McDonald York Named Safety Lightkeeper of the Year

Sentinel Risk Advisors this week announced that McDonald York Building Company, a Raleigh-based construction firm with deep roots and a storied history, is the recipient of the risk management firm’s Lightkeeper Award, an annual recognition of clients that have elevated safety and loss control programs to superior standards.

Sentinel’s Chief Operating Officer, Nicole Winkle, said McDonald York has done all the things you’d expect to win a safety award, from reducing workplace injuries and claims, to embracing a culture of safety at all levels of the company. What is uncommon about the 111-year-old construction company, Winkle said, is that company executives have taken safety and loss control from a checklist of tactics, to a long-term strategic plan that is engrained at all levels of corporate operations.

“As risk managers and advisors, it is incredibly gratifying to see our partnership with clients like McDonald York grow from a reactive plan to mitigate losses that have already occurred, to a proactive approach that sees risk as an operational tool that can be optimized and leveraged for longterm benefit,” said Winkle. “McDonald York should be most proud of the fact that, as a firm, they’ve implemented a culture that values the balance of risk and reward.”

The award will be presented by Jim Holmes, Sentinel’s managing partner, and the firm’s chief safety and loss control expert, Dana Vorholt, who as part of Sentinel’s Risk Performance Group works in partnership with Sentinel clients to improve workplace and occupational safety standards, training programs and compliance.