Inside the Mid Rivers Risk Forum: A New Hub for Midwest Risk Leaders

Editor's Note : Captive.com caught up with the organizers of the inaugural Mid Rivers Risk Forum—set for September 28–29, 2025, in St. Louis—to learn what's in store for attendees just 1 month out. With a rich mix of preconference training, keynote sessions, breakout tracks, and networking opportunities, the 2-day Forum promises a comprehensive look at regulatory developments, innovative risk strategies, and real-world applications. Here's a look at the agenda highlights—and the must-ask questions you can use to dig in further.

What inspired the creation of the Mid Rivers Risk Forum, and how does it differ from other risk management conferences?

The captive insurance industry is thriving today due to the success of organizations providing ongoing education and networking opportunities at annual events. We attend and support these groups because they are continually working to improve the industry every day. With that appreciation, we started looking at opportunities to provide those same principles but at a centralized location to ensure that local risk managers have the same opportunities.

As we started talking with other risk organizations around Missouri, we found a similar need to provide ongoing education and networking opportunities for those risk managers unable to attend national events. This developed into the creation of the Mid Rivers Risk Form in partnership with the Missouri Captive Insurance Association, the Missouri Self-Insured Association, St. Louis Chapter of RIMS, Greater Kansas City Chapter of RIMS, and the Ozark Chapter of RIMS, which represents multiple levels of risk transfer.

The overall intent is to bring the risk manager community together, and we are quickly building what we are calling a "Risk Manager Coalition."

Why was St. Louis chosen as the location for the inaugural event, and how does the Midwest's risk landscape shape the agenda?

Since the Midwestern rivers all flow by St. Louis, it only made sense to hold the first Mid River Risk Forum there. It also helped that our partnering organizations have had great success with past events in this region.

What are you aiming to achieve with the mix of preconference training, general sessions, breakout tracks, and networking events outlined in the agenda?

The overall goal of the Mid Rivers Risk Forum is to bring the risk manager community together, regardless of how they manage their risk. That is why it is important to develop an agenda that talks about the future of insurance, provides agency resources, creates breakout sessions that discuss solutions, and a networking event that generates ongoing connections.

The keynote by Dr. Michel Léonard and the panel with Angela Nelson offer broad perspectives—what strategic value do those general sessions bring to attendees?

Dr. Michel Léonard will set the stage for the day by discussing the overall state of the insurance industry as defined by industry data and trends. In contrast, Angela Nelson will discuss the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance's vision and how her team can be an important partner in this space.

What was the thought process behind offering multiple breakout tracks—from actuary partnerships and property risk to cyber and insurance-linked securities—and how should attendees decide which to prioritize?

Since our goal is to bring all aspects of the risk community together, we needed to offer multiple tracks that offer something for everyone. That is why we would encourage attendees to review our agenda before September 28, we have great speakers with various topics that should spark everyone's interest.

One of your goals is to go " beyond the name tag" when it comes to networking. What makes the Mid Rivers approach to connection unique?

Nationally, conference attendees are looking for ways to make industry connections, which is why we are actively looking for ways to build opportunities. It is also why we selected the Westport Plaza area for the event; it provides a variety of venues that create the perfect atmosphere for discussions beyond our receptions.

What kinds of professionals do you expect will benefit most from attending this first Forum?

Risk managers from leading industries are already signed up, and we are expecting more as we get closer to the event.

What would success look like for this inaugural event?

Success is a coalition committed to supporting the risk community in the Midwestern region. If we stopped there, this event has built a coalition of 5 partnering organizations, 16 sponsors, and 20 speakers, which is not bad in our first year. But we are just starting, and attendee experience and feedback will be a key indicator for how we proceed, so stay tuned for our October follow-up report.

How do you see the Mid Rivers Risk Forum evolving in future years?

Shortly after the 2025 Mid Rivers Risk Form (MRRF), the board will take the feedback from our coalition and start planning for the October 5–7, 2026, MRRF event. At the same time, we are talking with groups about the development of a platform that all our partners can utilize to promote their organization's membership and growth. This is about our coalition moving forward together for long-term success.