CRMP Governing Board

Lori has worked for the State of California since 2006. She is currently the Deputy Director of Planning, Preparedness, and Prevention, a role which includes oversight of the agency’s seismic hazards branch, dam safety, radiological preparedness, and statewide all-hazards emergency and continuity planning efforts. Additionally, she oversees the California Specialized Training Institute, a statewide enterprise with responsibility for supporting training, exercises, and education in a wide variety of areas including, but not limited to, emergency management, public safety, homeland security, hazardous materials, disaster recovery, and crisis communications.

Prior to her current role, Lori spent almost six years as the Legislative Coordinator at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and nine years at the California Student Aid Commission as Legislative Director, Program Manager, and in various Analyst roles.

Lori received her baccalaureate degree from Arizona Christian University in Phoenix and her post-baccalaureate teacher certification at Arizona State University in Tempe. After receiving her teaching credential, she moved to Saitama Prefecture in Japan for two years to teach English as a Second Language. Upon her return to the United States, she taught elementary classes at Carden Christian Academy for ten years before going into state service.

George Sittner became the Chief Insurance & Claims Officer for CEA on July 31st, 2023.

George brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to CEA on both the earthquake and wildfire fronts. His role at CEA includes overseeing CEA claim management, insurance operations, and education; leading CEA’s catastrophe response activities; and administration of claims from investor-owned utility companies for reimbursement from the California Wildfire Fund.

Prior to joining CEA, George held the roles of Director Claims Innovation, Technology, and Shared Services for an insuretech company. His background additionally includes serving as Head of Property Claims and holding other key claims and insurance positions with some of the largest property and casualty insurance companies.

George holds a BA in Economics from the University of Northern Colorado; a MS in Computer Information Systems and an MBA in Management from Golden Gate University; and is completing his Doctorate in Management and Organizational Behavior from the University of Phoenix.

Outside of the office, George likes to spend time with his family, attend concerts with his wife, and skiing and playing golf.

Jennifer Bollinger is the Chief Counsel for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). In this position, Bollinger oversees legal affairs for the office and advises on navigating legalities associated with emergency services, homeland security, public safety communications, and all phases of emergency management. Prior to her current position, Bollinger served as Chief Counsel for the Department of General Services from 2020-2022 and held various positions with Cal OES, including Assistant Chief Counsel, from 2016-2020.

Tom Welsh is the California Earthquake Authority’s Chief Executive Officer. He was appointed by the Board on January 16, 2024, to serve on an interim basis while the Board conducts a search for a permanent CEO.

Tom first joined the CEA executive team in February 2019 as CEA’s General Counsel, managing the delivery of all legal services, enterprise compliance, internal audit, and government relations functions. During his time at CEA, he has twice served as Acting Chief Operating Officer, with responsibility over Human Resources, Facilities, and CEA’s Enterprise Project Management Office. As CEA’s Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, his position prior to appointment as CEO, Tom’s responsibilities include oversight of legal services, compliance activities, audits, government relations, as well as management of CEA’s information technology and administration systems.

In the second half of 2019, Tom led CEA’s implementation of the California Wildfire Fund, a privately funded, publicly managed $21 billion catastrophe insurance fund created by the California Legislature to cover losses from wildfires ignited by California’s three large investor-owned utility companies – PG&E, SoCal Edison, and SDG&E. CEA is the appointed Administrator of the Wildfire Fund.

Prior to joining CEA, Tom spent 30 years as a partner at global law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. During that time, he practiced in the areas of insurance industry regulation, litigation, public finance, autonomous vehicle regulation, insurance technology, and insurance company insolvencies. For 28 years, Tom served as primary outside counsel to the California Insurance Commissioner’s Conservation & Liquidation Office, which administers the conservation and liquidation of troubled California insurance companies.