Risk executive Traci Leigh-Ane Skolaski spotlighted for enterprise-wide leadership

Traci Leigh-Ane Skolaski, senior vice president of risk management at Hendricks Commercial Properties, is being featured by Influential Women for a career built on enterprise risk expertise, measurable cost savings and community leadership. Her profile highlights how her experience across multiple industries shapes a broader view of risk, resilience and strategic decision-making.

Why it matters: - Traci Leigh-Ane Skolaski is being positioned as an example of how enterprise risk management can influence operations, cost control and strategic planning across an organization. - Her work shows how risk leaders can move beyond insurance and compliance into business advisory roles that support growth and decision-making. - The profile also underscores how lived experience, leadership and professional development can shape executive effectiveness.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Traci Leigh-Ane Skolaski, a senior vice president of risk management at Hendricks Commercial Properties. - Skolaski oversees insurance strategy, claims oversight, safety and loss control, regulatory compliance, cyber insurance, property tax appeals and vendor risk governance. - The profile was published on October 1, 2026. - Influential Women describes its platform as a place for women to connect, share perspectives and create empowering content. - A full profile is available through Influential Women.

The details: - Skolaski has more than two decades of experience building and leading risk management programs across complex, multi-location organizations. - Her background spans commercial real estate, hospitality, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare operations, emergency response, financial services and legal administration. - She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Management from Cardinal Stritch University. - She finished her master’s degree with a 4.0 GPA and received the Highest GPA in the Region Award. - Skolaski was selected to attend Lloyd’s Academy in London and added a Lloyd’s Academy Certificate in June 2026. - Her certifications include human resources management, OSHA 10 Hour, CPR/First Aid, Rapid Eye Trainer, HazMat Level A, ISO Lead Auditor, a 911 Dispatcher License and Certified Nurse’s Aide certification. - She says the mix of safety, emergency response, HR, compliance, auditing and business management training helps her view risk from multiple angles. - At Hendricks Commercial Properties, she has delivered more than $1.8 million in realized savings. - At Milwaukee County Transit System, she reduced workers’ compensation costs by $2.67 million in a single year. - At Tankstar USA, she cut actuarial reserves by $2 million. - Her broader work has supported more than $1 million in insurance premium reductions. - Skolaski graduated high school with a 4.25 GPA and 36 credits despite an unstable childhood marked by frequent school changes. - She earned both degrees while raising four children and working full-time. - A car accident sidelined her from work for nearly nine years and left her living with chronic pain. - She rebuilt her career and returned to executive leadership after that setback. - She spent more than seven years as an adjunct business instructor at Madison Area Technical College, teaching business law, human resources, project management and labor relations. - Her community roles include former president, vice president and board member of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, plus similar leadership with the Jefferson County Area Safety Network. - She is a member of RIMS and has also served as a church treasurer. - Skolaski regularly speaks at workers’ compensation and OSHA seminars.

Between the lines: - The profile frames risk management as a strategic function that can help organizations identify problems earlier and make better decisions. - Skolaski sees a persistent perception problem in the field: many people still view risk teams as the group that says no. - Her message is that strong risk professionals should be problem solvers who help organizations move forward with more confidence. - Artificial intelligence is reshaping the profession by speeding analysis and boosting productivity, but Skolaski says subject-matter expertise still matters for judgment, validation and spotting blind spots. - She also warns that new technologies can create fresh risks, including cyberattacks, fraud, data privacy issues and misuse of AI. - Her leadership philosophy blends accountability with compassion, along with a focus on listening and not overreacting to things outside her control. - The profile emphasizes resilience as a core theme in her story, linking her personal setbacks to her leadership style.

What's next: - Skolaski says risk leaders will need to keep balancing innovation with governance as organizations adopt new technologies. - Her focus remains on helping businesses identify risk earlier, develop practical solutions and support responsible growth. - She also encourages younger women to pursue unconventional career paths with curiosity, confidence and persistence. - The broader implication is that enterprise risk leaders may play a larger role in strategy as uncertainty, regulation and cyber threats grow.

The bottom line: - Skolaski’s profile presents risk management as both a financial discipline and a leadership function shaped by experience, resilience and trust.