Risk Management Services Welcomes New Member
SC Municipal Insurance Trust has welcomed the Town of Bluffton, effective as of January 1, 2026.
For more information about SCMIT and SCMIRF membership, contact Robert Collins, underwriting manager, at rcollins@masc.sc or 803.933.1279.
Tonya Link Joins Risk Management Services as SCMIT Senior Claims Adjuster
Work Experience: Tonya began working in the insurance industry in 2007 as a claims assistant at Broadspire. She handled medical-only claims at Corvel in 2009 and became a licensed lost time adjuster in 2010.
Hometown: Denver, NC
Education: Associates Degree in Art and Computer Science.
Hobbies: She enjoys do-it-yourself projects and crafting.
Rebecca Mejia-Ward Joins Risk Management Services as Loss Control Consultant
Work Experience: Mejia-Ward has more than 20 years of human resources experience in municipal government and manufacturing. She spent a decade in manufacturing human resources. Over the past 12 years she has served in human resources for the City of Hartsville and most recently the City of Fountain Inn.
Hometown: Currently resides in Fountain Inn.
Hobbies: She enjoys reading, attending community events, learning Portuguese and spending time with family and friends.
2025 Risk Management Institute Graduates
The Risk Management Institute, a program of the SC Municipal Insurance Trust and SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund, graduated 12 municipal officials during the Risk Management Services Annual Members Meeting on November 5 in Columbia.
The new Risk Management Institute graduates are Aaron Dobbs, captain, City of Aiken; Lara B. Hudson, human resource director, City of Greenwood; Sherry Bodden, purchasing and grant writing coordinator, City of Goose Creek; Chassidy Sistrunk, senior underwriter, Municipal Association of SC; Lindsey Reynolds, administrative coordinator, City of Cayce; Drew Godwin, human resources director, Town of Kingstree; Charles Cribb, fire chief, City of Georgetown; Randy Driggers, fire chief, City of Lake City; Tanya Eckard, payroll/accounts payable clerk, Easley Combined Utilities; Rick Bryan, director of utilities & public works, Town of Chapin; (not pictured) Sarah Ramirez, capital program manager, City of York; and Ronald Fair, captain, City of West Columbia.
There is no fee for members to participate in the institute. Apply online on the Municipal Association’s website.
2025 Risk Management Services Awards
Each year, the SC Municipal Insurance Trust and SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund board of trustees recognize members who have reduced their total costs and kept employees safe while delivering better public services.
Award winners are determined based on the municipality's loss experience for the current year and the previous three years. There are three population divisions, with one winner in each division. Six cities received recognition at the 2025 Risk Management Services Annual Members Meeting. The award winners received a plaque and a $2,500 monetary award.
SCMIT
From left: Teresa Lake, chief financial officer, Greenwood CPW; Torrun Mance, human resources manager, City of Manning; and William Rhodes, clerk/treasurer, Town of Hickory Grove.
- Town of Hickory Grove – Division I
- City of Manning – Division II
- Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works – Division III
SCMIRF
From left: Madison Vick, human resource director, Town of Cheraw; Michelle Starnes, clerk/treasurer,
Town of Williamston.
- Town of North – Division I
- Town of Williamston – Division II
- Town of Cheraw – Division III
Risk Management Services Board Changes
The SC Municipal Insurance Trust has bid farewell to Shawn Bell, city administrator for the City of Fountain Inn. Bell served as a member of the SCMIT board for six years.
The SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund has bid farewell to Shaun Greenwood, city administrator for the City of Forest Acres. Greenwood served as a member of the SCMIRF board for seven years.
"SCMIT and SCMIRF extend their gratitude to Shawn Bell and Shaun Greenwood for their years of service," said Director of Risk Management Services Naomi Reed. "Their insight and leadership will be missed."
The SCMIT board has welcomed Shane Sligh, town administrator for the Town of Pageland, to the board.
The SCMIRF board has also welcomed Jay Hendrix, town manager for the Town of Batesburg-Leesville, and Dalton Pierce, city manager for the City of York, to the board.
Spotlight on Risk Management Services’ Board Members
SCMIRF Board Member Jay Hendrix
Elected in 2025, Jason Hendrix recently joined the SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund board. He has been the town manager for the Town of Batesburg-Leesville since January 2025. He served as interim town manager from May 2024 until January 2025. He previously served as assistant town manager from 2019 to 2025 and Fire Chief from 2013 to 2019. Prior to his employment with the town, he served as a sports writer for The Twin-City News from 2000 to 2024 and worked at the Irmo Fire District and City of Clinton Fire Department.
Hendrix earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Carolina in sports management.
He is currently the board chairman for Keep the Midlands Beautiful and the Batesburg-Leesville Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also a board member of the Lexington County American Revolution 250th Anniversary.
In his spare times, he enjoys spending time with his family and attending sporting events with them. He serves as the public announcer at the football games, historian and statistician for the Batesburg-Leesville High School athletics department.
Updated LocalGovU Courses
The LocalGovU, online training platform has added or updated courses in the catalog this past quarter. These courses are now accessible in the Risk Management Services online training center:
- School Resource Officers
- Sexual Harassment for Manager
New additions in LocalGovU can be identified by a red “new course” banner listed on the image in the course catalog. Updated courses can be identified by a green “updated” banner on the image in the course catalog.
Municipal Association’s City Quick Connect Podcast Highlights Risk Management Topics
The City Quick Connect podcast gives listeners a chance to hear the latest from Municipal Association staff and others about the issues impacting cities and towns. Loss control staff have made an appearance on past episodes to discuss different risk management topics, including most recent on cybersecurity and reducing auto losses.
2026 Risk Management Services Training
Mark your calendar for the 2026 training courses for SCMIT and SCMIRF members.
Auto Loss Prevention Training [Risk Management Institute Elective Course]
Defensive Driving Training [Risk Management Institute Core Course]
Public Works Training [Risk Management Institute Core Course]
Public Safety Training [Risk Management Institute Elective Course]
Defensive Driving Training [Risk Management Institute Core Course]
Defensive Driving Training [Risk Management Institute Core Course]
Risk Management Services Conference/Annual Members Meeting [Risk Management Institute Core and Elective Course]