PRIMA Institute (PI) is the premier educational program for new and seasoned risk professionals who seek to learn more about emerging trends, best practices and gain insight into current management techniques.

Check out the PI22 Brochure.

Praise for PRIMA Institute

PI is an innovative educational symposium comprised of fundamental risk management curriculum, outstanding faculty and excellent networking opportunities. See what our past attendees said about PRIMA’s premier risk management education program, outstanding faculty and their plans to keep coming back.

“PRIMA Institute was very professional and extremely well run from beginning to end. We really are a family and that feels so very good.”

“I felt like I was in a hole in my position. The new information and networks I was able to build gave me a new fresher perspective that re-energized me.”

“PI not only provided a great education opportunity but also opportunities for networking with social functions included. I attended and not only benefitted from the program but also enjoyed meeting and interacting with my peers.”

“I have participated in prior Institutes and even the old GRMS, this was the best I’ve been involved with great speakers, facilitator and audience/participants!”

Take advantage of the education and networking opportunities available at PRIMA Institute!

Check Out the 2022 PRIMA Institute Curriculum!

Daily Themed Tracks:

Monday (Oct 17) - 100 Series

Monday (Oct 17) - 100 Series

INSURANCE 101 – INSURANCE POLICY CONSTRUCTION

In this session, attendees will learn the fundamentals of insurance policies. The information in this presentation is designed to prepare participants to understand basic concepts of insurance and how all
policies have the same basic construction. Also up for discussion will be the difference between insurance policies and warranties.

Speaker: Gregory Scott, Chatham County, GA

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE OCCUPATIONALLY SAFETY PROGRAM

This session will look at a variety of promising safety programs, what made them successful and how they can be applied to make any program successful. One of the key drivers is an annual audit of a department or division’s programs to evaluate their effectiveness
and provide a rating to share with executive leadership. Employee participation is a key, along with hazard assessments, but the driver is executive leadership.

Speaker: Daniel Hurley, ARM-P, CSP, MS, MPA, City of Chesapeake, VA

MEASURING SAFETY PERFORMANCE

According to the U.S. Department of Labor – Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among local government workers have been close to twice that of private industry workers and almost one and a half times that of state
government counterparts. Do you have a safety management program in place that achieves a best practice safety culture? How “mature” is your safety management program? Have you taken the
time to conduct an unbiased assessment of what is working and what may need improvement? This session will explore eight key components of a safety management system and allow participants
to grade themselves on a continuum for achieving a best practices safety culture

Speaker: Tiffany Allen, Travelers

LESSONS LEARNED FROM RISK MANAGERS PANEL

After years of experience in the field of risk, you learn many things about brokers, managing employees and interacting with departments such as public safety and the critical areas that require attention to maintain proper responses and interactions not only with the internal customer but also external. One critical key is
hiring well; not just looking at experience but looking at the person who will fill your position. Hiring is the most important decision of your tenure. In this session, attendees will learn to understand critical achievements through proper managing of claims and critical hiring practices.

Speakers: Dan Hurley, ARM-P, CSP, MS, MPA, City of Chesapeake, VA
Brenda Cogdell, AIS, AIC, SPHR, County of Hillsborough, FL
Michael Fann, ARM-P, MBA, Public Entity Partners
Pamela Teal, County of Hillsborough, FL

THIS WEEK’S TOP 10 LIST: DEFINING THE 10 MOST CRITICAL
RISK MANAGEMENT ISSUES FOR YOUR ENTITY

Borrowing the David Letterman approach, this presentation provides an overview of the most important risks that a public risk manager or administrator should be aware of in managing the risk
exposures of their entity. By “Defining the 10 Most Critical Risk Management Issues for Your Entity,” the manager or administrator is well on the way to providing for the safety of the employees, the safety of the general public, the protection of governmental
property, and generally, better stewardship of all things entrusted to the public entity

Speaker: Michael Fann, ARM-P, MBA, Public Entity Partners

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS

This session will provide a quick look into considerations and resources to help successfully navigate ADA claims. More specifically, attendees will learn the high-level considerations of ADA claims and learn how to obtain resources to enhance their understanding.

Speaker: Terri Evans, Employer Advisory Services

RISK MANAGEMENT: IT’S MORE THAN BUYING INSURANCE

In the past, risk management was seen as the department that purchased insurance, processed claims and basically reacted to situations as they arose. Over the years, the role of the risk manager has evolved to one of being more proactive and bringing your problem-solving skills to the table early on in the process to help identify risks and loss control options. In this presentation, the speaker will discuss how to improve your communication skills so that you can be seen as the king or queen of “KNOW”, not the king
or queen of “NO.”

Speaker: Amy Larson, Esq., City of Bloomington, MN

CLAIMS MANAGEMENT 101: WHAT BATTLES TO FIGHT

Understanding where to focus your time and effort on the workers’ compensation claim life cycle can be demanding. The goal of a smooth and collaborative process is often disrupted by instances where the injury, treatment and recovery become complex, raising questions that require in-depth investigation and strategies to successfully manage the claim. This session will explore the integral path of a workers’ compensation claims and discuss methods to
appropriately maintain a collaborative spirit. When collaboration doesn’t work, the speakers will discuss pathways of disputes which can ensure that the claim moves forward towards stabilization and potential settlement.

Speaker:
Geoffrey R. Jones, Midwest Employers Casualty
Patty Reinecke, Midwest Employers Casualty

HOW TO APPROACH WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
INVESTIGATIONS/ABUSE OF POWER

This presentation will discuss how strategic partnerships between the employer, carrier/TPA, defense counsel and vendor partners work together to effectively and swiftly investigate claims and discuss options for claims handling. The presentation will also
address the importance of communication, well-adhered-to policies, and how collaboration can create injured worker-centered claims handling, which will lead to providing checks and balances for the
claims-handling process that leads to better outcomes.

Speaker:
Ya’Sheaka Williams, Eraclides Gelman

LEGAL TRENDS IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

With an ever-changing legal landscape, keeping up with the constantly shifting environment impacting workers’ compensation in the public risk segment can be a challenging process. This session will highlight evolving trends in workers’ compensation and their
legal implications. The discussion will cover a wide variety of topics, from the impacts of climate change on the industry to the continued evolution of medical marijuana.

Speaker:
Geoffrey R. Jones, Midwest Employers Casualty

TRENDS AND COST IMPACT OF SPECIALTY MEDICATION USE
IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CASES

The use of specialty drugs, such as new generation pain medications and drugs used to treat complex or chronic medical conditions like hepatitis C, HIV, sleep disorders, migraines and rheumatic conditions is becoming more commonplace. This informative
session takes a closer look at this trend while considering what the cost-benefit is for specific medications and, using real-life examples, provides suggestions for effective management of claims where
these drugs have had a significant cost impact.

Speaker:
Fernando Branco, MD, FAAPM&R, Midwest Employers Casualty

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS/OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL CLINICS

In this session, attendees will explore the value and opportunities for on- or near-site employer-sponsored health and wellness centers, including the varying models of providing care. Also, attendees will
learn what to evaluate in selecting a health center provider and understand how to address what the entity wants to accomplish.

Speaker:
Terri Evans, Employer Advisory Services

CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE

Understanding the simplicity and complexity of certificates of insurance is an art form in itself. This session will breakdown certificates of insurance as we examine the nuts and bolts of coverage, policy dates and the document as proof of insurance. Also discussed will be the circumstances where certificates are often requested: construction projects, permitting, special events, and professional services, as well as why it’s important to take a second look at how
those certificates impact the totality of your risk. Other topics include why it’s important to make sure your certificate matches the requirements in your contract and ideas on how to track those pesky expiration dates as you bring your project to conclusion.

Speaker:
Amy Larson, Esq., City of Bloomington, MN

IT’S LEGAL NOW: A DISCUSSION ABOUT MARIJUANA, CBD AND
POST-PANDEMIC PTSD

This presentation will provide an update on the legalization of marijuana in the USA and the impacts for public entities. We will touch on complex drug screening and CBD metabolism in the body. Lastly, we will cover post- traumatic stress disorder and how we faired in the pandemic and what we can do about it. Throughout the discussion, we will discuss marijuana and other drugs that may be helpful for treating PTSD.

Speaker:
Paul Peak, PharmD, Sedgwick

WHERE ARE WE NOW? EMPLOYMENT LAW IN THE MIDST OR
AFTERMATH OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The COVID-19 pandemic forced all employers to quickly adapt to a number of new challenges. Two years in, many of the early protections and mandates are no longer in effect but the impacts to the workplace will be felt for years to come. This session will review
the ongoing legal challenges facing public employers due to the pandemic and ways in which the pandemic has likely permanently altered the workplace.

Speakers:
Liani Reeves, Bullard Law
Jessica Osborne, Bullard Law

CONTRACTS: HOW DO YOU TALK TO YOUR ATTORNEY?

Knowing how to talk with your attorney about what kind of risk management protections should be included in your entity’s contracts is a proactive way to make sure your entity is protected in the event of a loss. In this session, we will discuss the types and limits of insurance that should be included in various types of contract, as well as indemnification and hold harmless provisions. In addition, we will discuss what to do if the parties involved in drafting and enforcing the contract do not agree with risk management’s liability assessment or required insurance and loss
control techniques.

Speaker:
Amy Larson, Esq., City of Bloomington, MN

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN CONSTRUCTION AND
OPERATIONS – OCIPS/CCIPS

This session is designed to help attendees ensure the successful transition of a project from construction to operation. Attendees will learn the interaction between construction and operations and the benefits of preplanning and budget control. After all, having the right parties involved throughout the project life cycle
is key.

Speaker:
Cheri Veltman, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN SELECTING A TPA

The world of risk management in public entities can be very complex due to the diversity of exposures and the unique risks. Therefore, selecting the correct third-party administrator (TPA) is vital for the success of your program and your organization’s reputation. This session will discuss the importance of choosing a partner, not a contractor, and what to look for when selecting a TPA.

Speaker:
 Lori Gray, County of Prince William, VA

THINGS TO HELP PROTECT YOUR ENTITY DURING
SPECIAL EVENTS

This session will reveal areas involved with organizing a special event that need to be addressed in an attempt to mitigate exposures. It is very important to closely review all investigation reports to determine if there are any aspects that could grab a jury’s negative attention should the case go to trial.

Speaker:
Richard Spiers, CPCU, ARM, ARe, AIC, Spiers Consulting, LLC

TOTAL COST OF RISK (TCOR) — UNDERSTANDING THE
APPLICATION

This course is designed to understand TCOR as a concept and also use it to achieve risk management for short- and long-term goals and objectives. During this session, attendees will be able to identify the main TCOR elements and apply TCOR in scenarios such as retention analysis, risk control strategy and claims management.

Speaker:
Carleen Patterson, ARM-P, CIC, CRM, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

EDUCATION AND ALL THINGS RISK

In this session, we will discuss emerging risks impacting our U.S. educational systems: sexual abuse, nuclear jury verdicts, internship program challenges, managing risk transfer, particularly involving AIA contracts, Title IX, the impact of COVID-19 on students, reputation risk and other various exposures applicable to both K-12 and higher education. We will review the insurance industry’s response to civil unrest, COVID-19 and convective storms. Also
discussed will be different methods of risk control solutions and various specialty coverages that are available to assist in mitigating the risk to your entity.

Speaker:
Nancy Sylvester, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Paul Pousson, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

JUGGLING THE COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL RETURN-TO-WORK PROGRAM

Many components are involved in the return-to-work process. This session will provide a focused review for risk management professionals to facilitate a successful and collaborative return-to-work (RTW) transition. Case studies will be used to review the factors that can influence or hinder the process. Attendees will walk away with the ability to apply creative solutions to overcome the barriers in the RTW process.

Speakers: Tina D’Andrea, RN, BSN, MBA, CCM, MSCC, Midwest Employers Casualty
Dana Dorsey, RN, BSN, CCM, Midwest Employers Casualty

THE REALITY OF AN AGING WORKFORCE: SOLUTIONS FOR
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES

Many Americans continue to participate in the workforce despite having reached retirement age. As a result, understanding the effects of aging on the human body is something employers must prioritize while working to keep employees safe and prevent potential injuries. This presentation takes a look at the unique health and safety risks presented by an aging workforce and provides suggestions for how employers can mitigate such risks and effectively manage any complex claims that may arise if an injury does occur.

Speaker: Patty Reinecke, Midwest Employers Casualty

WHAT’S YOUR POINT? — COMMUNICATING FOR GREATER
INFLUENCE

Communication is one of the greatest limiting factor for many teams and organizations. This is not always because there isn’t enough communication, but often because we’re simply not very good at it. There is a lot more to communication than just the content of your
message. Some believe the words you say may account for less than 10 percent of the impact of messaging. From body language and facial expressions to tone and voice inflection, there are many other contributors that will determine your communication effectiveness. Learning how to incorporate these strategies will allow you to connect with team members, clients, and vendors at a deeper level. You will also gain an understanding of how to read these cues in others and more accurately interpret what they are trying to communicate to you. If you want to increase your personal influence and help your team members to do the same, this presentation will equip you to do both.

Speaker: Randy Anderson, CSP, e3 Professional Trainers

EMPLOYEE RETENTION

As we emerge from the pandemic, many workers are deciding this is a good time to change jobs. Many have or are considering doing so. Millions of employees are quitting their jobs and some employers are struggling to find replacements. This session will emphasize how organizations can retain the right talent and increase productivity.

Speakers: 
Tina Stevens, Virginia Risk Sharing Association

CREATING A CULTURE OF CIVILITY

One of the purest predictors of future claims experience is the morale of your organization today. While workplace harassment gets the headlines, many other claims have “improper behavior” as their foundational cause. This session highlights the relationship between the organization’s work environment and its future claims. Also examined are the roles that poor communication skills, personal insecurity and “the rumor mill” play in creating a toxic culture within your organization. Finally, this session will identify evaluation points and action steps designed to enhance the work environment toward a more productive, positive and safer culture.

Speaker: Michael Fann, ARM-P, MBA, Public Entity Partners

MENTOR OR COACH: LEARN ABOUT THE KEY DIFFERENCES
AND BENEFITS IN THE WORKPLACE!

This session will look at the differences between mentoring and coaching, the skills required for each, how to use both and participate in real-life examples of how to deploy them in the workplace. Coaching and mentoring are about helping people get to where they want to go by leveraging the experience of a coach or mentor. Both can increase employee engagement, help with retention when applied and dramatically improve individual performance. Audience participation is welcomed in this informative, fun and engaging session on mentoring and coaching methods!

Speakers: Karen Caterino, MBA, ARM-P, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
Michael Fann, MBA, ARM-P, Public Entity Partners

BLINDSPOTS: THE IMPACT OF BIAS ON RISK MANAGEMENT

This engaging session reveals the complex lens through which we see while demonstrating how decision-making is littered with bias. The session is led by a dynamic speaker known for bringing a fresh approach to diversity, equity, inclusion, unconscious bias and their impact on excellence. Attendees will walk away with a deeper awareness and knowledge about the human condition of bias and how to mitigate it.

Speaker: 
Sonia Aranza, Aranza Cross Cultural Strategies Global Leadership Development

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS IN A CONTINUOUSLY
CONNECTED WORLD

As the technology landscape evolves, products and processes are becoming faster and more accessible. What about the partnerships to help secure our data in a continuously connected world? In this presentation, we will discuss the human-centric focus on best
practices for implementing public and private sector partnerships to mitigate the risk of cyber threats.

Speaker:
Kelvin Coleman, IBM

PUBLIC RELATIONS: ASSISTING ELECTED OFFICIALS IN ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC

As a risk management professional, you are constantly having to put out fires and deal with crises, whether real or manufactured. Often, you are required to work with elected officials to come up with a communication plan to address crises…or at least that is what would
happen in an ideal world. However, we live in the real world where uninformed comments make their way to the front page of the local newspaper and statements are made publically with little regard for the ripple effect they will create. This session will explore how to
build strong relationships with elected officials and the public, the importance of engaging in honest, meaningful communication with all stakeholders, and why having these types of relationships and communication is vital to the continued growth of your community.

Speaker: 

Elisha D. Hodge, University of Tennessee, Municipal
Technical Advisory Services

THEY ASKED FOR IT, NOW WHERE IS IT: SUCCESS AND FAILURE
OF DATA RETENTION

Governmental entities are required to maintain millions of paper records and an unimaginable amount of digital data for both internal use and use by other governmental entities and the public. How long and in what format data/records must be maintained is usually determined by a records retention schedule, which most entities are required to adopt. So, if most entities are required to adopt a records retention schedule, why is it that we frequently hear about
governmental entities not being able to produce data or records that should be available in accordance with the entity’s records retention schedule? This session will explore the successes and failures of several governmental entities when dealing with data/records
retention and best practices in the area of data/records retention and management.

Speaker: Elisha D. Hodge, University of Tennessee, Municipal Technical Advisory Services

STATE OF THE INSURANCE MARKET: WHAT CAN YOU
CONTROL?

Hurricanes, wild fire, tornadoes, cyber breaches, interest rates, the stock market—so many things impacting the insurance market are out of our control. This session will examine public entity exposures
and discuss elements of your risk profile that can be controlled so as to directly impact premiums.

Speaker: Carleen Patterson, ARM, ARM-P, CIC, CRM, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

EMERGING TOPICS FOR 2023 AND BEYOND

This session shall explore 5-to-10 of the emerging topics most critical to the mission of public and educational entities. The private sector is consumed with disruptions to profits and shareholder value
but public agencies must contend with the potential interruption of critical services to their constituents as well as a rapid recovery to normal. This session will also touch on the emerging trends that threaten both.

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

2022 PRIMA Institute Faculty

Intro to Faculty

Intro to Faculty

No other risk management training program can boast the outstanding faculty of PRIMA Institute.

PRIMA Institute’s faculty leads the public risk management profession. These industry leaders gather at PI to teach, share experiences, network and advise the careers of attendees.

Tiffany Allen

Territory Manager, Public Sector Services, Travelers

Tiffany has worked in the risk and insurance field for 33 years. She credits her understanding of insurance and risk management to her early career experience as an underwriter and more recent 14 year adventure in risk management for multiple government agencies in North Carolina. In 2014, Tiffany left her county family and joined an insurance family. From 2014-2020, Tiffany served as a senior risk control consultant for public sector services. Tiffany now serves as the territory manager for public sector services in the mid-Atlantic region. Tiffany has had the honor of being a speaker at national and state events for the Public Risk Management Association, as well as local events for individual clients.

Randy Anderson, CSP

Co-Founder, E3 Professional Trainers

Randy Anderson is co-founder of E3 Professional Trainers, a Texas-based training firm that provides customized training, keynote presentations and personal coaching. The goal of E3 is to help people become more engaged in their work, be better equipped to do their job and feel empowered to live a more fulfilling life that will count for something after they’re gone. Before starting E3 in 2005, Randy spent 20 years in sales and sales management. Most of that time was spent in media sales, which gave him the opportunity to work with virtually every type of business and in every industry. His clients included small businesses as well as large corporations, and were spread all across the United States. It is from that experience that he draws the ideas and strategies to help his clients improve their performance in the workplace and to achieve their maximum potential in life.

Sonia Aranza

Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, Aranza Cross Cultural Strategies/Global Leadership Development

The U.S. Department of Labor described Sonia’s work as “Outstanding!” Participants at SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) conferences from around the world consistently give her rave reviews for her dynamic and engaging style. Corporations and organizations recognize her as a high impact global speaker, master facilitator and executive consultant with 25 years of solid experience specializing in cross-cultural strategies, diversity and leadership. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and seminar leader at conferences worldwide and is a trusted advisor to leaders across industries. Sonia’s clients include top Fortune 500 companies and organizations such as Chevron, IBM, McDonald’s, Monsanto, NASA, SHRM, Sodexo, State Farm Insurance, Texaco, Toyota, United States Army, United States Internal Revenue System, United States Social Security Administration, numerous associations, universities and many more. Prior to establishing her global consulting practice, Sonia served as director of constituent relations for Congressman Neil Abercrombie in the United States Congress, Washington, DC.

Fernando Branco, MD, FAAPM&R

Chief Medical Officer, Midwest Employers Casualty

Fernando is chief medical officer at Midwest Employers Casualty (MEC), a Berkley Company. He has over 30 years of experience in clinical practice and is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain and addiction medicine. He is the former medical director of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation pain center for treatment of chronic pain cases – a center of excellence recognized by the American Pain Society. In his current role at MEC, Dr. Branco leads a team of medical management consultants handling complex workers’ compensation claims with the goal of helping employers and injured workers achieve better outcomes.

Karen Caterino, MBA, ARM-P

Senior Vice President, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Karen works with Alliant clients, utilizing her knowledge and understanding of their unique risk and insurance needs to optimize risk management and brokering solutions. Her focus is on leading public entity, education and pooling business growth and development initiatives. Karen has been in the insurance industry for 20 in various business development positions in the healthcare insurance industry, providing leadership and strategic direction on sales initiatives. Prior to joining Alliant, Karen worked at a global insurance brokerage as the Center of Excellence (COE) Leader for the western region public sector and higher education practice. Karen graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College, Salem VA and from University of Phoenix with her MBA. She has an Associate in Risk Management-Public Entities, is a Certified Public Manager and Certified Government Benefits Administrator and is currently a CPCU candidate. She is a licensed Property/Casualty broker.

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

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

John is enjoying his 40th year at Gallagher and has spent nearly his entire career in the public sector. He currently serves self-insured pools and large sophisticated self-insured public agencies. In addition, he is on the advisory board for the USC Risk Management Minor Program and frequently serves as a guest lecturer. John is a member of the faculty of the National Alliance of Insurance Education and Research where he teaches the Certified Scholastic Risk Management Program (CSRM). He is a course instructor for The Institutes and helps students to pass ARM exams.

Brenda Cogdell, AIC, AINS, SCP

Director, Risk Management & Safety, County of Hillsborough, FL

Brenda is an experienced risk manager with a demonstrated history of working in local government and private sector organizations. She has experience working in nonprofit organizations, enterprise risk management and internal audit. Brenda also has the ability to exhibit extraordinary analytical skills in fields such as property and casualty insurance.

Kelvin Coleman

Executive Partner, IBM

Prior to Kelvin’s current role, he worked with the world’s most recognizable technology and financial services companies to build strong public/private partnerships as chief executive officer and executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

Kelvin has served in several roles in the private and public sectors including cyber policy executive at the National Defense Information Sharing and Analysis Center and as strategic director at FireEye, where he managed National Security Agency and Department of Defense issues related to protecting government intelligence networks. Kelvin also spent a number of years with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Cybersecurity and Communications. While there, he was the staff director for the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Later in his career at the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications, he served as the branch chief of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs – Stakeholder Engagement. During the Obama Administration, he joined the White House staff.  While at the White House he was director of state engagement at the National Security Council - Cyber Directorate.

Tina D’Andrea, RN, BSN, MBA, CCM, MSCC

Senior Medical Management, Midwest Employers Casualty

Tina is a certified case manager and Medicare set-aside certified consultant. She has over 23 years of experience in workers’ compensation case management, including experience providing telephonic case management for employers, physicians and attorneys. In her current role, Tina offers a unique perspective to the identification and management of high-risk workers’ compensation cases and helps develop ways to achieve the best resolution possible for both the injured worker and their employer.

Dana Dorsey, RN, BSN, CCM

Medical Management Consultant, Midwest Employers Casualty

Dana is a medical management consultant at Midwest Employers Casualty (MEC), a Berkley Company. She is a reigstered nurse and certified case manager with more than 24 years of workers' compensation case management experience, including 14 years of of telephonic case management and ten years of field case management. In her current role, she applies her extensive experience to collaborate with adjusters, medical providers and employers to provide targeted care solutions for injured employees to help them return to work sooner.

Terri Evans

Vice President, Employer Advisory Services

Terri spent most of her career with the City of Kingsport, starting in 1984 and joining the Risk Management department in 1986.  While with the city, Terri performed all risk functions within the department including benefits, self-funded health insurance, on-site wellness center installation/management, self-funded workers’ compensation, pooled liability with a large self-insured retention, and safety programs and training. Terri was promoted to risk manager in January, 2001. On June 1, 2020, Terri joined Employer Advisory Services (EAS) as vice president.

Terri proudly served as the 2016-17 President of Public Risk Management Association – PRIMA - and served as the national conference planning chairperson for PRIMA-Houston 2015. Terri served as co-Chair of PRIMA Institute in 2018 and 2019.  She has also been involved in the leadership of the Tennessee Chapter of PRIMA, serving as Vice-President, President, Director and conference planning committee member since 2006. Terri received the TN-PRIMA Risk Manager of the Year award in 2012 and the Abbie Hudgens Distinguished Service Award in 2016.

Michael Fann, ARM-P, MBA

President/CEO, Public Entity Partners

Michael has more than 30 years’ experience in providing risk management consulting and training for local governments, school systems, universities, state governments, and associations. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University (Finance & Political Science) and Ole Miss (MBA - Management).  He has participated in international public risk management exchanges with colleagues from the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Michael is a former two-time member of the board of directors of the PRIMA, and formerly served (2013-2016) on the board of directors of the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI). In 2020, Fann was the inaugural recipient of PRIMA's Pioneer Excellence Award. Further, in 2019, he was conferred with the honor of "Fellow in Professional Practice" by the University of Tennessee's Master of Public Policy & Administration (MPPA) Program "to recognize accomplished & experienced professionals whose careers exhibit the highest standards of performance excellence…" by a vote of the MPPA faculty. In 2014, he was presented with PRIMA's highest honor as only the 11th recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. He has also received TnPRIMA's Abbie Hudgens Distinguished Service Award (2012), and the Southeast Loss Control (SELC) Group's Distinguished Service Award (2016).

Lori Gray

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

Lori has over 30 years of risk management, safety and loss control experience. As risk manager for the county for over 22 years, Lori has succeeded at building an outstanding risk and wellness program from scratch after the entity had previously outsourced the function. She oversees the administration and management of the Prince William Self-Insurance Group (PWSIG) and is chairman of the board of trustees for the PWSIG. Through her successful strategies and risk control techniques, the PWSIG has recognized dividend payments totaling over $20,000,000. During her tenure, Lori has implemented 22 award-winning programs recognized by PRIMA, National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo). Before joining Prince William County in 1999, Lori was with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University. She is currently a member of Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) and serves on the PRIMA and PERI board of directors.  She was recognized as PRIMA’s Risk Manager of the Year in 2008 and Business Insurance’s Risk Manager of the Year in 2013.

Elisha D. Hodge

Legal Consultant, University of Tennessee, Municipal Technical Advisory Services

Before joining Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) in October 2014, Elisha served as the open records specialist and the open records counsel for the State of Tennessee from 2007 until 2014. Prior to joining the comptroller’s office, Elisha prosecuted cases and served as advisory counsel for the Tennessee Department of Health. Elisha graduated from the University of the South (Sewanee) in 2001 and the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2003. Elisha currently serves as a member of the IPS Diversity Committee and as the chair of the Exempt Staff Council for UTK, IPS, UTIA and University Administration. As part of her role as chair, she sits on the UTPD Advisory Council, the Commission for Blacks and the Employee Relations Advisory Board. Elisha is a 2021 graduate of the Tennessee Certified Public Manager program and is an Intercultural Developmental Inventory Qualified Administrator. She also serves as both a UT Promise Mentor and a tnAchieves Mentor.

Dan Hurley, CSP, ARM-P, MS, MPA 

Risk Manager, City of Chesapeake, VA

Dan is the middle of his seventh year as risk manager for the City of Chesapeake. Prior to current role, he was the risk manager for Norfolk Public Schools and the safety officer for the City of Norfolk. He also had a two year stint with Midwest Employers Casualty Company (an excess carrier) as a public schools practice leader. Dan is a past president of both the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) and the Virginia PRIMA Chapter, currently serving as a board member. Dan has a BA from Virginia Tech, and an MPA and an MS from Old Dominion University. Dan also has Associates in Risk Management (ARM) and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designations. Retiring this year, Dan plans to work part time in the public sector.

Geoffrey R. Jones, Esq.

Senior Claims Attorney, Midwest Employers Casualty

Geoffrey is a senior claims attorney for Midwest Employers Casualty, where he has worked throughout the United States for the past 12 years providing claims/legal oversight and recommendations. Geoffrey has had a positive impact on an assortment of challenging catastrophic and presumptive claims. One of Geoffrey's strongest assets is his ability to mitigate and resolve high exposure claims, which has led to millions of dollars in savings. In that capacity, he has handled mediation/settlements in over 30 states.  When not settling claims or aiding the management of catastrophic cases, Geoffrey may be found working with MEC's advanced analytics unit and clients to ensure positive outcomes.

Amy Larson, Esq.

Risk & Litigation Manager, City of Bloomington, MN

Amy has more than 20 years’ experience as the risk manager for the City of Bloomington, including the past 11 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 actively involved with PRIMA Institute since 2013. She also served on the national PRIMA board of directors from 2012-2019, including serving as the national PRIMA president from 2017-2018, and serving 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.

Jessica Osborne

Attorney, Bullard Law

Jessica is an attorney at Bullard Law, a boutique management-side labor and employment law firm located in Portland, OR. She represents public, private, and non-profit employers in employment litigation and labor matters, as well as providing advice and counsel. Jessica also has experience in conducting workplace investigations.

Carleen C. Patterson, ARM-P, CIC, ARM

First Vice President & Practice Leader, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.

Carleen joined the Alliant Insurance Services team in 2020. Carleen is the national public entity and higher education practice leader. She works with higher education and public entity clients across the United States providing insurance brokerage and risk management expertise. Carleen’s expertise includes the design and negotiation of client insurance programs, evaluation and analysis of alternative risk transfer plans including captive plans, risk management evaluations, and the creation of complex property risk and insurance programs.  She has been in the insurance industry since 1988. Prior to Alliant, Carleen served in a similar role for a large, international broker.  She has risk management, claims, and insurance brokerage experience; and has spent the last 21 years specializing in self-insurance and insurance brokerage and consulting for higher education institutions as well as large public entity clients. Her expertise is in the design and implementation of large property and casualty insurance programs. Carleen earned her BS in Education from the University of South Dakota. She is licensed as an insurance agent/producer in many other states and holds the Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities, Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Risk Manager designations.

Paul Peak, PharmD

VP Clinical Pharmacy, Sedgwick

Paul has been with Sedgwick for over 8 years and currently serves as VP clinical pharmacy. In this role, Dr. Peak oversee Sedgwick’s Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) partner relationships and also has oversight of Sedgwick’s clinical pharmacists. The clinical pharmacist team is one part of the larger Sedgwick Pharmacy Program that works to address concerning prescribing habits and trends while advocating for clinical practices that help injured workers realize improved functionality and return to work. His role provides him with a unique perspective on both larger pharmacy trends occurring in the industry as well as specific clinical practices seen at the claim level.

Paul brings a wealth of past work experience to Sedgwick including a background in hospital care as well as specialty pharmacy services.

Paul Pousson, ARM, DRM

Managing Director, Higher Education Practice, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Paul is a managing director with Gallagher’s Higher Education Practice. He has specialized in providing risk management and insurance services to institutions of higher education and governmental entities for 25+ years. Since joining Gallagher in 2015, Paul has used his risk management insight to provide insurance brokerage and risk management advisory services to help his clients mitigate risks and recover from losses in the most effective, efficient and transparent manner. He currently works with some of the largest and most prominent public and private universities and systems in the country.

Liani J. Reeves

Attorney, Bullard Law

Liani is a shareholder and president of Bullard Law. Her practice includes representing employers in litigation, providing advice and training, and serving as an investigator into high profile and sensitive matters. Liani has a special focus on working with public sector clients. Prior to joining Bullard, Liani served as general counsel to the Office of the Oregon Governor, where she advised on a myriad of legal issues. She also served as the deputy chief trial counsel at the Oregon Department of Justice Trial Division representing state agencies in litigation.

Liani has served as co-chair of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association and president of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She was the first woman of color to serve as the 2020 president of the Oregon State Bar.

Patty Reinecke, RN, BSN, CCM, MSCC

Director of Client Consults and TPA Relationships, Midwest Employers Casualty

Patty has over 28 years’ experience in the workers’ compensation industry. She provides a unique healthcare perspective to identify high-risk claims early and develop solutions that help employers and injured workers achieve better outcomes. In her current role, Patty works to ensure quality claim handling within the MEC Claims Department and as a liaison to facilitate positive working relationships with partners and claim administrators.

Greg Scott

Risk Manager, Chatham County, GA

Greg is the risk manager for Chatham County, Georgia. He began his professional career in the Chatham County Sheriff’s Department in March of 1978 until 1982, leaving to pursue a career in the insurance industry. In May of 2014, Greg returned to Chatham County as the risk manager, working in the same building that his professional career began in 1978.

During his 39 years in the industry, Greg handled complex liability and workers’ compensation issues involving policy and coverage questions for both private companies and government entities.

In June of 1981, he received his B.S. in criminal justice from Armstrong State University. Greg continued his education in the evenings and received his MBA in June of 1989.

Richard Spiers, CPCU, ARM, ARe, AIC

Claim Consultant, Spiers Consulting, LLC

Richard has been in the insurance industry since 1980 and was a claim executive in the reinsurance and excess marketplace since 1985. He was with Genesis Management and Insurance Services for over 20 years and is currently doing claim consulting work. Richard has extensive experience handling the wide array of claims faced by public entities, K-12 school districts and the higher education sector. Based in Chicago, he has also worked for Transamerica Insurance Group, Northbrook Excess and Surplus Insurance, CNA and Allstate Reinsurance. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University, a member of the Society of CPCU, and holds associate designations in risk management, claims and reinsurance. Richard has been developing and presenting insurance industry-related training sessions to a variety of client and industry groups for over 25 years.

Tina R. Stevens

Director, Human Resources Services, Virginia Risk Sharing Association (VRSA)

Tina is a graduate of the University of Richmond with a degree in human resources management. Tina holds the professional designations of Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Certified Employee Benefits Specialists (CEBS), International Public Management Association Senior Certified Professional (IPMA-SCP) and Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI). She began her career with Home Beneficial Life Insurance Company in their Payroll, Benefits and Retirement Department. She was a human resources consultant with First Health Services Corporation/Coventry Healthcare and was director of human resources with the American Heart Association prior to joining VRSA in 2007. Tina is a past president of the Richmond Chapter ISCEBS and is a current committee member with the Richmond Chapter of SHRM.

Nancy Sylvester, CPCU, ARM-P

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

Nancy is area executive vice president, as well as Gallagher Public Sector’s (GPS) national director- federal disaster recovery.  She has earned the CPCU and ARM-P designations. Having devoted her career to public risk management, first as a practitioner (K-12 risk manager) then a director of risk management for a national public entity insurance carrier, and now as a leader in Gallagher’s support for its public housing, education, construction and public sector clients, Nancy has been recognized for her work by several leading industry organizations and has received multiple awards for her work including: Multi-year Power Broker by Risk and Insurance in public sector as well as higher education; Leadership Award by Liberty Mutual/Risk and Insurance; Women to Watch by Business Insurance; and others. Nancy speaks and trains regularly at national and state conferences on the topics of risk management, FEMA, P3s, insurance and leadership.

Pamela Teal

Claim Manager, County of Hillsborough, FL

Pamela is the claim manager for Hillsborough County Risk Management in Tampa, Florida. Prior to her current role, she worked in the private sector for 26 years investigating property and casualty claims. She has two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Saint Leo University in human resources and sociology. Pamela is the current treasurer for PRIMA’s Tampa Bay chapter.

David Weightman

Risk Control Manager, Public Entity Practice, The PMA Companies

David is a risk control manager 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 with PMA where he has managed and delivered safety and risk control services for both the traditional insurance market and self-insured clients.

David earned a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational safety and health from Millersville University and a Master in Business Administration degree from LaSalle University. He holds the Charter Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities (ARM-P) and Associate in Loss Control Management (ALCM) designations and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP).

Ya’Sheaka C. Williams

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

Ya’Sheaka is board certified in workers’ compensation by The Florida Bar and a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Ya’Sheaka is the recipient of Martindale Hubbell’s AV Preeminent rating. Florida Super Lawyers Magazine also named her a Rising Star in the areas of insurance coverage and workers’ compensation from 2012-2017.

Ya’Sheaka won the 2021 Comp Laude Defense Attorney Award. In 2022, In Touch awarded Ya’Sheaka with the Women Leading the Way in Workers’ Compensation Award, the award celebrates and honors women who are empowering and paving the way for other women. In Touch also awarded Ya’Sheaka the Exceptional Defense Attorney Award, which honors professionals who consistently demonstrate superior expertise in all areas of claim defense including, but not limited to, the review of claims, most effectively providing advice, instituting strategy, and seamlessly navigating each claim through resolution while achieving cost containment.

Ya’Sheaka is a graduate of Brenau University Women’s College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in conflict resolution and legal studies, with a minor in English in 2000. She completed her J.D. studies at Stetson University College of Law in 2003.

Registration

PI 23 Registration Opens June 2023!

Click Here to View the PI22 Schedule!

*Should you have any questions regarding registration, please email education@primacentral.org.

Registration

Before August 31 After August 31
Member* $1000 $1100
Non-Member $1500 $1600

A la Carte Pricing

Can’t get away from the office for a full week? Pay a la carte pricing and attend three out of five days, or one day.
• Monday through Wednesday, October 17--19: 100 and 200 Series
• Wednesday through Friday, October 19--21: 200 and 300 Series

Three-Day Rate Three-Day Rate Daily Rate
Before August 31 After August 31
Member* $735 $840 $320
Non-Member $985 $1089 $400

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel in writing at least 30 business day before the program, you will be refunded your registration fee minus a $75 administrative charge. No-shows and cancellations not received by the date required, will not be eligible for a refund.

Notice: If PRIMA must cancel this conference for any reason, liability is limited to the registration fees paid only. PRIMA is not responsible for other expenses incurred, including travel and accommodation fees.

For additional information, please contact PRIMA’s Education and Training team at education@primacentral.org

Health and Safety

The Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) cares about your health and safety. We are monitoring COVID protocols from the CDC and state/local governments.

The PI22 Housing Block is Now Closed.

#PI22 will be held at:

The Westin Alexandria Old Town
400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314

Special Accommodations: Email meetings@primacentral.org with your specific needs or check the appropriate box during the online registration process.

PRIMA Housing Policies

PRIMA reserves a limited number of guest rooms for attendees of the PRIMA conference. When attendees book outside the PRIMA room block, or book rooms in advance on the chance that they will attend, only to cancel later, PRIMA is placed at high risk of paying attrition on the canceled rooms. Due to the economic climate as well as this above-mentioned risk, the following PRIMA-approved housing policy has been instituted.

Thank you in advance for adhering to these policies. Reservations at an official Conference hotel must be accompanied by a deposit equal to one night's room and tax to guarantee the reservation. All cancellations must be made at least 30 days prior to arrival to receive a refund of the deposit. Any and all cancellations made within 30 days of arrival will forfeit the entire deposit. Anyone booking more than eight-room nights will be required to sign a room block contract with the hotel and will be held to the hotel’s attrition and cancellation policies as per their contract.

Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors!

PI would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors

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