Serving NYS for Over 40 Years

PERMA provides a comprehensive approach to workplace safety and claim prevention by offering a full range of programs and services as part of membership.

Our association partners with public entities throughout New York State to deliver workplace safety and risk management solutions, as well as provide, strategic Workers’ Compensation coverage. PERMA has no profit margin, and no stockholders as we are a non-profit association created and governed by local officials.

Over 600 public entities

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Villages
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Towns
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Cities
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Counties
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Schools / BOCES
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Fire
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Water
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Special Districts

PERMA’s remarkable average member retention rate of 97% is evidence of our commitment to personal service and diligent attention to members’ needs, assigning a dedicated team to each member. We share the same goal: containing costs for public entities and taxpayers by reducing avoidable risks and expenses associated with workplace safety and Workers’ Comp.

Our Board of Directors is composed of municipal representatives elected by the PERMA membership and appointed state association representatives, who understand the constraints and risks involved with operating a public entity in today’s challenging environment.

History

PERMA, Public Employer Risk Management Association, Inc. is a member-owned, not-for-profit association of public entities providing risk management services and workers’ compensation coverage through a group self-insurance program. PERMA was founded in 1982 to provide local units of government with a cost-effective alternative to traditional workers’ compensation programs and to improve the quality of services provided to injured employees.

Our staff of approximately 80 professionals provides in-house claims management services, including nurse case management, risk management, coverage underwriting, and account management services.

PERMA serves over 600 municipalities and public entities across New York State. The membership contributes more than $50 million annually and PERMA has an asset base of over $300 million. Our commitment to financial transparency and ethics is apparent as we have been recognized with the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting every year since 2001 from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

More Than Workers’ Comp

Offering a full range of programs and services as part of membership.

Leadership Team

Overseeing PERMA Operations
Executive Director
Deputy Executive Director for External Relations
Deputy Executive Director, Operations
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Director, Human Resources
Director, Claims Operation
Director, Underwriting and Account Management
Director, Risk Management
Director, Information Technology

Board of Directors

PERMA is Governed by Public OfficialsElected by our Membership.
Jack Wheeler

Jack Wheeler

PERMA Board Chair & President
County Manager for Steuben County
3 East Pulteney Square
Bath, NY 14810
Ph 607-664-2245
Fax 607-664-2282
Beth Hunt

Beth Hunt

PERMA Board Vice Chair
Town Supervisor, Town of Wells
1438 State Route 30
PO Box 205
Wells, NY 12190
Ph 518-924-2781
Joseph Hogenkamp

Joseph Hogenkamp

PERMA Board Treasurer
Retired Treasurer for the City of Tonawanda
200 Niagara Street
Tonawanda, NY 14150
Ph 716-695-1800
Fax 716-695-8315
Damian M. Ulatowski

Damian M. Ulatowski

PERMA Board Secretary
Town Supervisor for the Town of Clay
Clay Town Hall
4401 State Route 31
Clay, NY 13041
Ph 315-652-3800
Fax 315-622-7259
Marcus Serrano

Marcus Serrano

PERMA Board Member
Administrator for the Village of Buchanan
236 Tate Avenue
Buchanan, NY 10511
Ph 914-737-1033
Fax 914-737-6587
Joseph Badala

Joseph Badala

PERMA Board Member
Fire District Manager for the North Patchogue Fire District & Fire Commissioner West Islip Fire District
33 Davidson Avenue
North Patchogue, NY 11772
Ph 631-475-1788
Fax 631-475-1430

309 Union Blvd
West Islip, NY 11795
Ph 631-661-6440
Stephen Acquario

Stephen Acquario

Appointed Board Member
NYSAC Executive Director
540 Broadway, 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12207
Ph 518-465-1473
Fax 518-465-0506
Bob Schneider

Bob Schneider

Appointed Board Member
NYSSBA Executive Director
24 Century Hill Drive, Suite 200
Latham, NY 12110
Ph 518-783-0200
Fax 518-783-02117

Member Spotlight

PERMA’s site assessment and consultation helped the Village of Wappingers Falls improve their business operations. The municipality formed a Safety Committee, created a safety manual, inspected each of their public buildings, and corrected 100% of safety hazards identified, earning PERMA’s Risk Management Award in 2021.

“Wappingers Falls’ Safety Committee did more than fix problems. They changed how the village leadership appoached their commitment to the safety and well-being of their employees and residents.”

– John Karge, Village Clerk

Our Partners

We’re proud to partner with these amazing organizations!