PRIMA Institute

Special Events

Special events can present special and unusual types of risks for your entities. They enrich the lives of a community, attract interest in local businesses, increase sales tax revenue and sometimes tax the patience of government as it serves and protects.

In this interactive presentation, the speaker and attendees will provide examples of special events and, as a group, will discuss risk transfer options, including the use of permits, risk transfer, insurance and the use of waivers, as well as discussing lessons learned in association with these special events.

Speakers:
Amy Larson, JD, ARM, City of Bloomington, MN

From Compliance to Culture: Building High-Impact Safety Committees in Public Entities

Safety committees can be a valuable risk management tool for public entities, frequently adopted to help manage employee safety, reduce losses and demonstrate organizational commitment to risk control. Yet too often these committees exist in name only—meeting infrequently, lacking authority and producing little measurable impact.

This session explores how public entities can move beyond symbolic or checkbox approaches to build safety committees that actively reduce injuries, control workers’ compensation costs and strengthen organizational culture. Attendees will learn practical governance models, role clarity, data-driven practices and accountability strategies that transform safety committees into effective, measurable risk management tools.

Speaker:
Matthew Phillips, Hanover County (VA) Government and Hanover County Public Schools

Effectively Communicating in the Midst of Change

Two timeless truths of life: change is constant, and many people have a great aversion to it. Whether you love it or loathe it, you can remove some of the pain and anxiety through better communication during the process. 

In this session, you’ll learn how to lead your team through change more quickly and painlessly by communicating effectively while it is happening and discover strategies to teach your managers/supervisors to be better leaders and produce better outcomes.

Speaker:
Randy Anderson, E3 Professional Trainers

How to Evaluate and Select a Third-Party Administrator

Third-party administrators (TPAs) have become integral to the claims management process across public entities. Their specialized expertise and dedicated resources can prove to be invaluable to support managing risk within the organization. Risk management has become increasingly complex and extends across the entire enterprise, expanding the scope of the program and the range of risks that must be managed. Controlling diverse exposures and unique risks is key to a successful claims program and your organization’s reputation.

This session will discuss the importance of how to choose the best partner as your TPA and how to evaluate their services. 

Speakers:
Lori Gray, Prince William County, VA
Jennifer Wybourn, Prince William County, VA

Managing Risk Through Effective Supervision

As the champions of safety directives and the voice of employee safety concerns, first-line supervisors play a crucial role in risk mitigation and accident prevention.

In this session, we will discuss the supervisor’s role in creating a culture of safety, the positive impact of effective communication, and the importance of motivating your team through constructive leadership while also being a productive manager.

Speaker:
Sarah Curtis, Public Entity Partners

The Intersection of Risk Management and Procurement: Managing Third-Party Vendor Risk

This training session is designed to provide risk management professionals with practical insights, applied learning and knowledge sharing opportunities to address third-party vendor risks that are often overlooked within public entity organizations.

The course offers real-world examples demonstrating how risk management can serve as a value-added partner in the organization’s procurement process.

Participants will learn when and how risk management should be engaged during procurement process, how to establish appropriate insurance requirements for vendors, how to identify and assess contractual risks, how to develop effective contract negotiation strategies, and how to ensure ongoing vendor insurance compliance.

Participants will also develop the skills necessary to design and implement an effective process for managing third-party vendor risk.

Speaker:
Jeff Green, County of Larimer, CO

Your Black Swan Is Someone Else’s Grey Rhino

In public safety, problems come at us in all directions, too often leading to tragedy. The concepts of the Black Swan and the Grey Rhino help us differentiate between these problems. Black Swans are the “unknown unknowns” that no one sees coming. Grey Rhinos are massive, obvious problems that we fail to acknowledge. As the title of this program points out, one leader’s Black Swan can easily be another leader’s Grey Rhino.

In this session, we will delve into these concepts and show how they relate to the basic concepts of risk management. Attendees will explore how events that sneak up on organizations and cause tremendous problems have often been experienced by other similarly situated organizations. The presenter will provide strategies for how to more effectively capture and share lessons learned from close calls and tragedies, turning Black Swans into Grey Rhinos that are not only visible, but also stoppable.

Speaker:
Gordon Graham, Lexipol

Nuts or Bolts? Which One First?

Now that I am the risk manager, what should I do first? This session will walk you through the step-by-step process beginning with how to assess where you are today. What questions to ask and of whom? What do you prioritize first to gain credibility and visibility inside of the organization while building a culture of risk management? Hear personal stories of pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as the secret sauce to a successful program.

Speaker:
Dean Coughenour, Coughenour Consulting

Mentoring Is Not a Nice-to-Have

Most workplaces are in flux in 2026 as institutional knowledge retires, internal talent rises to new responsibilities and recruitment casts a wide net for needed replacements. Professional development is important and should be a hybrid model of formal and informal training, taking into account evolving needs, by people and capabilities using technology.

However, a low-tech method used by humans throughout history remains key to the process - mentoring. It not only provides education (me start fire, you watch) but also builds relationships, challenges the status quo and creates a common goal.

This session will provide a rationale for and best practices of purposeful, not happenstance, mentoring. It will also include a link to resources for how to be the best mentor and/or mentee possible.

Speaker:
Mark Pew, WorkCompCollege.com

Burnout: Not Worth the Risk

An estimated 70% of employees experience workplace burnout every year. While burnout can take a toll on individuals, it also leads to negative outcomes for your organization.

In this session, we will examine how burnout can lead to increased errors, decreased productivity and potentially dangerous behaviors at work. Participants will be able to identify potential warning signs of burnout and leave with actionable steps to enhance their personal and professional resilience.

Speakers:
Sarah Curtis, Public Entity Partners

Claims Negotiations/Mediation

Negotiation and mediation are critical tools in resolving a wide range of claims, including liability, employment and workers’ compensation matters.

This presentation will explore practical strategies for preparing, negotiating and mediating claims to achieve balanced and efficient outcomes. Participants will gain insight into evaluating claim strengths and risks, understanding the interests of all parties involved and developing negotiation approaches that promote productive dialogue.

The session will also address key elements of effective mediation preparation, including documentation, damages assessment, and managing expectations for claimants, counsel, insurers and employers.

Real-world examples will highlight common challenges that arise during negotiations and mediation, along with techniques for overcoming impasses and maintaining professionalism in high-stakes discussions.

Speaker:
Ya’Sheaka C. Williams, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.

AI in Claims Litigation

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of claims litigation, providing attorneys and claims professionals with rapid insights to drive more accurate, efficient and strategic decision making.

This presentation explores how AI is currently being integrated into case management, risk evaluation, case prioritization and resource applications. By leveraging automated document review, predictive analytics, and natural language processing, professionals can identify key issues earlier, streamline investigations, and enhance negotiation posture.

Litigation teams are also using AI powered insights to forecast potential exposure, strengthen settlement strategies and reduce unnecessary litigation spend. Rather than replacing human judgment, AI is allowing professionals to focus on advocacy, strategy and achieving the best possible outcomes for all stakeholders.

Speakers:
Geoffrey R. Jones, Esq, Midwest Employers Casualty
Brian Billings, W. R. Berkley

Managing Employees in Times of Protests and Tweets

Unlike the private sector, public employees have First Amendment free speech protections because their employer is the government. Does that mean that public employees can say whatever they want, whenever they want and wherever they want? Are employees' social media posts off limits?

This presentation will look at the source of public employees' free speech protections and walk through real life scenarios to demonstrate when the protections apply and where they end.

We will also review how and when public employers can monitor and take corrective action against employees for their social media use, including the recommended components of a social media policy.

Speakers:
Liani Reeves, Miller Nash LLP
Jess Osborne, Miller Nash LLP

When the Executive Is the Risk: Governance Frameworks for Public Sector HR Leaders

Public sector risk managers face a structural challenge that standard HR training was never designed to address: what happens when the source of organizational risk is someone above the HR function?

This session equips public entity risk managers with practical, governance-ready frameworks for documenting executive-level misconduct, managing investigations when the accused holds institutional authority, and building escalation pathways that hold even when internal channels have already failed.

Drawing on documented municipal case data — including settlement records from city governments — this session makes the financial case for proactive accountability infrastructure and provides attendees with immediately applicable tools.

Speaker:
Kimberly Williams, The Fair Faith Project     

Conflict Resolution

This session is a highly interactive, participant-centered workshop designed to teach attendees how to address conflict in the workplace. Attendees will gain an understanding of what conflict is, why we try to avoid it and what costs are incurred when avoiding conflict.

We will build a toolkit geared to more effectively address workplace conflict instead of allowing it to fester.

Speaker:
Mauricio Velasquez, Diversity Training Group

Emergency Management

This presentation examines the critical role of public institutions at the local, state and federal levels in coordinating resources, protecting communities and ensuring continuity of operations during emergencies.

We will analyze the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

The session will also highlight inter-agency coordination, public communication strategies, policy development and the importance of community resilience.

Through case examples, this presentation will evaluate lessons learned, challenges in governance and evolving best practices in crisis leadership.

Speaker:
Thomas C. Bullock, III, Virginia Risk Sharing Association

WC Claim Investigation: Best Practices and Horror Stories

This session will feature discussion of critical investigation steps that must occur at the earliest stages of a workers' compensation claim involving catastrophic injuries and high exposure.

The presenter will outline the foundational principles in determining the underlying root cause of the accident, compensability and legal liability, and third-party subrogation.

The session blends practical guidance with memorable case examples, giving participants both the tools and the instincts needed to navigate even the most challenging claims.

Speaker:
Daniel T. Dalton, Midwest Employers Casualty

Fleet Telematics: Maximizing Fleet Safety and Operational Efficiency

In this session, the use of telematics will be examined to include capabilities for real-time fleet tracking, driver behavior and performance monitoring, and the importance of data analytics to enhance modern fleet management, improve operational efficiency and fleet safety.

Further, telematics best practices will be discussed, as well as employee training and driver coaching opportunities.

Speaker:
Julie Waller, MBA, CWCP, MESH, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Quantum Computing 101 for Risk Managers: Navigating Opportunities and Threats

This session offers risk managers a clear and accessible introduction to quantum computing, focusing on its transformative impact on risk assessment and mitigation. Attendees will learn the foundational concepts of quantum computing.

The presentation will address both the opportunities quantum computing presents, such as enhanced data analysis and optimization, and the risks, including the potential disruption of current cryptographic standards and data security protocols.

Speaker:
Kelvin Coleman, Route 2 Strategies

AI-Driven Risk Framework

This session will examine how artificial intelligence can support and enhance enterprise risk management. We will review some of the core components of AI-driven frameworks, including data analytics, predictive modeling and risk assessment.

Attendees will gain insights into the benefits of using AI while also addressing challenges like data quality, ethical concerns and implementation barriers.

Through practical steps, case studies, and a forward-looking perspective, the presentation will demonstrate how to harness AI for smarter, more proactive risk management strategies.

Speaker:
Shannon Gunderman, CPCU, ARM, AIS, CWCP, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

ERM Case Study

In this session, the enterprise risk manager for King County, Washington, will share real stories about using Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) to make progress on persistent and emergent challenges.

The session describes how ERM helps decision-makers see risks across the whole organization, not just in their own departments.

Participants will hear examples such as how public-sector organizations have used ERM to face their highest-priority risks and turn uncertainties into opportunities. Each story will show how different groups worked together, used data and good judgment, and stayed focused on the organization’s goals.

Speaker:
Sean Catanese, County of King, WA

RMIS: Not Another Spreadsheet

Risk Management Information Systems (RMIS) are an important tool for any risk manager or risk management program.

In this session, we will review what a risk management system is and why an RMIS is important to a risk management program.

We will review core features of most RMIS systems and opportunities to integrate the data produced by RIMS applications into the operating metrics of an organization.  

Speaker:
David Weightman, PMA Companies

Proactive Crisis Communication

Crisis rarely arrives with warning. When it does, internal and external communications shift dramatically from day-to-day operations. Organizations that respond effectively do so because they have a clearly defined, practiced communication strategy already in place.

This presentation explores how to build and sustain a crisis communication framework grounded in the principle of “practice like you play.”

Participants will learn how to align everyday operating procedures with crisis protocols so that structure, decision-making and messaging remain steady under pressure.

We will examine best practices for establishing battle rhythms, clarifying organizational roles and structure, and strengthening leadership presence to ensure coordinated, confident communication when it matters most.

Speaker:
Jason Stoddard, Charles County (MD) Public Schools

State of the Market: Emerging Trends for 2027

This presentation will explore the property, liability, cyber, professional and workers' compensation sectors. Also up for discussion are the risks which are emerging in the public sector, providing attendees with a clear picture of prioritizes for 2027.

Speaker:
John Chino, ARM-P, ARM-E, CSRM, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Sherri Adams, ARM, WCCA

Risk Manager, City of Kansas City, MO

Sherri is the chief risk manager for the City of Kansas City, MO, and manages safety, workers’ compensation, insurance programs, insurance requirements in contracts, ADA, and Family Medical Leave, as well as other duties as assigned.  Before she arrived in Kansas City, Sherri worked for 17 years in California for both small and large counties, a third-party administrator and a transit district.  She served on the Public Risk Innovation, Solutions and Management (PRISM) Board of Directors for over 13 years, including two years on the Executive Committee. She also served on various committees, including Risk Control, Member Services, Medical Malpractice and Claims Review.  Sherri is a graduate of San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing. She also holds an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation and the Workers’ Compensation Certificate of Administration (WCCA).  Sherri was the 2024 Public Risk Management Association Public Risk Manager of the Year.

Randy Anderson, CSP

Independent Training Consultant, E3 Professional Trainers

Randy is co-founder of E3 Professional Trainers, a training firm that provides workplace and life training for individuals, teams and companies. Before starting E3 in 2005, Randy spent 20 years in sales and management.  His career path has allowed him to work with virtually every type of business and in every industry. From that experience, he developed strategies that help people become more engaged in their jobs, better equipped to do them, and to feel empowered to have greater influence at work and enjoy more fulfillment in life. In addition to a Bachelor of Science in communications from Texas Tech University in 1990, Randy received the designation of Certified Speaking Professional in 2012. This is the highest-earned designation given by the National Speakers Association, recognizing proven expertise in speaking eloquence, business enterprise and professional ethics, and is held by less than 15% of professional speakers worldwide.

Brian Billings

Head of Segment Data & Advanced Analytics, W.R. Berkley

Brian is head of segment data and advanced analytics at Berkley Alternative Market Tech, where he leads enterprise data, analytics and AI initiatives supporting seven operating companies within W. R. Berkley Corporation. With nearly 30 years of experience, he specializes in turning AI and advanced analytics into decision-ready insights that drive measurable business outcomes. He holds a B.S.B.A. in management information systems and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University. Brian regularly speaks on enterprise AI adoption and implementation.

Thomas Bullock, III

Director of Education & Training, Virginia Risk Sharing Association

Thomas obtained an Associate of Applied Science in police science from Southside Virginia Community College, followed by a Bachelor of Science in the administration of justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Science in administration-human resources administration from Central Michigan University. Thomas has also attained the Associate in Risk Management-Enterprise Risk Management designation. As a police officer for 14 years, Thomas worked in narcotics, community policing and patrol. He joined the Virginia Risk Sharing Association in 2006 as a law enforcement specialist and was promoted to director of education and training in 2018.

Sean Catanese

Enterprise Risk Manager, King County, WA

Sean has managed King County’s enterprise risk management program since 2014. King County is the nation’s 13th most populous county. King County government includes more than 17,000 employees serving 2.3 million residents with mass transit, public health and criminal justice, among many other vital services. Sean was recognized as PRIMA's 2023 Public Risk Manager of the Year. He also serves on PRIMA’s Enterprise Risk Management teaching faculty and on the board of his local PRIMA chapter. He is a regular contributor to works that develop the profile and understanding of ERM, with a specific focus on how public sector agencies can engage with ERM to improve their performance and decision-making.

John Chino, ARM-P, ARM-E, CSRM

Area Senior Vice President, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

John is a member of the Leadership Team of Gallagher’s Public Entity Division and oversees the development of public agency risk management programs. His expertise includes program design, marketing, consulting, implementation, and self-insurance administration and account oversight. Since 1986, he has been tasked with placing insurance and self-insurance for pools and has been responsible for forming at least 16 self-insured pools in 10 states. In January 2026, he started his 40th year at Gallagher. John is a member of the faculty of the Risk & Insurance Education Alliance, where he teaches the Certified School Risk Management (CSRM) program and serves as a course instructor for The Institutes. John is currently the vice president of the USC Marshall Peter Arkley Institute for Risk Management.

Kelvin Coleman

CEO & Managing Director, Route 2 Strategies

Kelvin is the founder and managing director of Route 2 Strategies, LLC. He is also the chief global diplomacy officer for Cyber Eagle. In these roles, he supports entities in Canada and the U.S. with a focus on emerging technology, including cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Before this role, he was an executive partner at IBM. Kelvin has served in several roles across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including as the chief executive officer and executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance. He served in the Obama administration, where he joined the White House National Security Council – Cyber Directorate as the director of State Engagement. During his career, he has also served as the cyber policy executive at the National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center and as strategic director at FireEye.

Dean Coughenour, ARM

Principal, Coughenour Consulting

Dean is the retired risk manager for the City of Flagstaff and directed their risk management department. Dean has over 30 years of experience in proactive risk management and has served on various boards and associations, including the Arizona Municipal Risk Retention board and the City of Scottsdale Loss Trust Fund board. He is a past national board member of Public Entity Risk and Insurance, past loss trust fund board chair for the City of Scottsdale, and past president of PRIMA National and has held various other community leadership positions. He is a frequent speaker on risk management topics and techniques that deliver measurable results.

Sarah Curtis

Loss Control Training Consultant, Public Entity Partners

Sarah launched her career in risk management in 2022, joining Public Entity Partners as a loss control training consultant. Before that, she served as a training consultant with the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service. Throughout her career, Sarah has supported the public sector as an instructor, consultant, trainer and instructional designer. Since 2018, she has partnered with municipalities and other public entities to develop and deliver training programs that strengthen organizational performance by empowering individual growth. Sarah earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2007 and her Master of Arts degree in Sociology in 2011 from Middle Tennessee State University. She went on to complete a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Alabama in 2016.

Daniel T. Dalton

Chief Claims & Regulatory Counsel, Midwest Employers Casualty

Daniel is chief claims and regulatory counsel for Midwest Employers Casualty (a Berkley Company). He has been a practicing attorney for more than 30 years and was formerly a trial attorney in the private sector. His practice included insurance defense, insurance coverage, bad faith and vexatious refusal actions, workers’ compensation, product liability, medical malpractice, civil rights and employment discrimination, commercial litigation and criminal defense. In his current role, he provides counsel to MEC on legal matters and claims of varying degrees of complexity.

Megan Damato, Esq.

Director of Risk Management, Town of Greenwich (CT) and Greenwich Public Schools

Megan was the recipient of PRIMA’s Public Risk Manager of the Year award in 2021. She began her career as an attorney before entering risk management. She earned her JD from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2005. That background has been a valuable foundation in designing coverages and managing claims. Megan founded the Cyber Security Task Force and Greenwich’s Defensive Driving Program. She is past president and secretary of the Connecticut Chapter of PRIMA, founding president of the newly established PRIMA New England, past chair and member of the National PRIMA’s Education Committee. She has served as both chair and member of PRIMA’s Chapter Relations and Membership Enhancement Committee.

Gordon Graham

Co-Founder, Lexipol

Gordon is a 33-year veteran of California law enforcement (now retired). In this capacity, he served as a street cop, supervisor, manager and executive. Gordon was awarded a B.A. in Business from San Francisco State College, a teaching credential from California State University (Long Beach), a master’s degree in safety and systems management from the University of Southern California and a juris doctorate from Western State University. He has drawn on his background as a cop, risk manager, and attorney to co-found Lexipol, a company that standardizes public safety practices across America. He has presented to public safety personnel from around the world and is a professor at the University of Virginia.

Lori Gray

Assistant Director of Finance for Risk & Wellness Services, Prince William County, VA

Lori is the assistant director of finance for risk & wellness services for Prince William County, VA, with over 30 years of experience in risk management, safety, and loss control. Prince William County is located in Northern Virginia, just 35 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and is Virginia’s second most populous county. As the County's risk manager for over 26 years, she has built an outstanding risk and wellness program from scratch after the entity previously outsourced the function. Lori oversees the administration and management of the Prince William Self-Insurance Group (PWSIG) and serves as the PWSIG Board of Trustees chairman. Through her successful strategies and risk control techniques, the PWSIG has recognized dividend payments totaling over $22,000,000.

Jeff Green, ARM-P

Risk Manager, County of Larimer (CO)

Jeff was recognized as PRIMA’s Public Risk Manager of the Year for 2025. He has over 30 years of experience in risk management in both the public and private sectors, as well as in underwriting and brokerage operations. He has been the risk manager for Larimer County, CO since 2008, and he oversees the planning, design, organization, and administration of the county’s self-insured workers' compensation program, property & casualty insurance program, and Title II ADA compliance. He is also responsible for claims management, safety, DOT drug & alcohol compliance, and is involved in the contracts process as well. Jeff is actively involved in PRIMA, serving on the Leadership Development Committee and has been the president of the Colorado PRIMA Chapter from 2022 to 2025.

Shannon Gunderman, CPCU, ARM, AIS, CWCP

Operations Director, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Shannon is a managing director at Gallagher. He has over 26 years of risk management experience, and his areas of expertise include project management, enterprise risk management, process improvement, predictive analytics, strategic planning, data analytics and visualization, litigation support, safety and HIPAA compliance, and claim management. Before joining Gallagher, Shannon served as the administrative services director for Yuma County, Arizona, where he managed the County’s property, liability, unemployment and workers’ compensation insurance programs. As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he led process improvement projects in administrative records management, customer service, and the criminal justice system.

Geoff Jones, Esq.

Deputy Claims and Regulatory Counsel, Midwest Employers Casualty

Geoff serves as deputy claims and regulatory counsel for Midwest Employers Casualty (MEC), a subsidiary of W.R. Berkley Corporation, where he has been instrumental in driving positive outcomes for insureds and injured workers across the United States for the past 16 years. With over two decades of experience in the workers’ compensation and excess insurance industry, Geoff provides legal counsel and solutions for catastrophic and complex workers’ compensation claims, leveraging his expertise to mitigate high-exposure cases and deliver significant savings for MEC's partners. His deep knowledge of Medicare implications enables him to craft resolutions that benefit injured workers while addressing the needs of all stakeholders involved. Geoff's collaborative work with MEC's advanced analytics team further highlights his forward-thinking approach, as he integrates data-driven insights to create actionable strategies that enhance client outcomes and reduce future exposures.

Amy Larson, Esq.

Risk & Litigation Manager, City of Bloomington, MN

Amy has been the risk manager for the City of Bloomington, MN for more than 25 years, including the past 15 years as the risk and litigation manager. She is responsible for the overall planning, management, administration, organization and coordination of the city’s risk management program; review and negotiation of city contracts; and litigation management. Amy is a licensed attorney in the state of Minnesota and a frequent presenter for many national PRIMA events, including PRIMA Institute, the national conference and speaker's bureau. Amy is the current chair of the PRIMA Institute and has been involved with it since 2013. She also served on the national PRIMA board of directors from 2012-2019, including as national PRIMA president from 2017-2018, and as a member of the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI) Board of Directors from 2012-2017. Amy is also very active in the Minnesota chapter of PRIMA and currently serves as its past president.

Allie F. Matthews

Risk Administrator, City of Tucson, AZ (Ret.)

Allie was named PRIMA’s 2022 Public Risk Manager of the Year. She began her career in public education, serving for over 37 years in various capacities that included curriculum, finance, risk, and human resources departments until her retirement in 2013. Shortly after retiring, Allie began her second career as the risk fund administrator for the City of Tucson, managing a combined workers’ compensation and public liability trust fund with a range of risk programs. During her tenure, risk programs were enhanced, and the city turned the fund’s $24M negative net position into a positive net position within six years. Allie retired from the City of Tucson in June 2023 and continues to serve her community as the past president and governance chair of St. Luke’s community elder care home, as well as a trustee of the City of Tucson’s Self-Insured Risk Trust Board. Active in PRIMA, Allie served on the PRIMA Institute Planning Committee and regularly attends local chapter meetings.

Jess Osborne

Partner, Miller Nash LLP

Jess is a partner at Miller Nash LLP, located in Portland, Oregon. Jess represents public, private, and nonprofit employers in a variety of employment and labor relations matters, including advice and litigation. She guides employers through a myriad of issues, including compliance with employment law statutes, challenges related to organizational change, questions about the organized workforce, and conducting workplace investigations. Jess represents clients during all phases of their labor relations matters, including contract negotiations and administration, and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

Carleen Patterson, ARM-P, CIC, CRM

Senior Vice President, Practice Leader, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Carleen is the national public entity and higher education practice leader with Alliant. She works with higher education and public entity clients across the United States, providing insurance brokerage and risk management expertise. She has been in the insurance industry since 1988 and joined Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. in January 2020. Before joining Alliant, Carleen served in a similar role at a large international broker. She has risk management, claims, and insurance brokerage experience, and has spent the last 25 years specializing in self-insurance, insurance brokerage, and consulting for large public entity clients. She was the recipient of the 2011 and 2012 Risk & Insurance Power Broker awards. She is a member of several national risk management-focused associations, including the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA). Carleen earned her BS in Education from the University of South Dakota. She is licensed as an insurance agent/producer in Texas and many other states. She holds the Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities, Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Risk Manager designations.

Tamika Puckett

Executive Vice President of Insurance, Public Sector & Higher Ed Practice, Protecdiv, Inc.

Tamika is a seasoned enterprise risk and insurance strategy executive with more than 25 years of
leadership experience across government, education and the private sector. She currently serves as executive
vice president of insurance, public sector education practice leader at Protecdiv, Inc., where she guides
risk strategy, resilience planning, and insurance solutions for complex public entities and educational institutions
nationwide. Tamika previously led national public sector strategy at Willis Towers Watson and served as head of cyber risk management at Zoom. Her public sector leadership includes serving as chief risk officer for the City of Chicago and holding key operational and risk management roles with the City of Atlanta, as well as multiple large
school districts.

Mark Pew

Provost & Founding Partner, WorkCompCollege.com

Mark is an award-winning international speaker, author and jurisdictional advisor in workers' compensation. He has focused on the intersection of chronic pain and appropriate treatment since 2003. Mark created "Qualified Medical Intervention," which won a 2012 Business Insurance Innovation Award, received WorkCompCentral's Magna Comp Laude award in 2016, IAIABC's Samuel Gompers Award in 2017, was named "Top 100 Healthcare Leader" by IFAH in 2021, and received the Health 2.0 Outstanding Leadership award in 2022. He is a co-founder of The Transitions and Advancing Advocacy and has served on the advisory boards of Simple Therapy, Harvard MedTech, and Goldfinch Health. Mark was inducted into Who’s Who in America in 2024.

Matthew Phillips

Safety & Risk Manager, Hanover County (VA) Government & Hanover County Public Schools

Matthew is the safety & risk manager for Hanover County Government and Hanover County Public Schools, where he leads county-wide safety, workers’ compensation, insurance, and enterprise risk management functions. He brings more than 20 years of hands-on leadership experience across both public and private sector occupational safety & health and risk management programs, including large-scale power generation, construction and complex public-entity operations. Matthew specializes in safety governance, claims and trend analysis, loss control strategy, and translating regulatory and ERM requirements into measurable operational results. He holds an MBA, an M.S. in safety management and a B.S. in chemistry, and has completed the Chief Risk Officer Certificate Program at George Mason University. He is an active leader with Virginia PRIMA, an engaged PRIMA volunteer nationally, and a published author on occupational safety and risk management.

Liani Reeves

Partner, Miller Nash LLP

Liani is a partner at Miller Nash LLP, a Northwest regional law firm. Liani works with employers on a wide range of issues, including as a litigator and as an outside investigator. Liani brings special expertise working with education and public sector clients. She served as general counsel for the Office of the Oregon Governor, providing advice on a wide range of legal issues, including employment, public transparency, First Amendment, government ethics, tribal, and public safety policy matters. Before working in the governor's office, she spent almost a decade at the Oregon Department of Justice, where her primary focus was employment litigation defense.

Maria Robinson

Risk Manager, City of Tucson, AZ

Maria is the risk manager for the City of Tucson, AZ. With almost 20 years in the industry and more than 25 years in the public sector, she draws upon her experiences in safety, workers’ compensation, and liability to build relationships; offer mission-oriented solutions, and help others get to “yes” whenever possible. Organizations have described her as “invaluable to the team” and as “someone I never have to worry about.” She earned her undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management and a Master of Legal Studies in compliance and legal risk management from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. She also holds a professional certificate in occupational safety and health from UCSD and has completed both the ARM 400 and 401 courses. Maria has been featured at public speaking engagements, including for national PRIMA, AZ PRIMA, OR PRIMA, AZ SWANA, ADEQ, Southern AZ NSC and ADOSH. Maria is a Certified OSHA Outreach instructor in general industry, holds a Green Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma, and has obtained her Fire Inspector I certification. Much of her workload involves crossover with the Human Resources Department, Attorney’s Office, and Procurement Division.

Phil Spence

Risk Manager, City of Charlottesville, VA

Phil is the risk manager for the City of Charlottesville, overseeing insurance programs, workers’ compensation, claims, and safety programs while advising leadership and departments on organizational risk. With over a decade of experience in both private and public-sector risk management, Phil brings expertise in communication, credibility, and influence within complex organizations. An active leader in the profession, he serves as president of Virginia PRIMA and has contributed to and chaired national PRIMA committees, focusing on professional development and engagement. Phil holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia College and a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University.

Melissa Steger

Executive Vice President, Business Development, WorkCompCollege.com

Melissa is EVP of business development and a partner at WorkCompCollege.com, previously serving as a trustee, dean of humanities, and faculty member. She retired after 30 years in workers’ compensation across the public, private, and regulatory sectors, concluding as associate director at The University of Texas System, where she led innovative programs, managed large teams, and presented nationally and internationally. A past PRIMA national president and Texas PRIMA director, she now owns Melissa Steger Enterprises, consulting on leadership and claims through the lens of horsemanship. She also serves on the board of Kids’ Chance of Texas and is a passionate mentor and supporter of claim advocacy.

Jason Stoddard

Director of School Safety and Security, Charles County Public Schools (MD)

Jason is the director of school safety and security for the Charles County Public Schools (MD) and president of the National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD). He is responsible for sustaining a safe learning and work environment for over 29,000 students and nearly 4,700 staff members. Since coming to the public schools in April of 2018, he has created the Office of School Safety and Security, been awarded millions of dollars in grant money, and implemented major evolutions such as revolving backgrounds for all employees; options-based active shooter response; the “I love u guys” Foundation Standard Response Protocols; a state of art radio communication system with public safety interoperability; first-of-its-kind intelligence unit; drone program and; most recently, Gun Detect, an artificial intelligence-driven solution for surveillance cameras in all the system schools. Originally from a small town in Iowa, Jason came to the Washington, DC area while serving as a security police officer in the United States Air Force.

Mauricio Velasquez

President & Founder, Diversity Training Group

Mauricio is a long-time PRIMA national speaker. He has trained, consulted with, and coached more than one million participants (including many PRIMA members) in every state except North Dakota. Work and life have taken him to over 70 countries and he has served as an expert witness to minimize risk. Mauricio holds a BA from the University of Virginia (Psychology & Economics - double major) and an MBA from the George Washington University in Human Resources Management. Mauricio has presented/trained at many state PRIMA conferences.

Julie Waller, MBA, CWCP, MESH

Assistant Vice President, Risk Control, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Julie Waller has over 30 years of experience in providing safety and risk control consulting services to public and private sector clients. A public entity safety and risk control expert, Julie’s career includes a decade as a municipal risk manager. As a former public entity risk manager and North Carolina PRIMA Board Member, Julie brings a unique perspective in providing comprehensive risk control services to her public entity clients. An engaging speaker, Julie has presented at various safety and risk management conferences, seminars, and focus groups, as well as national PRIMA, North Carolina PRIMA and South Carolina PRIMA. She holds a BS in Occupational Safety and Health and an MBA in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. She is working toward a doctorate in Business Administration. In addition, Julie is a graduate of the Public Executive Leadership Academy (PELA) at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Government. Julie holds the following designations. Julie is also a U.S. Navy Veteran.

David Weightman

Director of Risk Control Services, The PMA Companies

David is director of risk control services for PMA Companies and is currently responsible for managing the risk control services provided to public entity clients. With more than 30 years of experience, David has held various field and management positions at PMA, where he has managed and delivered safety and risk-control services to both the traditional insurance market and self-insured clients.

Kimberly Williams

Founder & Principal, The Fair Path Project

Kimberly is the founder and principal of The Fair Path Project, a nationally recognized accountability
infrastructure organization dedicated to addressing executive-level workplace abuse and the systemic risks it
creates within public and private sector institutions. She has trained over 100,000 workers and operates at the
governance level where the most complex people problems live — helping organizations build the
documentation frameworks, escalation pathways and leadership accountability systems that work even when
internal channels cannot reach the source of harm. Kimberly's work sits at the intersection of employment law trends, organizational behavior and public sector risk management. She brings a practitioner's lens to the structural realities facing today's public risk managers.

Ya’Sheaka C. Williams

Partner, Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A.

Ya’Sheaka is a partner in the Tampa office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., the largest woman- and minority-owned law firm in the United States. She represents employers, self-insured employers, and insurance carriers in all aspects of workers’ compensation matters throughout Florida and regularly appears before judges of compensation claims. Ya’Sheaka is board certified in workers’ compensation law by The Florida Bar and is also a Certified Workers’ Compensation Law Instructor through the Florida Department of Financial Services. With more than 15 years of experience in workers’ compensation defense, she has extensive experience in litigation, mediation, settlement negotiations and claims resolution.

Jennifer Wybourn

Senior Claims and Insurance Manager, Prince William County, VA

Jennifer is the senior claims and insurance manager for Prince William County, VA. An Old Dominion University graduate and Virginia Beach native, Jennifer brings 15 years of transformative insurance experience, beginning with underwriting and servicing property and casualty lines, growing business through retention, promoting innovation and stewardship through claims management solutions. Her transition to public service began with oversight of the workers’ compensation program for the City of Virginia Beach, where she successfully advocated for enhanced medical screenings for cardiovascular disease and cancer for public safety personnel. A member of both PRIMA and VSIA, Jennifer continued the pursuit of knowledge through a strategic move to Prince William County, where she manages operations for the Prince William Self-Insurance Group (PWSIG) through successful risk control strategies. These strategies include the Early Intervention Program for workplace injuries and the Vehicle Incident Review Committee.