Center for Business Practices announces 2008 PMO of the Year

Accident Fund's submission was produced by Innovation and Planning Department team members Randy Cornell, Marsha Fenton and Manny Rosales and led by Director Norm Buckwalter. The competition included finalists CPS Energy, Hewitt Associates, the National Council on Compensation Insurance, and R.L. Polk & Co.

Accident Fund's Project Management Office was originally created within the company's Information Systems Department, but has since evolved into an independent unit.  According to Director Norm Buckwalter, there are two things that make their PMO exceptional. "First is the creativity and diversity of skills among our team members, which are needed for the varying types of projects we take on. Second is the close synchronization of project execution with the broader five-year strategic planning cycle. There's a clear line of sight from the strategic vision set by the executive team right through to the execution of projects to realize that vision."

The department established a Vendor Management Office to better work with the many vendors and to leverage costs and contracts more effectively across Accident Fund and its subsidiaries. Because the vendors and suppliers were included in the overall strategic planning process vendor relationships were strengthened and ways of reducing overall costs to the company were created

The CBP award is given yearly to a Project Management Office (PMO) that has demonstrated excellence and innovation in developing and maturing processes, people, and technology to support the effective management of projects.

Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Accident Fund is the 10th largest writer of workers compensation insurers in the country.