As 2022 concluded and 2023 began, VRSA staff have been out and about speaking at or attending conferences, engaging in professional development, providing training, and much more!
Town of Strasburg
VRSA Director of Human Resources Tina Stevens joined Public Safety Specialist Gary Dillon for comprehensive training in the Town of Strasburg. Dillon discussed active shooter, while Stevens provided training on human resources subjects including ethics, sexual harassment, and diversity.
Critical Task Legal Update
VRSA sponsored “Critical Task Legal Update” training for members in Fairfax, Harrisonburg, Wytheville, and Danville. Major (Ret.) Stephen Campbell with the Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute, formerly with the Providence, Rhode Island police department, led the training. Topics covered included:
- Making policies a priority;
- Fourth Amendment legal updates;
- Use of force;
- Crowd control and less-lethal weapons;
- Safe policing for safe communities;
- Vehicle pursuits; and
- Sexual harassment/discrimination.
City of Staunton
VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock provided training for department heads at a staff retreat for the City of Staunton. Topics covered included: team building, strategic planning, new council member engagements/education, the importance of conducting staff evaluations, and managing effectively.
VACo Annual Conference
VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson, Member Services Specialist Harry McMillen and Senior Account Executive Nora Pierre greeted Hanover County Administrator and VRSA Members’ Supervisory Board member John A. Budesky at the VACo Annual Conference.
Bedford Regional Water Authority Safety Day
VRSA Safety Specialist Edward Shelton attended the Bedford Regional Water Authority’s (BRWA) Safety Day. In addition to training focused on fire extinguisher use, employees were able to walk through the VRSA-sponsored “hazard room,” where they were asked to identify common hazards in the workplace.
“Activities like these are a way to continue building a culture around involving and protecting employees in the workplace,” said Shelton.
OSHA-10 training in the Town of South Hill
VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Safety Specialist Edward Shelton partnered with the Town of South Hill to host an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course. Attendees from the Town of South Hill, the Halifax County Service Authority, and the Piedmont Regional Jail took part in the class.
The course is taught with a focus on identifying workplace hazards. Empowering employees to identify, report, and correct hazards in the workplace is paramount in building an effective culture of safety and health.
Mason-NSF Local and State Government Cybersecurity Partnering Workshop
VRSA Managing Director Marcus Hensel participated on the cyber insurance panel at the Mason-NSF Local and State Government Cybersecurity Partnering Workshop. These workshops are hosted by the George Mason University Center for Assurance Research and Engineering (CARE).
Virginia Association of School Superintendents
VRSA Senior Account Executives Lisa Schenk and Nora Pierre met up with Dr. Walter Clemons, Superintendent of Gloucester County Public Schools and VRSA Members’ Supervisory Board member at the Virginia Association of School Superintendents Fall Conference.
Three of VRSA’s first five members were school divisions, and all three are still VRSA members today! More than 300,000 students in Virginia attend school divisions covered by VRSA.
Town of Cape Charles
VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Senior Account Executive Nora Pierre provided cybersecurity training for the Town of Cape Charles.
Training is a key element in any cybersecurity defense strategy. VRSA has offered cybersecurity protections and resources since 2012. With in-place controls and continued training, your organization can reduce the likelihood and/or impact of a cybersecurity incident.
OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course
The City of Suffolk invited Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Safety Specialist Edward Shelton to present an OSHA 10-Hour Construction Course. Attendees were employees involved in public works and public utilities. The nationally recognized course is designed to train employees to recognize, report, and avoid hazards in the workplace.
Local Elected Officials Conference
VRSA partnered with the Virginia Municipal League to kick off the new year with their annual Virginia Local Elected Officials Conference. Nearly 200 new and seasoned elected officials registered for the event.
During the lunch session, VRSA Managing Director Marcus Hensel provided a quick overview of available protections for public officials. VRSA continues to provide the broadest coverage for Virginia’s local public entities.
City of Franklin
VRSA Director of Education and Training Thomas Bullock presented on workplace civility for managers and supervisors in the City of Franklin Public Works department.
The session focused on the importance of recognizing how biases and blind spots can impact how one interacts with co-workers. A civil and respectful workplace is related to greater job satisfaction, feelings of fairness, and an overall positive environment.
City of Lexington
VRSA Senior Safety Consultant Fonda Craig and Safety Specialist Edward Shelton presented OSHA-10 training in construction for employees in the City of Lexington.
Town of Ashland
VRSA Director of Human Resources Tina Stevens provided diversity and inclusion training to staff in the Town of Ashland.
Local Government Day
VRSA Local Government Specialist Peter Stephenson and Senior Account Executive Nora Pierre attended Local Government Day, hosted by the Virginia Municipal League in partnership with the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC).
VRSA staff attended to show support for Virginia’s localities and monitor legislation that may impact them. Pictured below is VAPDC President Lou Ann Wallace.
