Heather Ricard, Director of Risk Management Services, Announces Retirement
Longtime Director of Risk Management Services Heather Ricard will retire on July 1, 2025. She joined the Municipal Association of SC in 2005, and had worked for or on behalf of municipalities since 1996. While at the Association, she held many titles including financial manager, chief financial officer for Risk Management Services and finally director of Risk Management Services.
Heather will be missed by the association staff. We all wish her a long and happy retirement.
Before departing the Association, she answered a Q&A about her 20-year experience.
What did you enjoy most about working at the Municipal Association of SC?
Hands down, the people! The Association is full of smart, talented and hardworking people. I’ve also been very fortunate to work with so many great people from cities and towns throughout South Carolina.
What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time here?
The team has accomplished a lot in my 20 years with the Association. We’ve constantly looked for ways to provide better customer service in a more efficient manner, while providing enhancements in coverage and services. A few big accomplishments included improvements in reporting, such as enhanced reports for members, additional grants, training and hotlines. Another big accomplishment was implementing a paperless claims system. We implemented the document management system a few years prior to the 2020 pandemic, so we didn’t miss a beat when staff had to work remotely during that time.
What are you most looking forward to in retirement?
Probably the biggest thing I’m looking forward to is having more time to spend with my family and friends and time to pursue personal interests.
Is there anything you would like to say to your colleagues and the members of the insurance programs?
To the Association staff and members of SCMIT, SCMIRF and SC Other Retirement Benefits Employer Trust, I’m eternally grateful for your professionalism, friendship and support over the years. Thank you for a wonderful chapter in my life.
Naomi Reed named Director of Risk Management Services
Naomi Reed has been named the next Director of Risk Management Services. She will assume the role from Heather Ricard on July 1. Most recently, she served as a field services manager for the Municipal Association of SC since 2023. She was previously employed by the City of Fountain Inn for over 17 years, serving in multiple roles including assistant city administrator and director of finance.
Lester “Meiko” Woods Joins Risk Management Services as SCMIRF Claims Adjuster
Work Experience: Woods previously worked at Mid-American Catastrophe, Seibels and Southern Claims Solutions.
Hometown: Camden, Mississippi
Education: He attended Mississippi State University. He operated as a music producer, musician and DJ manager for many years. He also had various video game placements with the biggest placement having sold 6 million units worldwide. He has over 20 years of marketing and graphic design experience.
Hobbies: He enjoys music marketing, chess, videography and photography, Funko Pop collecting and a recent venture into learning Mandarin.
Geneva Oliver Joins Risk Management Services as SCMIT Senior Claims Adjuster
Work Experience: Oliver was previously employed at PHT Services and most recently worked as workers’ compensation senior claims analyst at SC School Boards Insurance Trust from 2004 to 2025.
Hometown: Columbia, SC
Education: She graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelor of Science in political science. She also has an Associates in Claims from the Insurance Institute of America.
Spotlight on Risk Management Services’ Board Member
SCMIT Board Member Chief Shannon Tanner
Elected in 2025, Chief Shannon Tanner recently joined the SC Municipal Insurance Trust board. He has been the fire chief for the City of Florence since 2020.
He has been in various roles in the fire department with the City of Florence for over 28 years. He has over 40 years of experience in the fire service. He also serves as an adjunct instructor for the South Carolina Fire Academy and has been teaching since 1989. He has a Bachelor of Science from Columbia Southern University
Tanner serves as the 1st vice president of the South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs and will be the incoming president for 2025-2026. He has served on the SC Manufacturing Housing Board, SC State Fire Academy Advisory Board and many other local boards and committees.
In his spare time, he loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, hunt and fish.
New LocalGovU Course
The LocalGovU, online training platform has added a new course in the catalog this past quarter. This course is now accessible in the Risk Management Services online training center:
- Asbestos Awareness
Public Safety Training
On May 15, Risk Management Services offered a public safety training to members of the SC Municipal Insurance Trust and SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund. The morning session was geared towards law enforcement with presentations from retired police chief Mike Ranalli and attorney Andrew Lindemann. Attendees learned about preventing injuries during foot pursuits and the liability associated with law enforcement moonlighting. Chief Ranalli encouraged attendees to reevaluate training and their way of thinking when it comes to pursuing suspects. Lindemann discussed the moonlighting statute for the state of South Carolina. He encouraged attendees to consider the liability associated with secondary employment and encouraged them to work with their municipal attorney to update their moonlighting policy as needed to provide increased protection for the officers in the department.
The afternoon session featured Aaron Zamzow who presented on improving total health and resilience. Improving health goes beyond deadlifts and burpees. He emphasized the need to build resilience which can be done by taking small tangible steps to change the mindset and culture of an individual. At the end of the session, he provided attendees with a personal plan to get started. It concluded with an update by State Fire Marshal Jonathan Jones on the potential new Occupational Safety and Health Administration fire service regulation. At this time, there is a moratorium on this OSHA regulation. However, Risk Management services wanted members to be aware of the potential changes that could impact their fire departments in the future.
2025 Risk Management Services Training
Mark your calendar for the 2025 training courses for SCMIT and SCMIRF members.
Risk Management Services Conference [Risk Management Institute Core and Elective Course]
Defensive Driving Training [Risk Management Institute Core Course]
Risk Management Services Annual Members Meeting [Risk Management Institute Elective Course]