Speaker Bios

Jim Anderson is a partner in the firm of Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC, a firm specializing in Medicare Secondary Payer issues. He retired from the law firm he founded, Anderson Crawley & Burke, PLLC, (www.acblaw.com), in Ridgeland, Mississippi, in 2023.

Jim received WorkCompCentral’s Magna Comp Laude® Award in 2021. After establishing Kids’ Chance of Mississippi, Inc., he served as its president in 2022 and 2023.  

Other accomplishments of note include:
Member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Defense Research Institute (DRI), American Bar Association, and Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). He has served as Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Mississippi Bar and has been active in regulatory reform regarding workers’ compensation issues.  

He served as Chairman of DRI’s Workers’ Compensation Community, in 2021 and 2022.

Fellow in the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers and served on its Board of Governors for 9 years including service as Treasurer for the Board in 2021—2023.

Member of the Board of Directors of and Past-President of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Educational Association, Inc. (MWCEA), and served as Chairman of the annual MWCEA Conference from 2008 through 2021.
Author of and senior editor of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Claims Guide, now in its 5th Edition.

Co-chair of the National Workers' Compensation Review offering high level and cutting-edge programming designed to serve the intersection of industry, claims, medicine and law as a part of the Workers’ Compensation Institute, Orlando, FL.

Member, Board of Directors, Faith Based Claims Association.

2012 Lawyer of the Year, Mississippi College School of Law, for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Community.

Cum laude graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi (BS, 1971) and honors graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law (JD, 1978).

He has carried Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) since 1990 and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1995.

The American Medical Association has repeatedly listed Dr. Barth among their “internationally recognized experts”.  The AMA has repeatedly asked him to contribute to their publications focused on chronic pain, brain injury, and mental illness.  He has also served as faculty, editor, or author for theAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Psychological Association, the European Union of Medicine in Social Security and Assurance, the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Official Disability Guidelines, the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, the National Association of Workers' Compensation Judiciary, and several governments internationally.  Dr. Barth has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, for having made a significant contribution to science and practice.  His full time education culminated with a Harvard Medical School internship and Harvard Medical School post-doctoral fellowship training.

Cliff Belliveau is the Vice President of Business Intelligence for myMatrixx where he leads initiatives that deliver advanced data analytics. Cliff is an accomplished information technology leader with a track record of delivering solutions to complex business problems. He has over twenty years of experience in several areas of technology including building high performance teams, systems architecture, data integration, software development, operations and support.
 
Previously, he was the Senior Director of Business Intelligence at Syniverse Technologies where he led the development of the company's first enterprise BI practice. He also led the development of solutions in the areas of ERP, CRM, Billing and business process automation.  
 
A lifelong resident of Tampa, Cliff is also a member of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum and volunteers with their foundation, TechStart, which encourages youth to pursue technology careers. He earned his BS in Computer Science and Mathematics from Valparaiso University.

Lisa Anne has over 20 years of broad-based experience in government relations, information technology (project management and analysis), law, and management consulting. Ms. Bickford is currently providing workers’ compensation government relations services focused on health care lobbying and state regulatory compliance advocacy across the United States, with special focus on California and Florida, as well as Texas, Illinois, New York, and any state considering major regulatory reforms or bills with potential broad-reaching impacts.
 
Credentials or Designation:
California State University, Sacramento – Masters’ of Business Administration (MBA)
Certified Systems Analyst, University of California, Davis
Pepperdine University School of Law - Academic Good Standing
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Bachelor of Arts, Economics

Amy E. Bilton, Esq., is a shareholder, Medicare Secondary Payer professional, and workers’ compensation defense trial attorney at the Chicago law firm of Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.  She also has her Medicare Secondary Payer Consultant certification (MSCC) through the International Commission on Health Care Certification. 
Attorney Bilton is a frequent lecturer on workers’ compensation and all aspects of Medicare Secondary Payer compliance.  She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association. She is also a member of the National Alliance of Medicare Set-Aside Professionals, for which she co-chairs the Evidence-Based Medicine committee. 

Bob Bowman is the Director of Risk Management for the Wendy's Company, based in Dublin, Ohio. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife and two children.

Bob entered the insurance industry in 1990, in Cincinnati, with Safeco Insurance Companies, and spent seven years with them, in a variety of auto, property and casualty claims-related roles.

Bob joined Macy’s in 1997 and held a variety of roles in their Risk Management department over the past 14 years, including overseeing self-administered General Liability, Property and Workers’ Compensation claims groups, Risk Management Systems and IT Operations, Risk Management Reporting functions, Business Continuity Planning and Crisis Management groups and Insurance procurement and program placement.Bob joined the Wendy's organization in 2014, as the Director of Risk Management and holds responsibility for overseeing the placement and administration of insurance programs, claims administration and business continutity.

Away from the work, Bob has coached soccer, baseball, softball and basketball teams and has been a member of the Springdale Forest Park Lions Club. He previously served on the Vestry at St Anne Episcopal Church, acting as Stewardship Liaison, Jr. Warden and Sr. Warden. Bob participated in the Christ Renews His Parish program at St. Anne, serving in a variety of roles including Spiritual Director. He has also served at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy on the Friends of Fine Arts board, as Membership chair, Treasurer and President. Bob enjoys supporting Back2Back Ministries and partnering with them on missionary projects in Monterrey, Mexico, and he is a member and Steering Committee chair for JH Ranch, Outback America in Cincinnati.

Lisa Fontana Brennan is an attorney and Senior Director, Professional Liability Claims for Markel Service, Incorporated.  She oversees the Professional Liability Complex team. Prior to working at Markel, Lisa practiced law at an insurance defense firm.  She is a licensed attorney in Illinois, Michigan and Indiana.  Lisa received her undergraduate degree from Miami University (Ohio), and her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

Jeremy Buchalski focuses his legal practice on general liability, including the defense of cases involving trucking accidents and premises liability and lawsuits stemming from harm allegedly caused by lead-based paints. In addition, Jeremy has extensive experience in the defense of employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation cases. His clients include trucking companies and their insurers, landlords and their insurers in lead paint actions, residential buildings in premises liability actions, and employers and insurers in workers’ compensation cases.

Prior to joining the firm, Jeremy represented the Special Funds Conservation Committee, which maintains and defends the Special Disability Fund and the Fund for Reopened Cases under sections 15.8, 14(6) and 25-a of the Workers' Compensation Law. He also has experience defending employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation cases, and has appeared before the Workers’ Compensation Board across New York State. In law school, Jeremy worked for the Senior Advisor for Transportation and Infrastructure in the New York State Executive Chamber and for a New York City councilmember. After law school, he worked for NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

Jeremy’s broad experience gives him particular insight into every aspect of a case, which results in superior analysis and a strong legal strategy. Knowing the case better than opposing counsel not only puts him at a distinct advantage substantively but also creates a positive impression on the court.

Andrea Buhl, President of Managed Care has been with Sedgwick since 2007. During that time she has developed several managed care solutions including 24/7 nurse triage, behavioral health and surgery nurse. In addition to the development of organic programs, she has lead acquisitions which have expanded services including Sedgwick’s quality-based field case management. Andrea’s clinical background as a family nurse practitioner coupled with her experience in worker’s compensation has driven her to develop solutions which solve customer’s needs while providing exceptional care to employees. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Utah and a Master of Science in Nursing from Duke University. She’s also a 2018 Business Insurance Woman to Watch.

Steve Carman is a 30 year criminal investigator with experience in investigating all types of questionable claims. He has a police and insurance investigator background. He currently serves as the Manager of Worker Compensation for Celadon Trucking and Logistics – an international trucking and transportation company. In addition, Steve is a licensed private investigator and owns his own international private investigation company. He has handled everything from mayhem to murder. Steve is a frequent seminar speaker, author and radio show host on crime and business.       
   

Marie Cheung-Truslow, Esq. is the Principal and Owner of the Law Offices of Marie Cheung-Truslow.  She is a trial and appellate counsel concentrating on complex, high stakes, insurance-related litigation, with particular emphasis on multiple line subrogation, first party coverage issues and appraisal and reference proceedings.
 
Ms. Cheung-Truslow is a 1991 graduate of Boston College Law School, 1985 of Columbia University School of Social Work and 1983 of Notre Dame de Namur University. She is admitted to practice in all courts in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and admitted pro hac vice in state and many federal trial and appellate courts throughout the United States.
 
Ms. Cheung-Truslow has been a speaker at Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) , PLRB/LRBB, IASIU Annual Seminar on Insurance Fraud; International Institute of Loss Adjusters; National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators; National Association of Subrogation Professionals; New Hampshire Adjusters’ Association; Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International; and Property Claims Network on insurance related topics. 
 
Ms. Cheung-Truslow is a member of Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM), Boston Bar Association (BBA), (fellow) Council of Litigation Management (CLM), Editorial Board Member of the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, International Association of Special Investigations Units (IASIU), Loss Executives Association (LEA), National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP), Order of the Blue Goose International, Bay State Pond Chapter, and Vermont Captive Insurance Association.
 

Dr. Michael Choo is Paradigm’s Chief Medical Officer. He maintains the company’s relationships with its network of consulting physicians and centers of excellence, and is responsible for enhancing clinical operations and leading outcomes research and development. Dr. Choo has more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, academician, and health care executive. He holds his BA and MD from Boston University’s accelerated six year honors program in medicine, as well as an MBA from the University of Tennessee’s Haslam Graduate School of Business. He is an oral board examiner for the American Board of Emergency Medicine, a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, and a fellow and board member of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine.

Judi currently serves as the Corporate Claims Manager for K2 Industrial Services, Inc. – a multi-national industrial services company – and its four subsidiaries with several offices located across the country.  She began working for K2 Industrial 33 years ago in Atlanta Georgia when it was still a family owned company, JL Manta, until an opportunity became available to relocate to the company’s headquarters in Chicago in 1988.  Judi began her career in claims eleven years later in 1993 and has since made it her mission to advocate not only on behalf of the company, but also for injured employees.
 
Judi currently resides in Flossmoor, Illinois.  Judi is passionate about her volunteer work at Lincoln Park Community Shelter, in Chicago – a social service organization serving adult men and women who are experiencing homelessness.  She also enjoys spending time collecting fossils at Lake Michigan, though her greatest joy is spending time with her six grandchildren.

Matt has been recognized nationally as an Entrepreneur to Watch by repeatedly forming game-changing companies that bring positive disruption to the marketplace. Matt has focused most of his startup efforts in the field of healthcare services and “Big Data” technology, and his portfolio of startups includes ARC Physical Therapy+, Bardavon Health Innovations, RedefinePE.com, and KTM2.

ARC Physical Therapy+, founded in 2003, grew to become one of the largest PT Partnership transactions of 2013. Under Matt’s leadership as CEO, ARC’s growth has been paralleled only by its many awards and recognitions, including being named the Small Business of the Year (2010) , a “Best Place to Work” (2010-2013), “Healthiest Employer” (2010-2014), and a “Champion of Business” (2010-2013).

in 2013, Matt founded Bardavon Health Innovations, LLC. Already, Bardavon has erupted onto the national landscape as a software and process solution that integrates innovative services for physical and occupational therapy providers along a cloud based platform. This unique solution enables Employers to make true Value Based decisions in choosing their healthcare team while concurrently empowering Outcome Based Providers with the ability to redefine ‘excellence’ within their market. 

Individually, Matt has received numerous recognitions including being named a “Rainmaker” and a member of the “40 under 40” club by Ingram’s, one of the “Most Powerful 100 Business Leaders” by the KC Business Journal, and a regional finalist for the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award.

Kelly Cox Watkins leads the strategic growth initiatives for the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s system of care regionally, nationally and internationally. As a critical care nurse and executive with more than 30 years of clinical and operations experience, Ms. Watkins has practiced and led innovative care delivery models across acute and post-acute care. Her significant experience and leadership has resulted in improved access to care, growth in market share and enhanced quality and efficiency for provider organizations serving the most complex patient conditions.

 
Rajiv Das, MD, MPH is currently Medical Director for Safeway Inc., Vons and Albertsons Stores nationwide covering over 300 facilities and over 90,000 employees. In this role Dr. Das manages an MPN 2200 medical providers, overseeing treatment and utilization review issues. He has provided direct patient care for over 15 years as well as performed utilization review for over 10 years. He has also served as a QME.  He also serves as Medical Director for Benioff UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland Employee Health Services. He is Board Certified in Occupational Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. Trained at University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio and UCSF.

Robert J. Doherty is a member in the firm's workers' compensation practice. Mr. Doherty's has extensive experience handling appellate, subrogation and general litigation matters arising out of various employment disputes. His practice takes him to venues throughout Illinois. Mr. Doherty maintains an AV-preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.Bob currently resides in Northbrook, Illinois with his wife, Maggie and their three children. In his spare time he enjoys reading historical fiction and historical novels, while trying to master the frustrating game of golf.

Education:
DePaul College of Law, J.D.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A.

Genese Dopson focuses her practice on the defense of pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, and more broadly, the defense of companies against personal injury claims, insurance bad faith, and employment and discrimination claims. Genese has represented clients successfully in multi-plaintiff, multistate litigation and she has served as national coordinating counsel in pharmaceutical and medical device mass tort litigation. She was a member of the editorial advisory board of MX Magazine , a publication that served the medical device industry. In June 2018, Medmarc Insurance Company presented Genese with its first MVP Lifetime Achievement Award for her more than 30 years of excellent service.
  
Leveraging her first career as a registered nurse, Genese brought her employment and drug and medical device practice to Wilson Elser in 2009.
She leads the firm’s Pharmaceutical & Medical Device practice and coordinates efforts to field a nationwide team of creative, resolution-oriented attorneys in the drug, medical device and life sciences arena. As one of 12 attorneys elevated to the firm’s Senior Trial Group, she possesses keen insight into case assessment, trial and courtroom strategies. Firmwide, Wilson Elser’s Senior Trial Group provides back-up pre-trial assessment for every case set for trial with potential liability exposure in excess of $1 million.
 
Genese, who holds a second-degree black belt in Enshin karate, is known for her ability to defend complex cases and handle tough opposing counsel in heated cases. Notwithstanding her ability to confront and fight, Genese prides herself on providing her clients with early case assessment and a solid work product directed toward the earliest possible dispute resolution

Ms. Dunn joined FIGUR8 in June of 2023 to lead their sales efforts with large insurance carriers and employers.   FIGUR8 puts cutting-edge technology into the hands of the physical therapist.   Our proprietary bioMotion Assessment Platform delivers first of its kind objective data around range of motion, endurance and recovery from muscloskeletal injury.   
Melissa Dunn previously served as CSO of Paradigm’s Catastrophic Care Management division. She was responsible for leading the division's sales and client services team, and for developing and implementing effective market strategies. Melissa brings more than 30 years of industry experience in insurance, workers' compensation claims and third-party administration, specialized managed care with organizations including Liberty Mutual / Helmsman,  Travelers, myMatrixx, McDonald's Corporation, Ford Motor Companies, and Specialty Risk Services (a TPA and former subsidiary of The Hartford).
Melissa has been heavily engaged in operations, sales and account management, strategy, marketing, client, broker and prospect relations throughout her career. She holds ARM and AIC designations and earned her Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. She currently resides near Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Ebel is President of Selective Settlements International, Inc., a subsidiary of Sedgwick, and Sr. Vice President of Sedgwick. He is responsible for the growth, development and performance of the structured settlement business within the Sedgwick group. Jim started his business career with Wausau Insurance Company, where he worked in several claim management positions. In 1986, he joined Toplis & Harding, an international loss adjusting company, as Midwest Regional Manager. In 1990, he became President and CEO of Toplis and Harding North America. In 1994, he facilitated a joint venture with McLarens, an international loss adjusting company based in London. This resulted in a worldwide company, McLarens Toplis, with 350 offices in 81 counties around the world. In 2001, Jim acquired Selective Settlements from its founder, Lee Rask, who had started the company in 1978. Sedgwick acquired Selective Settlements in May, 2011. Jim's current focus is to integrate the structured settlement operation into the overall claim handling process for our clients. Sedgwick can now offer our clients a unique opportunity to tackle claim settlements using a very effective settlement tool promoted by some of the most experienced settlement consultants in the industry. Our settlement expertise ranges from MSAs to large settlement projects. Jim earned his CPCU in 1980 and has an ARM designation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the structured settlement trade association, NSSTA. To learn more about structured settlements, go to our web site, ww.selectivesettlements.com or our industry web site, www.NSSTA.com.

Training and Education
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, the University of Nebraska

Tron has been working in the PBM industry for nearly 20 years. The majority of that experience has been in Workers' Compensation and Auto No-Fault where development of operational, clinical services, pharmacy fulfillment and web-facing programs. Before entering the PBM industry and workers' compensation, Tron's experiences were in home infusion, hosptial and retail pharmacy in patient-direct patient care.

His specialties include: PBM, Formulary Development, Business Development, Account Implementation, Clinical Programs 

Robert J. Finley is a trial attorney with a wealth of experience in Medicaid third-party liability and Medicare secondary-payer regulatory and administrative matters. He provides elite counsel on recovery and repayment claims to primary payers, and other statutory third parties, under auto, property and casualty, and no-fault policies, as well as workers’ compensation insurance plans.

Please read Robert’s full bio at https://www.hinshawlaw.com/professionals-robert-finley.html

Julie Fortune is Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer for Arrowpoint Capital based in Charlotte, NC. The Arrowpoint Capital insurance operation has a 165-year history in the United States, formerly as part of the worldwide Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Group plc. Julie is responsible for the workers' compensation claims management operation.  She has more than 20 years of claims and legal experience in the insurance arena with both ongoing and run-off companies.

Prior to joining Arrowpoint Capital, Julie served as the Vice President of Staff Counsel, Services Provider Group and Claims at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., Sr. Vice President Claims Zurich Canada, Vice President – Customer Services Provider Group and National Litigation Manager for Zurich North America, and National Litigation Manager for Liberty Mutual. Throughout her career she has gained extensive experience in claims, organizational transition, and vendor and litigation management.

Julie earned her B.S. degree from the University of Oregon, M.A. degree from the Ohio State University, and J.D. degree from the Antioch School of Law.  She is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States, Tennessee, and Oregon.

She is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been quoted in various publications on the topic of claims and litigation management. She is the current Co-Chair and an Advisory Board member of the CLM, and a Chancellor for the Litigation Management Institute.  Julie is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Noah’s goal is to protect businesses from harmful litigation. He counsels businesses like restaurant chains, physician’s offices, Mom n’ Pop shops and manufacturers on labor and employment strategies to diminish the possibility of litigation.

Noah provides comprehensive labor and employment counsel including, but not limited to: drafting employment agreements, contracts, and handbooks; assisting with union successor collective bargaining agreements; responses to unfair labor practices and grievance administration through successful arbitration. He also provides practical advice for clients handling difficult employees and return-to-work situations following on-the-job injuries.

Noah has negotiated multiple favorable post-termination settlements in FLSA and discrimination/retaliation claims, and has significant experience advising clients on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Illinois Minimum Wage Law, and Illinois Wage Payment & Collection matters.

In the related area of workers’ compensation, Noah handles complex matters related to representation of uninsured employers and non-compliance matters, as well as workers’ compensation and occupational disease defense. Noah has obtained several successful resolutions before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission’s Insurance Compliance Unit. He has litigated Workers’ Compensation claims through the Illinois Appellate Court and has obtained numerous favorable awards on behalf of his clients.

As Managing Director of Gallagher’s Restaurant Practice Group, Jay is responsible for ensuring restaurant clients have the most comprehensive, cost-effective risk management solutions available in today’s market.  Gallagher’s team of restaurant experts understands the challenges of the industry and works with key markets to craft tailored solutions for their clients. 
 
Jay has over 20 years in the risk/insurance industry.  He was recognized by Business Insurance Magazine as a 2017 Break-Out Award winner for his work as Director of Risk Management at one of the nation’s largest casual dining restaurant chains. His robust experience includes a decade at one of the nation’s largest TPA’s where he served in a number of leadership roles overseeing several multi-million dollar national accounts.
 
Recognized as a thought leader in the industry, Jay has been asked to speak at RIMS, NRRDA, CLM and a variety of other insurance industry events.  He served as President of the Nebraska Claims Association, is a current member of the External Affairs Committee at RIMS and serves on the Board of Directors of Kids Chance of Nebraska.  

Consulting, training and research related to workers' compensation. Program manager for independent adjuster relationships. Seeking cost containment and resolution on aged pending claims. Managing Federal Act claims: USL&H, Jones Act, Outer Continental Shelf and Defense Base Act. State workers' compensation data reporting. Licensed in TX, FL, CT, DE, GA, KY, LA, NC, OK, SC, WV.

Rafael is a partner in Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC. He practices Medicare and Medicaid secondary payer law.

Rafael earned his Jurisprudence Doctorate degree from the Florida State University in 1990. After graduating from FSU, Rafael practiced social security disability, workers’ compensation, longshore and harbor workers’ compensation, and personal injury law in Tampa, FL. He then served as corporate counsel for FCCI Insurance Company in Sarasota, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Medicare Set Aside Administration and Center for Lien Resolution in Clearwater, Vice President of Medicare and Medicaid Compliance at Gould & Lamb, LLC in Bradenton, Vice President of Strategic Solutions at Helios in Tampa, President of Flagship Services Group in Denver, and President of UnitedHealth/Optum Settlement Solutions in Tampa.

Since 1993, Rafael has published numerous articles, book chapters, and books, including his series on Workers’ Compensation, Permanent Total Disability, Social Security Disability, and Medicare Set Asides. Since 2000, he has also taught workers’ compensation and social security disability, and Medicare/Medicaid law at the FSU College of Law, Stetson University College of Law, USF Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, USF Department of Occupational Medicine, USF College of Public Health, and the University of Tampa.

Rafael lectures frequently on a national basis on the history, substance, and legislative composition of the US workers’ compensation system, the federal social security disability system, and the interplay between both of these systems’ medical benefit structure, including the Medicare Secondary Payer Act’s requirements affecting both. 

Due to his expertise in these areas, he has been actively engaged in the workers’ compensation, social security, and Medicare/Medicaid legislative process at both the state and federal levels. Since 1993, Rafael has attended hearings, testified before legislative committees, testified before executive commissions, provided opinions on proposed legislation, and served as a consultant to legislative and congressional staff on these substantive areas.

Jacqueline M. Gregory was born in London, England. She received her undergraduate degree from Simmons College in 1980, her Master of Arts from the University of Miami in 1984 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami in 1989. Jackie practices in the area of workers' compensation and has lectured extensively on the topics of subrogation, apportionment, mental and nervous injuries, handling catastrophic injury cases and the defense of permanent total disability claims.

Jackie has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1991 and is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts. She is currently a member of Kiwanis International where she volunteers on projects which enhance the lives of children. Jackie is also a member of the Caribbean Bar Association, the T.J. Reddick Bar Association and the Friends of 440.

Dr. Brad Gronke (he/him) is highly sought after in the field of learning and development, helping to prepare people for what is possible. Dr. Brad has more than twenty years in business, insurance, and leadership roles. This social scientist is a keynote speaker who goes above and beyond. He has had many experiences including roles across several insurance lines with a focus on workers’ compensation for insurance carriers, third party administrators, and in risk management for employers. Dr. Brad was also a first responder as an emergency medical provider for more than twenty years and a peace officer for more than ten years.

Dr. Brad has earned the professional designations of CPCU, AIC, AIS, AIM, CCP, ACP, CLMP, and SCLA. He has also earned a Doctor of Education in Leadership, Master of Science in Social Justice, Master of Business Administration in Organizational Behavior with graduate certificates in Change Management and Strategic Management as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He earned a post graduate certificate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.

He serves as CEO of his own company, an educator for a Fortune 500 organization, and as a faculty member for a University in Illinois. Dr. Brad has served on many inclusion committees in his career as well as local and national nonprofit leadership positions. He currently makes a global impact as a member of the Leadership Council for the CPCU Society.

"“The person saying it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.”"
Brenna Hampton is the managing partner of our San Diego office and a California State Bar certified workers’ compensation legal specialist. She graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in political science, theory, and debate. In 2005, she was admitted to the California State Bar after obtaining her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego, where she earned special designation as a distinguished advocate on the client counseling and negotiation teams and where she served double-tenure as president of the law school’s Women’s Law Caucus.
She joined Hanna Brophy in 2006 and defends insurance carriers and self-insured employers in all areas of workers’ compensation with an emphasis on creative problem-solving.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Frequently lectures and speaks at continuing education classes for claims professionals at state and national companies on SB 863 and on a variety of cutting-edge topics including negotiations strategies, utilization review trends, aggressive lien handling, and intelligent use of investigation in litigation.
3-time presenter at the annual PARMA conference.
Speaker at CWCDAA (California Workers Compensation Defense Attorneys Conference)
HOW AM I GREEN? I participate in local beach clean up events with my 8-year-old and recycle everything.
S A N DI E G O 
619-814-1704 BHAMPTON@HANNABROPHY.COM
ADMISSIONS
American Bar Association
San Diego County Bar Association
State Bar of California and its Association
California Worker’s Compensation Defense 

Heidi Hanna is an Assistant Vice President, Claims at Auto-Owners Insurance Company in Lansing, Michigan.  She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ferris State University in 2007 graduating with the Highest Distinction and completed a community practice residency at Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy the following year.  Heidi worked in retail pharmacy, ambulatory care, academia, specialty pharmacy management and consulting before joining Auto-Owners in 2013.  In her current position, Heidi leads Auto-Owners clinical team and is responsible for the company’s medical and pharmacy programs, including workers’ compensation, personal injury protection, and liability claims.     
 
Heidi is board certified in ambulatory care pharmacy (BCACP), a certified pain educator (CPE), and has earned the associate in claims (AIC) and group benefits associate (GBA) designations.  Throughout her career, Heidi has been very engaged in HIV care, residency programs, and student education.  She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor and Alumni Board of Directors member for Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. 

Katie Hensley is a Workers’ Compensation Specialist in the Risk Management Division at Cottingham & Butler. Katie has extensive claims handling experience and is responsible for delivering valued Workers’ Compensation claim reviews. These reviews focus on reducing reserves and/or closing claims in order to drive down her clients’ Experience Modification Factors and, ultimately, insurance premiums.

Katie is a true advocate for her clients. She specializes in building carrier relationships, which drives results, prevents frustrations, and saves her clients money. Prior to stepping into the Workers’ Compensation Specialist role, Katie served as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Representative, where she was responsible for managing claims across various industries and jurisdictions.

Beth Hostetler RN BSN is a nurse with over twenty five years experience in the field of disability management and cost containment services in Workers Compensation. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University. She has been a certified Life Care Planner and is currently a Certified Medicare Set- Aside Allocator, and Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional. Her experience includes nearly fifteen years as Branch Manager in the Healthcare Division of Crawford & Company as well as several years as owner of her own company which provided case management, life care planning and Medicare set-aside services. Presently, she is the Director of Medicare Services in the Corporate Risk Management Department of Albertson’s Companies which is one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. She has developed Albertson’s internal MSP Compliance program for Workers Compensation which includes policy and procedure for MMSEA Section 111 reporting, Conditional payment identification and resolution and the MSA program. She routinely provides internal training on Medicare Secondary Payer compliance and all aspects of the MSA process. 

Lindsay is the Workers’ Compensation Field Claims Director for Amerisure Insurance.  In her capacity in that role, she leads the teams in Amerisure’s Tampa, Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte and Richmond Core Service Centers. 
 
Lindsay began her career practicing Social Security Disability (SSD) Law in Chicago for a national law firm. She represented over 2000 claimants at SSD hearings. She then moved her practice to workers compensation defense representing numerous carriers. She then transitioned to working for a carrier in the capacity of a Corporate Technical Claims Consultant. She focused on high severity and high complexity workers’ compensation claims and provided technical advisement and guidance on claims practices such as investigation, evaluation, reserving and deposition of claims consistent with internal and industry best standard practice.  She then became the Medicare Compliance, Data and Analytics manager for AFICS where she was responsible for Medicare compliance for four operating companies. 

Lindsay obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Butler University and her JD from Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island. She is licensed to practice law in IL.
 
Lindsay remains an active member of CLM and is a frequent speaker at the Workers’ Compensation Conference. She is a volunteer for Mended Hearts of Chicago and Kids Chance of Illinois. Lindsay lives in Downers Grove, IL with her husband Kirt, stepdaughter Bridget and golden retriever Ellie. She loves to cook, travel, listen to live music and spend time with her family. 

Experience
Melissa is the Assistant Vice President of Claims overseeing Sedgwick’s Aurora & Oakbrook, Illinois, field operations for both workers’ compensation and liability claims.

Melissa joined Sedgwick in 2006 in the Long Beach, California office.  Since then, Melissa has held increasingly responsible leadership roles within the organization. She has helped secure the renewals of key national and local clients as well as new business.   
Melissa was an elected executive board member for the Greater St. Louis Claims Association from 2017 to 2019.  As a member of and a certified instructor for the Claims Litigation Management (CLM) organization and was a panelist at the 2018 and 2019 National CLM & Business Insurance Workers Compensation conferences in Chicago. She spoke on employer return-to-work issues and conditional payment management.

Education/Designations
Melissa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing from Chapman University. She holds an Associate in Risk Management designation.
 
Licenses
Texas, Florida and Michigan

Dr. Iglesias is a seasoned physician executive and national speaker with over 25 years of experience in workers' compensation and disability treatment, evaluation and insurance leadership. His professional interests include the prevention and mitigation of delayed recovery and disability. His passion for helping workers live active, productive and fulfilling lives has led him to develop innovative comprehensive disability management solutions that focus on early identification of risk factors and appropriate early interventions to return workers to preinjury function.

Kirsten’s practice encompasses workers’ compensation, general litigation and criminal defense. Kirsten takes an aggressive approach, moving cases quickly towards closure through an extremely efficient litigation style. Kirsten guides her clients throughout all phases of litigation and frequently lectures regarding unique case handling techniques.

She has successfully tried and argued numerous cases before all of the Administrative Law Judges of the Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board and the Social Security Disability Administration. In addition, Kirsten has tried general liability, medical malpractice and criminal cases before the Indiana trial courts.

Kirsten has an extensive background in criminal defense representation ranging from misdemeanor to felony offenses, and specializes in operating while intoxicated charges and criminal record expungements. Kirsten is experienced in mediation and subrogation matters, including ERISA, Medicare and Medicaid and serves on numerous occasions as Judge Pro Tempore for the Honorable Judge Cantrell in Lake Superior Court.

She frequently volunteers her time with the Porter County Animal Shelter and donated a year of pro bono legal services to aid in their representation. She is an active member of the Women Lawyers Association of Indiana and the Lake and Porter County Bar Associations. While in college, Kirsten was President of the Women in Lawyers Association, executive board member of the Hellenic Law Association and an active volunteer with the Richard Blennerhasset Tax Law Society. In her free time Kirsten enjoys spending time with her husband, son and walking her two dogs.

Anna Koehler has worked as a structured settlement broker with Structured Financial Associates, Inc. since October, 2012.  Anna has extensive experience in handling and helping settle workers compensation claims both medical and indemnity. She has extensive experience as a consultant in personal injury litigation specializing in catastrophic injuries that require a thorough medical underwriting process and tailored designs of settlement annuities.  She is an expert in working with claimants to try to help them understand the nuances of Medicare and managing their future medicals.  Anna also specializes in non-qualified structured settlements which include: attorney’s fees, long term disability claims and employment disputes. 
 
Anna began her career in structured settlements in 2005 with Allstate Financial’s Structured Settlement department. While with Allstate structured settlements, Anna managed claim and document reviews. She has also worked on Allstate’s sales team where she was a wholesaler of life and annuity products to Allstate agents and financial advisors.
 
Anna currently resides in St. Charles, Illinois, with her husband, Dan, and children Emma and Vince. She enjoys live music, reading, traveling and gardening.  Anna graduated from the University of Iowa in 1999 with a Bachelors of Science in Geosciences.

Rich Lenkov brings a killer instinct and unparalleled focus to representing his clients. He partners closely with his clients, ranging from Fortune 50 Corporations to small businesses, to achieve successful litigation outcomes.

Selected to the 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers List (given to no more than 5% of lawyers in Illinois), named Leading Lawyer from 2012-2014 and honored by SEAK as one of the 50 Most Influential People In Workers’ Compensation, Rich enjoys the respect of his peers. He is also a frequent lecturer and involved in a number of national organizations, including:
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance – Chicago Chapter President RIMS Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Illinois Retail Merchants Association Foodservice Industry Risk Management Association Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute
Rich is also very involved in his community, including serving on the Board of Visitors for the Northern Illinois University College of Law, as Local School Counsel Chairperson for Agassiz Elementary School and on the Advisory Board of Legal Prep Charter Academy, Chicago’s only legal-themed charter school. Rich was recently honored as NIU School of Law Alumnus of the Year. 

Jeanne Lenzer is an independent medical investigative journalist and former Knight Science Journalism fellow.  She trained as a physician associate at Duke University and is a former senior clinical policy analyst with the Institute for Family Health, New York.  Her book, The Danger Within Us: America’s Untested, Unregulated Medical Device Industry and One Man’s Battle to Survive It, has received praise from notables such as Bernard Lown, emeritus cardiologist at Harvard, recipient of the Nobel Prize and inventor of the cardiac defibrillator, as well as Marcia Angell, former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine and author of The Truth About Drug Companies. Lenzer is a regular contributor to the international medical journal, The BMJ.  Her articles, reviews, and commentary have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, The New Republic, Discover, Slate, Washington Monthly, The Scientist, The (London) Independent, USA Today, Newsweek Japan, and Mother Jones.

Chris Mandel is SVP of strategic solutions for Sedgwick and Director of the Sedgwick Institute, where in both roles he is responsible for helping the company reach its strategic vision of serving current and evolving needs of itscurrent and future customers, as well as help lead the industry vertical to the next level and beyond. He founded two firms,specializing in risk management and insurance services. Mr. Mandel has more than 25 years of experience in insurance and large global corporate risk management. He has pioneered the development of integrated risk management at USAA, where S&P rated USAA as “excellent” and a “leader in ERM”. His career included leadership roles at Liberty Mutual, Marsh, Verizon, American National Red Cross, PepsiCo and USAA, and he has served in numerous leadership positions with the Risk and insurance Management Society. He has held appointments to: the Spencer Educational Foundation Board; the Board of the risk retention group for the American Orthodontics Association; the Center for Enterprise Risk Management Advisory Council (University of GA); and the Advisory Boards of AIG, the Nonprofit Insurance Alliance Group, Liberty Mutual, Zurich American, FM Global, G4S and Willis. He was elected a founding member of Risk Who’s Who in 2008. He is recognized by his peers as a thought leader in ERM and related disciplines.

Training and education

B.S. in Business Management from Virginia Tech and a MBA from George Mason University. He was conferred the CCSA (2007), CPCU (1987), ARM(1990), ARM-E (2015) and AIC (1982) designations. He is a frequent industry speaker and author and writes the “Claim Management column for IRMI and contributes to the Risk Insider collumn at Risk and Insurance magazine and was named Risk Manager ofthe Year – 2004.In 2016 he was honored with RIMS' Goodell Award recognizing lifetime achievement in the risk management profession.

Dr. Margolis has been practicing at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab since finishing fellowship in 2008. Her primary clinical work is in sports medicine, musculoskeletal medicine and chronic pain management. She also specializes in spasticity management. Dr. Margolis serves as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She also enjoys volunteering as a medical volunteer at the Chicago Marathon annually. In addition, Dr. Margolis serves as a reviewer for various rehabilitation and pain journals.

Chris Marston brings over 18 years of experience in the Workers’ Compensation industry. He has previous medical experience before entering the industry working as a volunteer EMT-B while attending Illinois State University where he obtained degree’s in Military History, Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology.
During the past 18 years working for both  insurance companies and third party administrators he has a proven track record of client service improvement and outstanding claims management.
After 6 years of management with PMA Companies as a Regional Claims Supervisor he is currently the Midwest Claims Manager for Reyes Holdings in Rosemont, IL.  When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his wife Jessica, 2 kids and being outdoors as much as possible.
 

Mr. Masucci is a Sr. Digital Forensic Examiner, North Carolina State Licensed Counterintelligence Professional and President of National Digital Forensics, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Masucci has over 37 years of combined professional experience in Technology, Consulting, Investigations, Physical & IT Security, Political and Governmental Affairs, including 16 years as a Sr. Digital Forensic Examiner.

Mr. Masucci has been qualified & testified numerous times as an Expert in Computer/Digital Forensics & Cell Phone Forensics in the following US Courts; Federal, State Superior, District Courts and including the North Carolina State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission. Mr. Masucci Reports, Affidavits and Depositions have been utilized in many Courts, including for the North Carolina Industrial Commission and the North Carolina Medical Board. Mr. Masucci works on Cases with Federal, State, and Local Governments including Law Enforcement Agencies, Law Firms, Fortune 100 thru Fortune 1000 Corporations and Insurance Companies throughout the US and Internationally including Military Cases.

Mr. Masucci is a Former Member - Partner of the US Secret Service Charlotte Electronics Crime Task Force (ECTF), Member- Partner of the FBI-Eastern Chapter of NC InfraGard, Past President of the (HTCIA) Carolinas High Technology Crime Association, Member of the North Carolina Technology Association,(NCTECH) former Advisory Member of the NCTA Cyber Security Networking Group, Associate Member of the North Carolina Association of Private Investigators (NCAPI), Member of the National Council of Investigation and Security Services, Inc. (NCISS), served as an Appointed Advisory Board Member on Computer Information Technology for Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC for over 11 years, currently is a member of the Wake Technical Community College Cyber Security Advisory Committee and continuously participates on the Information Technology & Criminal Justice Advisory Boards for ECPI University in Raleigh, NC.

Ron Mazariegos is Head of Public Entity and Non-Profit claims at Ambrdige Group.  Ron manages a claims unit handling complex, high impact commercial auto, municipal liability, E&O, MPL, EPL, workers' compensation, excess casualty and reinsurance claims on behalf of insured municipalities, school districts, public risk pools, religous organizations and higher learning institutions.

Previously, Ron was VP of Claims and Vendor Manager with Arrowpoint Capital, (formerly Royal and SunAlliance Insurance), where he led a team of Workers Compensation, No-Fault and PIP claim adjusters and supervisors. Ron also managed professional lines, including Architects and Engineers' Errors and Omissions claims in the U.S. and Canada.

Ron has extensive experience representing the insurance industry on both the claims and defense side. Prior to joining Arrowpoint, Ron was an attorney with Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP in New York. His practice focused on litigation, with an emphasis on construction, professional and general liability defense, insurance coverage matters and subrogation claims. He regularly defended automobile negligence, premises liability, assaults and batteries and negligent security lawsuits on behalf of major insurance carriers, self-insureds, third-party administrators, reinsurers and municipal entities.

Ron was also a civil-trial attorney for the New York City Law Department, Office of the Corporation Counsel. As an Assistant Corporation Counsel, Ron successfully defended and resolved hundreds of lawsuits filed against the City of New York, the New York City Police Department, the Board of Education, the Department of Transportation and the NYC Sanitation Department.

Ron is a licensed attorney in New York and North Carolina. He also a licensed adjuster in NC, SC, FL, TX and GA.

Gregory McKenna currently serves as Counsel to Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. ("GB"), a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., in Itasca, Illinois.  GB is a leading Third Party Claims Administrator serving customers in the administration of worker's compensation, property and casualty lines of insurance coverage in the US and around the world.  Mr. McKenna manages claims and litigation involving GB directly.

Prior to joining GB in October 2008, Mr. McKenna was a civil litigator with the firm of Cremer, Kopon, Shaughnessy & Spina, LLP in Chicago.  Mr. McKenna holds a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, a Master's of Science degree from Georgetown University, and he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame.

Mr. McKenna currently represents GB in the American Association of Independent Claims Professionals ("AAICP") and is a member of the Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition ("MARC") and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel ("FDCC").  With his wife and three children, Mr. McKenna lives in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

Admissions Illinois, 1995 U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Areas of Concentration Workers' Compensation Trial and appellate practice in Workers' Compensation

Memberships: Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association,  Chicago Bar Association,  Illinois State Bar Association

Publications: Controlling Your Workers’ Compensation Costs,  Course materials for Illinois Self-Insurers Association Nuts and Bolts Seminar

Lecturer: The National Council of Self-Insurers Annual Meeting,  Illinois Self-Insurers’ Association Nuts & Bolts Seminar,  Rock River Environmental Services, Inc.,  Frequent lecturer to Illinois Self-Insurers Association,  General Motors Workers’ Compensation Seminar, Marriott International Workers’ Compensation Seminar, Marathon Ashland Petroleum Workers’ Compensation Seminar,  Cambridge Integrated Service Workers’ Compensation Seminar

Education Illinois State University - Normal, B.S. with honors, 1991 DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 1995

 Jennifer Morris Jones is a partner in the firm’s Raleigh office and is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. She is a North Carolina Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist.

Jennifer enjoys actively partnering with her clients to develop cost effective strategies to resolve workers’ compensation claims. With her clients’ business interests in mind, Jennifer strives to achieve positive and reasonable resolutions to workers’ compensation disputes. To achieve those goals, Jennifer counsels clients on proactive measures they can take to be better suited when they need to defend a claim, as well as resolving claims through a strategic Motion practice, when appropriate. Such Motions may include Form 24 Applications and Motions to Compel discovery responses, compliance with medical treatment and compliance with vocational rehabilitation. Jennifer works with her clients to determine whether this potential money-saving strategy is applicable on a case-by-case basis.

Jennifer has experience in handling all aspects of the process from claims investigation, witness interviews, motions practice, mediations, hearings, appeals and medical depositions. Jennifer also has handled appeals from the Deputy Commissioner level to the Full Commission, as well from the Full Commission level to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

In 2018, Jennifer was appointed to the Advisory Board for the National Workers’ Compensation Review, presenting at the WCI Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. In addition, through serving as a Steering Committee Member for the Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute, Jennifer serves as an instructor of the multistate portion of the WCI Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida.
 

G. Steven Murdock has been an attorney with Inman & Fitzgibbons for 20 years, a partner for 13 of those and named Vice President in 2015.  After receiving his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bradley University in 1991 and his Juris Doctorate from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1994, Steve spent his first two years of his law career representing injured workers before the Illinois Industrial Commission, trying a dozen or so cases within his first two years of practice.  In December 1996, he joined Michael Inman & Associates (n/k/a Inman & Fitzgibbons, Ltd. since 1999) on the defense side representing insurers and insureds before the Illinois Industrial Commission and now the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.  He has tried cases of all sizes and issues for both private sector employers and public entities, including fire departments, and he continues to take on new challenges before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Illinois circuit courts and the Illinois appellate courts specializing in the defense of Illinois workers’ compensation claims.  His commitment to meeting and exceeding client expectations and his success resulted in his obtaining his license in Missouri in 2013 where he continues to zealously represent the interests of insurers and insureds before the Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations’ Workers’ Compensation Division.  Steve is recognized by employers and employer organizations as knowledgeable in the defense of workers’ compensation claims and is often asked to speak before the firm’s clients, non-client employers, and employer organizations about strategies and developments in the defense of these claims.  His attention to detail in his handling of cases has made him a challenging defense attorney resulting in numerous victories for our clients. 

Dr. Claire Muselman is the Glitter Bomb of Workers’ Compensation, bringing passion-filled purpose and energy with a dose of glitter and sparkles to the risk management and insurance space through her consulting firm, CM Advising. She is also creator of The Orange Lab – transforming programming, training, and education in the workers’ compensation industry.
 
Dr. Claire’s prior experience includes almost two decades in insurance, being a game-changer and thought leader in workers’ compensation. She created the first-ever Workers’ Recovery Unit, designed the first Workers’ Compensation Center of Excellence, co-hosted ADJUSTED - a claims podcast, co-founded The Transitions, and is a weekly contributor for Featured News on WorkersCompensation.com, a monthly editorialist for The Experts View on WorkersCompensation.com, a monthly contributor Captive.com, sharing her love for innovation in the workers’ compensation space. Dr. Claire has her own column with WorkCompCollege, Claire’s Corner, where she showcases meaningful and purpose-driven topics within workers’ compensation. She also has her own column with BLOOM, Coffee & Conversations, where she shines light into sparkly parts of life twice per month and is Editor-in-Chief Extraordinaire of the BLOOM hard copy magazine. 

Alexander E. Obolsky, M.D., D.F.A.P.A. is board-certified and trained in General, Addiction, and Forensic Psychiatry. He possesses over 20 years of experience evaluating and treating patients in the Chicagoland area. Dr. Obolsky works closely with his mental health team to ensure your needs are met appropriately and promptly.

Dr. Obolsky has extensive training, experience, and understanding of medical and psychiatric illness, medical-psychiatric assessment, and various forms of mental health treatment. As a physician, he can analyze and diagnose medical issues potentially presenting as non psychiatric symptoms.

As a physician, Dr. Obolsky has also been trained in the field of pharmacology both within and outside of General Adult Psychiatry. This training is vital to your health and well-being, as psychiatric medication may interact with other medications, potentially aggravating pre-existing medical conditions.

Dr. Obolsky has evaluated and treated patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and other psychiatric and neurobehavioral disorders. He has been featured in the “America’s Top Psychiatrists” guide multiple times in the areas of conflict, stress, and trauma.

Dr. Obolsky’s clinical private practice treats adults with a wide range of psychiatric issues and disorders, with a focus on distressing and debilitating physical, mental, and situational trauma and its impact on an individual’s day-to-day functioning.

Credentials & Affiliations

Education:
B.S.  – Northwestern University, Evanston IL
M.D.  – Northwestern University, Chicago IL
Psychiatric Residency – Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago IL
Forensic Psychiatric Fellowship – Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood IL
Board Certified – General Adult Psychiatry
Board Certified – Forensic Psychiatry
Board Certified – Addiction Psychiatry
Licensed by the State of Illinois

Professional Appointments:
Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry – The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University
Hospital Affiliations:
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago – Consulting Psychiatrist
Northwestern Memorial Hospital – Staff Psychiatrist
NorthShore University System – Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Obolsky is fluent in English and Russian.

Brian Palmer has built relationships and created strong partnerships to execute cost-saving claims solutions for clients and the insurance industry. Brian takes pride in advocating for clients, providing coverage advocacy, analyzing claims data, creating claims mitigation and incident response programs and overseeing claims portfolios to their conclusion. His clients have included a broad spectrum of industries including, but not limited to construction, oil & gas, retail, and manufacturing / distribution. Brian has spoken at multiple Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) conferences and has participated in lobbying efforts to enhance the construction insurance marketplace. 
 

Dr. Peak joined Sedgwick in May 2014 as a clinical pharmacist. In the years since, he has been promoted to AVP Clinical Pharmacy. In this role, he helps oversee Sedgwick’s PBM partners and has oversight of Sedgwick’s clinical pharmacist team. This team provides clinical support to the Sedgwick Pharmacy Program and as well as consultations to the medical provider community for alternative pain control strategies, targeting long-term claims with high cost and high risk.

Paul brings a wealth of experience to Sedgwick. Prior to joining Sedgwick, he worked for multiple companies and healthcare facilities as a pharmacist for nine years.

Paul graduated magna cum laude with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Samford University in May 2006.

Michael Petrie has been involved in insurance investiagtions for over 22 years and been a featured speaker of “Finding your claimant’s online footprints” at numerous venues including the Southern California Defense Association, New York Self Insureds’ Association, National Insurance Crime Bureau NICB New York, New Jersey PERMA and various claims organizations across the country.  Presentations focused on anonymity mistakes, online thumbprints and hard to detect data that can be used to help mitigate claims.  Michael has created some of the first successful manual search brands over the last 10 years with evolving investigative methodologies based on the ever changing data sources.  He's also had the pleasure educating numerous agencies including: Insurance carriers while providing CEU credits, insurance brokers, employers, law enforcement groups and  various defense firms. Michael has held a PA-WCCC (Workers’ Compensation Claims Certified) designation since 2000. 

In business just 24 months, the social media investigation pioneers have already received two nominations for the “Most Innovative Vendor of the Year Award” by the National Restaurant & Retail Defense Association in 2015 and 2016. Social Detection recently presented at the NRRDA Conference in March 2017 in San Diego, CA., the Thought Leader Theatre at RIMS Internation Conference - April 2017 held in Philadelphia and this years Summit Conference in Las Vegas, NV.  Social Detection has been disrupting the investigative industry since their launch in 2015 and in 2016 had saved clients over $19 million quantifiable dollars. Recently they were featured in C|Net, CBSNews, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and 1300 additional news and media outlets around the globe. Social Detection’s Concierge Report Service continues to find inventive ways to outmaneuver possible insurance fraudsters.

Duane has close to 20 years of experience in the risk management, insurance, and risk management information systems (RMIS) industry. Additionally, he has held leadership positions with national recognized risk management organizations and severed as the Midwest practice leader for risk analytics.  Duane specializes in assisting clients with understanding the “big picture” regarding risk data including; the visualization, trending and development of risk analytics, and through the consolidation and management of associated risk data.  This unique skillset allows Duane to leverage data and technology to manage and mitigate a client’s total cost of risk.  Duane’s expertise include:

Risk Data Analytics:         
Validation of data
Identification of trends
Report and dashboard development, including the establishment of key performance indicators
Measurement of strategic programs and goals

Risk management information systems (RMIS)
Analysis of business needs and objectives
System integration and streamlining
System implementation and troubleshooting assistance

Business process review
Work and data flow documentation
Gap assessment and reviewThroughout his career, Duane has worked closely with fortune 1000 clients in a wide variety of industries including; healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, retail, restaurant, utility, and food production, becoming an integral part in the client’s measurement of success in risk management.

Education and Credentials
Duane has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication from Ottawa University and a Master of Arts in Communication from West Texas A&M University.

Bill is a partner in the Mobile, Alabama office of Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.  He has a civil defense practice, focusing on the defense of personal injury, workers' compensation, premises liability and general liability matters. 
 
 Admitted to practice in Alabama and Florida, he is an experienced trial and appellate attorney in both state and federal courts throughout Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  He is AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell.  He is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute (Construction Law, Trucking Law and Workers’ Compensation Committees) and the Florida Bar.  He is past Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Defense Research Institute and is a frequent speaker at professional education seminars.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Workers' Compensation Attorneys and co-Chair of the National Workers' Compensation Review Program at the annual WCI Conference. He co-authored the CLM Workers' Compensation Claims Handling Guide for the State of Alabama for use by claims professionals and members of CLM.  He served as chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Alabama State Bar from 2006-2007He earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989 and his undergraduate degree in English and History from Birmingham-Southern College in 1986.
 

Jim is a shareholder in the Pittsburgh based law firm, Poerio & Walter, Inc. His practice is concentrated in the defense of workers’ compensation and Federal Black Lung claims. Jim was defense counsel in the landmark case of Republic Steel Corporation v. WCAB (Petrisek), which fundamentally changed the law in Pennsylvania eliminating most claim petitions filed by retirees, saving Pennsylvania employers and carriers literally millions of dollars. Jim is active in the National Counsel of Self-Insurers  in addition to the CLM, where he has served as Co-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee, and is a member of the Workers' Compensation Community Advisory Board.  He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1981. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in workers’ compensation law and for inclusion in “Best Lawyers in America” since 2006. Jim is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell.   Jim's firm, Poerio & Walter, Inc., has been recognized as well as a Tier 1 Firm for workers' compensation defense by US News & World Report Magazine.

As Director of the Workers' Compensation Department at Marshall Dennehey, Michele oversees more than 30 attorneys in 10 of the firm’s offices. She is also a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. In addition to her managerial and litigation responsibilities, Michele supervises client development efforts for the Workers’ Compensation Department. Throughout her legal career, Michele has represented third party administrators, insurance carriers and self-insureds, and her creative legal strategies have been well-received by her clients and the courts.

Michele is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for attorney professional competence. In March 2022, Michele was inducted into the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers, joining a select group of attorneys from across the country who have distinguished themselves in the practice of workers' compensation law. She also lectures and writes extensively for various organizations and publications, and is a member of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, the Defense Research Institute, and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).

Bar Admissions: Pennsylvania, 1990 U.S District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1991 U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1991

Leslie Rodgers joined Cincinnati Insurance in 1999 as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Supervisor.  She continued to work in this capacity until 2016 when she was promoted to Associate Claims Manager.  Prior to joining Cincinnati Insurance Leslie worked as an adjuster for Great American Insurance and The State of Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
 
Leslie currently resides in Liberty Township, Ohio where she enjoys spending time with her family.   

Robin Roeder is senior vice president of risk management for Sedgwick.  Joining Sedgwick in 2011, Robin developed the strategic risk management vision and framework for the company’s program.  Today, she leads operational risk management activities and oversees the management of claims, safety and loss control, physical security and travel risk management. She is also responsible for risk management planning and response related to business interruption, crisis management, and business resiliency.

Dr. Rosenthal has been with Zenith since June 2010. She received her bachelor’s degree from Duke University and medical degree from the University of Illinois. In addition, Dr. Rosenthal earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Illinois and is board certified in Occupational Medicine.
 
Among her earlier roles, Dr. Rosenthal was the Area Medical Director for Concentra in South Florida and served as the Medical Director for General Motors in Doraville, Georgia and several other companies. In addition, she has served as a Physician Advisor for SBC-Smart Disability Program, Broadspire, General Electric, and Federal Occupational Health.
 
She is on the Board of Directors of the Florida Component of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. She was recently appointed to the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation Board of Directors.
 

Jim has maintained a broad-based litigation practice for more than 30 years. Among his many accomplishments during his distinguished career, he was named chief defense liaison counsel for the landmark Station Fire mass tort litigation by the Presiding Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court.
He has devoted a substantial part of his practice to the defense of product liability claims, including automotive/trucking product liability, manufacturing machinery and equipment, electrical components, building products, pharmaceuticals and other products.
Jim is also actively involved in the defense of asbestos product liability claims on behalf of manufacturers of heating and cooling equipment, valves, pumps, compressors, building products manufacturers, and aircraft manufacturers throughout New England.
His practice regularly involves insurance coverage matters in the areas of extra-contractual liability, claims handling, coverage and bad faith.
On issues of employment law, Jim actively represents employers across a wide range of industries in the defense of employment discrimination claims at both the administrative level and in the state and federal courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. He is also involved in the defense of the transportation industry in connection with trucking accident claims as well as labor and employment issues.
Jim has tried more than 30 cases to conclusion in the state and federal courts and has represented clients in numerous appellate proceedings in both state and federal courts.
He is a sustaining member of the Product Liability Advisory Council, an association of more than 100 leading product manufacturers and 350 of the foremost product liability defense counsel in the United States and abroad.
Jim joined the firm in 1984 and became a partner in 1990. He is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in both the state and federal courts. Jim is a graduate of Brown University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jim is a member of the Rhode Island, Massachusetts and American Bar Association's. He is also a member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), ALFA International, the Defense Research Institute and the Defense Counsel of Rhode Island. Jim is a past president of the Brown Club of Rhode Island and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Roger Williams University School of Law.

Thomas F Ryan is a Senior Principal with the Integrated Casualty Consulting (ICC) National Practice at Willis Towers Watson.  Tom has more than 26 years of consulting experience with a global insurance broker and was a product manager for a national medical cost containment vendor. 

He specializes in all aspects of Workers Compensation cost containment, including:
¦      Total cost of risk reduction strategies
¦      Specialized post-loss claim management process improvement
¦      Third Party Administrator (TPA) and managed care vendor selection
¦      Claim Closure Solutions
¦      Medical Cost Containment 
¦      Integrated / Coordinated Absence Management

He is a contributor to publications that provide thought leadership and updates on emerging trends impacting Workers Compensation issues for clients, brokers and advocates.  Tom speaks nationally on innovation, emerging trends and national issues influencing Workers Compensation and is frequently quoted in trade publications.

In addition to his consulting role with the Integrated Casualty Consulting Practice, Tom participates in Willis Towers Watson occupational & non-occupational task forces and works closely with Casualty Brokerage teams.   Tom earned a BS from LaSalle University and an MBA in corporate finance from Fordham University.

Denise has 17 years in workers compensation industry with experience at Wilson Mutual Insurance Company in management, Kohler Company in Environmental, Health & Safety assisting with overseeing their workers’ compensation program and handling claims at Acuity Insurance. She has handled complex workers compensation claims, catastrophic issues, multiple jurisdictions, coverage issues, litigation and CMS requirements and has provided training and been a mentor for new claim adjusters.

Caryn Siebert is VP - National Director of Carrier Engagement at Gallagher Bassett (GB). GB is the premier provider of global claims/risk services, dedicated to superior outcomes and exceptional service. In her role, Caryn formulates strategic initiatives and builds lasting/productive claims/risk management partnerships in the carrier marketplace. She collaborates with industry leaders as they seek out creative/efficient alternatives to optimize their claims outcomes in ongoing and discontinued LOBs creating a better experience by partnering with GB. Delivering results through relentless execution, she focuses on quality products, excellence in customer service and pro-active risk management. She’s been the public voice of claims and related issues for GB, while leading internally through example and influence, mentoring, and open communication, honesty, and passion. She is a sought-after speaker and expert bringing creative solutions to audiences, projects and challenges.

Caryn was most recently awarded the 2024 CLM Lifetime Achievement Award. Other accolades include 2017 CLM Litigation Management Professional of the Year, 2017 WCC Ollie Award Winner, 2019 NRRDA President’s Award recipient, 2020 RISE Mentor of the Year, 2023 CalState Fullerton Industry Leadership Award, and 2023 WorkComp Central CompLaude for Philanthropy. 

Ms. Siebert led the claims operations of Knight including oversight of TPAs and internal claim teams. Prior to that, under her guidance as CEO, Carl Warren & Company made the 2014 Inc5000 list of fastest growing private companies and was awarded the National ESOP Company of the Year for 2013. Prior to Carl Warren, Ms. Siebert was Chief Claims Officer of Safeco in Washington and part of a leadership team that overhauled the claims operation. Prior roles include Director of Commercial Claims for GE-ERC; SVP of Claims/Customer Operations/General Counsel for GE-Coregis in Illinois; Assistant GC for Crum & Foster in NJ and Associate at LeBoeuf, Lamb in NY.

Wendy S. Smith is the Chair of the Northeast Workers’ Compensation Department.  Wendy is responsible for defending insurance carriers, self-insured entities and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation, general liability and subrogation matters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.  Wendy’s mission is outstanding client-service and strives for the highest standards in legal work.  She provides legal counseling and representation to local and national businesses, servicing the following industries: financial institutions and insurance companies in the construction, health care, retail, food and beverage, hospitality, staffing agencies, manufacturing and transportation.  In 2016, Wendy prevailed in a four-day trial involving a slip and fall at an apartment complex.

Wendy is experienced in all levels of workers’ compensation matters, from higher volume, routine injuries to complex cases involving unique medical, legal or factual circumstances.

Patrick has spent his career handling insurance defense claims and litigation for numerous insurance carriers and their insureds. He always keeps his clients’ best interests as the top priority and ensures that they are always well informed and kept up to date. 

Throughout his career, Patrick has successfully defended cases through Trial (Jury and Bench) and the Appellate process, obtaining a favorable decision from the Nebraska Supreme Court. He also leads training sessions on insurance defense law, including CLE and CEU credits, for arenas of professional organizations, as well as directly to insurance professionals. 

Patrick is a graduate of Creighton University (2004) and Creighton University School of Law (2007). He is licensed to practice law in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Arizona. Patrick is a member of the Claim and Litigation Management Alliance and Defense Research Institute. He is also a board member of the Omaha Chapter of the American Red Cross and an avid supporter of local and national charities.

Patrick is an Omaha native and, in his leisure time, enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Mr. Sullivan formed Michael Sullivan & Associates in 1996 as an aggressive workers’ compensation defense firm. It has grown rapidly throughout the entire state of California. Mr. Sullivan is a bar-certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.

In 2011, Mr. Sullivan, as lead author, published “Sullivan on Comp,” a 12-volume comprehensive, objective treatise on California workers’ compensation law. It is read by the legal, insurance and medical communities, as well as by employers keen to stay abreast of the law. The dynamic book series is updated monthly. Mr. Sullivan regularly conducts seminars and webinars, and co-authors white papers on significant topics in workers’ comp law. Recent publications include “An Analysis of the New Regulations Regarding Disputes Over Medical-Legal Expense and Medical Treatment,” and “Special Report: SB 863 Five Years Later.” He also speaks regularly at professional conferences including the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation, the Association of Insurance Professionals and the Public Agency Risk Managers Association.

Before starting his own firm, Mr. Sullivan practiced workers’ compensation defense in Los Angeles, handling a full caseload of workers’ compensation litigation resulting in a 95% trial victory rate.

Mr. Sullivan received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law, where he served an externship with a federal judge, and an internship with the California Department of Industrial Relations. He received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu scholastic honors society.

Mr. Sullivan received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law,  He received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu scholastic honors society.

EDUCATION Southwestern University (B.S., 1973) South Texas College of Law (J.D., 1980)

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY- Briefing Attorney, Hon. Robert M. Campbell, Justice, Texas Supreme Court, 1981-1982 / Attorney with Flahive, Ogden & Latson, 1982 to date. Managing Shareholder since January 1, 2008.

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES

 - Contributing Editor, The Texas Workers’ Compensation Manual, annually 1982 to date, Covington Press

- Controlling the Cost and Quality of Medical Care, ADVANCED WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SEMINAR,  2005

- Preauthorization—Defining the Borders of Utilization and Medical Necessity, ADVANCE WORKER’S COMPENSATION,  2006

- Waiver Issues—Life, Death and Rebirth Under Statutory Waiver, ADVANCED WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SEMINAR,  2008

- Bad Faith Case and Issues Update, ADVANCED WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

 - The “Stop Loss Exception” Case Study, ADVANCE  ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 

- Using Treatment Guidelines and Predictive Outcomes to Evaluate Medical Services, CLM, ANNUAL CONFERENCE

- Fundamentals of Litigation Management, CLM, REGIONAL SERIES, 2011

- How to Examine a Doctor Using Evidence-Based Medicine, NATIONAL WORKERS’ COMPENSATION REVIEW, 

- Travel, Transportation and Access to the Workplace, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE, 

- Legislative, Legal & Administrative Changes and Challenges in Workers’ Compensation, PRIMA CONFERENCE, 2011

- Evidence-Based Medicine:  Controlling the Cost & Quality of Medical Care, CLM, Annual Conference, 

- The Ethical Minefield Unique to the Workers’ Compensation Tri-Partite Relationship, 

- Case Analysis by Experts, 

- Using Evidence-based Medicine and Predictive Outcomes 

 CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS - * Board Certified: Civil Appellate Law,  Personal Injury Trial Law and Workers’ Compensation Law--TEXAS BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION * MARTINDALE-HUBBELL AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated * SUPERLAWYER® by TEXAS MONTHLY, 2003 * Member: CLM; DRI Workers' Compensation Committee; Workers' Compensation Defense Institute; The Faith Based Claims Association * Certified Litigation Management Professional, CLM Litigation Management Institute * Fellow, The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers * Founding Member, Workers' Compensation Defense Institute * Past President, The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas

Jeremy Unruh brings a 15-year track record as a government prosecutor to the nascent medical cannabis industry. Prior to joining PharmaCann, Jeremy worked at the Office of the State’s Attorney before opening a private practice focusing on commercial litigation, internal compliance investigations in the financial services and healthcare industries and product liability defense for large industrial manufacturers. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, a Master’s from DePaul University’s Kellstadt School of Business Management and a J.D. from Washburn University School of Law.
 
PharmaCann Bio:
PharmaCann, founded in 2014, is one of the country’s largest vertically integrated cannabis companies, providing safe, reliable, top-quality cannabis products to improve people’s lives. By investing in people, practices and infrastructure, we are shaping a new, vital, wellness-focused industry. Our goal is to increase sustainable access to cannabis by offering effective, affordable and trusted products and services.
 
We are licensed in eight states to grow, process and/or dispense medicinal cannabis products for adult and pediatric patients, as well as for responsible adult use. We are expanding rapidly but steadily as we continue to earn new state licenses and gain recognition as a trusted resource in this evolving space.
 
We invest in best practices at every turn to ensure people have access to the most effective options for feeling and living better. We are constantly researching and developing new forms and formulations of cannabinoid-based treatments to improve people’s well-being and help them live their best lives.

Ms. Weaver is an Account Manager with CCMSI based in their corporate office located in Danville, Illinois.    Since 1996, Kristi has served the company in several different capacities in the claims management and client service areas.  Currently Ms. Weaver is concentrating on account management.
 
Kristi is a licensed independent adjuster in the States of Kentucky & Texas.  She has obtained the Associate in Risk Management (ARM), and Associate in Claims (AIC) designations from the Insurance Institute of America.  Ms. Weaver has obtained the Senior Claim Law Associate (SCLA) designation from the American Education Institute, Inc.

Jennifer has been with the IAIABC since 2002 and has served as Executive Director since 2012. With the Board of Directors and IAIABC leaders, Jennifer defines the vision and strategic direction of the Association to engage the occupational health, safety, and workers' compensation communities. Jennifer works to develop resources, education, and publications to reduce harm and aid recovery from occupational injuries and illnesses. 

Jennifer has a broad understanding of workers' compensation systems globally and closely monitors industry trends that will impact the system in the future. Jennifer is a frequent presenter and author and is the host of the IAIABC's monthly podcast "Accidentally."

Mei Wright has worked for major personal line carrier, homeowner carrier as well as commercial line carrier. Currently, Mei is a Commercial General Liability Claims Adjuster at AmTrust North America. She handles claims in the area of slip and fall, negligent security, wrongful death, commercial auto, commercial general liability and employers’ liability.
Mei has earned her Master of Business Administration from Stetson University in Florida and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation. She is also serving on the Leadership and Managerial Excellence Interest Group Committee of the CPCU Society. She is also an active member of CLM.

Education & Certification
MBA, Stetson University, Deland, FL
BBA, Management of Organization, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), The Institutes

Kathleen Wyeth is the Director of the Office of General Counsel Claims Litigation Group at AF Group, responsible for national oversight of all claim litigation, including an in-house staff counsel operation of attorneys, paralegals and support staff, litigating workers compensation matters in 10 different jurisdictions.  Kathleen also directs all Medicare compliance activity for the enterprise, handled in-house by a staff of attorneys and support staff.  She has presented on Medicare Secondary Payer compliance topics at various national and state professional conferences over the past 10 years and has co-authored the Michigan Chapter of The Complete Guide to Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance, published by LexisNexis. She is a member of the Claim & Litigation Management (CLM) Workers' Compensation Advisory Board. Kathleen graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and has spent 21 years working in the insurance industry, with a primary focus in workers’ compensation litigation.

Linda Youngerman joined Lockton in 2015 as a VP Senior Claims Consultant in the Northeast Risk Practice. Possessing over 20 years of claims advocacy experience across multiple lines of coverage, Linda is able to provide her clients with superior claims service delivery.

Prior to joining Lockton, Linda served in various roles within the insurance industry. Most recently, while at a regional broker, she collaborated with her clients to reduce their total cost of risk by engaging in strategic discussions and implementing tactical plans to meet their goals and expectations. In addition, Linda was also focused on advocating on behalf of her clients in managing losses to obtain favorable outcomes.