Amanda Lagatta, Target’s director of insurance and claims, was drawn to risk management in high school and praises the value of college graduate risk management programs.

Skanska USA Building’s VP of Insurance and Surety knows that sharing data helps combat risk of all kinds.

Foster Farms’ director, corporate treasurer knows that risk managers need to graduate from a “necessary evil” to a true business partner in their companies.

David Hornaday knows risk managers have to be more fluent and competent in the financial world. Just procuring insurance isn’t enough anymore.

GM’s Global Director of Risk and Insurance Alan Gier went from assembling cars to structuring insurance programs.

Avis Budget Group’s director of risk management, Barbara Vitale, lauds the industry for bringing more women into the fold.

Paul Piazza of Honeywell International Inc. takes pride in protecting his company from all exposures — and being the master of the thermostat at home.

Chris de Wolfe of Mars Inc. can take you to places where there are snakes as long as large swimming pools.

Ray Van Eperen and his Kimberly-Clark team trained more than 6,000 of their colleagues in risk mitigation.

The risk manager for Columbus, Ga., discusses law enforcement liability and venturing into a coal mine at 15.

Director of risk management Joseph Mazza says heightened visibility is good for risk managers, but cyber remains a top challenge.

Risk Manager Rich Johanson on the need for tailored solutions for cyber risk and why it might be less risky to skydive to work.

The international director of global risk management for Jones Lang LaSalle says risk managers need to do a better job at self-promotion in the workplace.

Scott Clark agreed to join Miami-Dade County Public Schools for two years to help build its risk management department. Then he forgot to leave.

The insurance director of Novartis Corp. talks about the heroic mission of teachers, swimming with sharks, and the most interesting place she ever visited.

Being a hero, said Ensign-Bickford Industries’ Rick Roberts, depends on the way a person behaves when they succeed or fail at a task.

TriMet’s Debora Leopold Hutchins blends risk management into her personal life.

Rite Aid’s Ryan McGuinness sees reasons to be optimistic about the U.S. economy.

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc.’s Donna Tyner says a key part of risk management’s appeal is that it’s always brand new.

Nancy Chambers is bolstered by the inspiration of her mother, now 90, who was born in a log cabin.