Megan A. Damato leads Greenwich risk management with legal experience and a collaborative style

Megan A. Damato is the first woman to serve as Director of Risk Management for the Town of Greenwich and Greenwich Public Schools, where she oversees insurance, claims, policy renewals and emergency preparedness. Her profile highlights a decade of public-sector leadership, PRIMA recognition and a push to grow the next generation of risk managers.

Why it matters: - Megan A. Damato oversees risk for both the Town of Greenwich and Greenwich Public Schools, two systems where operational continuity and public trust depend on strong planning. - Damato is the first woman to hold Greenwich’s risk management director role, marking a milestone in a local government function that affects schools, insurance and emergency readiness. - Her work sits at the intersection of legal judgment, public administration and education risk.

What happened: - Damato has served as Director of Risk Management for the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Greenwich Public Schools for nearly a decade. - She joined the town’s legal department in 2013 before moving into the risk management role. - Her responsibilities include municipal and school insurance programs, claims management, policy renewals and emergency preparedness coordination. - The profile presents Damato as a leader with a “firm but kind” approach.

The details: - Damato earned a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2005. - She passed the Connecticut bar exam in 2006. - Her legal background includes insurance defense, family law, guardian ad litem work and contract disputes. - She also worked in the Town of Greenwich legal department before taking on risk management leadership. - Damato earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Connecticut in 2002. - She is working toward the Associate in Risk Management designation through The Institutes. - Damato credits her family, work ethic and team support for her professional growth. - Her advice is to build meaningful relationships and lean on other risk managers to share insights and test ideas. - She emphasizes mentorship and reducing the isolation that can come with the profession.

Between the lines: - Damato’s career path shows how legal training can translate into public-sector risk leadership. - Her focus on relationships suggests a management style built on coordination rather than command-and-control tactics. - Her push to mentor younger women points to a broader talent gap in public-sector risk management. - The profile frames professional development as a shared investment from Damato, the Town of Greenwich, PRIMA and Connecticut PRIMA.

What's next: - Damato plans to keep supporting the profession through PRIMA, where she serves on the Connecticut chapter board and has held roles including president and vice president. - She continues to speak at the PRIMA National Conference and PRIMA Institute. - Damato says the field’s biggest opportunity is educating and recruiting the next generation of public-sector risk managers. - She encourages young women entering the field to seek help, work against imposter syndrome and build strong networks.

The bottom line: - Damato’s profile presents risk management as a discipline rooted in judgment, collaboration and community trust, not just insurance administration. - Her leadership in Greenwich, professional recognition and volunteer work position her as both a practitioner and a mentor.