Issue 118 - December 2021
NEWS: WORTHY

End of Year Message
From Jonathan Shull, Chief Executive OfficerI believe that people are the most important part of any organization. Our employees’ authentic teamwork, collaborating with one another and with our members and partners, has established the California JPIA as a leader in the pooling industry.
Building on last year’s acquisition of three new senior risk managers, the California JPIA has continued to strategically evolve our staff to provide excellent service for and substantive relationships with our members. In 2021, we celebrated the promotion of Alex Smith from chief financial officer to deputy executive officer and welcomed five accomplished professionals: Employment Practices Manager Kelly Trainer Policky, a former partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP; Human Resources Manager Nikki Salas, former Barstow city manager; Finance Director Jason McBride, who joined the Authority from the City of Anaheim; Data & Underwriting Analyst Aaron Webb; and Communications Director Olga Berdial, who joins us from the City of Chula Vista.
We also welcomed a new leader to our Executive Committee—Chuong Vo, mayor pro tem of the City of Cerritos—and a new member—the City of Santa Clarita.
These arrivals are juxtaposed with a significant departure: after more than 17 years of service to the Authority and our members, Assistant Executive Officer Norm Lefmann is retiring. A highly respected professional and amiable colleague, Norm has made our pool more effective, more efficient, and better able to provide excellent service to our members. I wish him and his wife, Sheryl, the best on their retirement.
Continuing to exercise our core value of teamwork, the California JPIA has cultivated relationships with similarly minded organizations that support municipal agencies in California. We have leveraged these connections to forge partnerships, address priority issues, and discuss risk management best practices with our members, prospective members, and business partners that share our genuine interest in local government.
Providing learning opportunities for municipal managers and elected officials at all levels helps develop well-informed leaders who support healthy risk management cultures in their organizations. This year the California JPIA has presented risk management best practices at several key events, including the League of California Cities’ Virtual City Managers Conference, the Public Agency Risk Management Association’s Virtual Conference & Expo, the League of California Cities’ Annual Conference and Expo, the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association’s Annual Training Conference, and the California Contract Cities Association’s Fall Educational Summit.
After last year’s virtual event, this year’s in-person Risk Management Educational Forum provided more than 300 participants a welcome opportunity to interact with seasoned subject-matter experts, experience relevant and timely presentations, and network with members and business partners.
The Authority is always proud to support our member agencies with services to reduce risk, avoid litigation, and limit exposure. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to gather again in person and look forward to connecting with our community throughout the new year. Warm thanks for your continued engagement with and support of the California JPIA, and best wishes for a very happy holiday season.
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