ϲ

Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • ϲ Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • ϲ Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Strategy Demands Mark Changes for Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety Services

Monday, January 27, 2014, By Kathleen Haley
Share

Strategic realignments for greater efficiencies and collaboration are being put in place in the cooperative areas of the Risk Management Department, Environmental Health and Safety Services Office and Emergency Management.

The changes come at a time to consider work processes and provide opportunities for growth among staff as a key staff member retires and a new resource is being added to assist in dealing with workers’ compensation, says David Pajak, director of risk management and chief emergency management officer at SU, who oversees all three areas.

“We’re rethinking customer service, our strategic direction and demands, and seeing how we can be more efficient and effective in managing risk,” Pajak says. “We’re also looking at providing staff the opportunity for growth.”

In their shared mission and vision, the three units are tasked with protecting the University’s people, buildings, finances, resources and reputation, helping it to meet its academic, social and economic goals. Staff members work with colleagues across campus in a variety of situations, which can range from assisting Athletics in emergency management planning at the Carrier Dome, to matters related to international travel and study abroad to procuring various types of insurances to protect the University’s assets.

Linda Egerbrecht

Linda Egerbrecht

Some of the changes are based in part on the upcoming retirement of Linda Egerbrecht, manager of insurance and claims, in the Risk Management Department. Egerbrecht, who is retiring in February and has been with the University for 22 years, leads the workers’ compensation program and manages the property and liability insurance program, among other work.

In her role with workers’ compensation, Egerbrecht manages claims management and works with employees who sustained a work-related injury to ensure they are getting the appropriate treatment and assist them in transitioning back to work when they are medically able. The number of claims can range from between 250-300 a year.

“Customer service is primary. We have the philosophy that we want to treat our people with dignity and when questions do arise, they know we are going to treat them fairly and in accordance with the law,” says Egerbrecht, who has been a longtime member of the New York Self Insurance Association, for which she was chair and vice chair at one time.

Egerbrecht has enjoyed her work helping people on their way to recovering. “When people have a medical issue, it’s nice to be part of the healing process,” she says.

Egerbrecht, who has two children with her husband, John, and five grandchildren, is looking forward to spending time with her family.

Pajak is appreciative of Egerbrecht’s service to the University and her integrity, professionalism and hard work. “Linda is the best in the business,” he says. “She is recognized as a leader in workers’ compensation in New York State.”

Egerbrecht also has a special rapport with the employees and supervisors she has worked with around campus. “They respect her and how she is always customer service-focused and fair,” Pajak says. “She had to deal with a few catastrophic claims over the years and when those things happened, she was able to coordinate care, making sure they had wage replacement and enabling them to eventually come back to work.”

Before Egerbrecht departs, Michaele DeHart will be promoted to associate director of risk and insurance. She will manage all property and casualty insurances, work with the General Counsel’s Office in reviewing contracts, and assess risk.

A newly created second position of associate director of claims has been filled by Christopher Richmond to manage the newly hired third-party administrator, PMA Management Corporation, for workers’ compensation among other duties. The third-party service will process and investigate internal claims effective Feb. 17.

“With Linda’s retirement, ϲ, as a self-insured employer, wishes to leverage its resources to continue to focus on effectiveness and efficiency in its workers’ compensation program administration,” Pajak says. “Outsourcing workers’ compensation claims leverages the University’s resources by having claims processing and investigations done by experts who have the human capital, skill sets and information technology. The University will then be able to focus more on overall workers’ compensation program management, regulatory changes, budgeting, safety prevention and service to employees who sustain an occupational injury.”

In the area of Environmental Health and Safety Services, Brian O’Hara and Brian Tarolli have been promoted to supervisory positions under John Rossiter, manager of the Safety Services Office. O’Hara is now assistant safety manager, along with retaining his title of health and safety specialist, and Tarolli is the fire and life safety supervisor. The five inspectors will report directly to either O’Hara or Tarolli.

Also, Chad Ames, formerly hazardous waste technician, is now environmental compliance program coordinator, working under Becky Ponza, environmental compliance manager, and James McCumber, director of environmental health services. In the same area, Allison Piccioni, office assistant, has been promoted to office coordinator.

“Looking at our strategy demands and service we decided to reorganize and promote within,” Pajak says. “These changes will not increase operational expenses and will allow for continuity of services and administrative efficiencies with our experienced, committed and knowledgeable staff members.”

 

 

 

  • Author

Kathleen Haley

  • Recent
  • Vintage Over Digital: Alumnus Dan Cohen’s Voyager CD Bag Merges Music and Fashion
    Monday, July 7, 2025, By John Boccacino
  • Empowering Learners With Personalized Microcredentials, Stackable Badges
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Hope Alvarez
  • WISE Women’s Business Center Awarded Grant From Empire State Development, Celebrates Entrepreneur of the Year Award
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Dawn McWilliams
  • Paulo De Miranda G’00 Received ‘Much More Than a Formal Education’ From Maxwell
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Jessica Youngman
  • Law Professor Receives 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award
    Thursday, July 3, 2025, By Robert Conrad

More In Campus & Community

Former Orange Point Guard and Maxwell Alumna ‘Roxi’ Nurse McNabb Still Driving for an Assist

As point guard for the Orange women’s basketball team, Raquel-Ann “Roxi” Nurse McNabb ’98, G’99 was known for helping her teammates ‘make buckets’—a lot of buckets. The 1997 ϲ Athlete of the Year, two-time team MVP and three-time BIG…

Empowering Learners With Personalized Microcredentials, Stackable Badges

The University is enhancing its commitment to lifelong learning with digital badges, a tool that recognizes and authenticates the completion of microcredentials. The badges aim to support learners in their professional and personal development by showcasing achievements in short, focused…

Rose Tardiff ’15: Sparking Innovation With Data, Mapping and More

While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geography in the Maxwell School, Rose Tardiff ’15 became involved with the Salt City Harvest Farm, a community farm near ϲ where newcomers from all over the world grow food and make social connections….

Paulo De Miranda G’00 Received ‘Much More Than a Formal Education’ From Maxwell

Early in his career, Paulo De Miranda G’00 embarked on several humanitarian aid and peacekeeping assignments around the world. “When we concluded our tasks, we wrote reports about our field work, but many times felt that little insight was given…

Law Professor Receives 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award

College of Law Professor Suzette Meléndez, director of the ϲ Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

For the Media

Find an Expert
© 2025 ϲ. All Rights Reserved.