Meet 2025 All Star Tricia Cottman of Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

As one of the busiest aviation hubs in the country, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority faces multifaceted risk management challenges that extend far beyond typical business operations.

Tricia Cottman, vice
president of risk
management and safety,
Greater Orlando Aviation
Authority

The organization confronts significant property risks across its vast infrastructure, stringent regulatory compliance requirements, and the constant need to maintain business continuity.

Weather-related risks pose particularly acute challenges for GOAA, with Florida’s hurricane season and severe weather patterns threatening both operations and infrastructure. The financial pressures have intensified as insurance costs continue to rise across the aviation industry.

GOAA historically relied on traditional risk transfer mechanisms, which left the organization vulnerable to market fluctuations and coverage limitations. This dependency created exposure to unpredictable insurance environments where premium volatility could significantly impact operational budgets and long-term financial planning.

Enter Tricia Cottman, VP of risk management and safety, who implemented a comprehensive transformation of GOAA’s risk management philosophy, moving beyond reactive approaches to establish proactive, datadriven strategies. Her methodology centers on developing formal systems and alternative approaches that provide greater control over risk outcomes.

The cornerstone of her approach involved spearheading the development of a formal ERM system that allows GOAA to proactively identify, assess and mitigate risks across all operations rather than responding to incidents after they occur. Recognizing the volatility in traditional insurance markets, Cottman explored alternative risk financing strategies including self-insurance and captive insurance options.

These approaches provide GOAA with better control over long-term costs while reducing dependence on external market conditions that can drive premium fluctuations. Infrastructure protection received focused attention through enhanced resilience measures.

Cottman worked directly with engineers and risk consultants to ensure proper asset appraisal, insurance coverage and protection from catastrophic losses. Strategic partnerships with insurance carriers became a key differentiator in Cottman’s approach. Rather than treating insurers as mere vendors, she fostered stronger relationships by providing detailed risk data, implementing comprehensive loss prevention measures, and maintaining transparency throughout the partnership.

Claims management received a complete overhaul through innovative protocols for incident tracking, response strategies, and risk mitigation. The implementation of Cottman’s risk management strategies has delivered measurable improvements across multiple dimensions of GOAA’s operations.

“My success is my team,” Cottman said. “This includes the risk and safety staff as well as fellow leadership, my insurance broker, and the advocacy from my CFO.

“I get more support and buy-in when I come from a place to trying to understand other’s goals,” she added. “When that happens, it is easier to offer or incorporate proactive risk management into all operations.” &

View All of the 2025 Risk All Stars

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