Newsletter

California JPIA Shares Insights at PARMA Annual Conference

California JPIA staff joined the Public Agency Risk Management Association (PARMA) for their annual conference to share knowledge and best practices with public agency peers.

A professional community of California public agency risk management personnel, PARMA supports professional development and promotes risk management as a critical component for public agency fiscal health. The PARMA Annual Conference in Anaheim, February 23–26, featured educational and motivational sessions, networking events, and an exhibit hall that all fit its “Peace, Love, and Risk Management” theme.

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“PARMA’s Annual Conference is the organization’s signature event and allows public agency risk management professionals to learn and network with over 1,000 of their peers and service providers,” said Workers’ Compensation Program Manager and PARMA President Jeff Rush. “PARMA has delivered high quality education for over 50 years and this year’s conference featured more than 40 sessions and over 100 subject matter experts focused on helping attendees manage and mitigate their agency’s risks.”

Two California JPIA staff members, Employment Practices Manager Kelly Trainer Policky and Senior Risk Manager Melaina Francis, were among the conference’s presenters.

Trainer Policky and Katy Suttorp, an attorney at the Judicial Council of California, presented “Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make When Administering Leaves of Absence.” During the session, they discussed the impact of accurate designations on effective leave management, the importance of timely and accurate documentation, and the challenges posed by abuse of leave. The presentation also included best practices for drafting leave-related policies and training supervisors.

In the session “Sexual Abuse & Misconduct: Protecting More Than Just Kids,” Francis, along with Candace Collins, senior director of strategic alliances for Praesidium, explored why abuse risk remains an iceberg, how some agencies have prioritized prevention at the highest levels, and how risk managers can reframe their risk narrative to ensure protection of all vulnerable individuals.

PARMA’s team of volunteer leaders includes Rush, Claims and Insurance Director Paul Zeglovitch, the incoming president, and Risk Services Director Alex Mellor, a director and a member of the conference planning committee.

“The Authority’s engagement with PARMA affords us incredible opportunities to share with and learn from our public agency colleagues,” said Zeglovitch. “Exchanging stories about issues, successes, and challenges helps inform the development of tactical plans to help our members thrive.”

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