California JPIA

Steven Albrecht, Albrecht Training and Development
Steven Albrecht is the managing partner for Albrecht Training and Development, a San Diego-based training, coaching, and management consulting firm. He is internationally known for his work in high-risk employee behavioral issues, workplace security concerns, and the prevention of occupational violence. Dr. Albrecht holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of San Diego, a master's degree in Security Management from Webster University, and a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.) from California Coast University. He has been a trainer for over 17 years and is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) by the Society for Human Resource Management; a Certified Protection Professional (CPP); and a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress (BCETS). He is board-certified as a Certified Hypnotherapist and has received over 48 hours training in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD).

Jeff Bills, Confidence Consulting
Jeff K. Bills is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant, author, and facilitator known for his work on issues and topics related to integrity based leadership. He works with CEO's, Boards and executive leadership teams in developing leadership strategies that result in high levels of trust. Prior to establishing Confidence Consulting, Mr. Bills spent twenty seven years in health care administration. During that time he served ten years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Mary's Health, in Reno, Nevada, and seventeen years with Scripps Health, in La Jolla, California, where he was the Chief Executive at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, the flagship hospital in the Scripps system. While leading both organizations, Jeff demonstrated the ability to build strong and effective teams and working relationships, resulting in outstanding quality and efficiencies. Both organizations were extremely successful. On two separate occasions, both Scripps and Saint Mary's received the highest employee satisfaction scores on nationally administered surveys. Jeff was raised on the peninsula in the State of Washington, is a graduate of Brigham Young University where he played baseball, was a David O. McKay Scholar and attended the Marriott School of Management. He and his wife Leigh Ann have been married for thirty two years and reside in Provo, Utah. They have three children and two grandchildren.

John Blacklock, Center for Regional & Continuing Education
John Blacklock, with 25 years of experience in state and local government, retired in 2001 after 9 years as Butte County Chief Administrative Officer. He remains active in his retirement as a government affairs consultant and as President of the Butte College Foundation. He served as Project Consultant for the Local Government Leadership Institute at the University of California, Chico during its formative stages.

Scott Burton, Safety Play, Inc.
Scott travels the US performing audits, teaching classes and providing expert witness testimony in related legal actions. Scott is S.A.F.E. Certified by the National Program for Playground Safety and has performed almost 2,600 playground site audits. He also owned and operated Florida's largest playground and recreational equipment manufacturing company for 11 years, and has provided expert witness testimony in nearly 300 liability lawsuits. Scott is an active voting member of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), writes national standards for playgrounds, sports safety and amusement rides, and is on the National Safe Kids Subcommittee on Playground and Trampoline Safety.

Rebecca Cameron, Sunrise Physical Therapy Services, Inc.
Rebecca Cameron has been performing ergonomic evaluations, trainings, and equipment assessments with Sunrise Physical Therapy Services, Inc. and Sunrise Ergonomics for eight years. She is a Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist. Sunrise provides approximately 1000 ergonomic interventions and trainings each year to a variety of client companies including both private and public entities. Rebecca has been an integral part of the entire ergonomic division, including working with ergonomic equipment development, troubleshooting, and procurement. She works with office personnel, custodial, maintenance, grounds, transportation, and cafeteria/kitchen employees and assists them with their ergonomic needs. Prior to working with Sunrise Rebecca has several years experience working as an instructor and trainer within the aeronautical industry.

Steve Damewood, Damewood Consulting Group
Steve Damewood is an independent consultant for both private and public agencies. He has more than 30 years of experience in occupational safety and health. He has served as a safety manager with a local oil refinery and a large construction company. Steve is a designated expert witness in both civil and workers' compensation courts, a Registered Safety Administrator, and has a Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health from Orange Coast College and Personnel Management from UC Irvine.

Timothy Davis, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
Timothy Davis is chairman and partner of the Labor and Employment Law Practice Group of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, and a member of the Trial and Advocacy Practice Group. Tim has tried to verdict several employment cases in federal and state courts and conducted over 60 employment arbitrations. He routinely defends employers in litigation matters in actions involving state and federal law. Mr. Davis has represented both public and private clients in claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and constitutional rights violations. Tim has also negotiated numerous labor agreements between cities and their employee groups, including police, fire, general employees and management groups. He received his B.A. degree Cum Laude in Integral Studies from Saint Mary's College of California in 1992 and his J.D. degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 1995.

Butch DeFillippo, PlaySafe, LLC
Sam "Butch" DeFillippo is the managing partner for PlaySafe, LLC, an international recreation consulting firm. He has more than 18 years experience working in the recreation field for municipal government. While working for the City of Rio Rancho, he has been in the unique position of working in a department from its creation. He has held almost every position within the department from Lifeguard to Department Director. Butch holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in Recreation Administration from the University of New Mexico. He also has the following certifications: NPSI Certified National Playground Safety Inspector, National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Certified Recreation & Parks Professional (CPRP) and Stranco Public Pool Operator Certification.

Bernadette Edwards, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley
The University of California Institute of Transportation Studies Technology Transfer Program provides training for persons who are responsible for designing traffic control zones and directing traffic through construction and maintenance work sites. Workshop instructors have extensive experience with maintenance and construction projects on the state's streets, roads, and highways.

Steve Filarsky, Filarsky & Watt LLP
Steve Filarsky is a partner in the law firm of Filarsky & Watt, LLP. The firm specializes in representing public sector employers statewide in all matters pertaining to employment relations. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science/Public Administration, graduating Magna cum Laude, from Loyola University of Los Angeles. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law, graduating with honors. Before becoming an attorney, he was responsible for the labor relations program of the City of Garden Grove for 3-1/2 years. Prior to that, he was employed by the City of Manhattan Beach. His experience includes representing management in labor-related cases before the California Supreme Court, the California Courts of Appeal, California Superior Courts, the U.S. District Court, U.S. Ninth Court of Appeals, The National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employments and Housing, and various local government administrative hearing bodies and hearing officers.

Gordon Graham, Graham Research Consultants
Gordon Graham is a 28 year veteran of California Law Enforcement. During his tenure as a police professional, he was awarded his Teaching Credential from California State University, Long Beach. He was later graduated from University of Southern California with a MasterÕs Degree in Safety and Systems Management. Subsequent to this he was graduated from Western State University with a Juris Doctorate. His education as a Risk Manager and experience as a practicing Attorney, coupled with his extensive background in law enforcement, have allowed him to rapidly become recognized as a leading professional speaker with multiple areas of expertise. Throughout his career, he has centered his efforts in providing knowledge to both public and private sector organizations in the area of Organizational and Operational Risk Management, Civil Liability, Professionalism, Ethical Decision Making, and related topics. Instead of focusing solely in after incident-damage control, he focuses his efforts in the prevention of mistakes through his risk management-based training program SROVT (Solid Realistic Ongoing Verifiable Training). He teaches employees, supervisors, and managers why things generally go wrong, and how to prevent these unfortunate situations from happening. He follows up his prevention efforts with a dynamic presentation on how to recognize the incidents that have a likelihood of ending up in litigation. He concludes his program with a detailed examination on how to prove proper conduct. Additionally, Gordon has developed the CATSINRO approach to the elimination of Sexual Harassment in the workplace. This is the only program that combines legal aspects of this topic with a risk management approach to elimination of such incidents prior to occurrence. Each of his presentations includes the appropriate written 'rules' for the topic covered. These risk management rules allow the informed listener to make immediate, progressive changes in operations to better protect themselves and their organization.

Jody Gray, Southern California Risk Management Associates, Inc.
Jody Gray has over 16 year's experience in the Workers' Compensation claims industry. She is experienced in managing and coordinating the workers' compensation claims administration programs for both private and public insured and self-insured entities. Jody is currently President of SCRMA, Inc., a Workers' Compensation Third-Party Administrator.

Jim Gross, California JPIA
Jim Gross is the senior risk consultant at the California JPIA. Jim has 18 years of experience in risk management, and has an expertise in both the occupational and non-occupational disability arenas. Jim worked for various insurance carriers and brokers prior to his 12-year tenure as Corporate Risk Manager in the private sector. Jim holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Scott Grossberg, Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse
Scott Grossberg is a founding partner in the California law firm of Cihigoyenetche, Grossberg & Clouse providing, among other things, legal services and advice to public entities and their employees. He holds a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Theatre Arts from California State Polytechnic University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of La Verne College of Law. He is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of California, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Scott is a favorite presenter among law enforcement clients including the Department of the Navy, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the San Bernardino and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Departments. He has been a featured speaker for the California JPIA on numerous topics including design immunity, handling tort claims, and police civil liability.

Diana Henderson, The Henderson Group
Diana Henderson is an independent consultant for the Henderson Group. She has been involved in the area of workers' compensation and integrated disability management since the mid-1980's. Prior to starting her own consulting practice, she has worked in the insurance brokerage and corporate communities. Diana holds a bachelor's degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from the University of La Verne.

Sandra Holt, 4th Street Seminars
For over 20 years, Sandra Holt has enjoyed coaching and encouraging writers -- from junior high through graduate school, law school, and beyond -- on ways to get going with a writing project and ways to improve their writing once they have begun. She has a master's degree and bachelor's degree in Literature with an emphasis in Composition, from California State University, Fullerton. She has been the director of two university writing centers. She is a Fellow of the University of California Irvine Writing Project and President of 4th Street Seminars.

Kristine Kwong, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Kristine Kwong is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. Kristine is an experienced labor and employment law attorney who represents both private and public sector employers in federal and state courts throughout California in counseling and litigation. She has been heavily involved in matters pertaining to the California Occupational Safety & Health Administration (Cal/OSHA), and has litigated numerous administrative hearings on behalf of employers. Kristine joined Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP in April 2005. She was previously a senior associate with the Los Angeles law firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore where she specialized in labor and employment law. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside and a Juris Doctorate from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific. She is a prolific and sought-after trainer. She regularly produces and presents training programs for employers throughout the state of California on current issues of employment law, particularly in the area of government mandated programs such as the FMLA, FEHA, CFRA, PDL, and ADA.

Jamie Mason, Sunrise Physical Therapy Services, Inc.
Jamie Mason, Sunrise Physical Therapy Services, Inc. Jamie Mason is a registered physical therapist with 15 years of clinical experience along with injury prevention expertise. She is the owner and practicing clinician at two physical therapy clinics in Ventura County. Jamie provides injury prevention programs for numerous companies and organizations in highly diverse settings that include public works, schools, health care facilities, manufacturing/processing, kitchens, offices, maintenance facilities, and newspaper companies.

Marsha McNamara, American Red Cross
The American Red Cross provides certified instructors who receive standardized instructor training and are highly qualified. The handout materials used by the instructors for training are developed in collaboration with leading educational and medical authorities and reflect the most current information and techniques.

Sharon Perlstein, City of West Hollywood
Sharon Perlstein is a California registered professional civil engineer with 21 years of practice in Public Works. Her experience has involved the design, construction, operation, inspection, and maintenance of highways, sewers, storm drains, traffic signals, and street lighting; management of municipal compliance with environmental programs such as NPDES and AB939; as well as plan checking and permit construction for private developer and utility company projects impacting public right-of-way infrastructure. For the past 14 years, she has been the City Engineer for the City of West Hollywood. Her earlier experience was with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. She holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Davis.

John Perry, Human Productivity Systems
John Perry is President of Human Productivity Systems (HPS), a consulting company specializing in helping organizations and its leaders create a future of their choice by assessing, harnessing, and focusing human energy. He developed the JPEA to help gather information about key work-related perceptions and preferences, translating the results into an assessment of human energy in the workplace. For more than 2 years prior to founding HPS, John was employed by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center as an aerospace engineer, physicist, engineering manager, project manager, financial manager, and management systems consultant. John has a MBA in Management Decision Systems from the University of Southern California and a BS in Mathematics from Florida A&M University.

Melanie Poturica, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Melanie Poturica has been with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore since the firm's inception in 1980. She has been its Managing Partner since 1996. Her responsibilities include the overall management of the firm's financial, legal, training, and personnel activities. She also oversees the firm's strategic planning. Melanie is a vigorous litigator with an extensive background in lawsuits involving discrimination and harassment, as well as disciplinary and due process issues, and other employment law topics. She has successfully represented many clients (including cities, school and special districts) in arbitrations, and in administrative hearings before arbitrators, hearing officers, personnel boards and civil service commissions. Also, she has been instrumental in developing nationally renowned training programs. Melanie received her law degree at the University of Southern California, where she distinguished herself as a finalist in Oral Advocacy in the Hale Moot Court program. She received her bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, San Diego, graduating with highest honors. Melanie is currently serving on the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Executive Committee of its Labor and Employment Law Section. She also co-chairs the public sector section of the Labor and Employment Law Section, and serves as a member of the Labor and Employment Law Symposium Committee.

Ron Rakich, CPCU, ARM, Ron Rakich & Associates
Ron Rakich is an independent consultant. He began his risk management career as a loss control representative in a school transportation fleet. Later, he became the risk manager for the fourth largest U.S. Public School System. From public agency risk management, he joined the emerging pooling movement. He became Risk Management Services Director of a group self-insurance pool with more than 1,100 member entities and over $200 million in annual contributions. He has been a risk management consultant since 1985, serving a wide variety of client companies and industries, but specializing in public entities. Ron holds the Charted Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Houston.

Diana J. Rich, California JPIA
Diana J. Rich has over 28 years of multi-faceted risk and insurance management experience, including a comprehensive knowledge in all areas of workers' compensation programs for California. She has worked as a claims adjuster and supervisor, account executive for a large regional insurance brokerage, and manager of legal assistants for a workers' compensation defense firm. She has been in risk management since 1992 for employers in the publishing, hospitality and temporary staffing industries. Diana has been involved with the Orange County Chapter of RIMS as a board member and past president, and as a speaker at national and local RIMS conferences.

David Royer, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Berkeley
David Royer is a professional engineer with more than 30 years experience with the City of Los Angeles in traffic and highway engineering. For the last 20 years, he has been an instructor for the University of California Berkeley, Institute of Transportation Studies. His professional engineering licenses include Civil Engineer and Traffic Engineer. David has a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from California State University, Long Beach. He received a certificate in Engineering Management for Public Works from the University of California at Los Angeles, a certificate in Transportation System Management from the University of California at Irvine, and a certificate in Management for Technical Personnel from the University of California at Los Angeles, Anderson School of Business Managment.

Carl Sandstrom, California JPIA
Prior to joining the California JPIA, Carl worked in the field of operational risk management in the finance industry for 17 years. He has been a valuable member of the California JPIA's risk management team since 2003. Carl holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the San Diego State University and has also earned the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.

Jonathan Shull, California JPIA
Jon Shull is Executive Director of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority. His responsibilities with the CALIFORNIA JPIA include general administration, policy development, member communications, and marketing. Mr. Shull has focused his career in the public sector. Prior to joining the California JPIA in 1995, he worked in the city manager's office of the cities of San Luis Obispo, Cerritos and Signal Hill, California, and the Mayor's Office in Syracuse, New York. Mr. Shull earned his Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in 1986 and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in 1985. He received his Associate in Risk Management designation from the Insurance Institute of America in 1997

Forrest Story, Public Sector Excellence
Forrest Story is principal consultant for Public Sector Excellence (PSE), an organizational development and training firm founded in 1991 that specializes in helping public sector employees, supervisors, managers, and leaders build excellence in their organizations and in the services they provide. He helps clients address the unique opportunities and challenges that public sector organizations face. Prior to founding PSE, Forrest spent 23 years working in the public sector, 20 of which were in managerial and supervisory positions. Forrest holds a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's degree in Criminology from California State University, Long Beach. He also serves on the adjunct faculty at Santa Ana Community College.

Jeffrey Thompson, Declues, Burkett & Thompson, LLP
Jeffrey Thompson is a partner at Declues, Burkett & Thompson, LLP and heads the Labor and Employment Department in that office. Since graduating from law school his practice has focused on representing employers in all aspects of employment and labor law, with particular emphasis on advising clients with respect to all aspects of employer-employee relations and representing employers in employment-related litigation, including wrongful termination, discrimination, and sexual harassment actions. He holds a bachelor's degree from Claremont McKenna College and received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He is also a frequent speaker on employment-related topics and conducts seminars and in-house workshops for both private and public employers.

Linda Tomlinson, WCCP, Southern California Risk Management Associates, Inc.
Linda Tomlinson is an account manager with Southern California Risk Management Associates, Inc. and is responsible for the California JPIA account. She has 18 years of workers' compensation claims administration experience, working with both public and private sector clients. She began her career with a private sector organization, overseeing their risk management program. She is certified by the Insurance Education Association as a Workers' Compensation Claims Professional (WCCP) and by the State of California as a self-insured claims administrator.

Kelly Trainer, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP
Kelly Trainer is an associate in the firm of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP's Labor and Employment Law and Trial and Advocacy Practice Groups, based in the firm's Los Angeles office. She represents public and private sector clients in labor and employment law matters. Kelly has represented and advised employers on matters involving numerous federal and state law claims, including discrimination, harassment, family and medical leave, wrongful termination, union issues and labor negotiations, wage and hour, freedom of speech and association, HIPAA, and employees' rights of privacy. In addition, her practice includes representation of public employers in areas unique to public employment such as issues involving the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights, disciplinary procedures, and constitutional matters. Kelly graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Houston in 1998. She received her J.D. in 2001 from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She also received a Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Gender and the Law.

Nancy White, Ph.D., CPRP, PlaySafe LLC
Nancy White has over 20 years experience working in the recreation field. She currently teaches recreation administration at California State University, Northridge. Nancy is a certified Lifeguard Instructor Trainer, Recreational Sports Specialist, Certified Parks and Recreation Professional, and has passed the training program for the TRIAX 2000 Surface Impact Tester in compliance with the ASTM 1292-99.

Scott Winter, Center for Regional & Continuing Education
Scott Winter is vice president of business development for LearningChange, an innovative learning solutions provider. LearningChange combines organizational development and instructional technology with media design to deliver unique, unified, and integrated design and communication solutions for businesses, trainers, and educators. Scott is an experienced trainer with a special interest in facilitating team growth and leadership development.

Lee Wood, Bohm, Matsen, Kegel & Aguilera, LLP
Lee Wood is a trial attorney with Lee A. Wood & Associates, specializing in police action and city litigation cases. He has been practicing law since 1973 and has over thirty years of extensive trial experience litigating cases involving civil rights violations, dangerous conditions of public property, wrongful termination, police excessive force, real estate, contract, and extensive property damage.

Michael Wroniak, Collins, Collins, Muir & Stewart LLP

George Yore, The Human Edge Health & Safety Consultants