Issue 128 – October 2022
NEWS: WORTHY

Authority Members Gather for Adventures in Risk Management at 27th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum
More than 400 Authority members, business partners, and staff interacted with experienced speakers and learned from relevant and timely presentations at the California JPIA’s 27th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum, themed Adventures in Risk Management, at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort from October 5–7.
The Forum began on Wednesday with two opening sessions. The first, “Risk Management in the Remote Work Environment,” provided solutions to the unique challenges of hybrid workforces and proposed optimal structures and leadership strategies to help employees succeed in remote environments. The second, “What’s Happening With Cannabis and Drug Testing in the Workplace,” evaluated the current and anticipated future status of cannabis-related laws, state and federal laws for public employers and the workplace, and employers’ obligations to offer reasonable accommodations.
Thursday’s programming began with recognition of the Capstone Award finalists, which are presented annually to an individual at a member agency who best exemplifies the practice of risk management. Last year’s winner, Arabo Parseghian, division manager at the City of La Cañada Flintridge, presented the 2022 Capstone Award to Shannon Buckley, assistant city manager at the City of Lake Elsinore.
Next, participants learned from former Boston Police Chief Daniel Linskey, known for his strong leadership and response through some of Boston’s most difficult moments, including the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Chief Linskey’s captivating keynote presentation taught leadership before, during, and after a crisis.
Breakout sessions addressed risk management issues affecting public agencies. Members immersed themselves in legal liability, workers’ compensation, employment law, public safety, organizational thinking, governance, legislation, remote work, cannabis, social media, and technology. A complete listing of the breakout sessions and links to presentations are available in the Forum agenda.
Attendees concluded the day’s activities with a fun-filled and adventurous reception, “X Marks the Spot,” which featured games, a photo booth, and an app-based team treasure hunt.
A liability case law update on Friday morning provided insight and information from recent case law and shared lessons learned from California JPIA cases. Then, seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, founder and chief scientist at the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society and author of The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them), presented a history of California earthquakes and what communities have done and still need to do to address earthquake risks.
The California JPIA thanks the 2022 Risk Management Educational Forum participants for making the event an adventure beyond its wildest aspirations and looks forward to welcoming guests to next year’s event. Please save the date: The 28th Annual California JPIA Risk Management Educational Forum will be held August 30–September 1, 2023, at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad.
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