MOBILE, Ala., Feb. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Smart Home
America is proud to announce that Julie
Rochman has been named Chair of the nonprofit's Board of
Directors. Ms. Rochman is the former CEO of the Insurance Institute
for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). She brings over 25 years of
insurance industry, public relations, and risk management
experience to the growing organization.
"Smart Home America is an effective, smart, strategic, and
tactical organization that helps vulnerable people and places
become more resilient," said Rochman, "I hope to help advance SHA's
mission by building external support for their ideas and programs
wherever possible."
Rochman oversaw tremendous change and growth at IBHS, including
the development, funding, and construction of the world-renowned
IBHS Research Center in South
Carolina. Under her direction, IBHS became a leader in
understanding the impacts of natural hazards on residential and
commercial properties, including high winds, hurricanes,
wind-driven rain, hail, and wildfire. This research informs
solutions to resist damage and improve mitigation solutions for
hazards that cause the loss of life and billions of dollars in
damage each year. IBHS's unique research is used in the FORTIFIED
Homeâ„¢ and FORTIFIED Commercialâ„¢ construction standards and informs
model building codes.
"At a time of increased awareness of the need for resilience, we
are excited Julie has agreed to share her experience and help bring
us to the next level of impact and growth," said Julie Shiyou-Woodard, President and CEO of Smart
Home America. "Her insights into the challenges facing the
insurance and construction industries will be invaluable. Disasters
are affecting more and more people and communities, and our work is
taking on added urgency."
Since retiring from IBHS, Ms. Rochman remains active in
advancing innovative solutions to risk management and loss
mitigation. In addition to Smart Home America, she serves on the
Board of Directors for Plymouth Rock Home Assurance, the Washington
Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB), EagleView, and the External
Advisory Board for the Extreme Events Institute at Florida International University.
Ms. Rochman succeeds Steve
Simkins, Legal Counsel for State Farm Insurance, as Board
Chair. Mr. Simkins led the organization through a time of growth
and unprecedented interest in solutions that can make communities
more resilient.
"Julie is an engaged and inspiring leader, " stated Steve Simkins, Legal Counsel for State Farm, "I
am proud of the work we have done and excited for the next chapter
in Smart Home Americas history."
In addition to Ms. Rochman, Smart Home America has a dynamic
Board of Directors dedicated to making communities stronger,
sustainable, and more resilient. Current Directors are Alex Cary, the Insurance Institute for Business
and Home Safety (IBHS), Vice-Chair; Chris
Monforton, Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf
Coast, Treasurer; Landon K Smith, The City of Orange Beach, Alabama, Secretary;
Steve Simkins, State Farm Insurance,
Immediate Past Chair; Todd Davison,
Retired, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA); Chandra Franklin Womack,
Aran & Franklin Engineering Inc.; Darius Grimes, Disaster Smart Consulting; Dr.
Lawrence Powell, The University of Alabama, Alabama Center for Insurance
Information and Research (ACIIR); Carl
Schneider, Schneider Insurance; Dave
Treutel, Treutel Insurance Agency, and; Ex-Officio Board
Members Scott Delano, Mississippi State Senator, District 50;
Steve McMillan, Alabama State
Representative, District 95, and; Lynn
Perry, Law Office of Craven & Perry, PLLC.
About Smart Home America
Since 2009, Smart Home America has been an advocate for the use of
modern building codes, disaster-resilient construction, and
policies that reduce losses from natural disasters. Smart Home
America creates and leverages property mitigation solutions to
enhance community resilience through education initiatives and the
convening of experts from the public and private sectors.
Smart Home America is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
based in Mobile, Alabama.
Learn more at smarthomeamerica.org
Media Contact
Graham Green, Smart Home America,
+1 (251) 206-5632, graham@smarthomeamerica.org
Gabriella Tucker, Smart Home
America, 8557427233 6, gabirella@smarthomeamerica.org
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SOURCE Smart Home America