Mike Rhyner Receives AGRiP Excellence in Leadership Award

We are proud and excited to announce that Mike Rhyner received the 2026 Award for Excellence in Leadership earlier this month from the Association of Government Risk Pools (AGRiP).

AGRiP Executive Director Ann Gergen presented the award to Mike at the association’s governance conference on March 2, 2026, in Nashville. Ann remarked on Mike’s steady leadership and disciplined influence in complex environments to develop MMRMA as a leader in public entity pooling. Mike is a past member of the Board of Directors of both AGRiP and Government Entities Mutual (GEM). Ann cited these and Mike’s many other contributions to the industry.

Accepting the award, Mike thanked Ann and the entire AGRiP community for the award. He reminisced about the founding of AGRiP in 1998. “It amazes me, and I am so proud, to see a group like this today,” Mike told the audience. AGRiP’s “conferences and education … have helped me in my career and I’ve tried to do my part to mentor and help others in the pooling community” in return.

Mike added that AGRiP’s programs helped MMRMA and other pools transform this industry from something fledgling – that many thought would never work – into a thriving and sustainable solution for public entities across the US and beyond.

In conclusion, Mike said “while we can’t become complacent” in the face of challenges ahead, including more complex and interrelated risks, the impact of technology, and the ongoing necessity of succession planning and knowledge transfer, he believes “the future is very bright” for public entity pooling.

Mike retired from MMRMA in January 2026 after over 24 years as Executive Director and leaves a legacy of financial strength, outstanding programs and coverage, and, most importantly, a service philosophy that always prioritizes members.

“No one is more deserving of this award,” said Bryan Anderson, who succeeded Mike as MMRMA Executive Director in January. “I worked with Mike for over 17 years and he taught me nearly everything I know about the public entity risk pooling industry and, more importantly, how to be a leader.”

Bryan added, “It is truly a privilege and honor to have worked under such an exceptional person and pooling legend, and now to have the opportunity follow in Mike’s footsteps.”

Please join us in celebrating and congratulating Mike Rhyner for receiving this well-deserved award!

Mike Rhyner