PARMA E-Newsletter

In This Issue:

PARMA Member Spotlight
2024 Susan Eldridge PARMA Conference Scholarship
Ask Larry
PARMA Board of Directors Nominations
Upcoming Chapter Events

PARMA Member Spotlight - Jenny Thompson

Tell me about how you became involved with risk management?

Mostly by accident, like many other risk managers! Prior to working with the County of Fresno, I spent nearly ten years in the Army working in signals intelligence. Throughout my Army career, I had many ancillary safety-related duties, serving as the Safety Officer at both the Company and Battalion levels for several years. In my final position with the Army, I oversaw the Security and Intelligence section, responsible for physical, information, personal, and operational security, dealing with various risk-related functions in the military environment.

Susan Eldridge

PARMA Conference Scholarship

Deadline October 7

PARMA’s vision is to assist Public Entity Risk Managers in achieving success in their careers and to provide Public Entities with the support they need to make their Risk Managers successful. With this in mind we design a conference to provide quality education and training in all the aspects of risk management. To help assist in funding, PARMA offers scholarships for the conference from both PARMA as an association and also through its chapters.

The Susan Eldridge PARMA Conference Scholarship is for eligible public entity employees. The scholarship includes conference registration, room accommodations at the lowest priced option for Conference host hotel for a maximum of three room nights, paid directly by PARMA, and round trip travel at the IRS mileage rate or airfare, not to exceed $600.

The scholarship application deadline is Monday, October 7.

Apply Now

Ask Larry

Question: What ways do you feel Risk is best served by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Great question! I think everyone has certainly heard of Artificial Intelligence (AI) but just to make sure everyone understands what it does, AI is essentially the development of computer systems that are capable of performing tasks that in the past required human intelligence. Tasks like making decisions, identifying patterns, and recognizing speech. It’s amazing how quickly it has arrived but it’s also the wave of the future so we’d all better get used to it!

In regards to how risk management can best be served by AI, tasks that many of us do ourselves can be significantly improved through the use of AI. AI can help us with predictive analytics which can enable organizations to foresee and mitigate potential risks. They do this through the use of machine-learning algorithms that can analyze historical data to identify patterns and anomalies much much faster than we can perform manually, leading to more accurate risk assessments (who needs Excel when you have AI!).

Additionally, AI-driven automation streamlines compliance processes and reduces human error, ensuring adherence to regulations. Natural language processing tools monitor news and social media for emerging risks, providing real-time insights. Furthermore, AI-powered systems facilitate quicker decision-making by offering data-driven recommendations and scenario analysis. Got that?

In a nutshell, AI can very quickly and efficiently look at many risks facing your organization and compile numerous recommendations to mitigate risks which can help us make quicker decisions that should positively impact the overall financial health of your organization. Are there downsides to AI? I think it’s a waiting game on that question since AI is still so relatively new. We’ll just have to wait and see I suppose. However, I do believe that AI training and human oversight play an imperative role in the use of AI. As we all know computers are not always 100% accurate. Thanks for the question.

Board of Directors Nominations

Deadline December 2

Interested in Joining the PARMA Board? Nominations Are Now Open!

If you are a primary contact of a public-entity PARMA member who is currently employed or a lifetime member, we invite you to consider nominating yourself for a PARMA Board Director position.

Nomination Deadline: All applications must be submitted by December 2, 2024.

How to Apply:

Review the Nomination Criteria: Ensure you meet the qualifications for a PARMA Board Director.
Click the link below and complete the Nomination Form by the December 2 deadline.

Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to PARMA's mission and make a positive impact on our community.

Nominating Criteria

Only an individual permanently and directly employed by a Public Entity Member or a Life Member of PARMA are eligible to serve as a director. A Life Member who becomes employed by or contracted by an associate or prospective associate member will not be eligible to hold office.

A qualified candidate has served as either a chapter director or chapter officer for a minimum of two (2) consecutive years. If there is a limited pool of qualified candidates, the Nominating Committee may consider individuals who’ve demonstrated prior experience serving in a board position for another risk management association.

The Nominating Committee will consider geographic and/or chapter diversity as well as employment of candidates. Consideration will be given to limiting the number of individuals from the same chapter or same Public Entity to no more than two (2). Exceptions will be considered when there is a limited pool of qualified candidates.

Nomination Criteria

The following, non-exclusive, factors will also be considered by the Nomination Committee in determining the qualifications of the candidates:

length of employment in the risk management field;
candidate's statement of goals and objectives as a PARMA director (supporting PARMA's goals and objectives);
ability to devote necessary time and energy to duties of a director; and,
employer’s support of candidate's time dedicated to PARMA activities.

Questions?

Please direct questions to Executive Director, Gloria Peterson at 1-844-GO-PARMA (1-844-467-2762) x104 or by e-mail at ed@parma.com.

The Nomination Committee will recommend the most highly qualified candidates to the PARMA Board of Directors and the membership at the annual conference in February 2025. The election of directors will follow the Nomination Committee report.

Apply Now

Upcoming PARMA Chapter Events

Tue, September 17, 2024

San Diego Imperial Valley Chapter Fall Meeting

Wed, September 18, 2024

Gold Coast Chapter Meeting

Wed, September 18, 2024

Central Valley Chapter Networking Event

Thu, September 26, 2024

Southern California Chapter Meetin g

Thu, October 17, 2024

Central Valley Chapter Fall Mini-Conference and Social