The SERMAPod

Rich Lenkov

Join personalities from SERMA (Sports & Entertainment Risk Management Alliance) for insightful discussions on a variety of trending and important topics in claims facing the industry.

  1. The SERMAPod Ep. 101 | "Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up!"

    12/15/2025

    The SERMAPod Ep. 101 | "Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up!"

    In this episode of The SERMAPod, Brian Rosenblatt is joined by Alex Papa of Weber Gallagher and Catherine DiStefano, General Counsel and Chief Human Resources Officer of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, for an in-depth discussion on the unique risks faced by nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organizations, and why protecting mission, brand, and governance matters as much as protecting balance sheets. The conversation explores how charitable organizations manage liability, brand protection, intellectual property, event risk, governance compliance, insurance coverage, and financial stewardship, all while staying true to their core mission. Catherine shares insight into the V Foundation’s commitment to directing 100% of donations to cancer research, the legal and operational challenges behind large-scale fundraising events like the Jimmy V Classic, and the importance of strong partnerships in mitigating risk. The episode also reflects on the enduring legacy of Coach Jim Valvano’s iconic “Don’t Give Up… Don’t Ever Give Up!” speech, the real-world impact of cancer research, and how risk professionals in sports and entertainment are uniquely positioned to give back and drive meaningful change. As part of SERMA’s strategic partnership with the V Foundation, listeners are invited to support cancer research directly through this initiative. Donate: https://www.v.org/serma Join SERMA today: https://www.theserma.org/ Special thanks to our sponsor, Magna Legal Services: https://magnals.com/

    38 min

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Join personalities from SERMA (Sports & Entertainment Risk Management Alliance) for insightful discussions on a variety of trending and important topics in claims facing the industry.