In Loving Memory of Cathy Beaty

1960-2020

 The Kids’ Chance Of AZ board lost one of its most tremendous contributors recently. Cathy Beaty was not only the Chair of the Corporate Sponsorship Committee, she was our most caring and passionate Board Members. This page is a tribute to her and the following was published by her former employer, Sedgwick.

Tribute:

The Sedgwick family suffered a tremendous loss with the Aug. 8 passing of Cathy Beaty, assistant vice president of client services in Arizona, at the age of 59. A native of Arizona, she spent much of her career in our Phoenix office, where many of our colleagues mourn her loss.

Throughout her 24 years as Sedgwick, Beaty served in various operations and client services roles, but enjoyed great success and an almost unparalleled reputation as an AVP of client services. She worked with several notable clients throughout her career, one of which led her to Michigan for several years. She created lasting friendships everywhere she went and never met a stranger.

For the past several years, Beaty worked with marquee clients such as PetSmart and, most recently, Trader Joe's. She was responsible for the implementation of the Trader Joe's program and had developed strong bonds with not only the claims team, but also with her client contacts, who considered her a close friend. 

Sharon Bartholomew, AVP of claims in Brea, California, shared her experience working with Beaty: "I met Cathy for the first time in September 2015 while prepping for the Trader Joe's presentation in the Brea office. After we were awarded the program in March 2016, we became fast friends and worked very closely to put together a joint partnership kickoff meeting with Trader Joe's that same month. We spent a weekend shopping for Hawaiian-themed plates, bowls, dishes and decorations and planning breakfast and lunch menus.

"Cathy has been instrumental in the success we have had with Trader Joe's, which led to a five-year renewal last year," Bartholomew added. "In my 40 years with Sedgwick, she is among the best client services leaders I've ever worked with. I will miss our daily calls, messages and emails. She was one-of-a-kind, and I'll truly miss her on a personal level."

Tracy Jordan, a client performance manager in Brea who was previously a team lead on the Trader Joe's program, shared the care that Beaty fostered on the program:

Right from the beginning, I knew she was special. She guided me through the takeover process from the prior TPA but also gave me independence to implement some of my own things. She taught me a lot about client services and programming that I had not been privy to from other client services managers. She sat in every Trader Joe's staffing interview to ensure our client was going to get the best team possible.

We would talk a lot—and not just about work! It got to the point that I knew if I emailed her about something, I could count to three and my phone would ring; she was that conscientious! The email would probably have been sufficient for anyone else, but Cathy wanted to talk it through because she wanted it to be perfect.

Cathy was strong, caring and always willing to help our team. I loved my time working on the Trader Joe's account for many reasons, but one of the main reasons was being able to work with Cathy. She was a special, one-of-a-kind human being. She had a fondness for cats and was a board member for the non-profit Kids' Chance. I also do a lot of volunteer work, so I thought that was so cool that she had a leadership role. She was selfless!

I have been in workers' compensation for 31 years. In all that time, I have never met anyone as dedicated and helpful as Cathy.

Paul Bena, director of business development in California, shared his thoughts after learning of her passing. "In my 30 years of industry experience, Cathy was one of the best program managers I've known," he said. "This seems almost insignificant when compared to Cathy as a person. After a conversation with her, I always felt better than I did before; she inspired you to want to be better. Her most recent work on the Trader Joe's program has left an incredible legacy in the demonstration of our 'caring counts®' philosophy. Always willing to help, Cathy was caring exemplified—both in and out of the workplace; there was no limit to her kindness. She will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her."

Beaty embodied Sedgwick's core values and always reminded her colleagues and mentees of the significance of our values and how to live by them. As Theresa Allen, longtime friend and Phoenix team lead, shared:

I believe 'caring counts' was created with Cathy in mind. She came by this naturally in every spectrum of her life. She told me with a huge smile, 'Be ready; embrace change with a big hug! Change is how we grow!' She also shared with me 'Values of a leader,' which hangs in my office today as a reminder.

Her passion for others to succeed was constant. She gave me guidance and confidence during my lows and highs. She always shared a positive thought, empowered you to believe in yourself, and believed you had more than what you thought you were capable of. If an error was made or you did not know what to do, she never criticized—she always believed it was a teaching moment.

Dr. Teresa Bartlett, managing director of managed care in Troy, Michigan, shared in the "caring counts" sentiment, stating, "Cathy was a very kind soul and an excellent colleague. She was one of the first people I met when I started with the company. She showed me the true Sedgwick way of 'caring counts' through the ways she interacted with colleagues, clients and our managed care partners. I appreciated her perspective and knowledge, which she openly shared. The imprint she leaves on our lives is indelible."

Since her passing, many have reached out to share that she was a highly-talented client services colleague and an ally within different parts of our organization; all mentioned her kindness, which extended beyond her work duties at Sedgwick. She dedicated her time to several organizations, including the Alliance of Women in Workers' Compensation and Kids' Chance of Arizona. She had also built a reputation as a caretaker of community animals, making sure they had food, water, shelter and care. She donated to various animal welfare organizations (some every Friday) and reminded others to do the same. 

She was a light for so many and will best be remembered for her positivity, exuberant friendship, unwavering commitment as a mentor to many, passion for the welfare of animals and children, and her goal to leave her surrounding world and friends better off.  

Beaty passed away on International Cat Day, an occasion honoring her favorite animal. At the request of her mother Linda, donations in her memory may be directed to your local humane society in Cathy Beaty's name to honor her legacy of kindness and commitment to the welfare of all creatures.