2014 Innovation and Leadership Award Winner - Jim Parizek

Jim Parizek has been a tremendous resource to countless individuals in the insurance industry including many Katie School students.

Jim has served as a mentor at the REBEX Conference each fall for many years, sharing his expertise and introducing our students to many of his risk management and insurance friends. He is an enthusiastic tutor who has a passion for helping individuals to develop networks and to have great fun in the process. Because of the positive experiences he has had in the insurance industry, he is able to instill in our students a strong desire for a RMI career.

Our former students credit Jim with opening doors for them–whether for course projects, job opportunities or business connections. Individuals of all ages send their resumes to Jim when contemplating a career change as he has always been aware of job opportunities. Seeing his innate ability to connect people with jobs, both the Chicago Chapter CPCU and the Chicago Chapter of RIMS made Jim their Director of Executive Search / Referral to assist members and to match them with industry positions.

His excellence in leadership abilities is evidenced by the many high-level positions he has held in various professional organizations. He has been the past President of the LaSalle Street Club and the Marine Multi-Peril Society of IL in addition to being a past board member of the Chicago Chapter CPCU, Underwriters and Brokers Association of Chicago, Chicago Board of Underwriters, and The Insurance Forum. He has also received seven professional designations within the industry.

For over 25 years, Jim has been a member of Kiwanis and anyone who is acquainted with him knows that he sold a tremendous amount of peanuts over the years. He is the ultimate salesman. Jim is also a Gander in Blue Goose International, a fraternal organization of individuals who work in insurance-related industries. He is caring, compassionate and civic-minded.