Improving Transparency and Accountability in Public Safety
Greg Zarotney
Vice President, Risk Control, Tokio Marine HCC
In this podcast episode, Greg Zarotney discusses enhancing transparency and accountability in public safety. Greg explains that both concepts involve internal and external elements, with transparency focusing on open leadership and clear policies, while accountability emphasizes responsibility at all levels. He identifies agencies under federal consent decrees and progressive entities as early adopters. He suggests improving internal rules, public information access, accreditation for transparency, consistent policy enforcement, performance evaluations and civilian oversight for accountability. Greg also addresses the financial implications of lawsuits on agencies and the importance for insurers to promote these values to mitigate risks and maintain profitability.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Greg Zarotney
Vice President, Risk Control, Tokio Marine HCC
Greg is a licensed attorney and vice president of risk control for Tokio Marine HCC, where he leads a diverse team of risk control professionals charged with identifying risk exposures and working in partnership with the insured public entities to mitigate risks and reduce claims. Greg retired from the Michigan State Police in 2020 after serving for 26 years. During his tenure at the MSP, Greg served as the department’s director of policy and chief of staff where he had operational oversight of the department’s public affairs, government relations, risk management, litigation coordination, internal affairs and human resources.
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Confessions of a High Functioning Professional with Chronic Anxiety
Leslie Whitten
Partner, Chartwell Law
In this episode, Leslie Whitten, shares her lifelong struggle with chronic anxiety and the various strategies she employs to manage it as a high-functioning professional. She discusses the accidental discovery that medication prescribed for weight loss significantly reduced her anxiety and addresses the stigma around mental health treatment. Leslie advocates for trying different methods to combat anxiety, such as yoga, exercise, sunlight exposure, breathing exercises and meditation. She also emphasizes the importance of diet, sleep quality, and incorporating "happy foods" to improve mental well-being. The use of fitness trackers and the impact of physical activities on anxiety are also explored. The episode concludes with a reminder to prioritize self-care and explore personal strategies for managing anxiety.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Leslie Whitten
Partner, Chartwell Law
Leslie focuses her practice on workers’ compensation, cybersecurity and information privacy. She represents large self-insured companies, insurance carriers, businesses and government entities operating in South Carolina. Her clients span across industries that include retail, hospitality, education, health care and finance. Leslie handles workers’ compensation claims from start to finish. Leslie received Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® Judicial Edition, which is the highest rating an attorney can receive from their peers for both her legal ability and ethical standards.
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Reducing Police Claims: Building Bridges Together
Chief Terry Nichols (ret.)
Director of Business Development and Grant Management, Wrap Technologies
In this PRIMA podcast episode, Terry Nichols discusses how technology can reduce police claims and improve law enforcement practices. Terry highlights the role of insurers in encouraging law enforcement agencies to adopt best practices and use technology to mitigate risks. He provides examples of technologies such as GPS darts, devices to disable a vehicle's electrical system, and non-pain inducing devices like the BolaWrap remote restraint device. Nichols also discusses the consequences for agencies that do not adhere to best practices, including increased insurance premiums or loss of coverage.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Chief Terry Nichols (ret.)
Director of Business Development and Grant Management, Wrap Technologies
Summary of Qualifications
Terry retired from the Seguin, TX Police Department in June 2022 after serving 33 years in law enforcement in Texas. During his career, he worked in various assignments including patrol, narcotics, SWAT, investigations, training and administration. Terry is a published author and a nationally recognized expert in active shooter/threat response and training. As the chair of Officer Safety Committee for the Texas Police Chiefs Association, Terry worked closely with the TML Risk Pool on officer safety strategies, programs and partnerships. He also has extensive experience in all aspects of grant development and management.
Responsibilities
Terry currently works on strategic business initiatives and partnerships with Wrap Technologies, introducing and expanding the BolaWrap Remote Restraint Device and Wrap Reality products. This includes managing partnerships with the Arizona Municipal Risk Retention Pool and other insurance/risk pool associations. He is responsible for updating all training curriculum and instructing courses. Terry also speaks at conferences, authors articles and develops curriculum on contemporary police use of force issues, de-escalation, force avoidance, and technology related to the use of force.
Business Experience
- San Marcos (TX) Police Department 1988 - 2010. Retired at rank of Commander leading the Criminal Investigations Division and Hays County SWAT Team.
- Texas State University Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program 2010 - 2016. One of three founding members of the internationally recognized and national standard for active shooter training and research program. Served as Director of Curriculum Development and Assistant Director.
- Brownwood (TX) Police Department 2016 - 2019. Served as Chief of Police responsible for all aspects of full-service municipal police department and regional 911/Dispatch center.
- Seguin (TX) Police Department 2019 - 2022. Served as Chief of Police responsible for all aspects of full-service municipal police department in a fast growing community.
- Wrap Technologies (AZ) 2022 - Current. Serve as Director of Business Development and Grant Management.
Professional Affiliations
- International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA)
- National Tactical Police Officers Association (NTOA)
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) - 1991
- Master of Science, Administration of Criminal Justice, Southwest Texas State University - 1997
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Applying Data-Driven Risk Management
Dan Foster, CPCU, ARM-P, CSP
Casualty Loss Control Expert, Munich Re
In this podcast episode, Daniel Foster discusses data-driven risk management. He explains how risk managers can utilize various data sources, such as loss data, industry benchmarks, workplace surveys, biometrics, and telematics, to gain insight into loss drivers and mitigation strategies. He emphasizes the importance of data accuracy and relevance, and shares a case study where data analysis led to protective changes in elementary schools.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Dan Foster, CPCU, ARM-P, CSP
Casualty Loss Control Expert, Munich Re Specialty Insurance
Dan serves as the casualty loss control expert for Munich Re Specialty Insurance. He is responsible for overseeing casualty loss control services for all MRSI programs and insurable interests. He serves as an internal resource for underwriting, program administration, product development and marketing.
Dan has over 23 years of experience in public sector insurance and pooling for entities such as cities, counties, schools, utilities and more. In addition to loss control, Dan also has experience in program administration, workers’ compensation self-insured fund management and claims administration.
Dan has a Bachelor of Science degree in business from the University of Southern Indiana and has certifications in CPCU, ARM-P and CSP.
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Understanding OSINT: Open-Source Investigations in Risk Management
Stephen Roper
Partner, DigiStream Carolinas
In this episode, Stephen Roper discusses open source investigations and risk management. He explains open-source intelligence (OSINT) as the collection and analysis of publicly available information, including social media content and background records. He highlights the depth and legitimacy OSINT provides compared to social media investigations. Roper also discusses the versatility and vast utilities of OSINT, noting its evolution to include not just the subject of interest but their connections as well. The conversation emphasizes the importance of a solid methodology to ensure the legitimacy of findings.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Stephen Roper
Partner, DigiStream Carolinas
Stephen is a managing partner for the DigiStream Investigations in the Carolinas region. Prior to that, he was the senior intelligence specialist of the DigiStream Intel Division overseeing background, social media, medical and accident scene investigations nationally. Stephen has completed over 1,000 digital investigations and is a licensed private investigator. Prior to DigiStream, Stephen was a reporter for the Shenzhen Daily in Shenzhen, China as well as an instructor at the prestigious Bao’an Zhong Xue Academy. He graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a double major in English and media writing.
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Cultivating Psychological Safety to Mitigate Risk
Amy Hartsfield
Risk Management Analyst, City of Eugene, OR
In this podcast episode, Amy Hartsfield explains the importance of psychological safety in risk mitigation. Amy explains that psychological safety, a shared belief in the team's safety for interpersonal risk-taking, is crucial for risk management as it encourages proactive identification and addressing of risks. She suggests strategies for increasing psychological safety in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of leadership buy-in for successful implementation. The discussion highlights how psychological safety leads to early identification and correction of mistakes, essential for effective risk mitigation.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Amy Hartsfield
Risk Management Analyst, City of Eugene, OR
Summary of Qualifications
As a relatively new professional in the Enterprise Risk Management world, the past two years have both opened Amy's eyes to the various aspects of the field and given her the opportunity to apply her past in training, marketing and events. Amy brings experience participating as volunteer coordinator in large-scale community emergency exercises while exercising a passion for connecting the dots between the psychology of how humans operate and realizing the goals we need to achieve in ERM.
Responsibilities
Amy is primarily a project-based management analyst on the City of Eugene's Enterprise Risk Management Team. She supports her colleagues who specialize in liability claims, workers' compensation, and insurance while handling a variety of tasks that keep the team moving, such as serving as admin for claims software, running monthly and ad hoc reports, processing claims payments and purchase orders and managing the city's physical exams database.
Business Experience
15 years in local government:
- Marketing and Events Coordination
- Volunteer Program Management
- Deputy Operations Chief in COVID Emergency Operations Center
- Management Analyst on ERM team
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The COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned & Applied
Gregory A. Hearing
Shareholder, GrayRobinson, P.A.
In this podcast episode, Gregory Hearing, speaks about the lessons learned and applied from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gregory discusses the macro impacts of COVID-19 on the US workforce, including unemployment, injuries and illnesses among healthcare employees, and the rise of telework. He also delves into labor and employment law issues, such as federal guidance, vaccine and mask mandates, and teleworking policies. He emphasizes the importance of staying updated on guidance and preparing for future emergencies.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Gregory A. Hearing
Shareholder, GrayRobinson, P.A.
Gregory is a shareholder with GrayRobinson, P.A.. He has practiced management labor
and employment law for his entire career. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of the
South where he graduated magna cum laude in 1986 and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. He
received his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law cum laude in 1989, where
he served on the Florida State University Law Review. He is a member of the American Bar
Association, The Florida Bar, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He chaired the
Hillsborough County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section in 1997-1998, and chaired
The Florida Bar Practice Management and Development Section in 1998-2000. He has served on the
Executive Council of the Labor and Employment Law Section of The Florida Bar since 2001
culminating as its Chair in 2011-2012. He has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law
by The Florida Bar since the inception of board certification for labor and employment law by The
Florida Bar and has previously served as Chair of the Committee for Board Certification in labor and
employment law for The Florida Bar. He also has been Board Certified in Civil Trial by The Florida
Bar since 2007. He became Board Certified in Education Law by The Florida Bar in 2012. He has
achieved an “AV” rating in the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory, has been recognized as one of
Florida’s “Legal Elite” by Florida Trend magazine and is listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in
America. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and
Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and U.S. Supreme
Court. He was inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in 2012 and
was appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to a five year term as a Member of the Florida Board of
Bar Examiners and served as its Vice-Chair and Chair in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He is a frequent
lecturer and has authored many papers on labor and employment related topics.
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Commercialized Autonomous Vehicles: Risks & Insurance Implications
Drew Groth
Associate Actuary, Milliman
In this episode, Drew Groth explores the topic of commercialized autonomous vehicles and their insurance implications. Drew shares his expertise in developing solutions for autonomous vehicles, particularly in the field of autonomous trucking. He explains the potential use cases of autonomous vehicles in the public sector, including autonomous shuttles for underserved areas and heavily trafficked areas. He also speaks on the impact of autonomous vehicles on risk for the public sector, noting the potential reduction in insurance losses in certain scenarios. The episode concludes with a discussion on insurance implications and the challenges of quantifying risks associated with autonomous vehicles.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Drew Groth
Associate Actuary, Milliman
Summary of Qualifications
Drew is an actuary who specializes in quantifying risk and tailoring insurance solutions for unique exposures. He is well-versed in loss reserving, pricing and predictive modeling across various property and casualty lines, including commercial auto, workers' compensation, and general liability. His expertise extends beyond traditional insurance exposures to encompass emerging risks, notably related to autonomous vehicles as well as a broad spectrum of mass tort exposures (PFAS, talc, sexual misconduct, glyphosate, amongst others). Drew has closely collaborated with self-insured entities, major insurance providers and startups, leveraging his multifaceted experience and innovative thinking to craft customized insurance strategies ranging from transactions involving latent liabilities to rate plans for autonomous vehicles.
Responsibilities
Drew has been helping entities quantify their large deductible, self-insured and captive risks for a decade with a focus on commercial auto, workers’ compensation, and general liability. Beyond reserving for these liabilities, he also assists insurance carriers and startups with developing and refreshing rate plans, providing a deep understanding of the key risk factors considered in insurance ratemaking. Drew is well-versed in predictive modeling techniques, using his expertise to build and review models utilized for pricing, underwriting and gaining business insights. His diverse background provides the tools needed to quantify emerging risks, most notably related to autonomous vehicles as well as a broad spectrum of mass tort exposures.
Business Experience
Drew has worked closely with risk managers in an actuarial role for Milliman since 2014. Beyond his job experience, he shares his insights on emerging insurance issues through presentations for various actuarial and risk management organizations, such as PRIMA, RIMS, CAS, and multiple insurance carriers. Drew has also authored articles on these topics and has been featured in publications including the PRIMA Blog, Risk & Insurance, Carrier Management and Leader’s Edge. Drew currently serves on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Chapter of RIMS.
Professional Affiliations
- The Risk Management Society (RIMS)
- Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS)
- American Academy of Actuaries (AAA)
Education
Drew earned a dual degree in actuarial science and finance from Valparaiso University and is an accredited Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society (ACAS).
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How Public Entity Risk Managers Can Get the Most Out of Their TPA
Brad Wilson
Assistant Vice President, Sales, PMA Management Corp.
In this podcast episode, Brad Wilson explores the benefits of working with a third party administrator (TPA) for public risk managers. He highlights how TPAs can assist with claim adjustment, claims-related services and OSHA recordkeeping, saving time and resources for risk managers. Brad also emphasizes the importance of leveraging a TPA's buying power to negotiate discounts on medical care and ancillary services, driving down costs. He suggests that a strong partnership between public entities and TPAs can help address the challenges of finding workers, especially with retirements starting for workers in their 50s.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
Brad Wilson
Assistant Vice President, Sales, PMA Management Corp.
Summary of Qualifications
Brad began his career in the risk and insurance industry over 25 years ago, specializing in workers’ compensation and auto & general liability claim administration. His background includes a successful career in claim management for national carriers and third party administrators (TPAs) as well as account management ands sales.
In that time, he has worked with public and private entities to create effective claim and risk management programs that drive down their total cost of risk.
Responsibilities
Brad is an assistant vice president of sales for PMA Management Corp. and is responsible for growing the brand throughout the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest regions. He and his team provide claim administration and risk control expertise to hundreds of organizations in the public and private sector.
They specialize in managing the unique risks and challenges faced by public entities across the United States.
Business Experience
Brad has 15+ years of claim adjusting experience and managing claim teams n the workers' compensation, auto and general liability fields. He is familiar with self-insured, risk-sharing and fully insured programs for organizations of every size. Brad also has 10 years of account management and business development experience for a national TPA.
Professional Affiliations
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU,
- Associate in Risk Management (ARM)
- Associate in Claims (AIC)
- Active member of PRIMA, RIMS, and the Virginia Self-Insurers Association
Education
Brad earned a bachelor's degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and has continued his education by earning the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU,) Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Associate in Claims (AIC) designations.
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Workforce Absence in the Public Sector
David Setzkorn
SVP & Workforce Absence & Disability Practice Leader, Sedgwick
In this episode, David Setzkorn discusses workforce absence in the public sector. David explains the challenges posed by the implementation of statutory paid and family medical leave benefits in different states, which affects public sector employees. He suggests that employers review the legislation, consider employee opt-in options and assess the cost of participating. David also discusses the upcoming challenges related to religious accommodations and paid family leave requests, advising organizations to proactively handle accommodation requests and consider enhancing group disability benefits to compete for talent.
*The views and opinions expressed in the Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) blogs/podcasts are those of each respective author/speaker. The views and opinions do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRIMA.*
David Setzkorn
SVP & Workforce Absence & Disability Practice Leader, Sedgwick
Summary of Qualifications
David has over 14 years of experience working for both carriers and brokers as a subject matter expert on leave administration. His experience includes consultation and development of time away from work benefit programs for clients that range from program and policy development, training, benchmarking analysis and ongoing compliance management with state and federal regulations. He is a nationally recognized speaker working with organizations such as Disability Management Education Coalition (DMEC), Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and others to deliver trainings and content regarding FMLA, ADAAA, paid family medical leave, and state and municipal leave programs.
Responsibilities
David is responsible for providing thought leadership in the absence and disability space for Sedgwick as well as supporting both internal and external clients in order to provide best-in-class products and services. He also provides compliance and operational best practices to clients and internal partners.
Business Experience
Prior to joining Sedgwick, David worked for two of the largest insurance carriers, one public traded and one private employer, for over 10 years. He spent 3-1/2 years as the North American practice leader for the 5th largest broker in the world, focusing primarily on U.S. and Canadian clients. David also has 15+ years as a procurement officer working in the hospitality and gaming industries.
Education
David is a graduate of Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in purchasing and logistics management and an MBA with an emphasis in project management. He also holds a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation along with multiple certifications in IT and operational management.