Smart Home America is an effective, smart, strategic, and tactical organization that helps vulnerable people and places become more resilient
MOBILE, Ala. (PRWEB)
February 15, 2021
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 Home™ and FORTIFIED Commercial™ 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
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