Over 500 insurance professionals attend the 23rd Annual Insurance Library Award Luncheon Honoring Mike Christian, Founder and Chairman of Risk Strategies
On Thursday, November 13th, 2025, the Massachusetts insurance industry turned out in full force to celebrate this year’s Insurance Professional of the Year, Michael Christian. In what was another huge turnout, the event saw more than 500 insurance professionals from across the industry come together at the InterContinenal Boston, for cocktails, a silent auction followed by the luncheon awards ceremony. Proceeds from this year’s event go to support the Library’s programs, services, and operations.
Library Executive Director Michael Pezza Jr. opened the luncheon with welcoming remarks, Library trustee and Counsel Nancy Adams served as host, with Sr. Vice President of Risk Strategies and Library Trustee Leslie Emack giving the Moment of Reflection.
Prior to the Award Presentation, attendees heard from Speakers Jeff Kaplan, Sr. Vice President, Family Office Practice Leader, Northeast, Risk Strategies, John Jennings, CEO Jencap Group, and CEO, Galway Specialty Holdings and Julia Christian, Operations and Communications Manager, Make-A-Wish Vermont and Northeast New York.
After hearing from the Speakers, Mr. Christian was presented with his award and gave some remarks. Nancy Adams closed the event by giving the final concluding remarks.
Founder and Chairman of Risk Strategies
Mike Christian is the Founder and Chairman of Risk Strategies, a leading national risk management and insurance brokerage firm. He founded the company in 1997 on the premise that an insurance brokerage could be a business where a focus on employee and customer needs would create value and success. He served as its Chief Executive Officer until 2019, and then as its Chairman.
Mike was responsible for the development and execution of the company’s business and growth strategy, recruiting, customer service approach, and mergers and acquisitions. He led the company from its start-up beginnings into a nationally prominent firm offering comprehensive risk management advice and insurance and reinsurance placement.
A native of California, Mike majored in philosophy at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He began his insurance career as an underwriter, and holds CPCU, CLU, and ARM designations. Before founding Risk Strategies, he was Managing Director for Alexander & Alexander/Aon and held leadership positions at Jardine Insurance Brokers, including serving on its U.S. Board of Directors. He was inducted into the Insurance Business America Hall of Fame in 2020. Mike is on the boards of the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers and The Council Foundation.
A long-time Boston-area resident, Mike is known for his community service with non-profit organizations focused on children’s causes, arts and entertainment, and education. For more than 25 years, he has served as Board President of Someone Else’s Child, which supports youth causes throughout the United States, Central America, and Africa. He is the Managing Partner for Community Impact Ventures, a venture capital impact fund that provides financial support to social entrepreneurs and not-for-profit companies that have missions similar to that of Someone Else’s Child.
He also serves on the boards of Northeast Arc, Rwanda Youth Partners, Yiya Solutions, and Boston Explorers, a non-profit serving Boston-area kids and teens. Mike is Chairman of the Board of the Boch Center/Wang Theater, is on the board of the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame and is a board member of the Point32Health Foundation.
A slideshow from this year’s event
The following is a slideshow from this year’s luncheon with photos by R. Castagna, courtesy of The Insurance Library.
More about the Insurance Library Association of Boston
The Insurance Library Association of Boston was founded in 1887. It is the country’s first and only remaining independent library dedicated solely to the subject of insurance. The Library’s mission is to provide members of the insurance, financial security, risk management, and legal communities, and the public, with high-quality educational programming, opportunities for engagement and networking, and unique insurance research resources and services. The Lib
