Bonnie Kolesar passionately approaches the management of risk as opportunity and seeks to help an organization achieve its goals and objectives using realistic approaches. She is known for her big-picture thinking, positive energy and her ability to build a world-class program from scratch. She successfully brings programs up to par with new and revised policies and procedures, targeting prevention activities based on qualitative and quantitative data, and then using an aggressive approach to claims management that focuses on the early return to work of injured employees.
Her background makes her uniquely qualified to assist our clients. Over an impressive 25-year career in public service, she has held risk manager positions in city, county, state and higher education arenas. Most recently, Bonnie served as risk manager for the County of Solano. In 2006, as a gubernatorial appointee, she developed a full-service program for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in less than three years’ time by implementing preventive and cost control strategies with demonstrated cost avoidance savings of over $20 million a year. Prior to that appointment, Bonnie was the Associate Director of Risk Management Services at the University of California, Davis, and before that the Claims Manager for the City of Fairfield.
Bonnie has served as President of the Public Agency Risk Managers Association, and on the Advisory Committee for the Division of Industrial Relations’ Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, a Certificate in Control Self-Assessment from the Institute of Internal Auditors, and an Associate in Risk Management designation from the Insurance Institute of America.