Podcasts about state office

March 4, 2025 - We highlight efforts to expand access to financial services for marijuana businesses and ensuring New York-grown marijuana products are sold in the Empire State with James Rogers, director of the trade practices bureau at the State Office of Cannabis Management.

Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball discusses the alarming report of foster children being housed in the Commonwealth's office buildings, state parks, and hotels.Auditor Ball tells Terry Meiners she is searching for more information to help resolve this potentially dangerous situation for minors. The average age is 13 but some are as young as one year of age. 

State auditor and secretary for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services speak to lawmakers about report on foster kids sleeping in state office buildings, Congressman Andy Barr's camp responds to reports he's planning to run for Senator Mitch McConnell's seat, and Louisville's chamber of commerce unveils its five-year strategic plan to create new jobs and attract new people to the region. 

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Abbott says we'll pass school choice without the big handout, offered last time, to the ISD bureaucracies. The governor points out that when offered billions last time around the ISDs wouldn't play ball so too bad. But the real reason we should not hand more big money to the administrative machines of government school districts is the continued failure of those schools to deliver good results: Texas Students' Test Scores Shrink as Spending Grows.Meanwhile, Democrats keep talking about “billionaires” instead of parents and students. Also, they maintain their position that students in really bad schools should continue to be captive to such with no real alternative.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Texas sales tax receipts come in much stronger than last month.Texas Secretary of State Office of Elections decertifies E-Pollbook system from ES&S.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Jan. 16, 2025 - In 2019, the state enacted a boating safety training requirement for operators of motorized watercraft, which took full effect this year. Lexi Howland, director of the marine services and recreational vehicles division for the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, discusses the implementation of this law and boating safety more broadly.

Susan Sweetser, with Wreaths Across America and Robert Burke Director of State Office of Veterans Affairs, join Kurt & Anthony to discuss placing wreaths on every veteran's grave in Vermont. Info at: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/178351/Overview/?relatedId=0

Tomorrow is Election Day! And if you haven't voted yet, Tuesday is the last day to cast your ballot. WRKF's Capitol Access reporter Brooke Thorington spoke with Joel Watson, director of communications at the Louisiana Secretary of State Office, about what voters should and shouldn't bring to the polls. Every election cycle, we hear the same old saying, “every vote counts.” While it may not always feel that way, in the case of last year's sheriff election in Caddo Parish, that sentiment rang true. Democratic candidate Henry Whitehorn won by a single vote in a race where over 43,000 people cast ballots. Sheriff Whitehorn joins us for more on his historic election, the importance of voting and what he's accomplished in the year since. Black voters have historically leaned Democratic. But recent polls suggest their support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has grown, especially among younger Black men. To understand what's driving that growth, we're joined by Garrison Hayes, video correspondent for Mother Jones who's been talking to Black voters ahead of the November election. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Karen Henderson. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. Matt Bloom and Aubry Procell are assistant producers. Our engineer is Garrett Pittman.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Early voting wrapped up Tuesday in Louisiana and voters in the Bayou State broke all kinds of records. WRKF's Capital Access reporter Brooke Thorington speaks with Joel Watson, director of communications at the Louisiana Secretary of State Office, about  what early voting statistics can and can't tell us. The November elections are just days away, and in East Baton Rouge Parish, residents are deciding who they want as their mayor-president. Earlier this week, we heard from the incumbent, Sharon Weston Broome, and the top Republican candidate, Sid Edwards. Today, we're speaking with the Democratic challenger Ted James. James is a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives and served as a regional administrator in the U.S. Small Business Administration. He joins us to discuss  why he joined the race, his top priorities if elected, and the recent scandal surrounding an ad put out by Weston-Broome's campaign. ___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell.You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Candidates for state office, Kelly Dooner, Anne Manning Matin, and Suzanne Conley join the show to discuss their various races for Massachusetts state office and make their case for support. Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

Oct. 29, 2024 - We discuss regulations governing the licensing and certifying of mental health care providers in New York with Keith Brennan, a former assistant counsel with the State Office of Mental Health and is now of counsel at the Barclay Damon law firm.

State Representative Matt Muratore joins the show to discuss his race for state senate, and State House candidate Sandra Wright joins the show to discuss her own race.  Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

This week, NCSEA on Location features a discussion with Erica Thornton, Policy and Paternity Unit Manager, Division of Child Support Services, Georgia Department of Human Services. Hosted by Pat O'Donnell of YoungWilliams in Illinois and Brandi Gallebo, Frankin County Child Support Enforcement Services in Ohio, the conversation focuses on the collaboration between the Georgia Division of Child Support Services and the State Office of Vital Records to establish paternity at the time of birth.  Listen as Erica describes how the program operates and the benefits each of the program's stakeholders have realized.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   This episode of RIMScast is proudly sponsored by Hillwood. Hillwood is a leading multinational real estate development company and part of the Perot family of companies. For more information, visit Hillwood.com.   In the spirit of #InternationalPodcastDay on Sept. 30, RIMScast was produced live and onsite at the DFW RIMS Fall Conference in Irving, Texas on Sept. 19. You can hear the electricity on the floor of the Irving Convention Center as RIMS members, risk professionals and vendors from the greater Dallas Fort Worth area convened to learn, share knowledge, and network.   Former and current DFW RIMS Presidents join RIMScast today to discuss the state of risk in DFW, Safety, and ERM trends they are noticing, and why this event marks the closing chapter in one book and prepares for an all-new one in 2025.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About Hillwood, the proud sponsor of this episode of RIMScast. [:15] About this episode, coming to you live from Irving Texas at the DFW RIMS 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event. This is the Texas risk roundup; we're juggling risks and lassoing opportunities. [:46] This episode is sponsored by Hillwood, a Perot company. Learn more at Hillwood.com. [:52] It's an exciting event. It's also the end of an era for the DFW RIMS Chapter and we'll talk about that. [1:07] Events! Visit GreaterBluegrass.RIMS.org to learn more about the Greater Bluegrass Chapter of RIMS and their upcoming annual conference and meeting event, on October 8th and 9th. They've got some great speakers lined up. Check out their website and LinkedIn. [1:35] Last call for the RIMS Western Regional Conference, September 29th through October 1st at the Sun River Resort in Oregon. Register at RIMSWesternRegional.com. [1:47] The RIMS Canada Conference 2024 is coming up, October 6th through the 9th in Vancouver. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca to register. [1:57] The 2024 RIMS ERM Conference will be held in Boston, Massachusetts on November 18th and 19th. Visit RIMS.org/ERM2024. [2:10] Interviews! My first guest is the Ex Officio of the DFW RIMS Chapter, LaToya Lee. She is Vice President of Crew Safety at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers. LaToya Lee, welcome to RIMScast! [2:33] The DFW RIMS 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event at the Irving Convention Center is Texas-themed with a carnival. It is electrifying! Justin and LaToya met at the Risk Manager Exclusive Forum Lunch at the conference. It was a lunch for risk managers to speak freely. [3:43] At the luncheon, LaToya raised an excellent point about an emerging risk from social media. Raising Cane's has so many employees who are young people on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Raising Cane's has great policies and procedures to prevent employees from posting. [5:01] Most employees don't bring their phones to the restaurant, but if they do, they must store them in their lockers. Raising Cane's has about 840 locations in the U.S. About 800 are corporate-owned with a few franchise partners. LaToya is the Vice President of Crew Safety. [5:57] As a fast-casual. Quick-service restaurant, with four menu items, Raising Cane's is a people business. The Raising Cane's culture is a fun, cool culture, with disco balls and smiling faces. The crew is in shorts. It's a family-oriented business. They cater to all. [7:29] The growth of Raising Cane's is astronomical. When LaToya started, there were 248 restaurants. LaToya will soon be celebrating her 9th anniversary with Raising Cane's and there are 800-plus restaurants now. [8:04] As DFW RIMS Ex Officio, LaToya says the conference turnout is simply amazing. The attendees, vendors, and speakers are phenomenal. The topics of ERM, Work Comp, Property Damage, and Nuclear Verdicts, are everything you want in a one-day conference. [8:37] What excites LaToya for the next year's conference is the growth. Having all of the Texas Chapters coming together for one conference in San Antonio is going to be amazing! [8:55] LaToya, it has been such a pleasure to meet you! I look forward to seeing you in San Antonio and at RISKWORLD 2025! Thank you so much! [9:10] We are joined by former DFW RIMS Chapter President and a RIMS Global Board Director, Penni Chambers. Hello, Penni! [9:46] Penni grew up in Texas and has lassoing skills! She moderated a session with the State Office of Risk Management. It was one of the favorite sessions she has moderated. It was lassoing the panelists, keeping them on track, and not going over time, with audience questions! [10:40] Justin notes that it is International Podcast Day, and this is a special live episode. There's electricity here at the Conference! [11:09] Penni thinks the growth of risk management in Texas is in part because of the economic growth in Texas, with big Fortune 500 companies coming into the region. North Texas has grown. The Dallas membership for the DFW RIMS Chapter grows with the companies coming in. [11:35] Their risk managers want to get to know other risk managers. There is a camaraderie among peers. The marketing effort of the chapter spans decades. The fall conference gives everyone a chance to reconnect and meet new people at events leading up to the conference. [12:36] It's exciting to Penni as a seasoned professional to see these young faces and new faces at the Conference. It's incredible! It's also bittersweet to Penni that this is the last DFW RIMS Fall Conference, after decades of conferences. [13:22] Next year, DFW RIMS will team up with the Huston, San Antonio, and Central Texas RIMS Chapters to host the first-ever Texas Regional RIMS Conference, August 4th through 6th, in San Antonio near the Alamo, on the river walk. San Antonio is a beautiful place to kick it off! [14:21] Penni is excited because she will get to meet members from other chapters. She says the collaboration that's going to come from this is going to be phenomenal! [14:53] Penni says they are planning this conference in collaboration with Global RIMS. It's super exciting. It's the first time Global RIMS has done something like it for a regional conference. It's going to be a “drop-dead stunner” of a conference! [15:17] It has been such a pleasure to sit with you in person to do one of these interviews for International Podcast Day! You did a wonderful job moderating this morning. I want to thank you and thank Hillwood for being our sponsor for this episode! I'll see you at RISKWORLD 2025! [15:44] I wanted to close out this RIMScast episode with some symmetry. We had two former DFW RIMS Presidents on the show today. We will close it out with the current DFW RIMS President, Emily Casso Ford, who has been fantastic to work with. [16:05] Emily has led sessions and in many ways has been the face of the conference. I wanted to hear from her directly, not just about DFW RIMS but also to discuss her experiences in the ERM space. She leads ERM at Globe Life. [16:23] We're also going to talk about her experience with the RIMS-CRMP and how it is impacting her overall organization. Let's get to it! [16:37] I'm joined by the President of the DFW RIMS Chapter, Emily Casso Ford! Welcome to RIMScast! We have had such a great time for these last 36 hours or so! We're talking at the very end of the final DFW RIMS Annual Conference. How does it feel, now that you're done? [17:06] Emily says she feels fantastic! She gives a shout-out to the Conference Chair, Chapter Vice President Marissa Holland, who did an outstanding job! This conference is our best yet! [18:12] Emily gives an overview of her work at Globe Life for the last two-and-a-half years. She started as an island of one leading an ERM function, explaining to C-Suite and board why risk management matters. The board believed in it and demanded that the ERM function expand. [18:41] Emily started hiring. She had great buy-in from the top. She spearheaded a program in a company that just needed to get around a table and talk about what the risks are and what they look like. Emily refers to ERM as getting comfortable talking about the elephant in the room. [19:18] Emily started a Risk Liaison Program to work with areas of the organization that weren't represented on the ERM Committee. She asked the members of the ERM Committee to identify the leaders on their teams who understand the emerging risks on the horizon. [19:52] These people, the Risk Liaisons, would come together to have good conversations about what those emerging risks look like. They are up to 43 Risk Liaisons, from all across the enterprise of over 3,000 full-time employees. Globe Life is a $6 billion company. [20:30] All the functions of the company are represented among the Risk Liaisons. Emily's goal was to pass the mic and give people a voice who hadn't had a voice or a seat at the table to share the insight and perspectives they have. They are closer to the work that's being done. [21:02] They sometimes see the risks coming faster than the folks in upper leadership do. Emily wants to champion that and give them a voice. [21:21] Emily says the ERM team wants to make sure they share the risks with the board in the right way, giving them the information they need and desire. That changes from quarter to quarter. They are constantly on a trajectory or increased maturity. [22:16] Some of you listening may recognize Emily Casso Ford as one of our more recent RIMS-CRMP Story interviewees. Emily has an update. Her entire ERM team at Globe Life has now earned the certification of RIMS-CRMP. She's very proud of each member of the team. [23:00] Emily's boss, the SVP of Risk at Globe Life, provided the impetus for the team members to obtain the RIMS-CRMP. The Globe Life Chief Risk Officer fully supported the ERM team members each getting the RIMS-CRMP certification. It showcases their expertise in the industry. [23:39] The Make-a-Wish Foundation received at least $5,500 in donations at the DFW RIMS Conference this year. A match is expected from a generous benefactor. [24:04] This has been a great way to close out a wonderful tradition and start a new one. I want to thank you for inviting me! It's a real privilege to be here! I want to thank Hillwood, a Perot Company, for sponsoring this episode. [24:26] Emily, you're doing a great job as President of the DFW RIMS Branch! We look forward to more great work from you! [24:36] Special thanks to all of my RIMScast guests here who attended the DFW RIMS Annual Fall Conference and Spa Event. A very special thank you to Marissa Holland, DFW RIMS Vice President. As Emily said, she was the unsung hero of this year's event. She's fantastic! [24:55] Visit DFWRIMS.org for more information and to learn more about the Texas RIMS Regional 2025 Conference, which will be held in San Antonio from August 4th through the 6th. [25:06] We are very grateful for our sponsor, Hillwood, a Perot Company. Visit Hillwood.com for more information. A link is on this page. [25:18] It's RIMS Plug Time! The RIMS App is available to RIMS members exclusively. Go to the App Store and download the RIMS App with all sorts of RIMS resources and coverage. It's different from the RIMS Events App. Everyone loves the RIMS App! [25:50] You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in our show notes. RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [26:31] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [26:48] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [27:04] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [27:17] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [27:24] Thank you for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Mentioned in this Episode: About our sponsor, Hillwood: Hillwood.com RIMS ERM Conference 2024 will be in Boston, MA Nov. 18‒19 | Register Now RIMS Western Regional — Sept 29‒Oct 1, Oregon | Registration is open! RIMS Canada Conference 2024 — Oct. 6‒9 | Registration is open! RIMS Greater Bluegrass Chapter Annual Meeting & Conference — Oct 8‒9 | Last call for Registration RIMS DEI Council RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center NEW FOR MEMBERS! RIMS Mobile App Spencer Internship Grants — Deadline Oct. 15 The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — New interviews featuring DFW RIMS President Emily Casso Ford!   RIMS Webinars: The Future of RMIS: Beyond Traditional Approaches | Sponsored by Archer | Sept. 26, 2024 Mastering ERM: Leveraging Internal and External Risk Factors for Strategic Advantage | Sponsored by Diligent | Oct. 3, 2024 Long-Term Property Strategies for a Resilient Future | Sponsored by Zurich | Oct. 10, 2024 From AI to the SEC: The Future of D&O Litigation and Regulatory Exposures | Sponsored by Hub International | Oct. 24, 2024 Lessons from Veterans on Strategic Risk Leadership | Presented by RIMS | Nov. 4, 2024 Risk Perception and Management: Insights for a Changing Landscape | Sponsored by Marsh | Nov. 14, 2024 RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming Virtual Workshops: Applying and Integrating ERM | Sept 25‒26 and Dec 4‒5 Fundamentals of Risk Management | Oct 3‒4, 2024 Fundamentals of Insurance | Oct 9‒10, 2024 See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Bigger Risks with the Texas State Office of Risk Management” | Sponsored By Hillwood   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company (New!) “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer “Alliant's P&C Outlook For 2024” | Sponsored by Alliant “Why Subrogation is the New Arbitration” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyclone Season: Proactive Preparation for Loss Minimization” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd. “Subrogation and the Competitive Advantage” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyberrisk Outlook 2023” | Sponsored by Alliant “Chemical Industry: How To Succeed Amid Emerging Risks and a Challenging Market” | Sponsored by TÜV SÜD “Insuring the Future of the Environment” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Insights into the Gig Economy and its Contractors” | Sponsored by Zurich “The Importance of Disaster Planning Relationships” | Sponsored by ServiceMaster   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model® RIMS Events App Apple | Google Play   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guests: LaToya Lee, Vice President of Crew Safety at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers and DFW RIMS Ex Officio Penni Chambers, Vice President of Risk Management at Hillwood. Penni is also a former DFW RIMS President. She is currently a RIMS Board Director. Emily Casso Ford, Esq., RIMS-CRMP, VP of Enterprise Risk at Globe Life. Emily is also the DFW RIMS President. Postables (Edited For Social Media Use): Kids like to be on their cell phones. They like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. At Raising Cane's, we have good policies and procedures to help guide our young crew to be the best fry cook cashiers they can be, put their cell phones up, and stay off social media. — LaToya Lee   It's exciting to me as a seasoned professional to see these young faces and new faces at the DFW RIMS Conference. This is incredible! — Penni Chambers   The people who are in that first line are closer to the work that's being done and they sometimes see the risks coming faster than the folks in upper leadership do. We want to champion that. We want to give them a voice. — Emily Casso Ford, Esq.   As our function grows, we are constantly on a trajectory of increased maturity. — Emily Casso Ford, Esq.  

Arkansas Associate State Director, Community Outreach and Engagement Directgor, Patricia Fry and Volunteer, Brenda Tenner share their story. They had a Party at the Park for the community to hear about the exciting opportunities available as an AARP Arkansas volunteer. Some of the activities available: • Free food from Kona Ice and local food trucks. • Fun and games, including Bingo, Pickleball, basketball, and more. • Win prizes! • Meet AARP Arkansas volunteers who, like you, want to improve our community for people 50-plus and their families. • Find out about future fun and fulfilling AARP Arkansas events in your area.

The Wisconsin Ag Coalition's regional "Engage with Agriculture Series" events allow candidates running for state office this fall to visit farms, agri-businesses, and agricultural processing facilities to gain first-hand insight into modern agricultural production and practices. Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Director of Government Relations Jason Mugnaini says the goal is to inspire policymakers to advocate for initiatives promoting a vibrant, sustainable agricultural landscape, support rural communities, and contribute to feeding and fueling Wisconsin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Representative Daniel Grossberg is asking for the complaint against him to be dismissed, calling the investigation "baseless,” "meritless" and a "travesty." Senator Rand Paul's State Office is officially up and running in its new location. Sights and sounds from the 120th Kentucky State Fair.

Show SummaryOn today's episode, we feature Tom Chiodo, Executive Producer of Special Projects, National Productions for WETA, he flagship PBS station in Washington DC. We discuss the upcoming PBS Documentary, Caregiving, which will examine both systematic issues within the care system as well as tell personal stories of people who care for loved ones.    Provide FeedbackAs a dedicated member of the audience, we would like to hear from you about the show. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the show in this short feedback survey. By doing so, you will be entered to receive a signed copy of one of our host's three books on military and veteran mental health. About Today's GuestsTom Chiodo is the executive producer of Special Projects National Productions for WETA (Washington Educational Telecommunications Association), the flagship PBS station in Washington DC. WETA develops primetime documentary films and original digital content, accompanied by national impact and engagement campaigns, across 330+ PBS stations in more than 150 markets. Recent public media projects: Ken Burns presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness, a film by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers (2022); Emmy-nominated documentary Ken Burns presents The Gene: An Intimate History(2020); Rethinking High School with Soledad O'Brien Town Hall at Howard University (2016); DuPont Columbia Award & Emmy-nominated documentary Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies (2015). Current documentary projects in development/production: Caregiving; Hiding in Plain Sight: Adult Mental Illness;Remote Chance: Health Care in Rural America; Defeating Dementia; and Mighty Real: Out and Proud in America. Thirty years' experience in the media, communications, television and entertainment industry. Former SVP Development Entertainment Industry Foundation creating programs and funding for national initiatives in health care, volunteerism, childhood hunger and education. Tom has held senior positions at Rubenstein Associates, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health & State Office for Children. Former clients: HBO; AMC; TIME, Inc.; Wenner Media; Talk Miramax Books; Columbia University; Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Major League Baseball; Dance Theater of Harlem; The Apollo Theatre; Al Roker Entertainment, Inc.; The Tony Awards; Tribeca Film Festival; ABC's Good Morning America; Stand Up to Cancer; and Chances for Children.Board memberships: Fenway Community Health Center (Boston), Professional Performing Arts High School (NYC), Heart Gallery New York. National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences judge for the 44th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards. Tom is a published playwright, and co-author of “Home Care for Respirator Dependent Children” New England Journal of Medicine.  Links Mentioned in this Episode Wellbeings Web SiteCaregiving Documentary WebsiteCaregiving TrailerPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor Resource of the Week is the Military Caregiver Recognition Award and Digital Resource Binder. PsychArmor is dedicated to providing education, resources, and strategies for those who provide care for our nation's wounded, ill and injured military service members and Veterans. The caregiving journey can be challenging — we're here to provide support. Thanks to the generosity of The USAA Foundation, and in collaboration with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, we are pleased to offer the newly digitized Military Caregiver Recognition Award Program. Upon completion of the four PsychArmor courses included in this program and registration for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community, you will receive the Military Caregiver Recognition Award and Badge. You can see find the resource here:    https://learn.psycharmor.org/courses/military-caregiver-award Episode Partner: Are you an organization that engages with or supports the military affiliated community? Would you like to partner with an engaged and dynamic audience of like-minded professionals? Reach out to Inquire about Partnership Opportunities Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

AJ is consistently enraged by comments on Facebook, including a recent post where none of the comments were about the topic he asked for. (0:00) A random man was found in a vault of a state office building, obviously causing concern for state police. Sgt. Luke Davis was on to talk about their response to the incident, and some other newsworthy stories out of Clinton and the 500-pound bear strike. (6:28) Dumb Ass News - Was there a visible testicle during the Paris Olympics opening ceremonies? (18:05) How your cellphone got you in trouble. Chaz and AJ had audio from a story of a man who fell down a well while trying to find his phone, and then took calls from the Tribe about the times their phones got them into some hot water. (23:04)

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   This episode of RIMScast is proudly sponsored by Hillwood. Hillwood is a leading multinational real estate development company and part of the Perot family of companies. For more information, visit Hillwood.com.   Justin Smulison interviews four guests today, SORM Executive Director, Stephen Volbrecht, SORM Division Chief of Strategic Programs, James Cox, SORM Chairman of the Board of Directors, Gerald Ladner, Sr., and DFW RIMS Chapter Board Member Penni Chambers. The discussion covers the various roles of Stephen, James, and Gerald in SORMS, the purpose and development of SORMS over the years, and how SORMS manages risks for all the state of TEXAS. They also speak of the upcoming RIMS DFW 2024 Fall Conference on September 19th at the Irving Convention Center in Irving Texas and what they will present there.   Listen in for ERM wisdom and a preview of the RIMS DFW 2024 Fall Conference. Key Takeaways: [:01] About our sponsor, Hillwood. [:13] About this episode of RIMScast, coming to you from RIMS Headquarters in New York. Our guests are from the Texas State Office of Risk Management. [:37] First, let's talk about RIMS Virtual Workshops. The full calendar of virtual workshops is at RIMS.org/VirtualWorkshops. August 15th kicks off the three-part series, Leveraging Data and Analytics for Continuous Risk Management. Other dates for the Fall and Winter are available on the Virtual Workshops full calendar at RIMS.org/VirtualWorkshops. [1:01] Let's talk about prep courses for the RIMS-CRMP. The next virtual offering will be on August 7th and 8th, a RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep along with Utah Valley University. [1:13] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep course will be hosted along with George Mason University on December 3rd through 5th, 2024. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and in this episode's show notes. [1:28] Registration opened for the RIMS Canada Conference 2024 which will be held from October 6th through the 9th in Vancouver. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca to register. All RIMS regional conference information can be found on the Events page at RIMS.org. [1:47] We would like to extend a big “Thank You” to today's sponsor, Hillwood. Hillwood is a leading multinational real estate development company and part of the Perot family of companies. Hillwood's diverse portfolio includes industrial, logistics, corporate offices, retail, aviation, and multi-family housing developments. [2:05] Notably, Hillwood's Alliance Texas project has generated over 66,000 jobs and a $120 billion economic impact. Hillwood operates in 65 markets across North America and Europe, constantly seeking opportunities to create vibrant communities and deliver value to its partners. [2:23] Hillwood specializes in e-commerce industrial development, serving some of the world's largest retailer brands. Its residential communities division is dedicated to creating truly unique, master-plan communities. In 2023, Hillwood sold 2,141 homes in its communities and delivered nearly 1,500 lots to builders with more than 3,800 lots in the pipeline for 2025. [2:45] Hillwood is also leading the development team for Goldman Sachs's new facility in uptown Dallas. As a privately owned company, Hillwood prioritizes long-term sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. For more information, visit Hillwood.com. [3:05] Today we will be joined by leaders of the Texas State Office of Risk Management. They will participate in a panel discussion on September 19th at the DFW RIMS Annual Conference and Event. [3:18] They're a fabulous chapter and that event will be held at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas. A link is in this episodes' show notes. Visit DWWRIMS.org for sponsorship opportunities and registration information. [3:31] Our guests today will discuss what it takes for the Texas State Office of Risk Management to function, how they prepared and reacted to Hurricane Beryl in July, and we'll talk ERM and how some of their military experiences have enabled them throughout their risk careers and at the Texas State Office of Risk Management (SORM). [3:55] SORM Executive Director, Stephen Volbrecht, Division Chief of Strategic Programs, James Cox, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Gerald Ladner, Sr., welcome to RIMScast! [4:54] Stephen Volbrecht is the State Risk Manager for Texas and Executive Director of SORM. The office administers the Enterprise Risk Management Program, the Insurance Management Program, the self-insured Workers' Compensation Program, and the Continuity of Government Operations Program. Those are the four key missions of the Texas SORM. [5:58] Gerald Ladner, Sr. has been in the industry for 42 years and successfully navigated four hard markets. He has played roles with global and domestic U.S. insurance companies and is still engaged with the industry even though he's semi-retired. [6:29] Gerald has also served as a broker. He has insured prominent clients like the Coca-Cola Company, the City of Atlanta, Fulton County, and The Southern Companies. He quoted on the Boston Artery Tunnel Project, which capped the global reinsurance industry supply. Gerald's last assignment was as a Regional President at State Auto Insurance Company. [6:52] Gerald is involved today in independent board work, as well as serving his Alma Mater, and has served as Insurance Commissioner Appointee for the Texas Property and Casualty Guarantee Insurance Association, as well as the Texas Medical Liability Joint Underwriting Association. Gerald's turn as Chairman of the Board at SORM expires in 2027. [8:01] James Cox is the Division Chief of Strategic Programs at SORM. His job is to take the vision that Gerald has and the strategic view that Stephen has and make them applicable to the Texas state agencies. He does the daily work that supports their vision and mission. He has an insurance adjuster license, an agent license, a notary, and a risk manager license. [9:40] Stephen Volbrecht has been with SORM for more than 20 years in various roles. He joined in 2001, just before 9/11. The office was created in 1996 and went into operation in 1997. It was created to get workers' compensation costs under control for Texas state employees. [10:37] At that time, The Office of the Attorney General, Workers' Compensation Division, paid Workers' Compensation claims while the Department of Insurance, Division of Health and Safety, had the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission. The two agencies didn't communicate directly. [11:38] Texas combined the Attorney General's Workers' Compensation Division and the Department of Insurance's Workers' Compensation Commission and created the State Office of Risk Management. [11:49] Within two years, they had dropped Workers' Compensation costs by over $30 million, and not by denying claims or cutting corners. They paid claims more timely, stopped disputing claims, and prevented injuries from happening through risk management. [12:30] They continually put pressure on costs, even as medical inflation rises. Texas pays about $40 million a year for accidents and injuries. Because of success with Workers' Compensation, SORM now has three additional missions, the Enterprise Risk Management Program, the Insurance Management Program, and the Continuity of Government Operations Program. [13:42] SORM worked with the Federal government to design the Texas Continuity of Government Operations Program, helped the State Legislature adopt it, and then was tasked with implementing it. Gerald Ladner and James Cox use their industry knowledge to develop procedures and frameworks for the Insurance Management Program. [14:58] SORM is a fundamentally different agency than the office Stephen joined in 2001 because the scope of its mission set has expanded greatly over the 20-plus years. [15:32] SORM is a fairly large office compared to what other states might have. It's an office of specific subject matter experts over each of the domains it covers. It has a broad scope, including Enterprise Risk Management. [16:02] Gerald says SORM has a small board of five members responsible for strategic guidance, governance, innovation, leadership, risk management, stakeholder engagement, performance monitoring, and mentorship to the executive team. The board can decide quickly and anticipate the areas of risk they need to look at and how the organization will address them. [16:45] Justin takes a brief break and thanks Hillwood for sponsoring this episode. Hillwood operates in 65 markets across North America and Europe, constantly seeking opportunities to create vibrant communities and deliver value to partners. Visit Hillwood.com for more information and to seize those opportunities. [17:08] Justin also dives deeper into the RIMS DFW 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event that will be held on September 19th and 20th in Irving Texas. Here to tell us a little bit more about it is an omnipresent force among DFW RIMS members; Penni Chambers, welcome back to RIMScast! [17:34] This episode is airing almost four years after Penni made her RIMScast debut. A lot has changed in four years! [18:20] Penni is Vice President of Risk Management at Hillwood. She is in charge of a team of two that maintains, procures, and does all things insurance for all of Hillwood and its enterprise companies, including land and cattle, oil and gas, and aviation. [18:52] Penni's role at RIMS has changed. She is serving the constituents of the RIMS chapters and members by being a proud board director. Penni is a lifelong member of DFW RIMS and a former president, serving a term in 2019. [19:30] Penni will moderate the kick-off session of the RIMS DFW 2024 Fall Conference on September 19th at the Irving Convention Center in Irving Texas. She will be moderating a panel with today's guests, from the Texas State Office of Risk Management, Stephen Volbracht, Gerald Ladner, and James Cox. There will be so much talent and knowledge on that panel! [20:09] Penni is so excited to moderate this panel. They will go through the who, what, when, where, and why for this panel. They will talk about governance and the legislative process, and how they manage and procure their liabilities and assets. Texas is huge. These gentlemen have a great responsibility. Penni is excited to get to interview them! [21:04] Besides this panel, attendees can also expect workshops, a risk managers' luncheon, and other speakers and presenters. On Friday, the 20th, they have a Spa Day. The Spa Day is one of the things that sets the DFW annual conference apart. Chill out a bit at the DFW RIMS Annual Conference. They go big on this deal! [22:04] Registration is open to members and non-members. Join the DFW RIMS for two days of fantastic events! Enticed? Go to DFWRIMS.org for more information and to register. [22:42] Penni says they are so excited to have everyone who is joining them for this event. This is going to be one of the best DFW RIMS Annual Conferences they have ever had! [22:52] Justin thanks Penni and looks forward to seeing her at the 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event hosted by the DFW RIMS Chapter on September 19th and 20th! Visit DFWRIMS.org for more information. A link is in this episode's show notes. [23:10] Let's return to Justin's interview with the Texas State Office of Risk Management. [23:22] Gerald compares the challenges of his current position to those of the senior leadership roles he has held at insurance companies. It's an opportunity to educate and inform the public in terms of what they do to deal with the issues that emerge in a new area of risk. Gerald says that fortunately, he has been able to survive all the challenges of a very tough business. [24:02] The leadership at SORM focuses on retention, making sure that the team's service to the state is valued and that they have unique growth opportunities. SORM is essentially an insurance company with brokered services. [24:38] They have to make sure the products that are offered are current and forward-leaning, with the metrics in place for timely delivery of services for injured employees. Gerald speaks of how quickly SORM responded to the pandemic. [25:10] Stephen Volbrecht adds that it's important to understand that SORM is, at the foundation, a service organization. They exist to offer support to state agencies for their risk management concerns and objectives. SORM operates as a consultant, assessor, and advisor. SORM is not a regulatory agency, enforcement agency, or auditor. It's 100% about service. [27:13] Beryl was a Category 1 hurricane. James Cox says he joined SORM when Harvey was hitting the coast. That's where the preparedness started for Beryl. Before Beryl hit land, SORM was implementing the things they did post-Harvey. [28:05] Stephen speaks of resilience. You can't prevent an Act of God. He cites the 9/11 Commission. Their primary finding was that the most important failure was one of imagination. Leadership failed to appreciate the gravity of the threat. SORM has the approach never to underestimate what can happen. Uncertainty is at the basis of all risk. [29:41] Anticipate the worst-case scenario, prepare for that, and go from there. SORM ensures that every state entity under its jurisdiction has an updated and validated Continuity of Operations Plan. You can't prevent a disaster but you can mitigate it. There are lessons learned not just from Harvey but from the freeze events that hit Texas for three years running. [30:34] There are mitigation efforts that get put into place after we learn our lessons. Use after-action reports. What failed? Don't do that again. What succeeded? Do more of that! Texas put in dams to prevent inundation of water. They put in automated systems for dampers on air conditioning for the freeze events. [31:07] They went steps further in responding to situations based on risk management reviews and assessments to have product and service contracts and materials pre-staged for when these events happen so that you can bring up your services within hours, not weeks. That has a direct cost impact and an impact on the individuals that are being affected. [31:38] SORM has saved hundreds of millions of dollars in downtime and both direct and indirect expenses compared to where they found themselves as recently as Harvey. You can value the ROI in cost avoidance by comparing years without risk management controls and the years after risk management controls have been implemented. [32:56] James comments about Hurricane Beryl and after-action reports. An internet provider in the area went down, causing restaurants to only take cash. Agencies need the ability to switch from one carrier to another depending on if the carriers are operating. [34:04] Gerald says the board looks forward to the strategic plan that the executive director shares with them and they have the opportunity to acid-test it to make sure they are covering all the areas so they don't have a failure of the imagination. The board maintains the culture and listens to the employees. They invite employees to attend board meetings. They get a full house. [34:56] It shows the employees an alignment between the board and the leadership team. The board gives the executive performance review and the employees will hear areas of outstanding work and areas to focus on in the future. The board seeks to maintain that alignment. [35:32] It's RIMS plug time! Webinars! Servpro makes its RIMS Webinars debut on August 8th with Hurricane Preparedness in 2024: Innovations and Strategies to Protect Your Organization. On August 27th, Riskonnect returns to discuss How To Successfully Deploy AI in Risk Management. [35:57] On September 12th, Hub International returns to deliver the third part of their Ready for Tomorrow series, Pivot and Swerve Staying Agile During Shifting Market Dynamics.  More webinars will be announced soon and added to the RIMS.org/Webinars page. Go there to register. Webinar registration is complimentary for RIMS members! [36:20] We would like to express our thanks to Hillwood for sponsoring this episode of RIMScast. Hillwood is a leading multi-national real estate development company and part of the Perot family of companies. Their diverse portfolio includes industrial, logistics, corporate office, retail, aviation, and multi-family housing developments. [36:43] Hillwood operates in 65 markets across North America and Europe, constantly seeking opportunities to create vibrant communities and deliver value to partners. Seize those opportunities by visiting Hillwood.com. [36:59] Let's return to my interview with Gerald Ladner, Sr., Stephen Volbrecht, and James Cox of the Texas State Office of Risk Management. [37:28] James is a veteran of the U.S.A.F. Stephen is a Captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps. Justin thanks them for their service and asks how those experiences lend themselves to effective risk management. [38:02] James says no matter the specialization in the military, the military does very well operating in high- or higher-risk environments. They drill mission and safety in equal parts. The military mindset is understanding the chain of command, codes, and standards, and what you are basing your risk on. If you don't know the accepted way to do a thing, it is a risk nightmare. [38:49] James has found that using his military background, he knows where to look for how to treat a type of risk. That background transitions easily to risk management. [39:18] Gerald's father did three tours in Vietnam. His daughter went to West Point and was in Iraq. He understands the military mindset. It reflects the strengths we now find in the SORM organization with clear chains of command but also an environment where associates can come forward and bring their issues and opportunities. [40:18] Stephen and James are on the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for ISO 31000. Stephen says the ISO 31000 framework and other ERM frameworks are essential for SORM. Risk management is about decision-making. The ISO model is that risk is always negative. What you are trying to do is avoid the bad things. [42:43] Stephen says the effect of uncertainty on objectives can be positive, negative, or neutral, whether it's an opportunity, an obstacle, or an obligation. That's where ISO 31000 comes in. For some time, Texas was the only state to adopt ISO 31000 as the state ERM standard. They did it through the utilization of guidelines written in collaboration with contributors. [43:29] They're called the Texas Enterprise Risk Management Guidelines. They don't tell people what to do but they give people a framework for how to answer questions of risk and make decisions. The meta-framework of the guidelines is called Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), developed by OCEG, the Open Compliance and Ethics Group. [44:23] The meta-framework of GRC is that enterprise risk is about critical disciplines. That's the true enterprise risk model. It deals with governance and oversight, Gerald's role; and strategy and performance, James's role. Risks and decisions, compliance and ethics, security and continuity, audit and assurance; each of these domains has to be integrated into an ERM model. [45:00] SORM uses ISO 31000 as it is sufficient to their needs, but they still pull from other standards, such as COSO or SERM. [45:58] James says it's not necessarily the brand of framework you choose that is important. It's the vocabulary that you need to understand. SORM picked ISO 31000 and all the state agencies they work with took a course in it so they all had the same vocabulary. As long as everyone understands the standard, they can apply it. [46:44] The Texas Enterprise Risk Management Guidelines are known as the TERM-G or TERM Guidelines. [47:24] Gerald has a degree in psychology. It was a soft skill that was sought when he entered the workforce. There's a lot of stress on employees and it's important for the leadership team to have the right skill set to work with stressed employees and meet some of their needs. Gerald recalls Enron and the need to make hard choices about ethical behavior. [51:03] Gerald has had an extensive relationship with RIMS. He reminisces about attending RISKWORLD many times when he was with Zurich and cutting deals on the floor. We're in a world where change is increasing and the ability to get fresh, insightful information allows organizations like SORM to think through the next round of strategies to manage the risks. [52:23] Gerald knows the value in RIMS and looks forward to participating in this upcoming panel at DFW. [52:33] Gerald, Stephen, and James will be at the RIMS DFW Conference in September. Gerald will discuss the macro forces at work that have the potential to impact loss cost for SORM, and the state of the reinsurance market which is linked to SORM's ability to get property capacity. [53:06] Gerald says they want to talk about the interplay between risk managers and the boards they report to. Boards are taking a harder look at risk managers. Boards don't like surprises. It takes quality communication with the board. There also has to be strong orientation of new board members so they can act as proactive business partners as they face the challenges. [53:56] Also, the an ongoing discussion about broadening risk appetite and tolerance. The importance of parametric insurance, understanding how the market is behaving. Capacity is being contracted in Florida and the Gulf states and there have to be additional ways of dealing with risk. SORM provides good advice-based education on the proper coverages needed. [55:09] James will talk about how, when he was a new risk manager years ago and risks were new to him, through RIMS, he was connected with a host of individuals who had seen the same risks every day and were veterans of it. RIMS is a support system for a new risk manager. [55:22] He will speak of the tools RIMS provides, like the benchmark surveys, white papers, and articles, like the Hurricane Preparedness 2024 article, that came out 15 days before Beryl was approaching across the Gulf. SORMS is similar to an insurance carrier in Texas, except they want to look at your risk model, policies, and procedures. If there's a gap, then get insurance. [56:31] SORMS is not in it for profit but for protection and what's best for the state of Texas. [56:43] Stephen will talk about the relationships with RIMS over the years the relationships established and the outstanding resources that are available. He finds the compensation report a bit of a downer, though, personally, working for the State Government! [57:32] RIMS and associations like RIMS are essential for upholding high ethical standards and integrity in the profession and are also important for self-governance. When professionals agree on high standards of operation, that keeps the government out of your business. Stephen also talks about other aspects of SORM that people may not know about. [59:41] There are big risks on the horizon that could be talked about, like climate change, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, political risk, civil unrest, inflationary pressures, global market volatility and alternative risk financing, and the pandemic moving into endemic with massive economic and societal impacts. [1:01:20] Justin thanks Gerald Ladner, Sr., Stephen Volbrecht, and James Cox for being on RIMScast. Anyone who wants to hear more from SORM will travel out to Dallas on September 19th for the DFW RIMS Annual Meeting! Justin will be there and looks forward to seeing them in person, hearing what they have to say, and shaking their hands for a big group shot! [1:01:57] Special thanks again to all of our guests from the Texas State Office of Risk Management, Gerald Ladner, Sr., Stephen Volbrecht, James Cox, and of course, former DFW RIMS President, Penni Chambers, who was also on the RIMS Board of Directors. The DFW RIMS Fall Conference and Spa Event will be held on September 19th and on the 20th is Spa Day. [1:02:24] Visit DFWRIMS.org to register. [1:02:27] Extra special thanks to our sponsor Hillwood. Hillwood is a leading multi-national real estate development company and part of the Perot family of companies. Hillwood's diverse portfolio includes industrial, logistics, corporate, office, retail, aviation, and multi-family housing developments. [1:02:43] Notably, Hillwood's Alliance Texas project has generated over 66,000 jobs and a $120 billion economic impact. Hillwood operates in 65 markets across North America and Europe, constantly seeking opportunities to create vibrant communities and deliver value to its partners. Visit Hillwood.com for more information. [1:03:07] It's Plug Time! The RIMS App is available to RIMS members exclusively. Go to the App Store and download the RIMS App with all sorts of RIMS resources and coverage. It's different from the RIMS Events App. Everyone loves the RIMS App! [1:03:42] You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in our show notes. RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [1:04:26] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [1:04:43] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [1:04:59] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [1:05:21] Thank you for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Mentioned in this Episode: DFW RIMS 2024 Fall Conference and Spa Event | Sept 19‒20 About our sponsor, Hillwood: Hillwood.com RIMS Canada Conference 2024 — Oct. 6‒9 | Registration is open! RISKWORLD 2025 will be in Chicago! May 4‒7 RIMS DEI Council RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center NEW FOR MEMBERS! RIMS Mobile App Spencer Educational Foundation — Funding Their Future Gala 2024   RIMS Webinars: Hurricane Preparedness in 2024: Innovations and Strategies | Sponsored by ServPro | Aug. 8, 2024 How to Successfully Deploy AI in Risk Management | Sponsored by Riskonnect | Aug. 27, 2024 HUB Ready for Tomorrow Series: Pivot and Swerve — Staying Agile During Shifting Market Dynamics | Sept. 12, 2024 RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming Virtual Workshops: Leveraging Data and Analytics for Continuous Risk Management (Part I) 2024 — Aug 15 See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer “Alliant's P&C Outlook For 2024” | Sponsored by Alliant “Why Subrogation is the New Arbitration” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyclone Season: Proactive Preparation for Loss Minimization” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd. “Subrogation and the Competitive Advantage” | Sponsored by Fleet Response “Cyberrisk Outlook 2023” | Sponsored by Alliant “Chemical Industry: How To Succeed Amid Emerging Risks and a Challenging Market” | Sponsored by TÜV SÜD “Insuring the Future of the Environment” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Insights into the Gig Economy and its Contractors” | Sponsored by Zurich “The Importance of Disaster Planning Relationships” | Sponsored by ServiceMaster   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RIMS-CRMP Stories — New interviews featuring RIMS Risk Management Honor Roll Inductee Mrunal Pandit!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model® RIMS Events App Apple | Google Play   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guests: Stephen Volbrecht, Executive Director for the State Office of Risk Management (SORM) James Cox, Division Chief of Strategic Programs (SORM) Gerald Ladner, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Directors (SORM) Penni Chambers, former DFW RIMS president and RIMS Board Chairperson   Tweetables (Edited For Social Media Use): The cheapest injury that you ever have is the one that doesn't happen. — Stephen Volbrecht   Our approach is never to underestimate what can happen. Uncertainty is at the basis of all risk; not understanding what the consequences may be. So what you do is you anticipate the worst-case scenario, you prepare for that, and then you go from there. — Stephen Volbrecht   No matter the specialization in the military, the military does very well operating in high- or higher-risk environments. They drill mission and safety in equal parts. — James Cox   We're in a world where change is increasing and the ability to get fresh, insightful information allows organizations like SORM to think through the next round of strategies so that we can manage the risks. — Gerald Ladner, Sr.  

As a major player in global affairs, Germany has a critical role in steering the transatlantic relationship. Earlier this summer, Global Minnesota partnered on an event with the Germanic-American Institute and the Bertelsmann Foundation to discuss the U.S.-German relationship. The event featured remarks from Irene Braam, Executive Director of the Bertelsmann Foundation, and Rainer Breul, who serves as the Head of Political Affairs at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. On this episode, hear from by Rainer Breul, who started in his position at the Germany Embassy back in July 2023. He shared more about his background, the connections between Germany and Minnesota, and the essential importance of the U.S.-German relationship.   Links Germany Embassy in Washington, D.C. Department of State Office of Sub-National Diplomacy

July 2, 2024 - We discuss the recommendations of an interagency task force examining the state's response to the opioid epidemic with Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, commissioner at the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports.

Embark on a celestial journey with today's episode of Astronomy Daily - The Podcast, where your host, Anna, brings you the latest cosmic updates. We'll delve into NASA's latest asteroid impact exercise, groundbreaking research on Martian water detection, DARPA's new quantum laser project, intriguing air samples gathered by Perseverance, and celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope's 21st anniversary with stunning images. Plus, we'll look at recent research focusing on heart failure in space. Let's dive right in.NASA recently released a summary of the fifth biennial planetary defense interagency tabletop exercise, aimed at exploring our preparedness for potential asteroid threats. Organized by NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office in partnership with FEMA and the US Department of State Office of Space Affairs, this exercise aimed to assess and enhance our national response capabilities. Despite having no significant asteroid impact threats on the horizon, these hypothetical exercises are invaluable, providing insights into potential risks and response strategies for varying scenarios. This year's exercise involved a newly identified asteroid with a 72% chance of hitting Earth in 14 years. Nearly 100 representatives from US government agencies and international collaborators convened at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland for the exercise. The next steps include publishing a complete after-action report detailing the identified strengths and gaps and offering recommendations for improvement.In an exciting development, researchers believe that marsquakes could offer a new method for detecting liquid water deep underground on Mars. This intriguing possibility lies in the unique electromagnetic signals these quakes produce as they traverse Mars' subsurface. Traditional methods, such as ground-penetrating radar used on Earth, aren't effective at the depths where water might exist on Mars. But marsquakes could change that. Researchers at Penn State have modeled the Martian subsurface, incorporating potential aquifers to test the seismoelectric method. Their results are promising. By identifying these unique seismic signals, they could map hidden aquifers, providing critical insights into the presence and properties of water on Mars today.Next, we dive into an exciting breakthrough in laser technology. Funded by DARPA, the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, they're investing in a game-changing project to develop a quantum laser that uses entangled photons, promising better precision over long distances and in adverse conditions. Traditional lasers are remarkable tools already crucial in various domains, but they are not without limitations. This is where the new quantum laser comes in, utilizing quantum entanglement to pair photons together, creating photonic dimers. This means that applications such as military surveillance, secure communications, and high-precision mapping could see significant performance improvements.Scientists are eagerly anticipating the return of air samples collected by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover. These samples, gathered in titanium tubes alongside rock and regolith, are providing a golden opportunity to delve deeper into the Martian atmosphere and its composition as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign. These 24 samples will be analyzed to uncover secrets about the planet's atmospheric history and to determine the presence of trace gases that may have been consistent since Mars' ancient past. Understanding this interaction is pivotal, as it could reveal how much water vapor resides near the Martian surface. Such knowledge can illuminate the mysterious ways in which Mars' water cycle has evolved over time.To celebrate the Hubble Space Telescope's 21st anniversary, astronomers pointed Hubble's eye at a striking cosmic duo. Known as Arp 273, this pair of interacting galaxies presents a breathtaking sight. The larger galaxy, UGC 1810, has a disk that has been twisted into a rose-like shape. This stunning distortion is caused by the gravitational tidal forces exerted by its companion, UGC 1813. The image, a composite of observations from Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, reveals the intricate beauty and complex dance of these celestial bodies, showcasing the achievements of Hubble and its ongoing contributions to our understanding of the universe.As commercial space travel becomes more accessible, researchers are delving into how spaceflight impacts individuals with underlying health conditions, especially heart failure. Recent studies have focused on developing computational models to predict how microgravity affects these individuals. Heart failure affects over 100 million people globally and is generally categorized into two types. Both types present unique challenges in a microgravity environment, underscoring the need for carefully tailored measures to protect the health of space tourists. Researchers have used advanced computational models to simulate these conditions and predict outcomes with a high degree of accuracy. These models allow scientists to anticipate the specific cardiovascular challenges faced by heart failure patients in space.That wraps up today's episode of Astronomy Daily. Be sure to visit our website at astronomydaily.io for regularly updated news, and to sign up for our newsletter. Don't forget to follow us on social media by searching for @AstroDailyPod on YouTube Music, X, TikTok, and Facebook. And please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Anna saying thank you for tuning in, and remember to keep looking up.Support:This podcast is better with your support:https://www.bitesz.com/show/astronomy-daily-the-podcast/support/www.bitesz.comSponsors:www.bitesz.com/nordpasshttps://www.bitesz.com/show/astronomy-daily-the-podcast/sponsors/

This week's topics:Governor signs new Florida BudgetSt. Petersburg Council has early vote on Rays developmentHillsborough County Commissioner Owen Resigns to run for State OfficeFederal Judge Blocks Florida Transgender LawWith guests:Alex Sink, Former Florida CFO, DemocratDeborah Tamargo, Past President, Florida Federation of Republican WomenBob Buckhorn, Former Tampa Mayor, Exec. V.P. Shumaker Advisors-DemocratTravis Horn, Pres. & CEO, Bullhorn Communications, Republican

June 12, 2024 - Kerri Neifeld, the outgoing head of the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, explains her decision to leave the Hochul administration, reflects on her time as commissioner, and outlines the qualities necessary for her successor.

May 31, 2024 - After recently being confirmed as commissioner for the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Barbara Guinn swung by the studio to discuss her leadership priorities, combating child poverty, distributing public assistance and overseeing counties.

The state of Minnesota could get a new office to regulate ambulance and other emergency medical services. That's if the state Senate and Governor agree on a DFL proposal that passed the state House on Tuesday.Supporters of the bill say it will help address a range of problems that are plaguing EMS, especially in rural areas of the state. An audit of the existing board that regulates these services found the state needs to plug holes in staffing, funding and oversight to make sure Minnesotans can count on getting emergency help when they call for it. Republican Representative Jeff Backer is a volunteer EMT and a member of a task force dedicated to resolving these issues. He voted against the bill, saying it ties up too much money in government bureaucracy instead of funding services. “We heard on the house floor today, we need an agency because we can trust them. We could probably spend four, five hours on listing all the agencies that have not been good stewards of taxpayers' money,” said Rep. Backer. A separate bipartisan proposal would help fund rural EMS services. Joining MPR News host Cathy Wurzer to talk about the bill that passed the House Monday was its lead author, DFL Representative John Huot of Rosemount, who also is a former EMT.

Karen Morgan, AARP Maryland Executive Council member shares information on programs implemented by AARP Maryland and provides tips on how to disrupt aging.

 On The Marc Cox Morning Show, John Lamping discusses the deadline for filing to run for state office in Missouri and the speculation surrounding potential candidate switches. Topics include Dean Plocker's potential switch from lieutenant governor to Secretary of State race, Caleb Brown's exit from the Secretary of State's race, and newcomer Jamie Corley's entry into the Republican Secretary of State race. The conversation also touches on abortion as a key topic for voters and Justin Hicks' entry into the congressional race in District Three.

 The Marc Cox Morning Show discusses the deadline for filing to run for state office in Missouri and the speculation surrounding potential candidate switches, including Dean Plocker's potential switch from lieutenant governor to Secretary of State race. Former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon joins to discuss the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates on apprenticeship programs and businesses. In Other News with Kim St. Onge covers the federal raid on Sean Combs' homes in Miami and LA as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation, and Waffle House's paycheck policy under scrutiny.

February 20, 2024, Court Leader's Advantage Podcast Episode The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has spawned numerous questions, both practical and ethical.  These are questions that courts are going to have to grapple with in the near future, including:   Given the complexity of AI algorithms and the tens of thousands of data points used for training, can we reasonably expect that a human reviewing AI results would actually uncover bias or uncover anything significant?    Our court system is designed to move in a slow and deliberate fashion to render decisions; AI is evolving at breakneck speed. Can we afford to wait years for courts to answer questions about AI if it is changing by the month?        AI uses data as training to make better decisions in the future.  Since it does not publicly reveal sensitive or confidential information about individuals, are privacy concerns about AI irrelevant?   Automated chatbots can save time, save money, and provide a sympathetic ear for litigants who want to talk about their case.  But do folks who call into self-service centers really want to talk to an automated electronic voice even if that voice gives good sound answers?    Will AI be a savior to rescue us from the drudgery of boring repetitive work or is it an existential threat to our way of life?   Here to discuss these questions are: Kevin Bowling: retired Court Administrator for the Circuit Court in Ottawa County, Michigan Roger Rand: Information Technology Manager for the Multnomah County Circuit Court, in Portland, Oregon.  Roger is also on the NACM Board of Directors Casey Kennedy: Director of Information Technology, for the State Office of Court Administration, Austin, Texas Alan Carlson: retired Court Administrator for the Superior Court in Orange County, California Stacey Marz: Administrative Director for the Alaska State Court System in Anchorage, Alaska

A Utah law maker has proposed a resolution to lower Utah's minimum age requirements for running for office. The requirement is currently 25, but Rep. Candice Pierucci hopes to bring it down to 21. D2 discusses if a 21-year-old is ready for office, or if the number is really arbitrary.

January 16th Court Leader's Advantage Podcast Episode Artificial Intelligence.  The media is filled with discussions of its potential to dramatically change our lives.  It will increase productivity; it will relieve us from having to make mundane decisions; it will reveal heretofore unseen connections. Conversely, it may eliminate jobs, take away our ability to make complex decisions, fill the airwaves with misinformation, and even threaten our way of life.  In addition, many think that artificial intelligence (AI) is just too obscure.  It is, frankly, not that important to normal people and everyday life.  Some of the questions we will explore include: Are there real day-to-day applications of AI affecting courts now?   Is AI applicable just for large metropolitan courts or is it also a tool for suburban and rural courts? Are there aspects of AI that courts need to safeguard against mow? Here to discuss these questions are:  Kevin Bowling: retired court administrator for the Circuit Court in Ottawa County, Michigan Roger Rand: Information Technology Manager for the Multnomah County Circuit Court, in Portland, Oregon.  Roger is also on the NACM Board of Directors Casey Kennedy: Director of Information Technology, for the State Office of Court Administration, in Austin, Texas Alan Carlson: retired Court Administrator for the Superior Court in Orange County, California, and Stacey Marz: Administrative Director for the Alaska State Court System in Anchorage, Alaska

Many candidates beat the filing deadline to run for state office, discussing the benefits of Dry January, a Kentucky farm is helping to make crickets more edible, how your Christmas tree can be repurposed, and a Lexington native reflects on his work on stage and on screen.

Rachel Terry has practiced law in Utah for the last 20 years. After working with the State Office of Education, Rachel acted as Assistant Attorney General for a little over 6 years (Nov 2015 - Feb 2022). Rachel Terry joins Dave and Debbie live to announce her run for Attorney General.

One person died in a crash that occurred in Eastern Henrico Monday afternoon. Henrico Police identified the victim as 32-year-old Adarius Jerome Faulcon. The crash happened at approximately 1:37 p.m. at the intersection of Old Masonic Lane and 8th Street. The road was closed for about an hour as police officials investigated the incident. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will work to determine Faulcon's exact cause of death. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crash Team Investigator Jones at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at...Article LinkSupport the show

Bill Walsh and Bill Glahn announce the winner of the 2023 Golden Turkey Award! Join them as they walk through each nominee and end with a deep dive into the DFL's new $730,000,000 State Office Building.

Today's local political talk with Blois Olson focuses on the reported settlement of former GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan and the debate around the cost of the government office building.

We have learned that the renovations and repairs will begin next week on the state office building despite the high costs overall. Overall the renovations were going to cost $288 million originally but with inflation and rising costs, it is now up to a possible $729 million. With that said, we implemented our edition of “Love it or List it?” for the buildings and take your thoughts on it as well. 

We start the show with a discussion about the renovations that are being made with the state office buildings in Saint Paul - the issue being, the costs are up from $288 million up to $729 million so we take your calls and texts weighing on the WCCO edition of “Love it or List it” in reference to the state offices being renovated. Then we commemorate this weekends Veterans Day by talking to the Commissioner of Veteran Affairs Brad Lindsay previewing the weekend's festivities honoring veterans and whether it has become uncomfortable to thank veterans for their service.

It's Election Day. We catch up with the candiates for governor on their last day of campaigning and recap what all 14 candidates for statewide office had to say on the campaign trail, a state of emergency declared in Harlan County as several wildfires burn in the area, Franklin County middle school students start the Kind Line to spread positivity.

On this West Virginia Morning, the dire shortage of EMT's and paramedics across West Virginia is now trending in a positive direction. Randy Yohe spoke with Jody Ratliff, director of the State Office of Emergency Medical Services, on meeting the challenges facing those who come to our aid. The post Issues With Weedkiller Round Up And W.Va.'s EMT Shortage Is Improving, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Governor Abbott released the agenda for his third called Special Session of the Legislature which begins at 1 p.m. on Monday, 9 October 2023.The governor listed four items with the second item on border security having three items listed under it. The fourth item in the call titled “public safety” is dangerously vague and comes from the hype* surrounding the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County.The big question is whether an Education Savings Account plan can be passed that provides honest, universal public school choice for Texas parents and students.*Sheriff, data refutes crime claims about Colony RidgeOur Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Oil and gas drilling rig count falls again. And, “Exxon move on Pioneer signals Big Oil's tightening grip on shale.”Texas Education Agency makes La Joya ISD findings public.“The State Office of Administrative Hearings found the entire school board voted to spend $38 million to install LED lights on school campuses, even when former superintendent Alda Benavides cautioned the board against such a big investment when there was no evidence the lights would save the district money. “The contract was part of a criminal conspiracy that involved millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks.”Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com

Rachel Levy, candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates in the November 2023 election, joins Deepak Puri, CEO of The Democracy Labs, to provide a view from the front lines of running for office in a primarily rural, newly drawn district. Rachel is an activist, teacher, mom, wife, and candidate with a strong sense of the need for civic engagement to fight extremism.  Deepak and Rachel talk about: Diversity in rural communities Techniques that work for outreach and canvasing in a mostly rural conservative district Issues most important to rural and small-town voters Encouraging civic engagement Driving GOTV #RachelForDelegate #VA59thDistrict #VAElection2023 #GOTV RachelforDelegate.org TheDemLabs.org

September 5, 2023 - The state government has launched a public relations campaign to increase awareness about services available to crime victims, particularly from groups of New Yorkers disproportionately impacted by criminal activity. State Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin discusses the implementation of the outreach and also addresses barriers to accessing services.

August 30, 2023 - We sit down with the co-chairs of the state's interagency task force on opioid overdoses, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, commissioner for the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, and Dr. Jim McDonald, commissioner for the state Department of Health.

Currently an Associate Adjunct Professor in the School of Education of the University of Pittsburgh with a particular focus on social and political dynamics of education, Dr. Van Shura has coordinated presidential, U.S. Senate, state legislative, and municipal campaign activities. She served as the Teller for the 2020 Electoral College for President-elect Joseph Biden and as an Elector for President-elect Bill Clinton in 1992. Dr. Van Shura served as the Director of the State Office for United States Senator Harris Wofford (D-PA), as the Assistant Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation for the City of Pittsburgh, and as a Director for a non-profit serving individuals with disabilities.  Other professional experiences include serving as the Director of Community Affairs in the Office of the Allegheny County Executive, interfacing on issues of education, human services, ethnic constituencies, and international visitors. Dr. Van Shura currently serves on the Remake Learning Council; the Board of Directors of Chatham Village Homes, a national landmark; and the Board of Directors of Bender Leadership Academy, which empowers students with disabilities.  Recently, Dr. Van Shura presented at the Superintendents Forum of Western Pennsylvania, South Hills Area School Districts Association (SHASDA), and Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools and other educational groups.   

April 28, 2023 - State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham makes the case for a new state subsidy designed to cover the cost of medication combatting substance abuse disorder for New Yorkers without adequate health insurance.

April 27, 2023 - State Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin highlights a recently opened storage facility in the Capital Region designed to store thousands of untested sexual assault kits, so they can be safely preserved for up to 20 years.

Today - Montrose County Planning Commissioner Dennis Murphy drew on a personal story in relaying his concerns with a proposed gravel pit expansion near Maple Grove. And later - House District 58 Representative Marc Catlin said that the time has come to make permanent a state office that focuses on rural Colorado.Support the show: https://www.montrosepress.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov. 30, 2022 - Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, commissioner of the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, discusses the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board's recommendations on spending about $128 million. (Originally aired on CONNECT NY)