Meet Our Risk Managers Advisory Board

They are some of the most experienced and respected risk-management professionals in the industry: The members of National Underwriter's Risk Managers Advisory Board serve as a go-to, essential resource, allowing us to ensure we are delivering the most timely, accurate picture of the ever-evolving challenges faced by risk-mitigation professionals. 

Karl Zimmel, Manager, Risk Management Services, Tuscon Electric Power 

Karl has worked as a risk manager at four Fortune 1000 companies and has acted as a client executive at one of the largest insurance brokerage and risk-advisory firms. His areas of specialty include risk-management program review, claims management and captive management. 

Sarah Perry, Risk Manager, City of Columbia, Missouri

Sarah Perry began her insurance and risk-management career in the early 1980s with a major insurance broker. She served as the risk manager for an Iowa hospital and for a Worker's Compensation trust in Missouri before joining the City of Columbia in 1997 as its RM. Sarah served as president of the PRIMA (Public Risk Management Association) board from 2008-2009 and was on its board of directors from 2003 to 2010. 

Michael Liebowitz, Director of Risk Management and Insurance, New York University

Since 2006, Michael has held responsibility for the global property and casualty insurance program at New York University, one of the nation's largest and most prestigious private universities. Previously, he was director of risk management, safety and security at Bridgeport Hospital & Healthcare System Inc. in Connecticut for 18 years. During his tenure at the company, he single-handedly created the risk-management department that supported the activities of five companies. Michael served as RIMS president in 2007-2008.

Gary Pearce, Vice President, Risk Management Group, Kelly Services

At Kelly Services, Inc., the global staffing company where Gary has worked the past 20 years, he is responsible for the risk-management, safety, Worker's Compensation and unemployment functions. In his career, he has also worked at Marsh Inc. and Trinity Health.  He is also a former president of RIMS' Detroit chapter.

William J. Montanez, Director of Risk Management, ACE Hardware Corp. 

At ACE Hardware Corp., the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry, William has overall responsibility for the corporate risk-management program, retail agency operations and captive management. William, who has over 27 years of risk-management experience, has served on the board of the Chicago RIMS Chapter, on the national level of the RIMS board of directors, and as the director of RIMS' international efforts. He is currently President of the Bermuda Captive Owners Association. 

Dan Kugler, Assistant Treasurer, Corporate Risk Management, Snap-on Inc.

At Snap-on, which he joined in 1979, Dan is responsible for directing all of the company's risk-management activities worldwide. He is also responsible for security and loss-prevention programs for the parent and all subsidiary companies worldwide. In 2009, Dan and his risk-management team received NU's Excellence in Workers' Compensation (Honorable Mention). He currently serves on the boards of directors of RIMS and the Spencer Education Foundation. 

Laurie Champion, Managing Director, Enterprise Risk Management Practice, Aon Global Risk Consulting

Laurie leads Aon's consulting team, providing enterprise risk management, business continuity, supply chain and related services to clients in the Americas, and is a member of Aon's global automotive practice. At Coca-Cola Enterprises she served as vice president of risk management and was global director of risk management for Ford Motor Company. She has served on the RIMS ERM committee and the RIMS Standards and Practices committee. 

Tim East, Director of Risk Management, The Walt Disney Co.

In his role at Disney, Tim is responsible for risk financing, construction insurance, government affairs and risk management for Disney's international theme parks. He is the past chair of the California Coalition on Workers' Compensation, the State's employer coalition dedicated to Workers' Comp concerns. He meets regularly with legislators, policy advisors and the California governor's office regarding insurance and WC issues. 

Sarah Elizabeth Pacini, Vice President, Risk Management and Insurance, Advocate Health Care

At Advocate, Sarah is responsible for developing, implementing and directing the system-wide risk-management, claims-management, risk-financing and insurance programs to ensure a consistent and optimal approach to minimizing liability and risk exposure. Sarah also has worked as a trauma nurse at a Level I emergency department and, with her Summa Cum Laude law degree, practiced as a prosecutor in the criminal division of the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.