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Founded in 1914, The Risk Management Association (RMA) is a not-for-profit, member-driven professional association whose sole purpose is to advance the use of sound risk principles in the financial services industry. RMA promotes an enterprise approach to risk management that focuses on credit risk, market risk, and operational risk.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, RMA has 3,000 institutional members that include banks of all sizes as well as nonbank financial institutions. They are represented in the association by over 20,000 risk management professionals who are chapter members in financial centers throughout North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific.

The Northern Ohio Chapter, like all RMA chapters, is organized and run by volunteer members. We strongly encourage current or prospective members to become involved in shaping the future direction of the chapter by contacting any of the current officers or committee chairs. We would also be happy to discuss the many benefits that can be derived from membership in RMA.

The history of RMA's Northern Ohio Chapter dates back to May 4, 1920 when its predecessor, the Cleveland Chapter, was originally chartered. The Cleveland Chapter was the second nationally chartered RMA chapter. New York City was the first.

Cleveland and northern Ohio were a natural location for an RMA chapter. This area was, and continues to be, a manufacturing center. During the Civil War many companies prospered and new banks were formed. Extension of credit to businesses that began in the latter half of the nineteenth century became an important function of banks in the Cleveland area.

Regrettably, RMA records covering the early years of the Cleveland Chapter's history have disappeared. However, we do know that a number of credit-oriented people from such institutions as the Guardian Bank, The Union Trust Company, The Cleveland Trust Company, and National City Bank of Cleveland, among others, were active members. The Union Trust Company, by the end of the 1920s, was the largest commercial bank between Pittsburgh and Chicago. Unfortunately, it did not survive the bank closings of 1932.

Cleveland served as the location for three Annual Conferences. The first conference in Cleveland was held February 20-21, 1920. This was before the tradition began in 1921 to hold the conference during the fall months. The 1920 Conference was only the fifth conference for RMA members. The 1928 Fall Conference was held in Cleveland in October.

In 1921, William Tonks of the Cleveland Chapter was elected national president of RMA and served from 1921-23. Other members of the Cleveland Chapter were active on both national and local RMA committees.

The war years brought enormous business expansion, particularly in steel and related industries. Defense work led to a tremendous influx of workers, mostly from the south and other areas. New businesses were formed, and several banks established formal credit departments.

At the end of World War II, many members returned to their former employment in commercial banks. After a brief slowdown needed to convert factories from wartime production to peacetime manufacturing, the northern Ohio area continued its boom. New businesses were created, demanding an extension of credit. This increased demand for credit resulted in larger banks. As interest in RMA spread, many banks in the northern Ohio area joined the Cleveland Chapter. In 1954, Cleveland once again hosted an RMA Fall Conference, the 39th Annual Conference.

Douglas S. Clarke was one of the most distinguished and highly respected credit officers in banking, not only in the Midwest but nationally. From the 1950s on into the early 1970s, he contributed numerous articles to The Journal of Commercial Bank Lending. In addition to being a national director from 1959-62, Clarke was honored for distinguished service to RMA in 1972.

Beginning in the 1970s, greater emphasis was put on attracting members from banks outside the greater Cleveland area. Chapter officers were also selected from outlying banks. Banks becoming active in the Cleveland Chapter included Akron National Bank, First National Bank of Akron, First National Bank of Canton, First National Bank in Massillon, BancOhio, Akron National Bank, Elyria Savings & Trust Company, Peoples Merchants Trust Company (Canton), Central Bank of Akron, Second National Bank of Warren, and Bank One Youngstown.

The chapter territory extends west from Cleveland to Toledo, Ohio; east to the Pennsylvania line; and south to the Dover/New Philadelphia area. After World War II, joint meetings were held with the Pittsburgh Chapter on an annual basis for several years. The host chapter alternated every year.

At the annual meeting of the Cleveland Chapter held on June 6, 1968, the Chapter bylaws were revised permitting the change of name from the Cleveland Chapter of Robert Morris Associates to the Northern Ohio Chapter, Robert Morris Associates in order to better reflect the geographic area represented by the Chapter's membership. The effective date of the change was September 1, 1968.

The Chapter presented its distinguished service award to Douglas S. Clarke in 1972; Everett Ware Smith in 1977; and Jack W. Woodburn in 1977.

A meeting was held on May 10, 1979, to organize a Board of Governors for the Northern Ohio Chapter. The Board of Governors consisted of active RMA members.

RMA transitioned from Robert Morris Associates to The Risk Management Association in July 1999. Kevin Blakely, who was RMA chair in 1999, called the name change to The Risk Management Association important because "financial institutions create much of their shareholder value by appropriately analyzing, underwriting, mitigating, and pricing risk. Risk taking and the management of risk are the essence of the financial services industry."

Since the Chapter was admitted as a member in 1920, members of the Northern Ohio Chapter have been active on the division councils and committees, and have attended the Fall Conference annually.

Kevin M. Blakely was another significant contributor to RMA from the Northern Ohio Chapter. He was Chairman of the RMA Board of Directors during the 1999-2000 year, and has served many years as the Chair of the Regulatory Relations Council.

Northern Ohio Chapter Life Members include: Gordon H. Kirk, Kurt W. Ottiger, Rudolph Gluss, William Reed, David Schutter, Kevin Blakely, Donald Nucerino and Daniel Wollschlager.

Today, there are a total of 41 institutions and 246 members in the Northern Ohio Chapter. The history of the Northern Ohio Chapter includes many individuals who have actively supported the concepts of The Risk Management Association (formerly Robert Morris Associates).

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