RISING STAR AWARD — 2023

Hilda Delgado
Administration Claims Coordinator, City of South Padre Island

Hilda Delgado has served with the City of South Padre Island since 2016 and has steadily worked her way to her current role. Her risk management career started during COVID, where she began assisting with auto, property, and liability claims. She took a great interest in claims handling and assisting departments with accident reporting and soon became the first Claims Coordinator for the City. Prior to 2020, the City did not have a dedicated Risk Management employee.

She is responsible for all activities related to handling and processing auto, property, and liability claims and serves on the Safety Committee. She is the Title VI Coordinator and ADA Coordinator. She is a key member of the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), working closely with the Public Safety Chiefs, City Manager, Mayor, and other leadership staff. Hilda also plays a key role in the Wellness Program and Leadership Team. Hilda is a great team player and innovator in all areas of risk management. Hilda developed an accident/incident reporting flow chart to train employees, supervisors, and directors on the reporting process. Hilda is currently working on a risk management guide; her goal is to improve internal processes with this manual. Hilda ensures all claims are completed appropriately to ensure the City of South Padre Island is reimbursed for any property loss and that damaged vehicles are repaired quickly and put back into service. She constantly looks for ways to improve processes to reduce and eliminate losses. Those efforts are paying off, as this year, the City experienced an almost 50% reduction in incurred claims costs. Hilda attended her first Texas PRIMA conference in 2021 as a scholarship recipient. She is working on obtaining her ARM designation.


Risk Associate/Rising Star of the Year Honorees:

2022 - Mandy Riske, Risk Management Program Coordinator, City of San Marcos
2021 - Melissa Ledesma, Safety & Risk Coordinator, City of Sugar Land
2020 - Phillip Davis, Risk Management Coordinator, City of Baytown
2019 -  Lizette Gomez, MPA, City of Edinburg
2018 - Jamee Higgins, City of Midland
2017 - Travis Yarbrough, Tarrant County
2016Meril Philip, City of Sugarland
2015Bruce Berry, Klein I.S.D.
2014Mark J. Vacek, CSP, Port of Houston Authority

2013Laurel S. Ferri, Corpus Christi I.S.D.
2012Carlos Garcia, City of Corpus Christi
2011Billy E. Moore, ARM, City of Grand Prairie
2010John Palm III, ARM, Mesquite I.S.D.
2009Raul Vasquez, City of Corpus Christi
2008Barbara Russell, ARM, Garland I.S.D.
2007Jeffery McMurray, City of Rowlett
2006Cindy Conyers, City of San Marcos
2005Cindy Purinton, Travis County
2004Martha Rider, Fort Bend County
2003Judyann Robinson, Mesquite I.S.D.