About ICF

Susan West

Vice President, Risk Management and Insurance
Louisiana
Susan (MBA, CRM, CIC) is a risk management and insurance expert with more than 30 years of experience assisting clients in insurance and risk-related matters, including disaster planning, business continuity, resiliency, and recovery from disasters.

Susan manages several projects and serves as the Insurance Advisor for the disaster recovery initiative in Puerto Rico. She navigates the insurance complexities associated with liquidated insurance companies and a volatile insurance market. Susan provides strategy recommendations for applying insurance proceeds to maximize Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding. She has in-depth experience analyzing risk management frameworks, conducting risk assessments, analyzing multi-layer insurance program structures, assessing claims data, and evaluating risk administration and costs.

Previously, Susan worked for the State of Louisiana as a state risk administrator and was instrumental in the state’s recovery from multiple disasters. Her leadership skills and knowledge of risk management, disaster regulations, and insurance coverage provide clients with expert guidance on risk financing, business continuity of operations, risk analysis, coverage related matters, and FEMA regulations, including the federal requirements related to Obtain and Maintain Insurance Provisions. Susan is a leader, having served as the vice president of an insurance agency and as the chief executive officer of a large insurance program. She has a Master of Business Administration and is a Certified Insurance Counselor and Certified Risk Manager.

Areas of expertise
Education
  • MBA, Louisiana State University
  • Certified Insurance Counselor
  • Certified Risk Manager

Insights

Webinar
Disaster preparedness: Lessons from state and local recovery efforts
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Article
3 areas of FEMA Individual Assistance program reforms
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Article
6 actions to develop an effective disaster plan
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Article
Using risk management principles to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related disasters
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Article
Managing business risks in a fast-changing and unpredictable world
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Article
Risk management for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Paper
Insurance and FEMA: How to get (and keep) federal funding
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