National Leader In Insurance Industry Dr. William T. Hold Inducted Into Florida State University College Of Business 2012 Hall Of Fame

Tallahassee, FL - March 29, 2012 – With a passion for education and commitment to excellence, Dr. William T. Hold built one of the largest, most recognized insurance education organizations in the world. In recognition of his four-decade crusade to raise professional standards across the insurance industry, as well as his quiet, generous and unwavering support of his alma mater, Dr. William T. Hold has been inducted into the Florida State University College of Business 2012 Hall of Fame.

Dr. Hold joined a prestigious group of business leaders on March 29 at the Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony at the Florida State Turnbull Conference Center.

Two other College of Business alumni were similarly honored on Thursday at the event:

• Tim Cole, who graduated in 1979 and is executive vice president for sales at Del Monte Foods; and
• J. Michael Pate, a 1968 graduate and former newspaper executive and Tallahassee. Fla., community leader.

Since 2003, the college has honored alumni who embody the qualities that make the College of Business an extraordinary place to learn and grow. Like Dr. Hold, other Hall of Fame inductees have excelled in their careers and made significant contributions to the college.

Dr. Hold has promoted opportunities at FSU in conjunction with The National Alliance, which also provides scholarships for students in the Risk Management and Insurance program, professional development opportunities and other important financial support.  Because of Dr. Hold’s efforts, FSU students were among the first to earn the prestigious University Associate Certified Risk Manager and University Associate Certified Insurance Counselor designations.

“Individuals who earn these professional designations take significant pride in their accomplishments,” colleague Bruce McCreadie, a 1977 College of Business graduate, said in his nomination letter.“The impact Bill Hold has had on the insurance industry over the past 40 years cannot be overstated.” McCreadie points to the “thousands of people who have had a richer and more successful career due in part to the educational and professional development opportunities that Bill and his organization provided.”

McCreadie said that when Dr. Hold talks about things that set the stage for his success, he talks passionately about his experience as an undergraduate at the FSU College of Business. “It was the interest and support of the faculty at the college that resulted in the life-changing decision to pursue a graduate degree,” McCreadie said. “Bill takes great pride in being part of the FSU family and has a deep appreciation for what FSU has done for him.”

Dr. Hold, who earned his Bachelor of Science in risk management and insurance in 1963, is co-founder and president of The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research, an Austin, Texas-based umbrella organization for research and educational programs geared toward insurance and risk management professionals.

Dr. Hold earned both a master's degree in 1964 and a doctorate in 1967 from the University of Wisconsin. He has been named to the prestigious Insurance Newscast's annual list of the "100 Most Powerful People in the Insurance Industry" six years in a row.  In 2011, he received the prestigious Dr. Henry C. Martin Award of Industry Achievement named after the founder of The Rough Notes Company.

 In 1969, the Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) designation program was developed as the initial offering of The National Alliance. Today, under Dr. Hold’s leadership, The Alliance offers more than 2,500 programs and attracts more than 146,000 participants each year across the nation including Puerto Rico and Mexico. In addition to the CIC Program, The National Alliance offers the Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR), Certified Risk Manager (CRM) and Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM) designation programs, as well as a variety of specialty courses serving industry professionals at every level and in every job description.  William T. Hold Seminars and James K. Ruble Seminars are premier education choices for designees and together, they form the “Founders Series,” a tribute to two “founding fathers” in insurance education.

Dr. Hold has held faculty positions at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Texas, where, as an associate professor, he was responsible for the insurance and risk management area in the graduate school of business. His articles have been published in insurance-related academic and trade journals, including the Journal of Risk and Insurance, the Insurance Law Journal, and the CPCU Annals. He is the author of several books on industry-related topics.  Prior to developing CIC, Dr. Hold was vice president of the National Association of Independent Insurers and served as a consultant to organizations, including the American and Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Federal Trade Commission, the United States Department of Transportation, and the Texas State Board of Insurance.