Seven individuals stood out from the 54 risk professionals recently recognized as “Risk Innovators” by Risk & Insurance magazine.
The first annual “Risk Innovator Awards” recognized risk professionals who resolved risk-related problems in a unique or innovative way. In selecting the winners, judges focused on how well each applicant identified emerging risks, used risk strategically, and managed risk creatively.
From these 2008 winners, a separate panel of independent judges selected seven individuals who each received a “Responsibility Leader” designation, sponsored by Liberty Mutual. These professionals built practical risk management solutions that went beyond protecting an organization, to providing benefits to employees or the broader community. Recipients did the right thing over the easy or quick fix to overcome significant risk obstacles.
“We support the Responsibility Leader recognition because it aligns perfectly with our core belief that we celebrate responsibility,” notes Jim Purvis, Vice President of Commercial Markets Marketing. “Responsibility is also at the heart of risk management. The award celebrates those risk professionals who brought their sense of responsibility and risk skills to their organizations and communities, from working with local officials to better prepare for a disaster, to bringing together historically separate groups to solve common issues.”
The 2008 “Responsibility Leader” winners are:
- Allen Bova, Cornell University. Allen has implemented numerous programs aimed at keeping students safe, including a new take on a traditional end-of-the-year party. By fencing in the party area, limiting area access to only Cornell students, issuing bracelets for buying beer to students of legal drinking age and providing free food, water and entertainment, Allen started a new tradition that continues today.
- Jennifer Christian, The 60 Summits Project Inc. Jennifer brought together employers, insurers, labor and others from throughout the U.S. and Canada to discuss ways to improve workers compensation and disability programs. Through her summits, Jennifer is shifting the traditional approach to disability and workers compensation – which focuses on processing and adjudicating claims – to one that anticipates the impact of injuries and plans for the best outcomes.
- Tom Cipollone, Darden Restaurants. Through his work making Darden Restaurants safer for guests and employees, Tom helped lower general liability claims frequency by 25.9 percent from fiscal year 2002 to fiscal year 2007, and workers compensation claims by 38.2 percent since fiscal year 2002. These results helped slash workers compensation and general liability costs by 42.6 percent – or $60.7 million – from fiscal year 2004 to fiscal year 2007.
- Bruce Moeller, DriveCam Inc. Beyond marketing products that help individuals and corporate fleets drive better, Bruce led a nationwide “safe driving” crusade. He reached out to a range of stakeholders across the country, from youth to highway safety organizations, challenging everyone to improve risky driver behavior. In addition, Bruce has recently published a book on the driving culture in America.
- Janette Ament-Pierce, Noble House Hotels & Resorts – Janette uses technology to improve the safety of employees and guests at this company’s 14 high-end properties across the United States. She built an integrated risk management web site that lets hotel operational staff, management and outside vendors file and track claims; see loss results by hotel and department; and access training materials, such as disaster preparedness information. The president of Noble House credits Janette with making insurance, loss control and risk management part of the company’s culture.
- Susan Shemanski, Spherion Corp. Managing the health and safety of more than 300,000 temporary workers, spread over 700 offices and reporting to more than 7,000 clients is challenging. Susan built a program that gives temporary workers the tools and training to keep themselves safe. In addition, Susan partnered with a variety of non-profit organizations to develop transition duty options for injured temporary workers, meshing the community into the company’s return-to-work program.
- Dan Thomas, Beaverton, Oregon School District. While this public risk manager makes sure the 37,000 students in his school district are safe at school every day, he also helps drive emergency planning in his hometown. Dan brings together key community constituencies – police, fire, emergency management and parks and recreation personnel – to help the entire community develop plans that address safety before a catastrophe hits.
About Liberty Mutual
Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. based on 2007 direct written premium. The Company also ranks 94th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2007 revenue. As of December 31, 2007, Liberty Mutual Group had $94.7 billion in consolidated assets, $82.3 billion in consolidated liabilities, and $25.9 billion in annual consolidated revenue.
Liberty Mutual Group offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety.
Liberty Mutual Group (www.libertymutualgroup.com) employs over 41,000 people in more than 900 offices throughout the world.
About Risk & Insurance
Risk & Insurance is an award-winning monthly publication covering the commercial insurance industry. Risk & Insurance is a member of the LPR media family and has 53,000 subscribers.
The first annual “Risk Innovator” award recognized winners in 13 different industries who demonstrated innovation and excellence in risk management over the past year. They view risk as both a threat and an opportunity for their organizations.
A subset of these winners received the “Responsibility Leader” designation.
More information on the “Risk Innovator” and “Responsibility Leader” winners can be seen at www.riskandinsurance.com.
Contacts:
Rich Angevine, 617-574-6638
richard.angevine@libertymutual.com
