By David Wald

Oct 13, 2025

Fireside Chat Highlights: Turning Risk Management into a Differentiator with Susan Shemanski of Midway Staffing

 

What happens when a risk management leader with experience from every corner of the industry—carrier, TPA, and employer—sits down to share what it takes to build a best-in-class program? You get a masterclass in strategy, partnership, and turning a cost center into a competitive advantage.

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Susan Shemanski, SVP of Risk Management at Midway Staffing, for an Aclaimant Fireside Chat. She and Aclaimant President David Wald discussed her incredible career, the future of staffing, and how Midway Staffing provides a "white glove service" by making risk management a core part of its value proposition.

Here are a few highlights from our insightful conversation.

 

A True 360-Degree Perspective on Risk

 

It's rare to find a leader who has seen the world of risk from every angle. Susan started her career on the carrier side at CNA, moved to the TPA universe with Sedgwick, and has led risk management on the employer side for some of the world's largest staffing firms.

In the chat, Susan explains how this unique background allows her to build more effective programs and stronger partnerships, giving her a deep understanding of what truly matters to each stakeholder.

 

The Differentiator is Data

 

A central theme of the conversation was the power of data to do more than just report on the past. For Susan and the Midway Staffing team, data is a storytelling tool that builds trust and drives proactive change.

"I love data and I think it tells a great story from our senior management to our clients."

Susan shares how her team uses Aclaimant's dashboards to go into client meetings and provide a clear, compelling narrative about where and why incidents are happening. This transforms the conversation from a review of losses into a collaborative strategy session, cementing Midway's role as a true partner.

 

Putting Proactive Safety into Practice

 

How do you move from simply talking about safety to embedding it in your daily operations? In the video, Susan gives a fantastic real-world example of how Midway uses Aclaimant to manage their forklift mentorship program. By building custom checklists and tracking progress directly within their risk management system, they ensure every new operator is trained effectively and consistently, reducing risk from day one.

These are just a few of the valuable insights Susan shared. To hear more about her journey, the future trends she’s watching in the staffing industry, and how she’s built a risk program that serves as a key business differentiator, be sure to watch the full conversation.

Watch the full Aclaimant Fireside Chat with Susan Shemanski now!