Tim Turner honored by ISU’s Katie School

CHICAGO – Tim Turner, CEO of Ryan Specialty Holdings Inc., was honored as the 2024 Katie School Hall of Fame Laureate at a dinner in Chicago Thursday.

The biennial award presented by Illinois State University’s Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management recognizes a senior leader in the insurance sector with a record of accomplishments and contributions to the industry and society.

Mr. Turner joined Ryan Specialty when it was founded in 2010 and succeeded Pat Ryan as CEO on Oct. 1. Previously, he was president of Ryan Specialty and chairman and CEO of Ryan Turner Specialty, its wholesale brokerage unit.

Before joining Ryan Specialty, he was president of CRC Insurance Services Inc. and has worked in the insurance sector for 37 years.

Mr. Turner and RT Specialty established the Timothy Turner RT Specialty Endowed Impact Fund for Risk Management and Insurance to support engagement in risk management and insurance for minority high school students and other underrepresented groups.

“We’re trying to create more opportunities and greater diversity in the pipeline of candidates that come into Illinois State,” Mr. Turner said in an interview. “It’s really about creating more opportunities for those who would otherwise not have that opportunity to join the Katie School.”

Megan Smalter, a management liability underwriter at CNA Financial Corp., and the late Mark Willis, a former American International Group Inc. executive, were also honored at the event.

Ms. Smalter, who graduated from Illinois State in 2020, received the 2024 Young Leader Award. Mr. Willis, who died earlier this year, was a long-time supporter and board member of the Katie School and was honored in a memorial at the event.