President, Actuarial & Consulting Solutions


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send John Alltop an Email

John Alltop has 18 years of experience in the actuarial field, primarily in the casualty area. He is an Executive Vice President of Bickmore, and has been a consultant since 1998. He brings extensive knowledge of insurance, underwriting, and claims operations to his work.

John specializes in self-insured programs. In that capacity, he has completed numerous assignments, including actuarial reviews of the financial position of self-insurance programs, design of cost allocation formulas for self-insurance programs, target funding policies, equity distribution plans, self-insurance feasibility studies, insurance company rate level determination reviews, and benchmarking.

John is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS), a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), a past member of the Casualty Actuarial Society Reinsurance Committee, and has presented seminars at PARMA, CAJPA, GSRM, and HCIC. He holds a BS in Mathematics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Service Expertise

Property and Casualty

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Health Care  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups

Manager, Program Administration


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Micheon Balmer an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Director, Workers' Compensation Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Judith C. Bals an Email

Judith Bals joined Bickmore in July 2003. She is the Director of Workers’ Compensation Services and oversees the department specialists and consulting projects. In addition, Judith is the Workers’ Compensation Program Manager for two Joint Powers Authorities. As program manager, she is responsible for workers’ compensation claims oversight, maintenance of governing documents, preparation and maintenance of workers’ compensation claims procedure manuals, facilitating selection of third party claims administrators, contract negotiation including performance standards, and legislative updates.

Prior to joining the firm, Judith served as Senior Claims Examiner at Gregory B. Bragg & Associates, and was responsible for all aspects of Workers’ Compensation claims handling for various cities and municipalities. She also served as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist for HIH Insurance/Intercare Insurance Services with responsibility for oversight of vocational rehabilitation benefits, including return to work, vocational rehabilitation services, and defense. In a different capacity, Judith held the position of claims examiner specializing in large specialty accounts.

Judith attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, the University of Oregon, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is certified in California as a Self-Insurance Administrator and a Workers' Compensation Claims Professional.

Service Expertise

Return to Work
Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Manager, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Carol M. Barake an Email

Carol Barake has over 20 years of experience providing occupational health and safety consulting services to private consulting firms and the insurance industry. Her expertise includes design and delivery of health and safety training programs, program development and audits, development of strategic plans, and facilitation of client teams implementing health and safety program elements.

Carol is an instructor in the University of California, Davis Health & Safety Extension Program and the UC Davis Campus Professional Development Series. She is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), an active member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, and former board member in the southern California and Sacramento Valley sections. Carol earned her MS from California State University, Northridge.

Service Expertise

Risk Control
Risk Control

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)

Analyst, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send David Beal an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Assistant Manager, Program Administration


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Adrienne Beatty an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Finance & Accounting Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Puneet Behl an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Senior Consultant


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Angela Bernard an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Finance & Accounting Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Nancy Broadhurst an Email

Service Expertise

Finance and Accounting

Industry Specialization

Director, Business Development


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Rick C. Brush an Email

As the Director of Business Development at Bickmore, Rick Brush has overall responsibility for developing and implementing the firm’s business expansion strategy. Since joining Bickmore in 2003, Rick has served as administrator for both private and public sector self-insured groups, consulted with trade associations, and been actively involved in the firm’s business development activities. He will continue to serve as administrator for his current clients while cultivating new business opportunities for the firm.

Rick Brush’s previous experience includes four years as CEO/President at CalSAE, a non-profit corporation and the fourth largest Society of Association Executives in the nation. From 1990 to 1999, Rick held the position of Vice President at California Land Title Association, Public Affairs & Education, where he coordinated public affairs and education programs for the title insurance industry in the state, and served on the Claims Awareness Committee and the Industry Practices Committee.

Rick holds a BS from Arizona State University.

Service Expertise

Program Management
Sales and Marketing

Industry Specialization

School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Manager, Property & Casualty Actuarial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Derek Burkhalter an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Enriqueta Castro an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Consultant, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Sean Catanese, ARM an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Superior Vision Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Rick P. Corbett an Email

Rick Corbett joined Superior Vision Services in 1996. He has over thirty years of experience in the managed healthcare and insurance industries. He formerly served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Foundation Health National Life Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Foundation Health Corporation.

Mr. Corbett's previous positions include serving as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio and Blue Cross of Iowa. During his thirteen- year career in the Blue Cross System, Mr. Corbett served in several key positions launching initial HMO and PPO efforts and creating a large account consulting unit. Early in his career, he worked in field sales for Aetna Life and Casualty.

Mr. Corbett received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit and his MBA from the University of Toledo. He also received the designation of Certified Health Consultant from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Senior Consultant


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Paul Cross an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Analyst, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Trevor Earle an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Director, Regulatory & Financial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jim Elledge an Email

Jim Elledge, Director of Regulatory and Financial Services, is a CPA and has been serving state and local agencies and risk pools for fifteen years. Previously the Director of Accounting and Finance at Bickmore, he led a team of professionals performing risk financing, accounting, and treasury management services for self-insured groups.

Jim’s experience with self-insured groups provides a unique perspective to state and local agencies seeking to develop or enhance regulation of the self-insurance industry. He has assisted state agencies with the reengineering of self-insurance oversight, drafting of regulations, performing state-mandated financial examinations, and presentations to advisory groups.

Jim also served as the Controller for the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund (Fund), where he managed the accounting and financial affairs of the Fund’s operations and was heavily involved in the design, implementation, and management of the Fund’s alternative security program.

Prior to joining Bickmore, Jim was a senior auditor with both KPMG LLP and Gilbert Accountancy Corporation. In that capacity, he provided audit services to self-insured groups, educational agencies, and manufacturing companies.

Jim is a member of the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) Finance Information Group. He holds a BS in business administration and accounting from California State University, Sacramento.

Service Expertise

Regulatory Projects

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  State and Local Governments (Workers’ Compensation Agencies, Departments of Insurance, Cities, Counties, Special Districts)

Manager, Property & Casualty Actuarial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Nina Gau an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Litigation Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Ruth Graf-Urasaki an Email

Ruth Graf-Urasaki joined Bickmore as a Litigation Manager and Consultant in 2008. As Litigation Manager, Ruth manages the employment law claims for an Employment Practices Liability pool consisting of more than 160 cities and special districts. In her capacity as a consultant, Ruth assists public and private entity clients in their efforts to develop professional workplace cultures where employees can thrive. In addition to her consulting work, Ruth also tailors training programs that meet the specific needs of private and public sector clients. Training includes all aspects of employment practices, from harassment and discrimination prevention to hiring and firing best practices.

Recognized for her strong professional competence and real world experience, Ruth's areas of practice include representing clients in state and federal court employment litigation, administrative procedures before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Fair Employment and Housing Commission, disciplinary matters, and administrative hearings. Prior to joining Bickmore, she was with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.

A popular public speaker, Ruth holds a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in history.

Service Expertise

Litigation Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)

Manager, Litigation Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Michael Groff an Email

Michael Groff is a licensed staff attorney with 25 years of litigation experience representing private and public sector clients in state and federal courts. A former in-house claims attorney and a partner in two well-known, independent insurance defense firms, he is active in several risk management associations and teaches risk management for the Insurance Educational Association (IEA).

Michael holds a JD from McGeorge School of Law, an MS in space studies law and policy from the University of North Dakota, and a BS in history from Oregon State University.

Service Expertise

Litigation Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups

Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jeffrey C. Grubbs an Email

In his role as Chief Financial Officer, Jeff Grubbs oversees the financial management of the firm. Among his responsibilities are budgeting and forecasting; cash management; financial modeling; analyses of contract pricing, performance metrics and operational efficiencies; and contract negotiation.

Jeff has 20 years of experience in the risk management industry that includes having served as finance manager and treasurer for over a dozen public and private entity self-insured groups. He currently serves as conservator for the first group in California placed into conservatorship by the State's Department of Industrial Relations.

Prior to joining BRS in 1991, Jeff provided tax audit and consulting services for Ernst & Young in Sacramento and for Deloitte in the greater Los Angeles area.

Jeff is a CPA and holds an MS in taxation. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Executives International, and Vistage International.

Service Expertise

Corporate Finance

Industry Specialization

Director, Property & Casualty Actuarial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Michael S. Harrington an Email

Mike Harrington provides actuarial and risk management consulting services to public entity pools and self-insured organizations. With over 17 years in the actuarial field, Mike's experience includes ratemaking, reserving, financial modeling, and catastrophe management.

Prior to joining Bickmore in 2003, Mike served as an actuary for a nationwide insurance company. He was responsible for performing rate reviews for the Commercial Multi-Peril and Automobile lines, including development of indicated rate changes and coordinating review schedules for 25 states.

Mike is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) and serves on its Examination Committee, and is a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA). He holds a BA in mathematics and economics from the University of California, Davis.

Service Expertise

Property and Casualty

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Health Care  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Director, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jeff Johnston an Email

Jeff Johnston joined Bickmore with over 15 years of safety and risk control experience. In his role as Director, Risk Control Services, he provides safety and risk management consultative services and training to various public and private clients, including schools, cities, counties, and special districts. In addition to assisting with safety compliance issues, Jeff specializes in identifying opportunities where safety and risk management can be integrated into an organization's values.

Jeff's prior experience includes several years of general safety consulting in the insurance industry, and over eight years of risk management consulting for a pool of 300 public water agencies. He was instrumental in developing and customizing targeted safety programs to control general liability, property and workers' compensation exposures, and also designed and presented numerous regional and statewide training sessions to address those exposures.


Jeff is a member, past Chapter President, and Board Delegate of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). He holds a BS from California State University, Sacramento, and is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate in Loss Control Management (ALCM), and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Service Expertise

Risk Control
Risk Control

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Director, Risk Consulting Solutions


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Michael Kaddatz an Email

Michael Kaddatz has over 30 years of experience providing risk management consulting to governmental agencies, pooling organizations, and individual enterprises. He co-founded ARM Tech in 1982, and served as its managing director until 2008.


Prior to 1982, Michael held a senior executive risk management position at Southern California Edison (SCE). He also served as a regional casualty underwriter executive at Employers Insurance of Wausau.

Michael is Past Governing Chair of the Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters’ Risk Management Section, and is Past President of the Society of Risk Management Consultants. A popular industry writer and presenter, Michael has authored numerous articles for leading journals and publications, and speaks often at PARMA and other gatherings of public risk managers.

Michael holds a BS in business administration and economics from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. His professional designations include Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), and Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting
Risk Management Audits
Program Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Health Care  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups

Manager, Program Administration


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Brian Kelley an Email

Brian Kelley joined Bickmore in 2000. Highly knowledgeable in all aspects of client services, programs, and processes, he currently provides administration and risk management to three major California JPAs.

Before assuming his role at Bickmore, Brian led teams at CalFarm Insurance and at California State Automobile Association, investigating property and casualty claims, determining liability, negotiating settlement alternatives, and setting reserves for claims.

Brian holds an MBA and a BS from California State University, Sacramento. He is also certified as an Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Service Expertise

Program Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)

Manager, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Tom Kline an Email

Tom Kline provides safety and risk management consultative services to various public sector risk clients, including cities and special districts. He helps clients to assess their risk, establish and manage loss control programs, and comply with state and federal standards. Tom also provides safety and risk management training on a wide range of subjects.

Prior to joining Bickmore in 2001, Tom spent over 18 years managing safety, health, emergency response, and fire prevention programs for large private sector employers, which resulted in substantial decreases in injuries, workers' compensation costs, and property losses.

A former member of various trade associations and environmental, health, and safety committees, he is presently an active member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). Tom holds a BS from State University of New York, Binghamton, as well as Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) designations.

Service Expertise

Risk Control
Risk Control

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)

President, Program Administration


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send L. Robert Kramer an Email

Rob Kramer is Managing Director of the Program Administration Practice. He has experience in various consultative areas, such as administration of self-insurance programs; formation of new self-insurance group programs; development of governing documents and coverage memoranda; meeting facilitation; development of proposals; benchmarking studies; and review of contracts and agreements for proper transfer of risk. Rob has been with the firm since 1990.

Beyond his role as Administration Practice Leader, Rob previously served as Executive Director of six public entity joint powers insurance authorities and private self-insurance group clients. He has also served as the interim administrator for several groups.

Rob earned his JD at McGeorge School of Law, his MBA at California State University, Sacramento, and his BA at the University of Notre Dame. Rob also holds the designation of Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Service Expertise

Program Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Senior Consultant, Litigation Management


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Linzie E. Kramer an Email

Linzie Kramer has served as lead Litigation Manager for all JPA clients since 1989, providing oversight of each claim having a potential affect on client-pooled funds. His experience with the judicial system is extensive, having previously served 17 years as a contract and city attorney for the City of Vacaville, California; 16 years as a partner in a private law firm; and 3 years as Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Air Force.

Linzie remains active in the California City Attorney Association and the National Institute of Municipal Law Officers, serving on the Risk Management/Litigation Committee. He earned his JD at Hastings College of Law, and his BA at the University of Notre Dame.

Service Expertise

Litigation Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Senior Consultant


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send David M. Luke an Email

As a Senior Consultant with Bickmore, David Luke specializes in the areas of risk financing, coverage review, contractual risk transfer, and loss control. He has fifteen years of risk management experience, including consulting for public entities and risk pools nationwide.


For seven years prior to joining Bickmore, David was a Senior Consultant with ARM Tech / Aon Global Risk Consulting. While there, he also served as an Accreditation Consultant to the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA).

David’s previous experience includes having worked as Director of Human Resources and Risk Management for The Arc of San Diego, a non-profit agency serving San Diego County. In addition to managing the agency’s risk financing and loss control program, he advised management on proper employee hiring, performance evaluation, discipline, termination, and leave procedures. He was also responsible for investigating employee misconduct and managing employment liability litigation against the agency.

David began his career with the State of South Dakota Office of Risk Management, which administered the Public Entity Pool for Liability (PEPL) Fund, the State’s tort liability self-insurance program. He was responsible for conducting risk management audits of state agencies, advising state agencies in the area of loss control and contractual risk transfer, and assisting in the administration of tort liability claims.

David earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation from the Insurance Institute of America. He has written numerous articles on insurance and risk management topics, and has been a presenter at the Public Agency Risk Management Association (PARMA) and Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) conferences.

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting
Risk Control

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups

Manager, Risk Consulting Solutions


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Beth Lyons an Email

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting

Industry Specialization

Director, Health & Benefits Actuarial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Catherine L. MacLeod an Email

Catherine MacLeod brings 22 years of actuarial experience to Bickmore. Her current focus is on public entities within California and Nevada, and compliance with GASB 43/45 accounting standards.

Prior to joining the firm, Catherine was a consulting actuary with Independent Actuaries, Inc., and Howard Johnson & Company. She also served as Actuary and Manager for Standard Insurance Company. With management and consulting expertise in qualified retirement plans and defined benefit plan actuarial services, she is also highly knowledgeable in 401(k) and profit sharing plans.

Catherine holds an MS and BA from Ball State University. She is a Fellow in the Society of Actuaries (FSA), a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), and a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. She sits on the ASPPA Legislative Relations Committee, and is a Board Member of the Western Pension & Benefits Club, Portland Chapter.

Service Expertise

Health and Benefits

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Health Care  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Manager, Workers' Compensation Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jacquelyn L. Miller an Email

Jackie Miller's career in the workers' compensation industry spans more than 20 years. She is known in both the public and private sector for her exceptional knowledge of claims oversight, procedures, and governing documents. An expert in technical and contract compliance audits for multiple jurisdictions, Jackie is also highly experienced in facilitating the selection of third- party claims administrators, negotiating contracts, and providing legislative updates.

Jackie is California State Certified to administer self-insurance workers' compensation programs. She is also approved by the Industrial Commission of Arizona to administer claims.

Service Expertise

Claims Audits
Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Health Care  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups  /  Technology

Director, Information Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Colin Mitchell an Email

Service Expertise

Information Services

Industry Specialization

Technology

Senior Claims Consultant


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Dennis Mitchell an Email

Dennis Mitchell has over 30 years’ experience in the claims industry, primarily managing full-service, multi-line claim operations for national insurance carriers. His service expertise encompasses claim audits; procedure and workflow analysis; litigation management; and auto, general liability, workers’ compensation, and property claims handling. In addition to providing a thorough analysis of client claim administration programs, Dennis evaluates compliance with state laws, claim administration contracts, and industry best practices.

Prior to joining BRS, Dennis was a Senior Claims Consultant at ARM Tech / Aon Global Risk Consulting. He was responsible for leading and assisting with claim audits for a variety of public and private sector clients, working with them and their claim administrators to improve the quality of claim outcomes.

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Francis College in New York. He has frequently taught advanced workers’ compensation classes for the Insurance Educational Association.

Service Expertise

Claims Audits
Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Manager, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Terrie S. Norris an Email

With over 20 years of extensive experience protecting people, property, and the environment, Terrie Norris is a recognized leader in risk management and loss control. Her responsibilities as Risk Control Manager include providing a wide range of safety and risk management consultative services to public and private entity clients in southern California.

Terrie's prior experience includes managing risk control technical staff, delivering risk control and management services to private and public entities, conducting risk control audits, ergonomic assessments, site security assessments, developing loss control and training programs, and implementing corrective action plans.

A member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) since 1987, Terrie assumed her elected office of President in July 2011. She has served two terms as the Society's Senior Vice President, Region I Vice President, and as Orange County Chapter President, Treasurer, and Delegate.

Terrie is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), an Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CSPI). She has a BS in business administration from Nazareth College.

Service Expertise

Risk Control
Risk Control

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Senior Consultant, Enterprise Risk Management


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send George Papailias an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Finance & Accounting Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jamie Paro an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Senior Consultant, Enterprise Risk Management


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Holly A. Pon an Email

Involved in the workers’ compensation industry for over 15 years, Holly Pon has a diverse background in claims management, business process analysis, and product development. She joined Bickmore in August 2004, and serves on the staff administering our private self-insurance group business.

As a program manager, Ms. Pon is responsible for workers’ compensation claims oversight, maintenance of claims procedures, loss development analysis, and development of various cost containment tools such as Medical Provider Networks and Return-to-Work Programs. Holly developed her experience working for a large insurance company as a claims examiner, supervisor, regional supervisor, and home office product superintendent. From a technical standpoint, she has multi-jurisdictional exposure in workers’ compensation claims handling, and served as the workers’ compensation business lead in developing an electronic claim reporting system and an integrated disability solution which combined benefit and medical treatment delivery across workers’ compensation, short-term, and long-term disability. Ms. Pon served as a consultant to design and implement this integrated disability product for one of the “Big Three” automakers.

Ms. Pon is California State certified to administer self-insurance programs. She is currently completing coursework for a certification in disability management.

Service Expertise

Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Director, Litigation Management


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Gerry Preciado an Email

As Director of Litigation Management, Gerry Preciado is responsible for overseeing and monitoring all client litigation, supervising the litigation management team, and serving as a resource for all JPA clients on matters related to preventing and controlling losses.

Gerry Preciado began his career at Bickmore managing the litigation for the Employment Risk Management Authority (ERMA). Prior to joining Bickmore in January 2003, Mr. Preciado was a seasoned trial lawyer who handled cases involving wrongful death, personal injury, employment liability matters, professional malpractice, and civil rights claims. His experience includes representing clients in state and federal court, and before various administrative agencies. Mr. Preciado holds a JD and BA from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Service Expertise

Employment Practice Liability
Litigation Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Director, Regulatory & Alternative Risk Consulting


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Mark Priven an Email

As Director, Regulatory & Alternative Risk Consulting, Mark Priven is responsible for managing and promoting the development and expansion of this service area, while continuing to perform actuarial and risk financing studies for his current clients. Mark is an actuary with extensive experience serving both public and private agencies and pools over the last 15 years. Active in the risk management industry, he currently serves on the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau Actuarial Committee, the Associate Member Council of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), is a Member of the National Academy of Social Insurance, and is Past President of Casualty Actuaries of the Bay Area (CABA).

Mark is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, such as RIMS, Institutional Investor, PARMA, CAJPA, and ASSE. He has presented on a variety of topics, including Enterprise Risk Management; Insurance Regulation; Impact of Workers' Comp Reform; Measuring the Effectiveness of Risk Control; Total Cost of Risk; Actuarial Reserving; Insurance vs. Gambling; and Benchmarking. Mark also taught a class for several years to actuaries on retrospective rating, pricing individual accounts, excess loss pricing, and risk classification.

Mark has been named by Workers' Comp Executive as one of the "Most Influential People in Workers' Comp for 2010." Selection criteria were based on prominence in the industry, including expertise in a particular area, contributions and influence on legislation and policy, and leadership and representation.

Prior to joining Bickmore, for five years Mark was Vice President supporting retail brokerage clients at one of the largest international brokerage firms. He provided risk managers and brokers with loss forecasts, reserve studies, cost allocation plans, program comparisons, risk retentions analyses, benchmarking, and price negotiations, and assisted in program design and feasibility studies for finite risk, captives, and self-insurance.

As a Senior Reserving Analyst for one of California’s largest insurance companies, Mark was responsible for special studies of $1 billion in workers’ compensation reserves and claims handling costs. He also served as lead actuary supporting captives and franchise/association accounts.

Mark holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed coursework at the University of Bristol.

Service Expertise

Regulatory Projects
Property and Casualty

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  School Districts (K-12)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Health Care  /  Construction  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups

Manager, Health & Benefits Actuarial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Francis M. Schauer an Email

Service Expertise

Health and Benefits

Industry Specialization

Manager, Risk & Insurance Consulting


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Leila Shockley an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Director, Enterprise Risk Management


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Lisanne C. Sison an Email

In her role as a Director at Bickmore, Lisanne Sison is responsible for managing and promoting the development and expansion of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) service area, while continuing to perform consulting services and providing general support to multiple clients, including a major university system and a large healthcare system. She is also assisting with the implementation of various initiatives, including automation of select processes, improving business intelligence reporting/dashboards, and expanding the number and diversity of risk assessment tools and resources.

Lisanne has over ten years of experience providing consulting services to a broad spectrum of entities that include state and local governments, higher education institutions, not‐for‐profit organizations, and K‐12 private schools. Lisanne has detailed experience related to ERM implementation and has played a key role in assisting her clients to implement various ERM frameworks through supporting objective setting sessions, risk identification and evaluation activities, the development of risk assessment tools and techniques, providing education and training on ERM and risk assessment techniques, and assisting with the development of new automated systems to help organizations proactively manage their risks. In addition to the technical duties described above, Lisanne has also provided facilitation support and strategic planning assistance to multiple committees, workgroups, and leadership groups across different organizations, to help guide their ERM programs.

Click here for the Enterprise Risk Management Services Overview.

Click here for Lisanne's LinkedIn Profile.

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting
Risk Management Audits
Regulatory Projects

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  Health Care  /  Technology

Manager, Risk Control Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Lee Sorenson an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Risk & Insurance Consulting


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Joan Spiegel an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Project Coordinator


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Sandra Spiess an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Vistage International, Inc.


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send John F. Tidgewell an Email

John Tidgewell has been engaged as a Chairman of Vistage International, Inc. since January 2000. Working with the presidents and CEOs of more than 50 companies, he assists them in addressing strategic issues, promoting leadership growth, and improving business performance. Mr. Tidgewell is also a Principal of Business Mastery Consultants, where he provides leadership development training and executive coaching for several companies in northern California.

Mr. Tidgewell has over thirty years of combined experience in business and education. His previous positions include serving as a community college administrator for ten years, and leadership roles in engineering and manufacturing with responsibility for business development, marketing, and operations.

Mr. Tidgewell earned an Engineering degree from the University of Notre Dame. He also holds an M.S. and Ed.D. in counseling psychology from Northern Illinois University.

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Consultant, Information Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Frederick C. Treffinger an Email

Fred Treffinger has over 20 years of experience developing property/casualty applications. He supports database and actuarial projects and consults on information technology issues.

Prior to joining Bickmore, Fred held positions as data warehousing architect at Allied Insurance, and director of data warehousing at CalFarm Insurance. He also developed ratemaking and reserving applications at Fireman's Fund and marketing applications at Allstate Insurance. Fred holds a Certificate in Programming from the Computer Learning Center, San Francisco.

Service Expertise

Information Services

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Technology

Chief Executive Officer


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Gregory L. Trout an Email

Gregory L. Trout is President of Bickmore. He has served as administrator for a wide variety of public and private self-funded programs, and currently provides risk management consulting to various public and private sector employers, associations, and risk retention programs. He served as Principal-in-Charge for the Study of the Effects of Legislative Reforms on California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rates conducted by Bickmore for the State of California, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and is currently involved in self-insurance regulatory studies for the State of New York.

With over 35 years of experience in self-insurance and risk management, Mr. Trout has served as the lead consultant in the formation of many risk sharing programs throughout the United States. He formed and managed the California State Association of Counties Excess Insurance Authority (CSAC-EIA), a statewide, multi-line pool for California counties, which is now the largest public entity risk sharing program in the country.

Mr. Trout was a founding member and first president of the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA), and founder of the California Institute for Public Risk Analysis. He also served as lead consultant to twenty state attorneys general in an anti-trust action against domestic and foreign insurance companies. This litigation led to the formation of the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI).

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting
Risk Management Audits

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts  /  Captives and Risk Retention Groups

Senior Consultant, Risk Information Solutions


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send David Tweedy an Email

David has over 30 years of experience in providing risk management consulting services and is a leading expert in claims and risk management information systems (RMIS). He has provided private and public sector clients with risk information technology strategies and has successfully worked with large corporations to redesign TPA systems and improve efficiency from technical, data quality and functional perspectives.

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting
Information Services

Industry Specialization

Coordinator, Return to Work Programs


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Kristen Vanscourt an Email

Kristen Vanscourt is the Workers’ Compensation Services Manager and the Return to Work Coordinator for the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority (ICRMA). She is responsible for workers’ compensation claims oversight, maintenance of governing documents, preparation and maintenance of workers’ compensation claims procedure manuals, facilitating selection of third party claims administrators, contract negotiation including performance standards, and legislative updates. As the Return to Work Coordinator, Ms. Vanscourt is responsible for overseeing the Structured Return to Work Program (SRTWP), including day-to-day reporting of new injuries to Company Nurse and coordinating return to work with injured workers, members, and physicians.

Prior to joining Bickmore in May 2008, Ms. Vanscourt worked for the City of Pomona as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Supervisor with responsibility for managing the City’s self-insured and self-administered Workers’ Compensation Program, including claims handling, oversight of utilization review services, bill review services, defense attorney selection, and Return to Work. Prior to that, she served as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Supervisor for the County of San Bernardino, which also has a self-insured and self-administered Workers’ Compensation Program. Ms. Vanscourt supervised the County’s claims examiners, claims assistants, and clerical staff. She has held positions as a Senior Claims Examiner for several third party administrators and insurance companies, handling claims for many specialized accounts, such as school districts, home improvement groups, and automobile manufacturers.

Service Expertise

Return to Work
Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)

Manager, Workers' Compensation Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Tammy Vitali an Email

Tammy Vitali has been with Bickmore since July 2000, and serves as the Workers’ Compensation Services Manager for two Joint Powers Authorities. Her responsibilities include workers’ compensation claims oversight, maintenance of governing documents, preparation and maintenance of workers’ compensation claims procedure manuals, facilitating the selection of third party claims administrators, contract negotiation including performance standards, and legislative updates.

Tammy’s involvement in the workers’ compensation industry spans 23 years. She has worked for third party administrators, an insurance company, and a bill review company. From 1999 to 2000, Tammy was responsible for investigation and settlement of workers’ compensation claims as a Senior Claims Examiner at HIH Insurance. Her prior experience includes serving as Branch Manager for a third party claims administrator, handling claims for a large county in southern California, and serving as Operations Manager for a bill review company in southern California. Tammy was responsible for the retention, recruitment, and placement of insurance professionals and bill review personnel from 1991 to 1999. She has also held positions as senior claims examiner and claims supervisor.

Service Expertise

Claims Audits
Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Manager, Risk & Insurance Consulting


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Julie Waldman an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Director, Risk Consulting Solutions


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Catherine Wells an Email

Service Expertise

Risk Management Consulting
Construction Risk Management

Industry Specialization

Manager, Property & Casualty Actuarial Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Dana Winkler an Email

Service Expertise

Industry Specialization

Manager, Claims Consulting Services


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jo Ann Wood an Email

Jo Ann Wood has over 32 years’ claims industry experience, including eight years as a consultant to private entities, public entities, and risk pools nationwide. She specializes in claims management from claims intake through disposition. Her focus at Bickmore is claims consulting and auditing.

Prior to joining the firm, Jo Ann was the Claims Consulting Practice Leader for ARM Tech / Aon Global Risk Consulting, and served clients by performing claim audits, preparing procedure manuals, assisting with claim administration selections, and evaluating claim processes, staffing, and organization. Her focus is to ensure compliance with tort or workers’ compensation laws, claims administration and peripheral service contract terms, and industry best practices. Her expertise encompasses auto liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, professional liability, and property claims handling in multiple jurisdictions.

Jo Ann earned her Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University. She is certified by the California Department of Industrial Relations Self-Insurance Plans, and holds Adjustor Licenses in Arizona, Wyoming, and Texas.

Service Expertise

Claims Audits
Claims Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts

Director, Program Administration


Phone:
Contact Details


Email:
Click here to send Jeanette Workman an Email

As Director of Program Administration, Jeanette Workman is responsible for the oversight of 14 Joint Powers Authorities (JPA) and Self-Insurance Group (SIG) clients; budget preparation and attainment of revenue goals; and management of department personnel. She also assists in developing the department’s strategic plan and communicating that operational and strategic vision to staff. Additionally, Jeanette serves as Administrator of the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority, a joint powers authority consisting of 54 cities in the San Joaquin Valley, and as Assistant Administrator for the California Private Schools Self-Insurance Group.

Jeanette is a member of the California Institute of Public Risk Analysis (CIPRA), the Public Agency Risk Management Association (PARMA), and the Public Risk & Insurance Management Association (PRIMA). She holds an Associate in Risk Management from the Insurance Institute of America and a degree from Heald Business College.

Service Expertise

Program Management

Industry Specialization

Local Governments (Cities, Counties, Special Districts)  /  Universities and Colleges  /  Joints Powers Authorities (Self-Insurance)  /  Self-Insured Groups and Trusts