May 25, 2021
Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.
This week on RIMScast, Justin Smulison is joined by the 2021 Heart of RIMS Award recipient and longtime RIMS Nevada Chapter Leader, Mark Habersack!
Mark Habersack is the Director of Risk Management for MGM Grand and has been a mainstay of the RIMS Nevada Chapter for decades — having helped build it from the ground up!
The 2021 Ron Judd “Heart of RIMS” Award pays tribute to the legacy of Ron Judd who served as the RIMS Executive Director for 22 years. Individuals are nominated by chapters for outstanding performance in advancing RIMS at the chapter level.
Justin and Mark discuss Mark’s illustrious career, the unexpected challenges and risks involved with keeping a temporarily closed casino functional, how the RIMS Nevada Chapter has evolved over the years, and his experience in being the recipient of the 2021 Heart of RIMS Award.
Key Takeaways:
[:01] About RIMS’s Global Membership.
[:26] About today’s episode!
[:33] How to access RIMS LIVE 2021 sessions and keynotes online!
[1:09] Registration for the VIRTUAL Spencer & Gallagher Golf Tournament is now open!
[1:25] About today’s first guest, Mark Habersack.
[1:45] Justin welcomes Mark Habersack to RIMScast.
[2:30] Mark shares about his rich career history.
[3:25] Mark speaks about his transition into the gaming industry in Las Vegas.
[5:35] How and why Mark became one of the co-founders of the RIMS Nevada Chapter, what it has meant to him, and what it introduced him to.
[8:46] How did Mark build up enthusiasm in membership in the late ’80s, early ’90s without the presence of the internet like we have today?
[11:00] How big is the department Mark is a part of?
[11:50] How COVID-19 impacted Mark’s professional work as well as RIMS Nevada Chapter.
[18:07] About upcoming RIMS webinars and workshops.
[19:44] Mark shares what it is like to be the Heart of RIMS Award Recipient 2021.
[22:39] Mark’s advice for rising risk professionals who might be interested in creating a RIMS chapter of their own.
[26:33] Justin thanks Mark Habersack for joining RIMScast and highlights some of the links to check out in this episode’s show notes!
Mentioned in this Episode:
RIMS Events, Webinars, and Services:
Did you attend RIMS Live 2021? Sessions are accessible through June 30th, 2021. Log in with your badge number: RIMS LIVE 2021
If you did not attend RIMS Live 2021 but want to access on-demand content, purchase the ‘Post Event Virtual Pass’ for $499 to access the sessions, keynotes, and marketplace until June 30th. Visit: RIMS.org/RIMS2021
Registration for the VIRTUAL Spencer & Gallagher Golf Tournament is now open! Visit SpencerEd.org for more information and to register through August 15th, 2021 (You choose the golf course and team all while continuing to support the Spencer Educational Foundation!)
Spencer’s Risk Manager on Campus Program — Volunteer Today!
Upcoming Webinars:
May 27, 2021 | “The Dark Side of Human Nature: Preparing for Impact After a Year of Growing Tensions” | Sponsored by Beazley
June 3, 2021 | “Building a Framework for Managing Climate-Related Damage Potential” | Sponsored by Beazley
June 10, 2021 | “Mission Critical — Actionable Insights to Strengthen DEI Strategies for the Insurance Industry” | Sponsored by Gallagher CORE360 Insights
June 3-4, 2021 | Virtual Workshop: Contractual Risk Transfer | Registration closes May 27th
RIMS-CRMP-FED Virtual Prep Course — May 24-26th, 2021
RIMS Advisory Services — Ask a Peer
Mentioned in this Episode:
Risk Management Magazine’s 2021 Awards Issue
Related RIMScast Episodes:
“RIMS 2021 Risk Manager of the Year: Michael Harrington”
“RIMS 2021 Award Winners: Elliott Long and Sue Mepham”
“Making the Grade: Cheryl Lloyd, Risk Manager of the Year Honor Roll Inductee”
“Career Notes: RIMS Live 2021 Speaker Jade Simmons Talks Risk and Music”
“Risk Management in Higher Education with RIMS 2019 Risk Manager of the Year, Luke Figora”
“Transformative ERM Programs with 2018 Risk Manager of the Year, Rebecca Cady”
“RIMS 2020 Award Winners: Mark Humphreys and Katherine Dawal”
“RIMS 2020 Award Winners: Audrey Rampinelli and Larry Glasser”
Download any episode of RIMScast.
RIMS Publications, Content, and Links:
RIMS Coronavirus Information Center
RIMS Risk Leaders Series — New episode with Carol Fox now available!
RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP)
RIMS-CRMP Stories — New Interview features 2021 Rising Star, Elliot Long
RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community!
Spencer Educational Foundation
Want to Learn More?
Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org and listen on iTunes.
Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.
Join the Conversation!
Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook and Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Follow up with Our Guest:
Tweetables (For Social Media Use):
“Any claim you … think of, we’ve probably seen in Las Vegas. Every one of the properties … is basically a small city unto itself. So, the exposures are huge and the mitigation is something that takes a lot of effort and cooperation among all our departments.” — Mark Habersack
“People don’t realize that even if a casino closes — which is extremely rare — risk is still busy. Risk still doesn’t go away. It also takes quite a bit to maintain a closed building.” — Mark Habersack
“The [Heart of RIMS] award should actually be [awarded to] all our founders that started the [RIMS Nevada] chapter. … Right now we have such a successful and proactive board of directors … that have really propelled our chapter forward … at a national level.” — Mark Habersack
“Students and young rising [risk] professionals: take the tools [and] take the lessons that we’ve forged from 20-30 years ago.” — Mark Habersack
“Even [through] the pandemic, our chapter remained viable and continued doing educational sessions monthly. And, again, that wouldn’t be possible without the help of the [RIMS] society as a whole.” — Mark Habersack