Richard Rizk is the Far West Ski Association’s 2010 Safety Person of the Year. He developed a winter safety speaker awareness series which addressed winter driving, terrain park safety, ski risks and the law, and ski patrol advice. Richard also contributed significantly to development of the Northwest Ski Club Council’s “PIE”. (Prepared Informed Ecological) campaign which addresses safety issues. He spearheaded an influenza awareness initiative for Cascade Ski Club & Northwest Ski Club Council. Richard recently completed a 17 session back-country ski safety course which included avalanche training. He also has First Aid and CPR training. Richard has taught boating rescue and safety techniques as a YMCA camp boating instructor and performed search and rescue in lakes and pools as a YMCA lifeguard. As a Special Olympics Coach with physician supervision, he regularly monitored downs syndrome participants for medication and safety compliance.
Richard has worked with commercial insureds to develop strategies for making workplaces safer. From an environmental safety perspective, as an EnvironmentalClaim Supervisor, Richard authorized and directed the clean up of some of the nation’s most contaminated sites. He also advocates for safer play areas. For the past 10 years he has represented those with claims against insurance companies and their insureds. The decade before that, he worked for insurers or their law firms.
Richard has resolved disability, injury, environmental and property damage claims of all sizes in many states. Richard was president of Cascade Ski Club from 2004-2008 and was Vice President of the Northwest Ski Council in 2009 -10. He enjoys downhill, backcountry and cross country skiing on and around Mount Hood.