 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Risk control, underwriting specialists join staff The NCACC's new risk control manager knows a thing or two about safety. Before joining the NCACC's Risk Management Pools in the newly created position on Nov. 17, Robert Poole was in Iraq, performing risk control and some engineering work on the U.S. Embassy.  His experience in the risk management industry has taken Poole all over the world to perform work for companies as large as Halliburton. He has also worked up and down the East Coast, through Texas to California, in part developing safety programs and policies for counties and municipalities. But the stress of living in a dangerous place such as Baghdad and fast-paced Washington, D.C., had taken its toll on him, said the Wilson native. Poole had wanted to return home before learning of the NCACC's opening and speaking with Risk Management Director Lester Nixon. "We did our initial interview from Baghdad," he said. In the position, Poole will develop safety policies and programs, identify liability exposures, and provide recommendations and training to minimize Pool members' risk. Previously, the Association contracted with an outside vendor to provide the services. "I think this will be a neat challenge," he said. "We're going to be working with counties directly to help them reduce losses and keep losses down."  Several new positions have been created as the NCACC Risk Management Pools continue to bring Loss Control and Underwriting and Administration services in-house. Richard Barnes, who joined the NCACC in mid-October as underwriting manager, brought in two former co-workers, Jo-Ann West and Willie Allen, to serve as underwriters. West, who assumed her new position Nov. 14, has 28 years of underwriting experience, including 15 years in the eastern half of North Carolina. For the Association, she will work with members of the Liability & Property and Workers' Compensation pools to assess risk, review and write policies, and ensure compliance with underwriting policies for the Southeast and Northeast areas of the state. West said that she wanted to shift her work out of the private sector. "It's not just underwriting," said the New Jersey native. "There's a lot of customer service involved." West hit the ground running; her first day coincided with a Risk Management regional membership meeting in Catawba County, where she began to get to know some of the county officials with whom she will be working.  Allen, who will cover the western and Piedmont areas of the state, came on board Dec. 1. The Los Angeles native has 21 years of experience in the risk management field. He said he treasures the opportunity to be part of a team that is in some ways starting an underwriting operation from the ground-up. "I like the idea of being part of a new venture," he said. |