Christa Peterson, President of Risk Management at The Paladin Group, Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders of 2022 | IERA Women Leaders

Christa Peterson has over 16 years of specialized transportation and commercial experience in Claims, Litigation, Safety, Risk Management, and Compliance. Her valuable understanding of the insurance, legal, and motor carrier sectors brings a unique and versatile perspective as President of Risk Management at The Paladin Group.

“Christa possesses a wealth of knowledge that comes from years of experience in handling claims. She is very knowledgeable about the entire claims process and is driven by client satisfaction. Christa is always wanting and willing to learn more to ensure our clients are getting the best coverage, best price, and best possible experience each and every day,” says Corey Schatz, President & CEO of The Paladin Group.

The pioneering leader outshines at managing and mentoring teams to reach high-level results. Christa provides extensive experience in numerous lines of business with a focus on Operations, CX, and Project Management. She is highly skilled in leveraging technology, managing claims operations, and developing process improvements and training while achieving measurable cost savings through a team-oriented approach.

“The most fantastic thing about Christa is that she has always put others before herself. In doing so, she will always ensure those who do the frontlines work to receive the recognition they deserve at the cost of her not receiving any. On top of that, she is a powerhouse of knowledge that is always excited to share what she knows.

She contains vast professional knowledge of all sides of the industry and niche experiences that allow for fantastic insight and ideas. Her team loves working with her because it is always an uplifting experience, and we consistently achieve our goals comforted by the fact that she thought of every angle of approach to whatever we are faced with,” adds Jack Mann, Director of ICS at The Paladin Group.

As a female who has worked in the insurance and trucking industries for a long time, Christa has learned that it is incredibly beneficial and rewarding to leverage her experience and network to mentor those who are up and coming in their careers. “I get tremendous energy from paying it forward by advocating for women and cheering on their successes,” says Christa. “If I had any advice from my journey, which I’m still in the middle of at this point, it’s imperative to stay hungry and learn as much as possible. You never know what the total of that education and experience will look like when an opportunity presents itself down the road.”

“Christa holds her direct reports to the highest standard. In doing so, she challenges them to be better than the last. Knowing the influence the team has on the projects, she encourages her staff to expand their skills outside their current role to continue to grow and overall, build a team that has a diverse skill set and motivated members,” elucidates Corey.

Currently, Christa’s goals are to create an environment that encourages diversity and inclusiveness while promoting innovation and growth. “I want to ensure that The Paladin Group is providing the best possible services to its customers, while also creating an atmosphere of safety, fairness, and respect as an organization,” she explains. “To achieve this, I continue to strive to create a culture of collaboration, where colleagues of all genders, cultures, and backgrounds are encouraged to contribute their ideas, opinions, and experiences. I also ensure that our agency stays ahead of new industry trends and technology.”

Ultimately, Christa’s goal is to ensure that The Paladin Group is where everyone can thrive and succeed. “In addition, I’m stepping away from my Young Professionals Committee Chair position at the Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA) to move into other supportive roles where I can provide value,” elucidates the steadfast leader. “This opens opportunities for others to step up and lead a fun and exciting group of individuals! After several years of work and collaboration to grow the group and its visibility, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of in my career.”

The Paladin Group is driven and moving into 2023 with exciting service and tech developments that will continue to take their service offerings to the next level. WL