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PERMA provides municipal employers across New York State with the best possible workers' compensation coverage and risk management services for the most reasonable cost.
The largest self-insured provider of workers' compensation for New York State public entities.
Risk Management
Highlights
Regulatory training, both on-site and online
Consultation with industry specialists
Pool-wide and member-specific data analysis
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Christian Summers
Risk Services Program Manager
The PERMA risk management department benefits from a cutting edge approach to data usage that identifies and highlights specific opportunities for New York State municipal employers to mitigate risk. PERMA risk management takes a tailored approach when looking at members’ unique risks, advising the allocation of resources and providing solutions to reduce risk and injury while on the job. PERMA has made major investments to implement a focus on multidimensional claims data analysis, as well as gathering the best specialists in the industry.
PERMA risk management offers a variety of delivery methods for consultative training, safety information distribution, best practices development, and detailed data analytics reporting. PERMA methods have shown to decrease claim frequency and cost.
Highlights
Claim trend analysis on both a pool-wide and member-specific basis
Targeted training recommendations
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Debbie Stickle
Vice President of Risk Analytics
Through the use of specialized predictive modeling and data analytics, Vice President of Risk Analytics Debbie Stickle has transformed how PERMA risk services operate. Debbie is one of only 92 data analysts in the entire world who carries the prestigious Predictive Analytics certification from the University of California – Irvine.
Members can utilize Debbie’s considerable skills by requesting individualized risk profiles, which highlight opportune areas for improvement and then suggest targeted risk services to minimize injuries and keep costs down.
Highlights
OSHA/PESH regulatory training
PERMA Safety Institute (PSI), an online learning resource
PERMA DVD library
Distracted driver simulator
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Sigrid Vompa
Safety Training Coordinator
PERMA offers online and in-person training that satisfies specific regulatory annual training requirements for diverse departments, as well as providing additional assistance and training based on loss exposure level.
In addition, PERMA offers to members both an online safety training portal and a curated collection of videos. The DVD library, accessible via the PERMA website, housed almost 200 safety videos on topics that include disaster management, lockout/tagout, and sexual harassment.
The PERMA Safety Institute (PSI) is an online learning management resource for members who want to conduct their training and education on their own time. PSI has over 160 classes, tailored by municipal department, and available for assignment to employees by their employer. Each member can appoint group administrators to manage user accounts, assign courses, and monitor employee progress. Much of the annual refresher training required of municipalities by PESH can be completed through PSI.
Highlights
Police resources, including PTSD awareness and 207-c
Fire resources, including 207-a and data/injury analysis
DPW resources, including departmental best practices, management engagement, and internal policy review
Crossing guard training
Facility consultation
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Lew Moskowitz
Public Safety Risk Management Specialist
Ed Starowicz
Public Works Risk Management Specialist
PERMA relies on the knowledge and experience of Lew Moskowitz to improve operational safety and provide guidance to member police departments, fire departments, and schools. Lew leverages his 26 years in the criminal justice field to consult with departments on policies and procedures and craft overall risk management solutions.
And PERMA specialist Ed Starowicz is your resource for public works and management solutions. Ed’s decades of experience in quality improvement and safety management for public and private entities makes him a valuable asset to the PERMA membership.
Like police, many injuries that occur on school ground are the result of physical engagement with constituents. Determining ways to keep school staff safe with tailored services is a bourgeoning part of PERMA’s risk Management approach. From facility and policy recommendation, to the latest conflict de-escalation techniques, PERMA is developing solutions for our valued member school districts.
Highlights
Facility risk assessments
Claim trend identification and targeted training to address
Ergonomic analysis and training
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Sarah O’Brien
Risk Management Consultant
PERMA risk consultant Sarah O’Brien conducts facility risk assessments free-of-charge to ensure members are in compliance with State and Federal regulations. Facility assessments also help determine if members are following best practices from a procedural and operational standpoint. Sarah prepares administrators, safety coordinators, and department heads for PESH inspections and provides recommendations that promote the safest work environments.
Our Team
Debbie is responsible for leadership of the PERMA risk management and analytics team. She joined PERMA’s administration, Northeast Association Management, Inc. (NEAMI) in 2001 as an accountant, and was promoted over the years to senior accountant and assistant vice president of finance. In 2014, Debbie became the first employee of NEAMI’s risk analytics department, and has served as its director for the past three years. She received her certification in predictive analytics from University of California – Irvine in June 2017.
Christian assists in the development of risk management services for members of PERMA. He also oversees risk management support staff and contracted vendors, and works closely with the risk management team in analyzing data to develop education and training programs targeting areas of high risk. With years of association management experience and a strong public sector background, Christian understands the needs of member-driven organizations like PERMA.
Lew identifies hazards and works to reduce the risk of injury to those working in public safety and is an excellent resource for both basic questions and detailed data analysis. He has worked over three decades in the criminal justice field, most recently retiring as Chief of Police for the Town of Niskayuna from 2009. Lew graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1999 and is a member of regional, state and international Associations of Police Chiefs. Moskowitz is a resident of Niskayuna.
Ed can provide detailed data analysis for member public works departments, as well as suggest trainings and supply operational guidance. He retired from the Town of Pittsford after 14 years of service as the Deputy Commissioner of Public Works. Ed is a Six Sigma-certified Quality Improvement Facilitator, and holds numerous certifications and licenses, including Landfill Operations, Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) and 30-hour OSHA training.
Sarah O’Brien is responsible for conducting facility risk assessments and training required by federal and state labor safety agencies. She joined NEAMI in March 2014 as a case analyst, and moved from claims to risk management in 2016. Formerly, Sarah served as a public health specialist for the New York Department of Health, where her work focused on occupational injuries and illnesses, and as an environmental health associate for Columbia County (NY), where her work focused on injury prevention and control.
Sigrid has been providing support to PERMA members for nine years. Utilizing her strong relationships and wealth of knowledge regarding annual and ancillary training, Sigrid does the legwork to source, schedule, and coordinate trainings for PERMA members. She joined NEAMI in 2009 as a provider coordinator, and transitioned to member services before joining the risk management department in 2015. Prior to joining NEAMI, Sigrid spent seven years as a volunteer coordinator for WMHT, a regional public broadcaster.