Submitted by Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc. – Loss Control Department
Every year Preferred Loss Control provides recognition to Preferred Members that have exemplified, fostered, and promoted sound safety and Risk Management practices within their organization.
Preferred members are eligible for two types of awards and are nominated by their respective Regional Loss Control Consultant.
The Risk Management Professional of the Year Award is awarded to the Risk Manager that has demonstrated outstanding performance in the practice of risk management as well as the promotion of the risk management profession.
The Safety and Risk Management Member of the Year award is awarded to a member that has demonstrated continuous improvement through the best practices of accident prevention and claims management as measured by
the performance of their organization’s insurance program.
Please join us in congratulating this year’s award winners for their outstanding efforts.
Risk Management Professional of the
Year – 2021
- City of St. Cloud - Joe Etter
- St. Lucie County Fire District - Carol Spencer
- City of Treasure Island - Tiffany Makras
Safety and Risk Management Member of the
Year – 2021
- Florida Keys Mosquito Control District
- St. Johns River Water Management District
- City of Dania Beach
JOE ETTER, RISK MANAGER - CITY OF ST. CLOUD
Risk Management Professional of the Year – 2021
During his tenure with the City of St. Cloud, Joe has demonstrated consistent and outstanding performance in the practice of risk management as well as service to the risk management profession.
Joe’s accomplishments are many and include reducing the City’s insurance cost by revamping their Workers’ Compensation insurance program, re-establishing the safety committee, developing safety policies and procedures, as well as aggressively pursuing claims to achieve positive outcomes.
He also has conducted thorough accident investigations to determine cause and corrective action to prevent reoccurrence, provided safety training to staff, performed safety inspections, and continues to promote the advancement of risk management to protect personnel and property
for the City of St. Cloud.
Pictured: (L to R) Joe Etter, Risk Manager; Bill Sturgeon, City Manager – City of St. Cloud
Pictured: (L to R) Deputy Chief Mike Merritt; Fire Chief Nate Spera; Carol Spencer, Risk Manager – St. Lucie County Fire District; Mike Marinan, Director of Member Services – Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc.
CAROL SPENCER, RISK MANAGER - ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT
Risk Management Professional of the Year – 2021
Carol has only recently become a Risk Manager, but it did not take her long to make a big impression. She has enthusiastically embraced handling the risk management responsibilities for the St. Lucie County Fire District.
The District is the largest stand-alone fire district in Florida and the exposure is immense. Carol oversees the District’s safety committee meetings and actively looks to improve policies and procedure where she finds deficiencies.
She is an avid user of the resources that are available to the District including the Preferred TIPS Program and Vector Solutions. Carol is collaborating with PGCS and Vector Solutions to enhance the claims management process.
Since her tenure began, she has reduced the District’s Experience Modifier by 17 points.
St. Lucie Fire implemented a contractual Risk Transfer program ensuring that all 3rd party providers have appropriate insurance in place and properly indemnify the District. Carol has made a great start in her position and Preferred, local citizens, and firefighters in the field appreciate her efforts to enhance Safety.
TIFFANY MAKRAS, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR – CITY OF TREASURE ISLAND
Risk Management Professional of the Year – 2021
Tiffany’s dedication to risk management was evidenced by her continuous efforts to improve the risk management function at the City of Treasure Island.
This included working with their safety committee to establish new priorities more relevant to risk management/safety, providing safety training as well as addressing outstanding claims issues and concerns.
Her dedication, diligence and determination proved to be transformational resulting in positive changes to risk management for the City of Treasure Island.
Pictured: (L to R) Tiffany Makras, Human Resources Director – City of Treasure Island; Pam Hancock, Senior Risk Control Consultant – Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc.
FLORIDA KEYS MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT
Safety and Risk Management Member of the Year – 2021
Under the direction of Juliana Waldrop, District Safety Coordinator, the District has taken their safety programming and risk management initiatives from “Paper to Practice” while operating under the mandate of continuing to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic all the while keeping the entire staff safe from injury/illness.
Pictured: (L to R) Andrea Leal, FKMCD Director; Jill Cranny, FKMCD Commissioner; Stanley Zuba, FKMCD Vice-Chair; Brandon Pinder, FKMCD Secretary/Treasurer, Phil Goodman, FKMCD Chairman; Tom McDonald, FKMCD Commissioner; (Center Front) Juliana Waldrop, FKMCD Quality Assurance/Safety Coordinator
Pictured: (L to R) David Sielaff, Occupational Health and
Safety Officer – SJRWMD; Mike Marinan, Director of
Member Services – Public Risk Underwriters of Florida, Inc.
ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Safety and Risk Management Member of the Year – 2021
David Sielaff, Occupational Health and Safety Officer for St. Johns River WMD accepted the award on behalf of the District.
David has offered and provided his technical assistance to several other Water Control Districts in Florida who don’t have a designated Safety Professional. He has just completed his Boat and ATV training.
David conducts water rescue training at multiple locations in the North Central and Northeast portions of the state. He has developed a driving training module for new employees at their orientation.
The District has actively engaged with Preferred Loss Control services and support including the Preferred TIPS program and the Vector Solutions online training platform.
CITY OF DANIA BEACH
Safety and Risk Management Member of the Year – 2021
The City makes safety a top priority and has worked through the many challenges of COVID-19 while continuing to improve safety programming and risk management initiatives.
This included forming a safety committee, updating their safety manual, providing safety training, conducting claims reviews as well as developed an application, “Ask Dania Beach” that allows employees to report unsafe conditions from their phone/computer. The app is based on the “See Something Say Something” safety campaign that reduces accidents and improves the culture of safety.
Pictured: (L to R – Back Row) Deputy Taryn Session; Fire Chief Sergio Pellecer; Vice-Chair Anthony Ifedi; Corry Taylor – Public Services; Rafael Acosta – Chair; Willis Washington – Public Services; Luis Borgos – Public Services; Linda Gonzalez – HR Director/Sponsor; Deputy Hoff; (L to R – Front Row) Taneisha Gaines – Finance; Debbie Sabino – Community Development; Bendra Caseneuve – Secretary
Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District Awarded FASD Safety Award for 2021
Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District was nominated by Preferred Loss Control and awarded with the Florida Association of Special
Districts (FASD) 2021 Safety Award at the 2021 FASD annual conference.
The District was the recipient of this award for their efforts in taking their safety program from “Paper to Practice”. This includes implementation of the Best Practices of Accident Prevention by conducting regular safety training, conducting documented accident investigations to determine cause and corrective action to prevent reoccurrence, conducting quarterly Safety Committee Meetings to monitor the effectiveness of their Safety Program, conducting documented safety inspections to identify unsafe conditions/behavior that could contribute to an accident as well as provide for a program of continuous safety improvement to maintain a culture of safety at the District.
Pictured: (L to R – Back Row) Ross Keith, Operations Manager; Rick Musgrove, Operations Supervisor; Ken Roundtree, Director of Operations; Michelle Hahn, Information Systems Specialist; Eric Vincent, Operations Manager; (L to R – Front Row) Salvatore Corrias, Field Tech II; Laura Ham, Budget Manager; Vicki Loeb, Customer Service Rep. & Fiscal Specialist; Jon Iles, Operations Manager
Pictured: (L to R) Jim Millican, FASD President; Rena Smart, Admin Director for Tice Fire Protection & Rescue District accepting award at the 2021 FASD Annual Conference
Tice Fire Protection & Rescue District Awarded FASD District of the Year Award for 2021
Tice Fire Protection and Rescue District was the recipient of the 2021 Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD) District of the Year Award.
The award is presented to a District which works in a team effort to achieve and surpass all priority goals while staying within budget guidelines, and meeting and/or exceeding expectations. Chief Ross and his staff have done an outstanding job of working together along with the Board Members in achieving their annual goals while providing fire suppression and emergency medical services to the community they serve.
South Florida Conservancy District Manager Awarded FASD District Manager of the Year Award for 2021
David Davis, District Manager, South Florida Conservancy District, was awarded the Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD), District Manager of the Year Award for 2021 at the FASD annual conference. This award is presented to the District Manager who demonstrates the most innovative approach to problem solving while working within budgetary guidelines/constraints to achieve district goals and objectives.
District Manager Davis manages seven water control districts comprised of 339 miles of canals, 28 pump stations housing a total of 72 pumps/engines. Working directly with the seven district boards to coordinate their monthly board meetings, District Manager Davis ensures that each district is compliant with state statutes related to special districts, public records, financial reporting, and open government (Sunshine Law) requirements. As such, operating with a small, efficient, and motivated staff, District Manager Davis continues to do an excellent job with the management and operations of the facilities in each district, which is a year-round effort that varies between water supply for irrigation, flood protection, and conservation.
Pictured: (L to R) Bonnie Anderson, Finance Manager; Kenny Knaack, District Superintendent; David Davis, District Manager; Tiffiny Helvey, Administrative Assistant