OMAG All Access

Water loss is more than a utility challenge - it can have a direct impact on budgets, infrastructure planning, and the cost of service for residents. In this episode of OMAG All Access, host William Shepherd sits down with Brandon Bowman, State Programs Director for the Oklahoma Rural Water Association (ORWA), to discuss how water loss audits help municipalities and rural water systems identify hi...

What does Oklahoma’s FY2027 Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan forgiveness program mean for your municipality? In this episode of OMAG All Access, host William Shepherd is joined by Ariel LaMontagne and Brian Green from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to simplify the upcoming loan forgiveness cycle and explain what cities, towns, public works authorities, and eligible districts need to know...

As Oklahoma communities gear up for a busy season of festivals, parades, and local gatherings, understanding special event coverage is more important than ever. In this episode of OMAG All Access , host Chris Webb, Director of Underwriting, is joined by Jeff Bryant, Associate General Counsel and Director of Legal Services, to unpack the complexities of event-related liability. Together, they explo...

OMAG is proud to share this replay of PoolSide , a podcast produced in partnership with Bechamps & Associates and GEM (Government Entities Mutual .) In this episode, host Michelle Bechamps of Bechamps & Associates sits down with Jack Ryan, attorney and co director of the Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute, to examine the evolving landscape of law enforcement liability and leader...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , host Lori Mueller is joined by Monica Coleman, OMAG General Counsel and Personnel Services Director, to examine the recent Tenth Circuit case Jenny v. L3Harris . Together, they unpack how supervisors’ actions—and omissions—can expose municipalities to discrimination and retaliation claims. From seemingly small comments to undocumented reorganizations, this case...

Cybersecurity threats are growing - and municipalities across Oklahoma are not immune. In this episode of OMAG All Access, host Matt Jacobson sits down with Mark Kirby, CISA’s Cybersecurity Advisor for Oklahoma and Arkansas, to talk about real-world risks facing cities and towns, from phishing scams to ransomware attacks. Mark shares practical, no-cost resources available through CISA, offers guid...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , Risk Management Director William Shepherd sits down with Blake Catanzano and Michael Bridges of Next Phase Roofing to talk about what municipal leaders need to know about protecting public buildings from storm damage, leaks, and long-term roof failures. From free inspections to emergency response, they walk through the top reasons cities and towns should take a...

In Episode 83 of OMAG All Access, Bill Tackett interviews OMAG's Professional Training & Development Analyst, Lori Mueller about the gift of feedback. If you've ever felt nervous about giving someone feedback, you're not alone. Most people have some anxiety around it and have never been taught how to give feedback effectively. Though feedback is an important element of personal...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , Director of Risk Management William Sheppard sits down with LaVeta Breath, Director of Risk Management for the City of Oklahoma City and President of the Central Oklahoma RIMS Chapter. Together, they explore the value of risk management in municipal operations and the vital role that RIMS (Risk and Insurance Management Society) plays in connecting professionals...

Unlock $150K for Infrastructure: Understanding the OWRB REAP Grant  In this episode of OMAG All Access , Risk Management Director William Shepard and Specialist Hunter Askew sit down with Ariel LaMontagne and Kretchen Olmeda from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) to break down the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) Grant. With up to $150,000 in funding available—and no match requirement—thi...

Cyberattacks are on the rise—and smaller municipalities are now a top target. In this episode of OMAG All Access, David Dalton, OMAG’s Director of Claims, is joined by cybersecurity attorney Zach Oubre of McAfee & Taft to discuss how cities and towns in Oklahoma can protect themselves. Zach shares insights from years of experience helping clients navigate breaches, ransomware events, and phish...

In this special episode of OMAG All Access, hosts William Shepherd and Kyle Waid are joined by Benjamin Curry, Director of Emergency Communications and Management for the City of Edmond. Benjamin shares his journey from 911 dispatcher to emergency management leader and offers actionable advice for municipalities on preparing for severe weather, building key relationships, and maintaining essential...

 Join hosts William Shepherd and Randy Jacox on OMAG All Access as they talk with Tonya White from Garver, a funding specialist dedicated to helping Oklahoma municipalities make the most of their budgets. Learn how to strategically plan projects, access funding opportunities, and effectively manage grants to stretch every dollar. Whether you're a city manager, public works director, or munici...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , hosts William Sheppard and Randy Jacox are joined by Tonya White, Water Funding Program Specialist at Garver, to discuss the importance of water and wastewater system master plans and capital improvement plans (CIPs) for Oklahoma municipalities. Tonya shares practical steps for getting started, how master planning supports funding efforts, and why internal coll...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , host William Sheppard , Director of Risk Management at OMAG, is joined by Randy Jaycox and Brian Conroy from Duke’s Root Control to discuss innovative solutions for maintaining municipal sewer systems in Oklahoma. Since 2018, OMAG’s partnership with Duke’s Root Control has helped municipalities prevent costly sewer overflows by keeping sewer lines clear and flo...

In the latest episode of OMAG All Access , Risk Manager William Shepard sits down with Abby Whitaker of Blackmon Mooring to discuss the critical role of restoration services in municipal preparedness and recovery. From fire and water damage to biohazard cleanups and HVAC restoration, learn how having the right emergency response plan can save your city time, money, and resources. Abby shares exper...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , host Randy Jacox is joined by Asa Baker of Midwest Infrastructure Coatings to explore innovative approaches to manhole rehabilitation. Asa breaks down the advantages of protective polyurea coatings, highlighting how they save municipalities significant time and costs compared to traditional manhole replacement. With insights into the science behind their durabl...

Have you ever wondered how to keep your city’s sewer system running smoothly and avoid costly backups? In this episode of OMAG All Access, Josh Pandian from Key Equipment & Supply and OMAG’s own Randy Jacox discuss the essential tools, technology, and strategies every municipality needs for sewer system maintenance. From the importance of system mapping and jetter equipment to the value of cam...

In this episode of OMAG All Access , host Bill Tackett is joined by Mike Carter, the City Manager of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, who recently spoke at the OMAG Law Enforcement Showcase about the creation of a transformative "policing plan." This plan, developed under Mike’s leadership as the former police chief, has played a key role in fostering trust and transparency between the Sand Sprin...

In this episode, OMAG Law Enforcement Specialist Kevin Katz chats with Mike Antu and John Massey from Lexipol, along with OMAG Associate General Counsel Ambre Gooch. They discuss Lexipol policies and Daily Training Bulletins (DTBs), which are valuable resources OMAG offers to its members at no cost. Lexipol’s policies are up-to-date with both constitutional and state laws, and they’re designed to...

 In this episode of OMAG All Access , host Suzie Paulson sits down with McAlester City Manager Dave Andren and Public Information Officer Adrian O'Hanlon to discuss the comprehensive report they've developed for the city and its officials. Tune in as Dave and Adrian share insights into the purpose behind the report, how it was crafted to meet the unique needs of McAlester, and the key re...

In the event of a critical incident, timely and proper reporting to OMAG is essential. The following situations require immediate notification to ensure appropriate response and support: Officer Involved Shooting Death in Custody Cyber Attack or Breach Workplace Fatality Use-of-Force Resulting in Injury In this episode, Ambre Gooch and Kyle Waid discuss these topics and why it's important to...

 Hosted by Bill Tackett, OMAG's Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, this episode features special guests William Sheppard, OMAG’s Risk Management Director, and Kevin Katz, OMAG Law Enforcement Specialist. Listen as they  delve into upcoming events and training sessions that OMAG is hosting, including the Sanitary Sewer Expo and the LELA Training Series. Discover how these init...

On this episode of OMAG All Access, join OMAG Director of Risk Management, William Sheppard, as he sits down with Toye Waid from Consolidated Benefits Resources (CBR). Discover how CBR is crucial in helping OMAG streamline Workers' Comp claims.  Learn more by visiting www.omag.org.

Years of academic research and on-the-ground experience have shown us that effective active bystandership can be taught. The Center for Innovations in Community Safety, partnering with global law firm Sheppard Mullin, has created ABLE* (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) to prepare officers to successfully intervene to prevent harm and to create a law enforcement culture that supports peer...