Staff Out and About!

VRSA staff have been out and about this spring and summer speaking at or attending conferences, engaging in professional development, providing training, and much more!

Town of Chincoteague

VRSA Safety Specialist Eddie Shelton and Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig provided Permit-Required Confined Space and Trenching Train-the-Trainer instruction at the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department.
Member employees from the Augusta County Service Authority and the towns of Chincoteague, Exmore, and Onancock were in attendance. The program provides  instruction so that member trainers gain the capacity to provide instruction on this topic to fellow employees.
VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig provides training in the Town of Chincoteague

Aligning Resources With Your Community’s Priorities 

VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson attended a roundtable on fiscal sustainability and priority-based budgeting. Virginia Municipal League Executive Director Michelle Gowdy presented on Fiscal Issues Impacting Virginia Local Governments.

VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson attends a roundtable on fiscal sustainability and priority-based budgeting

Virginia Government Finance Officers Association

VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson and Member Services Specialist Harry McMillen attended the Virginia Government Finance Officers Association (VGFOA) spring conference in Virginia Beach.
VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson at the VGFOA Spring Conference

Town of Smithfield

VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Safety Consultant Christine Gillison provided OSHA At A Glance training in the Town of Smithfield. Member employees from Smithfield, Chesapeake Schools, and the Southeast Public Service Authority participated in the training, learning to recognize hazards to keep their employees safe.

VRSA Safety Consultant Christine Gillison presents in the Town of Smithfield

Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute

VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson attended the inaugural Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute in Newport News this May. VRSA was a proud sponsor of this organization. Through our Risk Management Grant, VRSA provides scholarships to members to support leadership development and training.
VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson with Virginia Women’s Municipal Leadership Institute Coordinator Bonnie Svrcek

City of Franklin

VRSA Director of Education and Training presented two sessions to the City of Franklin on employee-related subjects. The sessions – Changing Difficult Conversations to Courageous Conversations and Transitioning from Peer to Supervisor – provided tools for engaging in difficult conversations in the workplace and for transitioning from peer to supervisor.
VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock provides training in the City of Franklin.

City of Suffolk

VRSA Safety Specialist Eddie Shelton conducted two Permit-Required Confined Space Entry training sessions for public works, public utilities, and water treatment employees with the City of Suffolk.  Shelton reviewed the requirements to enter and work safely within a confined space, and coordinated group activities and hands-on training using gas air monitors. Staff from the Suffolk Fire Department Rescue 1 team also provided information on the importance of following procedures, monitoring the air, and planning for rescue ahead of time.

Staff from the Suffolk Fire Department Rescue 1 team also presented at the training on following procedures, monitoring air, and planning for rescue ahead of time

VRSA Training

Ongoing training is just as important for VRSA staff. This spring VRSA’s property and liability staff attended continuing education on adjusting property claims.

Presenters were Russell (Rusty) Holt with Piedmont Claim Services, an Independent Adjuster with more than 30 years of experience adjusting property damage, and Keats Wade with Belfor, a disaster recovery and restoration company. The presentations provided a helpful refresher to staff on handling the variety of claims that arise in a municipal liability pool.

“Having experienced, knowledgeable, and well-trained staff allows us to increase our efficiency, add to our credibility, and provide top-notch customer service,” said Director of Property and Liability Claims Tracey Dunlap.

Russell (Rusty) Holt with Piedmont Claim Services provides continuing education to VRSA staff on adjusting for property damage

VRSA staff are here to work with members to ease their worries and assist them in addressing their challenges. If you need training or risk management assistance, contact your VRSA safety consultant.