President
POMS & ASSOCIATES
Frustration with the status quo or dealing with complex problems when conventional solutions have failed might sound discouraging – but that’s exactly what motivates David Poms. “Inspiration strikes in the most unlikely places,” he says. “These kinds of challenges make you think outside the box and – with enough persistence, resourcefulness and compassion – find a new way forward.”
Poms is a pioneer in alternative risk programs for public entities and institutional and nonprofit organizations. Over his 38-year career, he has been a driving force behind the creation of many public entity pools in the Western US, including the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority. The issue of sexual abuse is a serious challenge for the industry, and Poms has been a vocal advocate for major cultural change within companies and institutions to put processes and tools in place to improve the safety of young people, along with education and training that can enable quick action to protect them when potential issues arise.
Also an advocate of community involvement, Poms serves on the board of directors for the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation and supports the US Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit organization working to end all forms of abuse in sports.
His advice to young insurance professionals is to be mobile, flexible and proactive. “Embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and look for ways to add value and solve problems,” he says. “Provide heroic service and do whatever it takes in serving your customers.”
