The MIABC is bidding farewell to its Chief Operating Officer and longest-standing employee, Mitch Kenyon, who is retiring on June 25, 2015.
Mitch has been with the MIABC since “Day One”. In 1987, Mitch, then a student pursuing his Masters Degree in Urban Planning at the University of British Columbia, was hired by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (the UBCM) as a summer intern. The same month he began his internship, the UBCM’s Liability Task Force released a report recommending that BC’s local governments join together to create a selfinsurance pooling program. When, in September 1987, local governments voted to create the MIABC, Mitch was offered a one-year contract to help set up the organization. He would begin November 1, 1987, working alongside Ken Olive, the MIABC’s first Executive Director.
Ken and Mitch furnished a borrowed office with secondhand furniture and got to work. They put in place the systems, software and policies that would run the MIABC. They contracted out claims and risk management, and for the first several years, Ken and Mitch were the MIABC’s only employees.
Mitch’s one-year contract turned into a 28-year career. His initial position was Administrative Assistant and eventually became Chief Operating Officer. Over the years, Mitch has seen the MIABC evolve from a two-man operation to a mature organization with its own in-house Claims, Legal and Member Services departments. Mitch had a hand in many of these changes. He was also responsible for developing the Risk Management Grant Program, implementing a system to quantify subscriber account balances, and setting up the Experience Rating Program.
As the Chief Operating Officer, Mitch has been responsible for overseeing the financial aspects of the MIABC’s operations, overseeing the administrative staff, acting as Board Secretary and building and managing systems and procedures for claims, accounting and member services.
Over the years, Mitch has been involved in various other initiatives. He particularly enjoyed getting to know representatives of the MIABC’s members through presentations at different Area Association conferences. He also presented regularly at Municipal Administration Training Institute Programs. For two years, Mitch was the Chair of the Board of Directors of CivicInfo.
Mitch will be missed by the MIABC’s staff, its members, and other colleagues he has worked with outside of the organization. The MIABC’s CEO, Tom Barnes, commented on Mitch’s role in the historical development of the MIABC:
Mitch was the MIABC’s first employee and the organization’s only administrative support. As the MIABC became bigger over the years, his role changed and Mitch kept pace. To do this, he relied on a unique combination of creativity and engagement. Now, as we lose our longest-serving staff member, we thank Mitch for all he has done for the MIABC and wish him the best in his future endeavours.