SORM Executive Director Retires

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, during the Board of Directors Meeting, Executive Director, Stephen Vollbrecht, formally announced his decision to retire from the State Office of Risk Management at the end of May 2025. Mr. Vollbrecht has served as the executive director since November 2014.

In an earlier email to SORM employees, Director Vollbrecht gave credit to staff for his personal growth and success, writing that “My service to the State Office of Risk Management has been incredibly inspiring and fulfilling and has sincerely been one of the best chapters of my professional life. I feel privileged to have called each of you a colleague, and all of you, without exception, have been mentors to me (even if you don’t know it).”

Mr. Vollbrecht has been a driving force of progress at SORM for over 24 years. He previously served as deputy general counsel, general counsel, and deputy executive director since he began his service to the state with the agency in 2001.

 

A Progressive Organization

As deputy executive director in 2013, Mr. Vollbrecht introduced a new heterarchical structure to the agency. The new model was designed to minimize siloed operations and encourage interdepartmental collaboration. This major reorganization aimed to streamline accountability, communication, and efficiencies. The model has proven effective throughout his tenure supporting agency missions and initiatives to promote progress and the evolution of the agency.

 

Continuity of Government Operations

In 2015, the 84^th Legislature passed HB 1832, making information contained in a continuity of operations plan confidential and excepted from public disclosure. This includes all records written, produced, collected, assembled, or maintained as part of the development or review of such plans.

In 2017, Director Vollbrecht held the first Continuity Council at the Texas Capitol. During the Covid Pandemic, the Council gained momentum as state agencies and other sectors adjusted to new working conditions in the new Covid world.

As a result of relationships established with the Continuity Council, the State Office of Risk Management partnered with the Institute for Homeland Security at the Sam Houston State University campus in The Woodlands, to host the first SORM Symposium in August 2023. The first theme for the Symposium was Resilience in the Workplace. With a successful response to the first symposium, attendees immediately inquired about offering the event on an annual basis. In July 2024, the SORM Symposium was again hosted in the same location with another successful turnout. The 2025 Symposium will move to Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) in College Station.

 

Insurance Services

In 2015 the Legislature passed HB 3750 (84R), in response to concerns that the state does not have a comprehensive list of all state-owned real property. As a result of this legislation, the Office conducted several interim studies on insurable state assets, using information provided to the LBB, to develop a statewide strategy to ensure that all real property owned by the state, including buildings, facilities, and land, is adequately insured.

This same approach has been utilized by the Office and its board to expand lines of insurance and scope of coverage for all covered state entities. Today, the model used by Texas is the most unique and tailored insurance program in the nation.

 

Enterprise Risk

In November 2021, the Office developed the Texas Enterprise Risk Management (TERM) Guidelines to replace and simplify the previous Risk Management for Texas State Agency (RMTSA) Guidelines. The new guidelines implemented and adhered to the global risk management standards adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 31000), where Stephen served as a member of the development committee. The guidelines were fully promulgated online for client entities to use in January 2022, and were updated again in May 2025.

The TERM Guidelines were developed by SORM through an Advisory Council of participating state entities. The guidelines provide concise frameworks and processes for enterprise risk management (ERM) and are intended to support users of all levels of ERM, from novice to expert.

 

Legacy

At the end of the Board of Directors Meeting, Chairman Ladner, praised Director Vollbrecht for his contributions to the agency and the state of Texas. He noted that, “the executive director has taken definitive steps over the past year to bridge his long-term external market relationships with his direct reports for continuity purposes as part of his retirement plan.”

As Chairman Ladner thanked Director Vollbrecht for his more than 20 years of service, the chairman also commended the entire agency for their outstanding performance. The chairman also expressed his pride in all employees with the Office.  

 “My tenure here has been a gratifying, challenging, and enriching experience, and I am truly proud of what we have accomplished together.” Director Vollbrecht said.

The agency’s Board of Directors established an Executive Director Search Committee in January in preparation for Director Vollbrecht’s announcement in April. The search for a new Executive Director will begin in summer 2025.