Risk Management, Insurance, Contracts Manager
Resume:
KAREN WHITT, JD, ARM, CRIS
Chicago, IL 60616
acszzj@r.postjobfree.com
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Legal & Risk Management... Protecting assets and minimizing claims. Expertise developing, implementing and managing cost-effective risk management and international insurance programs and associated claims.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
G K ENTERPRISES, INC., Monee, IL Nov. 2008 - July 2015
Private holding company with consolidated international revenues in excess of $150 million
Director of Legal & Risk
Managed legal, risk, insurance, HSE issues in conformity with company guidelines
Reviewed contracts for engineering, manufacturing, and service entities including non-disclosure, sales, purchasing, distribution, consulting, and test center utilization agreements; negotiated with Customers as needed.
Prepared insurance submissions and managed brokerage relationships to purchase property and casualty insurance for global operations on an annual basis; reduced premiums 10% or more at 6 of 7 annual renewals.
Managed insurance claims and outside defense counsel in 100+ legacy toxic tort suits filed annually.
Directed safety program at manufacturing facility achieving 500+ days without lost time accident, reducing EMR from 1.26 to .81 in 3 years.
WHITT & ASSOCIATES, Chicago, IL May 2006 - Oct. 2008
Services included risk management, claims, contract and lease negotiation and review.
Principal
Contract review and negotiations to manage risk, achieve compliance and strategic goals.
Transportation Solutions Group, LLC, Chicago, IL
oReviewed customer and carrier contracts, identifying indemnity obligations and uninsured risks, documented process change opportunities to reduce exposures.
Aquaventures, Inc., Dallas, TX
oNegotiated product distribution agreements with manufacturers reducing risk transfer, insurance, and indemnity provisions for company's retail division.
oPrepared site safety plans for training sites.
Update Legal, Chicago, IL (Assigned to Sidley Austin LLC)
oPerformed document review for major engine manufacturer's audit committee regarding accounting irregularities and SEC compliance.
Special Counsel, Dallas, TX (Assigned to Cadwalader, Wickersham, & Taft)
oPerformed review of 100,000+ documents in 75 days for major jewelry retailer determining privilege and documents responsive to an SEC subpoena.
TERIS, LLC, Dallas, TX Jan. 2005 - May 2006
$100 million subsidiary of SUEZ providing hazardous waste disposal services.
Risk Manager, Claims Management
Managed and coordinated claims submissions, risk, insurance, litigation, and compliance issues relating to catastrophic, environmental, and property loss claims. Represented company before regulatory agencies and managed outside counsel.
Developed protocols and procedures for more than 200,000 claim documents.
Negotiated and collected $50 million in insurance claims within 15 months of loss without litigation.
Resubmitted and recovered a total of $2.5 million in claims first denied by insurers.
Created and maintained databases for 125 governmental contracts and 250,000 risk management documents using packaged program.
Reviewed and edited submissions to underwriters for eight lines of property and casualty coverage valued at $250 million.
Renewed property and casualty insurance following $50 million loss with less than 15% premium increase.
Monitored 35 vendors nationwide for insurance, license and safety compliance.
Achieved .038 experience modifier and 1,000,000 hours without lost time injury.
Attained first ISO 9000 audit compliance for handling public information requests.
STONEWALL TILE & CONSTRUCTION, Dallas, TX Nov.2001 - Dec. 2004
Design-build remodeling construction company.
Owner
Planned and managed daily operations including design, contract negotiation, safety, insurance, project management, training, and financing. Supervised sales, purchasing, and customer service, hiring, and construction staff of two as well as seven outside trade contractors.
Achieved forecast margins and profits on 50 projects.
Developed and presented monthly safety training programs for 40+ participants.
Monitored 20+ contractors for license, permit, insurance, safety and OSHA compliance.
No lost time injuries.
LAW OFFICES OF KAREN WHITT, Dallas, TX Nov. 1986 - Dec. 2001
General civil law practice representing business and individuals.
Managing Attorney
Responsible for litigation, settlements, negotiating/drafting client commercial agreements, advising clients concerning insurance and legal requirements, as well as supervising and mentoring staff of 8 attorneys and paralegals.
Led minority General Contractor compliance team on ground up, state jail construction project maximizing bonuses for early completion, without lost time injuries.
Negotiated leases, commercial agreements, incorporation agreements for clients in retail, construction, advertising and consulting businesses.
Through mediation and informal negotiations, settled 95% of cases before trial.
Awarded Dallas County Bar Association Pro Bono Award for 1987.
Presented with Dallas County Bar Association Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award in 1986, 1988, and 1989.
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, Loyola University Law School, New Orleans, LA 1982
BBA - Accounting, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 1976
ADMISSIONS
United States Tax Court - December, 1989
United States District Court, Northern District of Texas – November, 1984
State Bar of Texas - Licensed November, 1982
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Six Sigma Green Belt Training, Chicago Deming Association, Naperville, IL 2008
International Risk Management Institute, Dallas, TX 2008 - 2010
Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS)
American Institute Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (AICPCU), New York, NY 2007
Associate in Risk Management (ARM)
Texas Department of Insurance, Austin, TX 2007 - 2009
All Lines Adjuster
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