Women of Risk Management: Brandy McAllister

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Brandy McAllister did not plan a career in risk management.

But after earning degrees in marketing, finance, and law, she became General Counsel for the Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Services (AACRMS), and in a small county pool organization, her role expanded quickly. She began providing legal oversight while serving as the claims manager for one business line.

“When I started, there was no loss control program for our general liability line. But I could see claims from day one all the way through resolution,” she explains. “And when you have the full claim lifecycle before you, you start noticing patterns.” 

The losses and gaps suddenly appeared clearly.

“I kept thinking if a particular member had this or that tool, we could have improved risk outcomes.” 

So, Brandy developed a loss control program at AACRMS. 

“I created the tools — whether it was a policy, a training program, a recommendation — whatever it needed to be. It was about making sure our members had the information and resources they needed.”

The loss control program was a success. For over a decade, Brandy continued her work as General Counsel and now leads four lines of business as the Risk Management and Insurance Director.

Deeply analytical and methodical in her approach, she appreciates how underwriting requires absorbing large amounts of information and interpreting what it reveals. At TAC, underwriting is also closely integrated with claims insights and risk mitigation efforts. This allows the team to examine not only what happened but also what can be prevented next time.

Combining Risk Management with Genuine Care

Brandy’s approach to risk management is rooted in her strong commitment to the people she helps.

“It’s really caring about the insured,” she says. “It’s being invested in the outcomes of each individual.”

Because the organization is small, she personally knows many of the members she helps.

They come to her with legal questions, operational advice, and practical support. She learns about their challenges directly and understands what they go through.

“It’s one thing to fix things on paper”, she explains. “You analyze the data, identify the issue, and you develop a solution. But there’s often a gap between what makes sense in theory and how that translates into the day-to-day work of the people managing the risk.”

Seeing both the data and its real-world impact has helped her make better recommendations and develop more effective programs.

Letting the Data Speak for Itself

Brandy emphasizes the importance of slowing down and confirming what the data is saying before moving forward.

“I don’t shoot from the hip,” she says. “If something feels off, I don’t assume I’m right. I go back to the data and test the assumption.”

It was a lesson she’d learned early in her career, where she initially thought she recognized the problem in similar claims, but a closer look revealed more details that changed her approach.

“I learned to take the time up-front to dig deeper into it before developing a response or a loss control measure.  It helps laser focus my efforts on the root of the problem.”

This approach informs her leadership today.

Passion, Leadership & Women in Risk

You may have noticed that Brandy brings a lot of energy to her work.

 “I get passionate. I get really excited. And it’s just who I am.”

In this industry, she’s learned that passion can be a real strength.

“It makes work fun and more successful every day, so I don’t burn out and can keep pushing until I get the right answers.”

And her advice for women entering the risk management industry is that they don’t have to fit in. 

“Being successful in this industry isn’t about fitting in and doing what everyone else is doing. Standing out means you naturally have to be doing something different.”

Brandy McAllister, Risk Management and Insurance Director, AACRMS

When asked what continues to motivate her, Brandy returns to the human impact.

“If one of our members has an issue, I’m the one who can look for that solution,” she says. “It’s always about problem-solving for people.”

Brandy reflects on her career with calmness and gratitude.

“If I am blessed enough, this is where I will retire, doing this job because I love it.”

For Brandy McAllister, risk management is steady, people-focused work grounded in both data and care. Her path reflects a belief that numbers matter, but so do relationships. At its best, the profession does more than protect balance sheets. It strengthens organizations while looking out for the people and communities they serve.