Issue 146 - April 2024 - California JPIA

Issue 146 - April 2024

Professional Drummer for P!NK and Peak Performance Expert Mark Schulman to Deliver Keynote at Educational Forum

The California JPIA is pleased to announce that professional drummer Mark Schulman is the keynote speaker at the 29th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum. Mark has a decades-long career and has toured with P!NK, Billy Idol, Stevie Nicks, Foreigner, and many others.

When someone is a top performer in their ﬁeld, people call them a rock star. But what can attendees learn about managing performance, energy, and mental ﬁtness from REAL rock stars? During the opening keynote, Schulman will apply his “rock star mentality” to office life and share how local government agencies can boost employee engagement, teamwork, collaboration, and innovation for peak performance and joy at work.

His presentation is a high-energy rock show disguised as a keynote, so you don’t want to miss it!

This year’s Forum, titled Risk Management Confidential, will be held at the Hyatt Indian Wells from October 9 through 11, 2024. Registration for the Forum opens later this spring.

If you have questions about the Forum, visit the Risk Management Educational Forum page on the Authority’s website or email us.

The Authority Highlights the Praesidium Resource for Child Abuse Prevention Month

April marks National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and local government administrators and staff play a vital role in promoting a culture of safety within their communities. By prioritizing awareness and education, agencies can create safer environments for children to thrive. This ethos promotes healthy interactions, mitigates risks of abuse in programs, and empowers staff to remain vigilant against potential misconduct.

The Authority has partnered with Praesidium, an abuse prevention organization, to provide members access to targeted solutions to help your organization strengthen its abuse prevention efforts. California JPIA members have access to various Praesidium resources, including the following, which the Authority fully funds.

Model Policies

These policies set the stage for safe environments by defining acceptable and unacceptable employee and volunteer conduct. Policies also facilitate effective monitoring and supervision by helping others to recognize and act when they see policy violations.

Screening and Selection Toolkit

This toolkit includes the resources your organization needs to screen employees and caregivers effectively, including “red flag” indicators for identifying high-risk applicants and hundreds of examples of high- and low-risk applicant responses.

Crisis Response Toolkit

This toolkit includes written resources and guidance to navigate crisis response before, during, and after an allegation. It also provides guidelines for:

Assembling a crisis response team.
Considerations for the first few days and weeks.
How to create a transparent, victim-centered response.
Sample media holding statements.
Sample community communications for participants and families.
Other response considerations.

Praesidium Helpline

The helpline gives your organizational leadership team a confidential mechanism to discuss concerns or allegations involving sexual abuse and receive support to navigate the next steps. Available seven days a week, Praesidium’s team can provide immediate recommendations to ensure the safety of all parties, external reporting, internal reporting, mid-term recommendations to course correct, and long-term recommendations to support a culture of safety.

Online Training

Members can access 26 of Praesidium’s online, self-paced training modules via myJPIA. Topics include Foundations of Abuse Prevention for Youth-Serving Organizations, Basics of Youth Behavior Management, and Keeping Your Day Camp Safe.

Praesidium Academy overcomes the limitations of traditional online training by including an Action Plan to help learners apply what they’re learning, a Discussion Guide for use in a group setting, and a Coaching Playbook for supervisors with each course. Your staff and volunteers get the proper training—at just the right time!

Authority members interested in learning more can visit the Praesidium webpage on cjpia.org, sign up for Praesidium’s complimentary tip-of-the-month newsletter, or contact their regional risk manager.

Establishing, Implementing, and Maintaining a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

Governor Newsom signed SB 553 (Cortese) into law on September 30, 2023. The bill, codified in Labor Code section 6401.9, requires covered employers (including local government agencies) to establish, implement, and maintain a workplace violence prevention plan no later than July 1, 2024.

More specifically, employers must adhere to the following requirements:

Establish, implement, and maintain an effective workplace violence prevention plan containing specified information in all work areas at all times.
Record information in a violent incident log for every workplace violence incident.
Effectively train employees on the workplace violence prevention plan, including providing additional training when a new or previously unrecognized workplace violence hazard has been identified and when changes are made to the plan.
Maintain:
- Records of workplace violence hazard identification, evaluation, and correction;
- Training records to be created and maintained, and;
- Violent incident logs and workplace incident investigation records are to be maintained as specified.
Make available certain records to the division (Cal/OSHA), employees, and employee representatives, as specified.

Members are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review Labor Code section 6401.9 to become familiar with each requirement. Cal/OSHA has created a model plan and fact sheets for employees and employers to assist with compliance. Additional information and Cal/OSHA resources can be found here.

Navigating SB 553 Webinar
A critical element for making an effective plan is to assess and identify workplace violence hazards at every location where employees are present. This can be achieved by conducting site security assessments. Members who need assistance navigating the changes can register for an Authority webinar on May 13, 2024. During the webinar, workplace violence prevention expert Dr. Steve Albrecht will explain how to conduct and document site security assessments, along with steps that can be taken to mitigate identified exposures. The webinar will be recorded and made available through myJPIA to members unable to attend the live event. This training can also be provided (virtually) to individual members as requested.

For members who would like additional assistance conducting site security assessments, the Authority can provide referrals to several workplace violence prevention experts. These individuals can be engaged directly at members’ own cost.

Training Resources
Once the plan has been developed, training on the various elements must be provided to all employees. Members are encouraged to designate one employee or a small group of employees to develop the plan, conduct site security assessments, and provide training to the rest of the agency. To supplement these efforts, the California JPIA offers the following training:

Workplace Violence: From Threats to Active Shooters
Workplace Violence Awareness Training
Active Shooter & Workplace Violence Response: The New Environment for Public Sector Professionals
Tactical Communication: Tools for Service & Safety in the Field
Strategic Communication: De-escalation Strategies
De-escalation Techniques: Communication Strategies for Public Sector Employees

For more information on these offerings, please review the training catalog in myJPIA. Members can contact Administrative Assistant Denise Covell for scheduling assistance.

Finally, to assist with the requirement that employers provide an effective means for employees to report workplace violence incidents, members have access to the STOPit Anonymous Reporting System. The California JPIA fully funds this service which provides an effective mechanism to report and deter inappropriate behaviors in the workplace, including, but not limited to, harassment, discrimination, threats, violence, theft, fraud, and mental health concerns. In addition to incident reporting, STOPit allows agencies to monitor reported incidents closely. For more information or to sign up for this program, please contact STOPit Solutions Vice President of Partnerships Matthew Toth via email or at (609) 793-8419.

If you have any questions, please contact your regional risk manager.

Investigating Incidents, Accidents, and Preserving Evidence

Accidents happen. Thorough investigation practices are essential to prevent reoccurrence and mitigate potential legal repercussions. At the 2023 California JPIA Risk Management Educational Forum, Wesierski & Zurek LLP Attorney David M. Ferrante-Alan and California JPIA Senior Risk Manager Melaina Francis discussed the importance of accident investigation and preserving evidence to defend claims.

“A comprehensive investigation framework is essential to mitigating risks effectively,” said Francis. “Investigating incidents helps uncover the root causes, allowing implementation of preventive measures and reducing the risk of future occurrences.”

The Authority recommends that investigators begin with a systematic approach, identifying basic facts and the sequence of events leading to the accident:

Who: Identify all involved parties, including witnesses.
What: Describe the event (e.g., collision, fall). Document injuries and property damage with photographs.
Where: Specify the exact location with details like street addresses, landmarks, and building names. Note any relevant factors like potholes, uneven surfaces, or deviations, and include measurements of skid marks, debris placement, or other key distances.
When: Pinpoint the time of the incident.
Why: Investigate the underlying causes.

In vehicular accidents, investigators should understand that there are many aspects involved, from surveilling the scene, inspecting the vehicles, interviewing drivers, passengers, and witnesses to identifying the type of crash, such as roll-over, head-on, or fixed object, and the damage involved: contact and induced. Contact damage is any damage to the vehicle caused by direct contact with some object that is not part of the vehicle; induced damage is caused by another part of the same vehicle or by collision forces. Capturing evidence of vehicle and other damage and debris, whether fixed or transient, provides valuable insights into the incident’s severity and contributing factors, as do measurements and other observations.

“Proper documentation can help risk management personnel and defense counsel respond to lawsuits,” said Ferrante-Alan. “Detailed documentation and evidence preservation are crucial to strengthening your organization’s defense for incidents with legal implications.”

Photographs play a crucial role in preserving the scene and documenting relevant details. The Authority recommends capturing the entire scene, moving progressively closer, including all damage and areas that appear undamaged. This will ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident. Certain incidents may require documentation of other elements, such as signage, sidewalks, potholes, crosswalks, signals, broken sprinkler pipes, holes, standing water, and fencing.

When identifying the causes of loss, investigators analyze factors like road conditions, weather, time of day, speed, distractions, and vehicle violations and consider potential causes related to procedures, safety practices, trip/fall hazards, public patron behavior, and proper supervision.

“Understanding the cause of a loss is essential to implementing preventive measures and developing effective risk mitigation strategies,” said Francis. “Consider both the proximate cause and the root cause, which are the underlying factors pointing to the likelihood of the incident recurring. For example, if someone trips on a lifted sidewalk, the proximate cause is the trip, but the root cause might be a lack of sidewalk inspections.”

“Proper maintenance and inspections, along with clear policies and procedures, can assist in reducing the potential of incidents recurring. Documentation is also important: Members should maintain records such as design plans; written programs, policies, and procedures; inspection and maintenance records; accident location history; governing body minutes; and excavation records,” said Ferrante-Alan.

For further guidance and assistance, contact your regional risk manager.

May Workers’ Compensation Webinar – How to Defend Good Faith Personnel Action Claims

The California JPIA will host its next Workers’ Compensation Webinar on Thursday, May 9, at 10:00 a.m. Attendees will learn about psychiatric claims and how employers can assist in defending claims arising from good faith personnel actions.

The webinar will feature Tim Rose, a partner from Siegel, Moreno & Stettler. He manages the firm’s Sacramento office and defends claims filed against employers throughout California. Rose will outline the basic components of psychiatric claims before providing a detailed analysis of the Rolda case. This 2001 decision lays out the key factors of a good faith personnel defense.

One of the highlights of the webinar will be Rose’s list of seven rules employers should follow to establish a successful defense of a claim arising from a good faith personnel action. Following his presentation, attendees will have time to submit questions.

We look forward to having you join us on May 9. Register here for the webinar. A recording will be available on the Authority’s website for those who are unavailable to attend the live webinar. For any questions, please contact Jeff Rush, workers’ compensation program manager.

2024 Workers’ Compensation Claims Audit

The California JPIA conducts an annual independent audit of our workers’ compensation third-party administrator (TPA). Jim Bankson has performed these audits since 2017, and his process focuses on the TPA’s compliance with the Authority’s key performance indicators.

Bankson has more than 45 years of experience in insurance, including owning his own TPA. He has also consulted several organizations and is well-suited to assess our TPA’s performance and identify areas for improvement. His audit begins with an online review of 150 claims, including a sample from each of our assigned claims examiners. Following his initial audit of the individual claim files, Bankson engages in dialogue with TPA staff to confirm that his assessment of each claim is correct. Once this dialogue is complete, he calculates the TPA’s final score.

This year’s audit marks the first for the Authority’s new TPA, Athens Administrators. Entering this audit, our claims team had surpassed the 90 percent threshold for 13 consecutive years. We are happy to share that even with the challenge associated with the transition to a new TPA, this streak remains intact, with a score of 92.17 percent. If members have any questions or feedback regarding the workers’ compensation programs or the recent audit results, they are welcome to contact Workers’ Compensation Program Manager Jeff Rush.

Help Employees Stay Focused and Safe While Driving This April and Year-Round

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC) recognize April as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. However, distracted driving warrants attention throughout the year from all members to ensure the safety of employees and the public.

In March, the NHTSA released important data:
• In 2022, more than 3,300 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers.
• An additional 289,000 people were injured in these crashes.
• It’s estimated that 373,000 drivers were talking on their phones while driving at any given moment in 2021.

For many of your employees, driving could pose one of the most significant risks on the job. Help them minimize the risk to themselves and others. Participate in promoting safe driving at work by observing National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April and taking safety actions year-round.

The Road to Zero
Launched in 2016 as a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NSC, the Road to Zero Coalition aims to end fatalities on our nation’s roads by 2050. In 2018, the Coalition released a comprehensive report outlining strategies to end roadway deaths. To make the vision a reality, the report outlined a plan to address motor vehicle fatalities through three main initiatives:

Double down on what works through proven, evidence-based strategies
Advance life-saving technology in vehicles and infrastructure
Prioritize safety by adopting a safe systems approach and creating a positive safety culture

The City of San Luis Obispo is a Road to Zero Coalition member. The city is transforming its traditional Traffic Safety Program and Traffic Safety Report into a Vision Zero Action Plan. Their existing Traffic Safety Program has been highly effective at reducing total collisions, with over a 60 percent reduction in citywide collision totals over the past 20 years. However, the Program has been less effective at reducing the most impactful collisions—those that result in severe injury or loss of life. Citywide severe injury and fatal collision rates have generally remained steady over time, with the rate of traffic fatalities increasing over the past several years, which tracks with overarching trends throughout the country.

A Vision Zero Action Plan shifts focus from a reactive approach centered on reducing all collisions to a more proactive “safe systems” approach focusing on preventing deaths and severe injuries through data-driven, proactive transportation system design strategies.

“The City of San Luis Obispo is a proud Road to Zero Coalition member. It is inspiring to participate in a larger alliance of partners and organizations focused on the common goal of eliminating traffic-related deaths on our public roadways,” said Transportation Manager Luke Schwartz, PE. “Via newsletters, webinars, educational and technical training resources, the Road to Zero Coalition provides valuable tools to help guide agencies like San Luis Obispo in advancing our traffic safety goals.”

Resources
Members are advised to assess their vehicle use policies to ensure they are up to date, effective, and being followed. You are also encouraged to review the driving policies with staff. The Authority encourages supervisors to initiate a brief safety review on distracted driving with employees whose responsibilities include driving.

The Authority has a variety of resources that pertain to driving in the resource library:

Vehicle Use Policy template
Vehicle use documents
Vehicle inspection checklist

In addition, the policy template provides procedures for using agency-owned and privately-owned vehicles operated during agency business. Vehicle use documents include witness and information exchange cards, driver’s reports of accidents/incidents, and vehicle cards that establish proof of liability coverage for agency-owned vehicles.

Embark Safety is a member resource for motor vehicle report monitoring to enhance public safety, confirm valid licenses, identify problematic driving behaviors, and reduce liability. Embark’s platform offers round-the-clock web-based access to DMV driver records, real-time motor vehicle record (MVR) alerts, color-coded drivers for efficient record evaluation, violation decoding, driver management, and pre-employment MVR screenings. This program is funded through pooled costs, eliminating direct out-of-pocket expenses for members. If your agency is interested in the Embark program, contact your regional risk manager.

Training
The California JPIA offers an instructor-led Driver Safety course and eLearning refresher training on safe driving and safe driving of commercial vehicles. For more information, contact the training division.

City of Signal Hill Celebrates Centennial

The City of Signal Hill celebrates its 100^th anniversary this month. The small, vibrant city, nestled in south Los Angeles County, was incorporated in 1924 and has grown into a thriving community in the subsequent century. Its centennial celebrations honor its unique history and lay the groundwork for a promising future.

“100 years ago, our community was founded on the principles of resilience, unity, and a shared vision for a vibrant future,” said Mayor Lori Woods. “Now, in 2024, we have the privilege of commemorating a century of achievements, growth, and the enduring spirit that defines Signal Hill.”

The city hosted various events and activities to commemorate this significant milestone, including a time capsule to preserve local memories and mementos from community members about why the community is important to them.

Signal Hill’s centennial celebrations also included Spring Fest at the Signal Hill Public Library, featuring an egg hunt and photos with the Spring Fest Bunny; a Mayor’s Tree Planting event, which encouraged residents to embrace environmental stewardship by enhancing Signal Hill’s green spaces; a youth art contest, which tasked participants with capturing a community moment in a 2D medium; and a community-wide photo contest. The winning art and photos were displayed at the city’s Centennial Celebration. Alongside the displays, the Centennial Celebration comprised a Color Fun Run & Walk, pancake breakfast, opening ceremony, time capsule revelation, skate demonstrations, live entertainment and music, food, games, and family-friendly crafts.

Throughout the year, local businesses and organizations participated in the celebrations through Signal Hill’s sponsorship program, which incorporated support for local events and a series of signature centennial street pole banners and bus shelter ads. The program displayed some of the city’s key landmarks and allowed local businesses to support Signal Hill and celebrate the centennial by sponsoring each banner and ad. The colorful banners served as a visual reminder of the city’s proud history and bright future.

“It’s always a pleasure to work with the City of Signal Hill’s staff,” said Senior Risk Manager Melaina Francis. “On behalf of the California JPIA, I congratulate the city on this historic anniversary.”

Congratulations, Signal Hill, on a century of pride and prosperity!

City of Hawaiian Gardens Celebrates 60^th Anniversary

Hawaiian Gardens, a city rich in heritage and community spirit, recently hosted a 60th anniversary celebration. In early April, residents, businesses, and visitors came together for an anniversary parade and carnival to commemorate six decades of resilience, growth, and unity.

“Hawaiian Gardens holds a special place in the hearts of its residents, and our 60th-anniversary parade was a momentous occasion to celebrate our community’s history and accomplishments,” said Mayor Victor Farfan. “We thank everyone for joining us for this unforgettable event as we honor our past, embrace our present, and look forward to a bright future together.”

The Hawaiian Gardens anniversary parade showcased the community and culture of the city. It commenced in the heart of Hawaiian Gardens and featured colorful floats and lively performances, reflecting the city’s rich history and the remarkable individuals who have shaped its journey.

Community members also enjoyed family-friendly activities at the carnival, which took place at Furgeson Elementary School from April 4 to April 7. The carnival featured thrilling rides, delicious food vendors, games, live entertainment, and music.

Incorporated on April 9, 1964, Hawaiian Gardens is the smallest city in Los Angeles County by size; it boasts a population of approximately 14,400 residents and a vibrant community renowned for its diversity and cultural heritage.

The city is committed to meeting the future with preparation and enthusiasm; in 2023, Hawaiian Gardens received a Gateway Cities Energy Action Award, exemplifying its commitment to a sustainable future. It also completed several maintenance and infrastructure improvement projects that bettered the community’s quality of life. City staff completed more than ten safety training programs through the California JPIA and completed over 2,500 work orders and resident requests.

“On behalf of the California JPIA, I congratulate the City of Hawaiian Gardens on this momentous occasion,” said Senior Risk Manager Melaina Francis. “It is my pleasure to work with excellent staff at an amazing city.”

The city also invested in future generations, serving over 600 participants in city youth sports programs, providing over 6,000 meals to community youth during summer months, implementing a socialization program for Hawaiian Garden’s preschoolers, and re-opening the C. Robert Lee Game Room to kids across the city.

As Hawaiian Gardens enters a new decade, it will pursue eight central goals: promoting a strong local economy, enhancing employee relations, prioritizing community safety, pursuing community revitalization, ensuring government responsiveness and transparency, enhancing residential quality of life, maintaining fiscal stability, and enhancing city operations.

The Authority congratulates the city on 60 years of community vibrancy and growth!

Resource Update

Periodically, the Authority updates our resource library, including existing and newly developed resources. Below are some recent updates.

New Resource
The Social Media Legal Risks and Best Practices resource was developed to provide an overview of common legal risks agencies face regarding social media use. It was made available to members in March.

Updated Resources
The Abusive Conduct Policy resource underwent a regular review for potential updates and was made available to members in March.

The Design Immunity & Intersection/Roadway Design Accident Checklist resource combines the design immunity white paper and the intersection/roadway design accident checklist. Both underwent a regular review for potential updates and were combined to provide one comprehensive resource to members. This was made available to members in March.

The library section of the Authority’s website contains resources that can be accessed and downloaded. Resources available in Word format allow members to customize them to agency-specific policies and procedures.

For questions, please contact your regional risk manager.

Preparing for Summer

While summer creates wonderful opportunities for communities to get together for activities ranging from Independence Day parades to Little League baseball games, the season challenges public agencies to manage the risks associated with increased use of facilities like parks, playgrounds, and swimming pools. The California JPIA offers many resources to help safeguard vulnerable populations and ensure that municipal summer gatherings go off without a hitch.

Aquatics
Injuries at member-owned swimming pools and aquatic centers can be traumatic and costly. This exposure can be managed in several ways:

Ensure lifeguards are trained to follow specific operational and emergency procedures and possess current lifeguard and first aid/CPR certifications.
Regular in-service training can provide lifeguards with simulated experiences of potential real-world incidents (victim retrieval, unruly patron intervention, etc.).
Regularly inspect the pool, locker rooms, showers, and other facility areas to identify and correct hazards such as broken glass, bodily fluids, inappropriate behavior, etc.
Ensure that rescue equipment such as backboards, rescue tubes, and throw ropes is readily accessible and that staff is trained to use these devices effectively.

First Aid/CPR
Larger crowds, coupled with higher temperatures during the summer months, increase the likelihood of agency staff needing to respond to an ill or injured colleague or member of the public. California JPIA members can improve the odds of a favorable outcome by ensuring that key staff is formally trained in first aid, CPR, and AED use. The Authority offers American Heart Association (AHA) first aid, CPR, and AED training to members at no additional cost. The AHA requires re-training every two years; review your records to determine if employee certifications have expired.

Park Maintenance
While maintaining safe park and playground environments is essential at all times of the year, the months before summer are an apt time to review your agency’s inspection and maintenance program and to conduct audits by Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSIs). You can locate a CPSI in your area through the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) website. A Park and Playground Inspection and Maintenance Program template can be found in the resources section of cjpia.org.

Special Events Program
Summertime also increases the number of special events hosted by public agencies. Event organizers or the public wishing to use member-owned facilities may need help to obtain the minimum general liability insurance limits recommended (typically $1 million per occurrence). The Authority’s Special Events Program can help by providing general liability insurance when member-owned premises are used for special events or short-term activities. Examples include weddings, art festivals, parades, yoga classes, and member-sponsored events such as fairs, carnivals, and swap meets. This coverage is not deductible, and members are automatically included as additional insured. For more information, visit the special events page of the California JPIA website.

Abuse Prevention Resources
It is crucial to address the protection of vulnerable populations during seasonal programming. The California JPIA partners with Praesidium, which offers educational resources to help agencies understand and manage risks related to abuse and molestation. Resources include a helpline, model policies, screening and selection, crisis response toolkits, and multiple online, self-paced trainings. For more information and to access these resources, please visit the Praesidium webpage.

As we gear up for the summer season, it’s imperative to remain vigilant and proactive in managing risk. By implementing the above strategies and utilizing available resources, public agencies can ensure the safety and well-being of all community members.

Training
The Authority provides numerous in-person, virtual instructor-led, and online self-paced training modules ideal for assisting staff in handling the unique risks associated with summer activities. These training opportunities include:

To sign up for training, contact your agency’s training registrar. If you have questions or want more information, please contact your regional risk manager.

California JPIA Recognizes 15-Year Anniversary for Alex Smith

Last month, the California JPIA’s Chief Executive Officer, Alex Smith, celebrated 15 years of service with the Authority.

“Authority members have benefitted from Alex’s talent for 15 years,” said Authority Executive Committee President Margaret Finlay. “His visionary thinking has propelled the organization forward, allowing for greater member benefits. I’m certain he will continue to build upon those successes.”

Under Smith’s leadership, the Authority developed its excess liability and excess workers’ compensation programs and restructured the property program. As a result, the Authority significantly improved its ability to retain members and offer attractive coverage programs to new prospective members. In addition, Smith initiated the creation of the Authority’s captive, Sequoia Pacific Reinsurance Company. Members benefit from Sequoia Pacific by receiving lower coverage costs, less dependence on commercial insurance markets, and more efficient use of capital.

“Listening to members and being responsive to their needs is a fundamental tenet of the Authority,” said Smith. “Feedback from members led to the creation of the excess programs in 2016 and the captive in 2019. Going forward, we continue researching and developing innovative programs and providing relevant and timely training based on member input.”

Smith began his career with the Authority in March 2009 as finance director and was initially responsible for managing the programs and activities of the Financial Services Division. He was promoted to chief financial officer in December 2016 and deputy executive officer in 2021. He was appointed chief executive officer in 2023.

Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from CSU San Bernardino and a master’s in business administration from the University of La Verne. His public agency risk pool experience includes tenures at Southern California Schools Risk Management JPA and Southern California Schools Employee Benefits Association. Before working in the risk pool industry, Smith served four years in the United States Marine Corps.

At the national level, Smith represents the Authority by serving on the membership practices committee of the Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP). This committee develops and promotes best practices in critical areas of risk pool operations, including governance, financial solvency, contract management, underwriting, coverage, claims management, and data security. At the state level, Smith serves on the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) board of directors.

As the chief executive officer of the California JPIA, Smith is responsible for board and executive committee relations, general administration, policy implementation, and strategic initiatives.

“As a child, I dreamed of being a firefighter, but fate led me to public entity risk pool administration. I’m grateful for this path because I enjoy helping people and solving problems. The Authority is a remarkable organization with members who care deeply about their communities and a talented staff who work hard but also have fun together. Daily, we provide members with risk management assistance and engage in creative problem-solving. And occasionally, I even get to ‘put out a fire.’”

Congratulations, Alex, on your 15^th anniversary!

Newsletter

Issue 146 - April 2024

NEWS: WORTHY

RE: MEMBERS

RISK SOLUTIONS

PRO: FILES