent Web site with many resources for the university community.

 
Beth Jarrard, public information director for internal communications, can be reached at Inside@clemson.edu or (864) 656-3860.