Completed Projects

Since the group began in January 2018, and since then has engaged in numerous projects. Some are done in collaboration with the university and/or university stakeholders, and others are selected by our own interests and preferences. 

We have completed the following projects: 

Risk retention analysis. The entire team participated in an evaluation of risk-bearing capacity and efficiency for a small business enterprise, with recommendations made directly to the SME in late spring, 2018. (Project lead: Lori Medders, with all team members)

Sexual harassment employment practices liability. On the heels of the #metoo movement, the team conducted research on the societal and business implications, and presented our findings at the North Carolina InsureExpo in spring, 2019. (Project lead: Lori Medders, with all team members plus ad hoc project member Michael J Fox)

Emerging & evolving risk. The team developed an Emerging & Evolving Risks Register, which was presented at the North Carolina Surplus Lines Association (NCSLA) Annual Meeting in spring, 2019. (Project co-leads: Avery Fink & Josh Johnson, with all team members)

Cyber and supply chain risk. Two team members parlayed research on cyber and supply chain risk into an essay on how these risks could be efficiently financed through the use of captives. They submitted their essay to a national competition sponsored by the Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA), and placed 3rd internationally. Read more about the CICA competition here. (Involved team members Christian Ferrara & Charles Fisher)

Private market for flood risk insurance. Several team members conducted research on the potential and strategies for a private flood insurance marketplace. Findings were disseminated nationally via the IIANC and NCSLA in summer, 2019. (Project co-leads: Catherine Lattimore & Lori Medders, with team members Harrison Cameron & Sean James)

Venue risk assessment – Take 1. At the request of AppState’s Division of Risk Assessment, team members evaluated the risks and reported risk treatment strategies for holding a Luke Combs concert in May, 2020 in the university’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. Due to COVID-19-related restrictions the concert was postponed until 2021. Report submitted and presented to Concert Task Force in early 2020. (Project co-leads: Sean James & Matthew Scott, with team members Lori Medders & Jacob Wiley) 

Venue risk assessment – Take 2. Amid the COVID-19-related restrictions of 2020 and 2021, team members conducted a risk assessment for holding Graduation Commencement 2021 (which is held indoors under normal circumstances and was held virtually in 2020). Report submitted in early 2021. (Involved team members Katie Cole and Matthew Scott) 

Venue risk assessment – Take 3. Again, at the request of AppState’s Division of Risk Assessment, team members evaluated and the risks and reported risk treatment strategies for holding a Luke Combs concert in September, 2021 (postponed from 2020) in the university’s Kidd Brewer Stadium. Report submitted in spring, 2021. (Project lead: Omar Gonzalez, with team member Lori Medders) 

Campus business risk assessment. At the request of AppState’s Division of Risk Management, the team conducted a risk assessment of Beans2Brew, an on-campus coffee shop (itself also an experiential learning effort). Report presented and submitted in fall, 2020. (1st project lead: Anna Otto; 2nd project lead: Katie Cole; with team members Harrison Cameron, Ellen Collins, Lori Medders, Matthew Scott and Roberto Sibrian and ad hoc project member Gary Meggs) 

Small business risk management during and post-pandemic. In conjunction with Selective Insurance, team members developed, disseminated, analyzed and reported the findings of primary data related to small businesses and their risk and insurance responses to COVID-19. Report submitted in fall, 2020. (Project lead: Matthew Scott, with all team members) 

Value-at-risk analysis. Team members developed a value-at-risk template for the Walker College of Business Bowden Investment Group to use in evaluating its stock portfolio. Report submitted in spring, 2021. 

Government subsidization of flood insurance premiums. Team members evaluated the need for a flood insurance premium subsidy program, including the pros and cons, and a design for maximizing the pros and minimizing the cons to meet the need. Presented with preliminary report in early spring, 2021 and final research manuscript submitted in spring, 2022. (Project lead: Madison Browne, with team member Lori Medders) 

TeamSunergy risk management. Risk assessment and strategic risk management for TeamSunergy – AppState’s solar racing team (in anticipation of and debriefing after the 2021 national race). (Project lead: Ryan Walton, with team member Lori Medders and ad hoc project member Sam Cheatham) 

Claims analysis. Team members conduct an annual analysis of zip lines and adventure course claims for Granite Insurance, in collaboration with a national industry organization. Reports submitted annually in late winter. (2019 project lead: Lori Medders, with team members: Harrison Cameron and Sean James; 2020 project lead: Carson Herron, with team members Harrison Cameron, Charles Fisher, Sean James and Lori Medders; 2021 project co-leads: Madison Browne and Lori Medders; 2022 project co-leads: Madison Browne and Lori Medders; 2023 project lead: Hannah Bagley, with team members Hrisha Bhatty and Lori Medders)