During the recent Oregon City/County Management Association (OCCMA) summer conference in Bend, CIS’ Executive Director Patrick Priest provided a $2,500 grant for the OCCMA’s senior advisors.

The City of Ashland’s Interim City Manager Gary Millman accepted the grant as his fellow senior advisors Dan Bartlett, David Clyne, and Dave Kanner looked on. All of the senior advisors were praised for their outstanding leadership. Senior advisors not in attendance were Wes Hare, Larry Lehman, Sheila Ritz, and Dave Waffle.

Apart from Gary Milliman, the Senior Advisors are retired county administrators and city managers who travel around the state to support county and city leaders. These trusted advisors volunteer their time to offer confidential, professional advice and support. Some of the ways they help include:

  •         Sharing how best to work collaboratively with their elected officials;
  •         Providing creative ideas on how to best respond to local controversies; and
  •         Providing thoughtful answers to general management questions.

The $2,500 CIS grant pays for out-of-pocket expenses such as mileage, meals, and hotel stays for the senior advisors as they travel across Oregon helping city and county leaders. CIS supports the senior advisors because of the OCCMA’s strong commitment to encourage solid risk management services to its cities and counties. The OCCMA’s advisors provide real world, practical advice.

Today’s county administrators are making critical decisions that can have huge impacts on claims. CIS, much like the senior advisors, help cities through tough times. It’s the primary reason CIS exists. Their goal is to be a one stop shop for coverages — whether it’s property, casualty, or employee benefit solutions.

Beyond the affordable and comprehensive coverage tailored to Oregon’s counties and cities, CIS stands with counties and their managers in good times and bad. When leaders need a hand, CIS’ experts, including employment attorneys, risk managers, law enforcement consultants, and benefits representatives, are there to help. It is that emphasis on expert and personalized assistance that draws CIS to the Senior Advisor program. The advisors provide real world, practical advice and serve as mentors.

“OCCMA’s senior advisors support county administrators on a personal and professional level — all while developing strong friendships,” according to Priest. “Just like CIS is there for our members, the senior advisors are too. Their strong loyalty to these county leaders feels a lot like family.”

Both CIS and the senior advisors are keeping insurance costs down. CIS is committed to this because as a self-insured program — owned by CIS members — any savings strengthen the overall risk pool. By working together, CIS will help keep Oregon’s counties and cities be safer, stronger, and healthier.

Background

AOC has a long history with CIS, creating the insurance risk pool (with the help of the League of Oregon Cities) back in 1981. This year, CIS celebrates its 40th anniversary. AOC helped create the not-for-profit risk pool out of necessity after large commercial insurers stopped offering affordable insurance to Oregon’s counties and cities. Today, CIS serves 78 percent of Oregon counties and 98 percent of cities with at least one line of coverage. 

Contributed by: Bill LaMarche | CIS Public and Member Relations Manager