Public Risk Managers of the Year Panel

March 18 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET

Join a panel of PRIMA’s Public Risk Managers of the Year as they share how they’ve approached uncertainty, built trust across departments, and supported smarter decisions in their organizations and the communities they serve. These leaders bring hands-on experience from local government, education, and other public service work. The session offers practical insights for anyone working in public risk management.

Attendee Takeaways:

1. Tools and strategies for building a strong risk program
2. Tips for engaging stakeholders and gaining support
3. Lessons learned from real-world challenges and successes
4. Most importantly: Your questions answered

Sean Catanese, EMPA, ARM, Enterprise Risk Manager, King County, WA
Sean is the enterprise risk manager for King County, WA. Since 2014, he’s helped build the county’s Enterprise Risk Management program, supporting better decisions across departments like public health, transit and law enforcement. His work focuses on helping government agencies prepare for uncertainty and stay aligned with their goals. Sean was named PRIMA’s 2023 Public Risk Manager of the Year and contributes to training and education efforts through PRIMA and its Washington Chapter.

Megan Damato, Esq., Director of Risk Management, Town of Greenwich 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 the Town’s Defensive Driving Program. She is past president and secretary of the CT Chapter of PRIMA and founding president of the newly established PRIMA New England, past chair and member of the National PRIMA’s Education Committee, and has served as both Chair and member of PRIMA’s Chapter Relations and Membership Enhancement Committee.

Sherri Adams, ARM, WCCA, Chief Risk Manager, City of Kansas City, MO
Sherri was recognized as PRIMA's Risk Manager of the Year for 2024. Since 2021, Sherri has been the risk manager for the City of Kansas City, MO and manages safety, workers’ compensation, FMLA, ADA accommodations, insurance programs, reviewing insurance requirements in contracts and other duties as assigned.  Prior to her arrival 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, with two years as a member of 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 has an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) as well as the Workers’ Compensation Certificate of Administration (WCCA) designations.

Allie Matthews, Risk Management Administrator, City of Tucson, AZ (Ret.)
Allie was named the 2022 Public Risk Manager of the Year. She began her career in public education serving 37.5 years in various capacities that included curriculum, finance, risk, and human resources departments until retirement in 2013. 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 varied risk programs. During her leadership, risk programs were enhanced, and the city managed to turn the fund’s $24M negative net position into a positive net position within six years. Allie retired from the City of Tucson June 2023 and continues to serve her community as the past president of St. Luke’s community elder care home and is a trustee of the City of Tucson’s Self-Insured Risk Trust Board. Active in PRIMA, she has served on the PRIMA Institute planning committee and regularly attends local chapter meetings.

Jeffrey L. Green, ARM-P, Risk Manager, Larimer County, 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 sector, underwriting and brokerage operations. He has been the risk manager for Larimer County, CO since 2008 and oversees planning, design, organization and administration of the County’s self-insured workers’ compensation program, property & casualty insurance program, and Title II ADA compliance for the County. 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 since 2022.