In our bold mission to cultivate the next generation of insurance leaders,Brantley Risk and Insurance Centercomprises a team of insurance professionals focused not only on insurance education, but also on connecting students with the industry, providing student access to opportunities, supporting research, providing continuing education programs, and educating the public on the importance of insurance. And in order to achieve these goals, we forge strategic alliances with corporate partners willing to lend their resources and real-world experience to enrich our ongoing aspiration.
One stand-out partner is Builders, a growing P&C insurance provider passionately advocating for injured workers and catering to construction and commercial markets. Builders operates by a strong ethic of genuine care, fairness, local community investment – and a shared passion for cultivating young insurance talent that aligns with our own mission.
In that spirit, on April 29th, Todd Campbell, Builders President and CEO, along with his wife Laurie Campbell, visited Brantley Risk and Insurance Center to commemorate the establishment of the Laurie and Todd Campbell Fund for Academic Excellence. The Campbell’s new Fund was accompanied by Builders becoming a corporate sponsor of the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center through a $10,000 gift. The Campbell Fund for Academic Excellence will ensure the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center has the financial resources to recruit and retain high-quality faculty, and for their parts, Laurie and Todd had plenty to say about the new fund and why they want to give back.
“Laurie and I are honored to support the faculty and staff of the Brantley Center at the Walker College of Business through the new Campbell Fund for Academic Excellence,” Todd announced. “Being a Boone, North Carolina native, I’ve had so many of my siblings attend ASU and even a mother who was a secretary on campus for two decades. And so being an Appalachian State alumnus and deeply involved in the university over the years has certainly played a meaningful role in our lives. This chance to help advance the risk management program’s fantastic work through the new Fund is a unique opportunity to give back to a place that has given so much to us,” Todd warmly concluded.
Todd and Laurie were joined by two of their fellow Builders; Clinton Deas, former Appalachian State basketball stand-out and current Inside Sales Executive, alongside Brion Burris, Vice President of Sales and Distribution. After a lively networking social with students, Laurie and Todd presented their donation to commence the establishment of their new fund while Clinton added Builders to the Strategic Partners wall. After the event concluded, Todd visited Dr. David Marlett’s International Insurance Markets course to help prepare a group of students for their upcoming study abroad program in Bermuda.
“Builders is thrilled to be a new strategic partner with the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center at Appalachian State University.” Brion affirmed. “As one of the premier risk management and insurance schools in the country, we’re excited about the opportunity to further support the school’s educational endeavors to build the next generation of insurance professionals. We look forward to a strong partnership with both the faculty and students here.”
Dillon Waschenbach, Associate Director of Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, voiced his support for the new fund and what it signifies. “We, in the Brantley Risk and Insurance Center, thank Laurie and Todd for creating the Fund and their generous financial support of our faculty. This will greatly benefit the students in the RMI program and beyond by retaining the high-quality faculty teaching our insurance courses,” Dillon acknowledged.
For our center, this new Fund reflects our ongoing strategy of uplifting young talent in the insurance industry, and we also welcome our new strategic partner, Builders, by extending our thanks on behalf of the students, faculty, and lives the Campbell Fund and Builders’ support will touch.
About Brantley Risk and Insurance Center
Appalachian State University maintains the sixth largest insurance program nationally and has been ranked second in the nation by AM Best, the world’s largest credit rating agency specializing in the insurance industry.
The Brantley Center enhances the academic experience by providing space and staff to assist students interested in the RMI program with networking, job placement, and faculty engagement. It provides students with opportunities for scholarships, international and domestic travel, and professional designation and licensing programs. The center brings industry leaders to classrooms, fosters research and faculty development, assists the insurance industry with continuing education programs, and helps educate the public about the insurance industry.
Learn more at https://insurance.appstate.edu.
About Builders
A property and casualty insurance leader, Atlanta-based Builders is the region's reliable expert and workforce advocate serving agents and their clients through deep partnerships, service excellence, and financial strength. Over 30 years of market leadership in complex construction risks has fostered exceptional expertise in workers' compensation, injury prevention and best-in-class medical management, driving superior outcomes across many professional industries. Builders and its member companies are rated "A" (Excellent) IX by AM Best. Top Workplaces USA — #InsuranceBuiltStrong.
For more information about Builders, visit bldrs.com or call 678.309.4000.
