Stan Van Ostran has been the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority since 2008, with responsibilities for Finance, Properties, Procurement, Business Development and Risk Management. In 2012, Stan was named “CFO of the Year” by the Nashville Business Journal. Stan is an International Airport Professional and Accredited Airport Executive. He is also an Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, Chartered Global Management Accountant, Certified Financial Services Auditor, Certificate in Risk Management Assurance and Certified Procurement Officer. Stan holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa and practiced law as counsel for Oklahoma’s largest commercial insurance carrier and in private practice with emphasis in securities and financial transactions. He previously served the State of Oklahoma in several management roles, including lead positions with the Oklahoma Department of Central Services, Oklahoma Capital Improvement Authority, and the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, where he administered statewide programs for purchasing, risk management, fleet and property management services, and bond administration and financing. Stan was instrumental with the Oklahoma Lottery Commission having the fastest start up of modern day lotteries, beginning operations shortly after the lottery was authorized. Stan previously worked as an internal auditor for McDonnell Douglas Corporation, then the nation’s largest aerospace and defense contractor, and began his career as an auditor for a large CPA firm.
Michael Simmons
Deputy Director of Airports, Finance, and Administration
Palm Beach International Airport
Michael Simmons is the Director of Finance at the Palm Beach County Department of Airports, serving in this role over 24 years. His 29 year aviation industry background also includes experience with the Jacksonville Port Authority in northeast Florida. While he performs traditional financial based roles of a CFO such as financial planning, revenue management, accounting, and debt management, much of his energy goes towards developing additional air service, building business relationships, and customer service.
A native Floridian, Michael earned his degree in accounting at Florida State University (Go ‘Noles!) and is a Certified Public Accountant. Married 28 years to Mary and has one daughter Christine. Michael enjoys the Florida outdoors and especially likes golfing and cycling.
General Session 1
Asiana 214 – What Airports and Airlines Need to Know
Monday, January 13, 2014
ACI-NA speaker biographies
Jim Keane
General Manager, Operations Safety, Inspection & Safety
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Jim has over 35 years of experience working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Jim is currently the General Manager Operations Safety, Inspection & Safety - Risk Management Division and is responsible for a team of Construction Safety, Fire Protection, Occupational Health, and Safety Management professional men and women. The PANYNJ is an agency that has high self-insured retentions for both liability and property exposures, which then turns to Lloyd’s of London, Bermudan and Continental European Insurance Markets for excess coverage. PANYNJ Risk Management involves the close coordination of Risk Control activities with the Risk Financing group, the Agency’s Insurance Brokers and Underwriters and facility management and Police staff to ensure the safety of the general public, tenants, and agency employees that travel through or work at our facilities. The PANYNJ also has a very large Owner Controlled Insurance Program which covers the Agency’s Capital Program construction activities Through the efforts of the Treasurer of the Port Authority, the Assistant Treasurer and Jim, relationships with the London, Bermudan and Continental European Insurance Markets have greatly improved and Construction, Liability and Property Insurance Underwriters now routinely visit the Agency’s properties. In addition to Jim’s efforts supporting the Agency’s Insurance Programs he serves on the Port Authority Safety Board and supports the operations of the PA AirTrain Safety Oversight Board.
Prior to his current position, Jim worked through a number of operational positions in the Agency's Tunnels, Bridges & Terminals, Port, and Aviation Departments. Additionally, Jim has worked as a management employee in the Treasury and Operations Services Departments. After transitioning into the managerial ranks, Jim gained experience as a Fire Protection Engineer, Police Safety Engineer, then supervised the Safety Management section of the Agency's Risk Management group and assumed the duties of Operations Manager.
Jim Keane is associated with both the American Association of Airport Executives, with an Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) designation, and the American Society of Safety Engineers.
Ken Jenkins
President/Chief Executive Officer
Ken Jenkins, LLC
Ken recently started his own venture and is currently the President and CEO of Ken Jenkins, LLC. Formerly he was the Vice-President of Emergency Services for BMS Global in Fort Worth, TX. BMS Global specializes in transportation accident response, coordinating the recovery, restoration, control of personal effects, documentation of recovery efforts, personal effects claims handling, and temporary mortuary services, repatriation of remains, and disposal and recovery of the wreckage. He assisted with the response to US AIR Flight 1549, Continental Express 3407 and American Airlines Flight 331 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Prior to joining BMS Global, Ken was the Manager for American Airlines Emergency Response and CARE Program. He began his work in emergency services as a volunteer, working with families following two American Eagle accidents in 1994. He quickly rose to Command Center Leader at AA’s Telephone Enquiry Center then to Family Assistance Site Manager following the Little Rock accident. As the Manager of Emergency Response, Ken was responsible for AA’s Family Assistance response for the events of September 11, the response to the Queens, New York accident, and the response for Corporate Airlines in Kirksville, MO
Ken has a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as well as a Bachelors Degree in History. He is a two time recipient of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities award.
Concurrent Session 1A
Managing Workers’ Compensation in an Airport Environment
Monday, January 13, 2014
ACI-NA speaker biographies
Alex Williams
Airport Safety Specialist
Sacramento County Departments of Airports
Mr. Williams has over 23 years of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) experience with emphasis on Risk Management. Mr. Williams was hired by the County of Sacramento in August of 2008 to assist in the development of the Airports $1.3 billion expansion. Mr. Williams’s assisted in the development of the OCIP Safety Program and well as Risk Management.
Responsibilities include the development and management of the County Airport System, health and safety programs, Workers’ Compensation, Risk Management, ADA, and FMLA programs in partnership with the Department of Personnel for the County of Sacramento. Mr. Williams is the key person for all liability concerns related to the County Airport System.
Mr. Williams established an effective program for Early Return to Work and reduced lost time and OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses significantly. The successes of the programs rely on senior management commitment and contributions. In addition to health and safety programs; Mr. Williams have implemented an Airport Safety Facility inspection program in accordance with Title 8 CCR, FAR 139 regulations for managers and supervisors; as well as a systematic safety meeting program, which consist of various safety topics related to Airport health and safety policies and procedures as well as CalOSHA required training. Mr. Williams performs bi-annual health and safety audits throughout the County Airport System as well as tenant leased areas to ensure Airport compliance.
Mr. Williams is a conference speaker in the private and public sectors as well as consults with professionals in the insurance and safety fields to reduce health, safety and liability concerns.
Norma Carabajal Essary is the Vice President of Risk Management at DFW International Airport (DFW), the fourth busiest Airport in the world. She is also one of the highest-ranking Latinas in the aviation risk management industry worldwide. In her role, she is responsible for the enterprise’s risk management, occupational health and safety, property/casualty, workers’ compensation, family and medical leave, short/long term disability, absence management, return to work programs, ADA and reasonable accommodation, employee assistance program, drug testing, ergonomic/fitness for duty compliance, DFW LiveWell (wellness) program, and HIPAA privacy and security compliance.
She has a Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) from Texas State University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Texas Woman’s University. Other accredited risk management designations include a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM).
Norma also oversees a construction specific, $2.1B Rolling Owner Controlled Insurance Program which will support the Airport’s capital development projects over the next 7 – 10 years. The comprehensive controlled insurance program is designed to include the following components: Administration, Contractor Enrollment, Background Screening, Site Badging, Claims and Medical Service Management, Safety Training, Capital Assistance and Surety Bonding, and Drug Testing programs. The program is expected to impact more than 8 - 10,000 construction industry workers employed in the development of the Airport’s infrastructure.
Among Norma’s achievements include the Integrated Disability Program overseeing the organization’s absence management practices, and the implementation of the Airport’s first wellness program and LiveWell Advisory Council, whose goals are to improve the health culture, employee well being, and organizational productivity. She also serves as the Chief Risk Officer of the Risk Council for the Airport’s Enterprise Risk Management Program which works to support business strategy with risk assessment oversight processes.
She has been named by D CEO Magazine as one of the Top Risk Management professionals (2012) and was an honoree of the Dallas Business Journal (DBJ) 2012 Women in Business Awards. Other awards include the 2012 DBJ North Texas Healthiest Employer Award; recipient of the Texas Public Risk & Insurance Management (PRIMA) Achievement Award for Integrated Disability (2011), LiveWell Program (2008), and Enterprise Risk Management (2008); Champions in Health Recipient, American Heart Association – Worksite Innovation, Platinum Award for years 2011, 2010, and 2009, and the Texas PRIMA - 2009 Risk Manager of the Year for State of Texas.
Jeff Hollingsworth
Risk Manager
Port of Seattle
Mr. Hollingsworth has served as the Risk Manager for the Port of Seattle for the past ten years. The Port of Seattle is a special purpose government formed in 1911 under enabling legislation in the State of Washington and has the authority to run Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In addition to the airport, the Port of Seattle is a landlord/owner for various marine container terminals, cruise ship facilities, a grain terminal, marinas, and various real estate holdings within King County, Washington.
The Risk Manager’s position is a senior management position that reports to the Chief Financial Officer. The Risk Manager is responsible for the Port’s Risk Management Department which provides support and expertise to all Port Divisions in the areas of loss prevention, risk transfer, construction risk, claims management, enterprise risk management, self-funding of benefits, and general risk financing. Highlights in the past two years include moving the Port to a self-funded model for medical and dental benefits and conducting two enterprise risk management assessments.
Prior to the Port of Seattle, Mr. Hollingsworth spent time working for the FAA-Northwest Regional Office on fire and life safety programs for new air traffic control towers; with the Boeing Corporation; and in various assignments doing loss prevention consulting. He has been employed in various professional capacities involving risk management since 1986.
Designations include being a licensed professional engineer, in civil and fire protection in Washington State; and holding industry designations to include the Certified Safety Professional (CSP); the Certified Risk Manager (CRM), the Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU).
Education includes a BS in Civil Engineering from Montana State University and a MBA from the University of Washington.
Frank Rivera
Director of Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation
Massachusetts Port Authority
Frank has 16 years of public sector insurance experience with the last 5 at Massport.
Frank is currently the Director of Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation. The Risk Management Unit is responsible for identifying and eliminating risks that present a threat to the Authority’s profitability and organizational success. The Unit is also responsible for providing expertise to all Authority Units in the areas of claims management, risk transfer and risk financing. Frank is also responsible for oversight of the Authority’s self insurance fund.
Frank received a BS in Political Science from Salem State College.
Frank and his wife Linda reside in Lynnfield MA.
Concurrent Session 1B
Safety Management System (SMS): Safety Risk Management and Early Project Implementation
Monday, January 13, 2014
ACI-NA speaker biographies
Heidi Ann Benaman
Project Manager
Faith Group LLC
Heidi has 29 years of experience working in the aviation industry.
She started her career working 10 years for the Pittsburgh International Airport and 12 years for the Portland International Airport (PDX). Her airport experiences include Airport Operations, Security and Emergency Management/ICS training. Heidi went into the consulting field and joined Faith Group, LLC in 2006 and has spent the past 7+ years involved in airport Safety Management System design and development. Heidi served as Project Manager for three of the FAA airport Safety Program Manual pilot studies including the Sacramento International Airport, Jackson Evers International Airport and the Cheyenne Regional Airport. Heidi was also part of the Seattle Tacoma International Airport FAA Safety Risk Management Follow-On Study and is currently the Project Manager for the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and Chicago O’Hare Internaitonal Airport SMS program development and implementation.
She obtained a degree in Aviation from Allegheny Community College and a degree in Journalism from the University of Pittsburgh. Heidi is certified by IATA for completing Advanced Safety Management System training and is a licensed commercial pilot, instrument rated, and certified flight instructor as well.
