Tell me about how you became a Risk Manager? 

I had over 25 years experience working in claims for Insurance Carriers and TPA’s, eventually I became a Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager for Sedgwick with the San Diego and Imperial County Schools JPA as my dedicated client. I loved working with the self-insured school districts and in a quirk of fate when there was an opening at the San Diego and Imperial County Schools Risk Management JPA I applied for a position in the risk management department. I manage the workers’ compensation program, the pre-employment physical services for our new hires and our customized Medical Provider Network (SD JPA MPN). Several years ago, when the Manager of our  (EASE) employee assistance program for our school employees retired, they asked if I would manage the mental health and wellness services for our employees and their families and it has been such a rewarding part of my job. I love working with our entire risk management team and I have learned so much after 17 years working with our over 60 school district and charter school members. It has been such a pleasure serving them and everyone that works with me knows that I love my job!

What are the rewards you experience professionally by being a PARMA member? 

I have met so many wonderful risk and claims management professionals from being a PARMA member that have helped me in my career, especially since I came to risk management later in my life. The networking opportunities at PARMA have enabled me to meet other risk professionals that I can call when I need help with a problem or another perspective. By attending the local San Diego and Imperial Chapter meetings and the annual PARMA Conference educational sessions, I have learned so much that has helped me advance in my career.

How has your professional knowledge expanded by interacting with other PARMA members? 

I have learned from other risk professionals through PARMA’s networking opportunities how they run their programs and different approaches and solutions they have with their risk and claims challenges. I now have a large network of professionals that I can call if I have questions or need  advice. I have also made many friends through working with other PARMA members.

When did you start realizing you wanted to move into a leadership role within PARMA? 

Our past San Diego and Imperial Chapter President, Larry Costello, was a great leader and made our PARMA Chapter Meetings so much fun that motivated me to become involved with Chapter Leadership. When Larry was selected to serve on the PARMA Board then I was asked to serve in a leadership role with the San Diego and Imperial Chapter. I think it is so important to give back to the industry that I have worked in for over 40 years and help the new young risk and claims professionals that are starting their careers. I have enjoyed working in Chapter Leadership as Vice Chair and now Chair, planning the meetings and serving our wonderful San Diego and Imperial Chapter membership.

After being a member in PARMA for some time now, how essential was joining your professional association? 

I have really enjoyed being a member of PARMA for many years and being involved and volunteering for the local San Diego and Imperial PARMA Chapter. PARMA has been important to my education and my career advancement in my public entity position and I have met so many wonderful risk professionals along my PARMA journey. Our risk management team is very involved in PARMA and we feel that we get quality education, networking and real value out of our PARMA membership.

How would you respond to a risk manager who says they don’t have the time to participate in PARMA and/or moving towards a leadership position? 

From my perspective spending the time participating in the local San Diego and Imperial Chapter and attending the annual PARMA Conference has really helped me grow and advance in my public entity position. I think it is important to meet other risk professionals that work for other public entities so that you can share your experiences and challenges. I feel the PARMA networking events have helped me meet other school risk professionals that I can call to help me with questions and problems that arise. I have enjoyed serving in my Chapter leadership roles and planning meetings and events for our wonderful San Diego and Imperial Chapter membership has been an honor. 

What do you see being one of the largest challenges for the future of risk management? 

I think hiring and motivating new risk and claim professionals is one of our largest challenges for the future of risk management. Training, retention and promotion of our current risk professional staff is also very important as the private sector can offer better salary in some positions. We have to make the case for how rewarding serving your community and working for a public entity can be. I care deeply about our school district employees and serving them has been my main motivation for the last 17 years and why I love my job at the San Diego and Imperial County Schools JPA.

How will PARMA respond to that challenge? 

The PARMA Board planning and strategy meetings are already having discussions on how to find and motivate new risk professionals and how to help them grow in their career development. PARMA is focused on providing high quality training and education for both the entry level and more advanced risk professionals both at the local chapter level and at the PARMA Conference. I think that using public entity professionals as speakers on presentation panels helps the PARMA members learn about other public entity jobs and opportunities that they can aspire to. In my opinion, it has been a very rewarding experience and a wonderful career!