RIMS WA Chapter Newsletter

A Word from Our Co-Presidents

Greetings RIMS Washington Chapter Members and Supporters!

We hope your fall is off to a great start! It’s hard to believe the holiday season is just around the corner. As we settle into our role as Co-Presidents, we’re excited about what lies ahead for the RIMS Washington Chapter. This fall has already been an exciting one, highlighted by the success of the Western RIMS Conference in Seattle. We’re proud of the opportunity to bring risk management professionals together from across the region and are grateful to everyone who helped make the event such a memorable experience.

Celebrating the Success of the Western Regional Conference

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Western Regional Conference such a success! Bringing an event of this scale to Seattle required significant planning, coordination, and collaboration, and we are incredibly proud of what our community accomplished.

We sincerely appreciate Sara Kern, our Western Regional Conference Liaison; Sharon Clark, Tracy Elliot, and Alison Frey for their leadership and dedication, and Jennifer Saliba, our conference organizer. We also thank the entire conference planning committee and the many volunteers who contributed their time, expertise, and energy to deliver a memorable experience for attendees. Your hard work helped showcase the strength of Washington’s risk management community and made our chapter proud.

We are equally grateful to our conference sponsors; especially Lockton, our lead sponsor. Your generous support helped make this event possible and demonstrated your commitment to advancing the risk management profession.

Thank you for investing in our community, supporting professional development, and helping create opportunities for our members to learn and connect.

Looking Ahead

While the Western Regional Conference was a highlight, our work to connect, educate, and support risk professionals continues throughout the year. Through educational programming, networking events, and opportunities for emerging professionals, RIMS Washington remains committed to creating a community where members can share ideas, build relationships, and grow in their careers. You can find additional details about upcoming events on the Meetings & Events section of our website.

Our chapter’s success depends on the participation and engagement of our members, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, and board. If you have an idea for a future program, would like to volunteer, or are interested in becoming more involved, we would love to hear from you; please don’t hesitate to contact us. Your contributions help shape the future of our chapter and ensure we continue delivering meaningful value to our members. If you are interested in sponsoring our future chapter activities, please visit the Sponsorship page of our website, or contact us here!

On behalf of the RIMS Washington Chapter, thank you for being part of this community and for your continued support. We look forward to building on the momentum of the Western Regional Conference and continuing to strengthen our profession together.

We hope to see you at our Holiday Bash on Thursday, December 10th for an evening of cheer, connection, and celebration!

Best,

Lyndsie Wright and Sean Hisey

RIMS Washington Chapter Co-Presidents

Meet Our 2026–2027 RIMS WA Chapter Leaders!

Want to contribute personally? Discover ways to volunteer with the chapter or participate on a committee here, or email us at president@warims.org.

Upcoming Events

Beyond the Premium: Rethinking the Total Cost of Risk

Join us on November 10^th for a timely virtual session on Total Cost of Risk (TCOR) that goes beyond insurance premiums to explore the real economics of risk. Hear a thought-provoking discussion on how organizations can better balance avoid, mitigate, retain, and transfer strategies; make smarter decisions about risk appetite and capital allocation; and prove the ROI of risk management investments. Attendees will leave with practical insights on measuring true TCOR, challenging traditional insurance-buying habits, and aligning risk decisions more closely with business priorities.

2026 Holiday Bash

The holiday season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with great company, festive drinks, and meaningful connections! Join the RIMS WA Chapter at Nomadic Wine Dispensary in Seattle for a memorable evening of holiday festivities. Enjoy delicious appetizers, drinks, and a warm, inviting atmosphere as we come together to celebrate the friendships, partnerships, and accomplishments that made this year special. Whether you're reconnecting with familiar faces or making new connections, we look forward to sharing an evening of laughter, holiday spirit, and celebration with our incredible risk management community! Special thanks to our generous sponsor, Lockton.

Explore more opportunities to connect by visiting our Meetings & Events page. We’re excited to continue bringing timely, valuable programming to our members and welcome your ideas for future sessions that matter to you.

Ways to Get Involved

Rising Risk Professionals

Are you 35 or younger, or do you have seven years or less of experience in the industry? Get added to our Rising Risk Professional (RRP) mailing list to enjoy exclusive invitations to socialize and learn in the company of your fellow RRPs.

Associate Chapter Only Membership

Did you know we offer an Associates (Vendors, Service Practitioners) Washington Chapter only membership? This will allow you to join Chapter events at a discounted rate in addition to other local member benefits, including:

Member only discounts on educational and networking events
Invitation to monthly educational events and annual Education Forum conference
Networking opportunities with local industry peers
Access to Chapter Roundtables and Rising Risk Professionals
Eligibility to volunteer for the RIMS Washington Board
Free local job posts on RIMS Washington website and LinkedIn group page
$150 annual fee

Visit our website to learn more and to submit a request for an Associate Washington Chapter Only Membership! Note, this option does not include any of the member benefits associated with global RIMS membership.

Local Job Postings

RIMS WA member organizations can post insurance and risk management job opportunities on our Chapter website at no cost. If you are interested in sharing a job opportunity, please email our Communications Directo r. Visit our website to learn about current local job opportunities!

Membership Corner

Ronnie Clariza

Director, Enterprise Risk Management

Premera Blue Cross

Why did you join RIMS Washington (i.e. community, education, networking, career requirement) and what are you hoping to get out of your membership?

I joined RIMS to strengthen my peer network, build upon my ERM expertise, obtain intel on emerging risks as well as gain meaningful insights and best practices that I can take back to my organization and put into practice.

Describe your career path and current role.

I recently joined Premera Blue Cross as Director of Enterprise Risk Management after over two decades in banking/financial services in various roles spanning corporate governance, banking and SOX compliance, internal audit and ERM. In my last position, I served as Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer for First Financial Northwest Bank until its acquisition in April 2025.

What is a local charity with a cause you support that you’d like to highlight?

Catholic Community Services of Western WA does great work, and they are dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals and families across the region with housing assistance, food security, behavioral health services and care for seniors.

Website: www.ccsww.org

Jerry Rice, CRIS, CLCS, CHA, CTA

Commercial Insurance Advisor

HUB International Northwest LLC

Why did you join RIMS Washington (i.e. community, education, networking, career requirement) and what are you hoping to get out of your membership?

I am looking for community, education, and networking opportunities with peers across the risk management spectrum.

Describe your career path and current role.

I came to risk management after a 25-year career in hospitality and asset management, primarily as a Hotel General Manager focused on new construction and renovations/repositioning, and a Convention Center Board Member and Senior Leader. In those roles, I was able to serve on nonprofit boards and work for the greater good in 7 US states. It was in this work that a HUB International owner/shareholder, and frequent hotel guest, recruited me. I am focused on a broad range of industries, including hospitality, real estate and non-profits, both locally and nationally.

What is a local charity with a cause you support that you’d like to highlight?

Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation PNW Chapter

Website: https://www.iicf.org/chapter-impact/pacific-northwest-chapter

Get Caught Up

RIMS WA has been busy hosting educational and networking events over the last few months. We thank the members who joined us and hope you have been enjoying our programming. Here are some recent highlights…

RIMS WA Summer Social

It was great to see so many risk management professionals come together for a July afternoon of networking and friendly competition on the pickleball courts. Events like these are a great reminder that some of the strongest professional relationships are built outside of a conference room.

A special thank you to FM for sponsoring, your support helped make this event possible and provided a wonderful opportunity for our members and industry partners to connect in a fun, relaxed setting.

Rising Risk Professionals: On Tap at Stoup!

Rising risk professionals came together In September at Stoup Brewing – Capitol Hill for a relaxed evening of networking, conversation, and building connections within the risk and insurance community. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you to 1970 Group for sponsoring the event and helping create opportunities for the next generation of risk professionals to connect and grow.

RIMS Western Regional Conference

The 2026 RIMS Western Regional Conference was held from October 4-7 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle, Washington. The event brought together industry professionals from across the western US to explore emerging industry challenges and opportunities. Centered on the theme "Navigating the Future of Risk," the conference featured educational sessions, industry insights, and networking opportunities designed to help organizations strengthen their risk management strategies, share best practices, and build valuable professional connections.

We are so appreciative of our sponsors, speakers, planning committee, conference organizer, and everyone who helped make RIMS Western Regional 2026 a success!

Thank You to Our 2026 Chapter Sponsors

Thank you to our 2026 sponsors, your partnership supports our programs and member experiences. To sustain and expand these high value offerings for our members, we invite organizations to join us as Chapter Sponsors. Partner with us and play a direct role in shaping meaningful programming for Washington’s risk and insurance community!

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