2021 CLM Workers Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference

Schedule/Sessions
Speaker Bios
Travel/Hotel Accommodations

Session 1 - RRH - Big Brother is Watching	Download
Session 1 - WC - Changing the Employee Safety and Wellness Mindset to Reduce Workers’ Compensation Costs and Avoid Liability	Download
Session 1 - WC - Experts: The Impact that Your Choice Can Have On Your Worker’s Compensation Claim	Download
Session 10 - RRH - Physical Security in a COVID age	Download
Session 10 - WC - COVID-19 Changed the Workers’ Compensation Game	Download
Session 11 - RRH - Indemnification Provisions	Download
Session 11 - WC - This Job is Making Me Anxious: Mental Health Workers' Compensation Claims	Download
Session 12 - RRH - COVID’s Impact on the Insurance Industry from Premiums to Claims	Download
Session 12 - WC - Injury Causation Analysis and Worker’s Compensation	Download
Session 2 - RRH - Effective Alternative Dispute Resolution Strategies	Download
Session 2 - RRH - PTSD from First Responders	Download
Session 2 - WC - Telemedicine’s Role in Workers’ Compensation post COVID-19	Download
Session 3 - WC - Premier Session: Compensability Now and Claims Handling Post COVID-19 Vaccine	Download
Session 4 - RRH - Covid19 Legal Concerns	Download
Session 4 - WC - Creative Claim Strategies: That Settles It	Download
Session 4 - WC - How Cyber and Crypto Currencies are Financing the Exploding Gig Economy. What it Means to Your Workers Comp Insurance Defense	Download
Session 5 - RRH - Human Trafficking	Download
Session 5 - WC - Inclusion Revolution - Beyond 2020	Download
Session 5 - WC - Recovered Worker Results in Empathy ROI	Download
Session 6 - RRH - Masking a Risk	Download
Session 6 - RRH - Website and Internet Compliance	Download
Session 6 - WC - The Evolving Story of COVID and Workers' Compensation	Download
Session 7 - WC - Premier - Bouncing Forward: Recovering from the Emotional Trauma of COVID-19	Download
Session 8 - RRH - Trial Prep Starts When You Learn of an Accident	Download
Session 8 - WC - Workers' Compensation and the Telecommuter	Download
Session 9 - RRH - The Impact of Covid19 Vaccine	Download
Session 9 - WC - Getting a Fix: A Contemporary View of Substance Use & Addiction	Download
Session 9 - WC - Workers’ Compensation Claims and Litigation Management in the Age of Technology	Download

Handouts

Sponsors
Event Policies

Speaker Bios

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Fellows

Dena Abdallah	Marsh
Tara Acton	Lumen Technologies, Inc.
Anas Al-Hamwi	Walgreens
Wayne Apfeld	Fluidra
Stefanie Bailey	Diversified Maintenance Systems, LLC
David Beckley	McGriff
Scotty Benton	Sedgwick
Lee Brading	Lockton Companies, LLC
Tammy Bradly	Coventry
Dr. Fernando Branco, MD., FAAPM&R	Midwest Employers Casualty Company
Cindy Braun	Great American Insurance Group
Wayne Brinkman	Aon
Beth Burry-Jackson	Sedgwick
Randy Conner	The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Scot Corrigan	Sompo International Insurance
Kristian Cross	Self Employed
Joanne Daley	Nationwide Insurance Company
Dr. Geralyn Datz	Southern Behavioral Medicine Associates, PLLC
Tracey Davanport	Sedgwick
Susan DeCaro	Arch Insurance Group Inc.
Alicia DePalma	Lockton Companies, LLC
Curt DeVries	Fraudsniffr
Bert Dizon	Cardinal Captive Strategies
Brian Eves	Unknown
Denna Flemming	AF Group
Dr. Austin Folley	BRC - Biodynamic Research Corporation
Jay Gates CPCU,ARM, AIC	Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Carrie Graziani	The Hanover Insurance Group
Michelle Greene	North American Risk Services NARS
Nick Grinnell	Sompo International Insurance
Dr. Brad Gronke	Gallagher Bassett
Margaret Hackbarth	Constellation
Gregory Hamlin	Berkley Industrial Comp
Brittany Harvey	Aon
Jeff Heaser	Astrus Insurance Solutions
Katie Hensley	Cottingham & Butler
Lindsay Huffman	Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company
Melissa Icban, ARM	Sedgwick
Kawania James	Utica National Insurance Group
Rebecca Kassel	PMA Companies
Patricia Kocsondy	Chubb
David Langham	State of Florida
Cathy Lara	Gallagher Bassett
Dr. Angela Levitan	ARCCA, Inc.
Candace McPherson Hodge	The Parking Spot
Dr. Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco	Freedom Light
Mary Miller	ArlingtonRoe
Dr. Claire Muselman	Self Employed
Janet Paranteau	Upbound Group, Inc
Hope Remetta	Berkley Industrial Comp
Dorothy Riviere	Bardavon Health Innovations
Jennifer Rizk-O'Lynnger	Unknown
Nina Rose	Builders FirstSource, Inc.
Peter Russell	CapSpecialty
Thomas Ryan	Self Employed
Ryan Sandstrom	Self Employed
Dr. Gary Seale	Centre for Neuro Skill
Caryn Siebert	Gallagher Bassett
Kimberly Simmons	Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
Kimberly Simmons	Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
Melissa Spinazzola	Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company
Dorothy Stolle	Boeing
M. Shane Sumrall	McGriff
Patrick Thantacheva	Diversified Restaurant Group, LLC
Lauren Tice	McGriff
Greg Vacek	Chubb
David Vittoria	Carisk Partners
Melisha Zeigler	Liberty Mutual
Alaa Zuaiter	Berkley Environmental

Members

Joseph Baiocco	Wilson Elser
Robert Bernstein	Laner Muchin, Ltd.
Adam R. Bialek	Wilson Elser
Amy E. Bilton	Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C.
Jay Branderbit	Kent & McBride, P.C.
Jennifer Brooks	Hamilton, Miller & Birthisel LLP
Stephanie Burnstein	Unknown
Karen Campbell	Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
Lyndsey Canning	Sodoro Law Group
Brian Donnelly	Cullen and Dykman, LLP
Seymour Everett	Everett Dorey, LLP
Joshua Ferguson	Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP
Rafael Gonzalez	Cattie & Gonzalez
Brenna Hampton	Hanna, Brophy, MacLean, McAleer & Jensen
Kellie Howard-Goudy	Collins Einhorn Farrell PC
Kirsten Kaiser Kus	Downey & Lenkov LLC
John Kamin	Bradford & Barthel, LLP
Fred Karlinsky	Greenberg Traurig LLP.
Conley Knott	Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.
Aubrey Kuchar Noltemeyer	Kightlinger & Gray LLP
Nikoleta Lamprinakos	Robbins Schwartz
David Levitt	Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
John Loyal	Cipriani & Werner, PC
Robert A. Luskin	Chartwell Law
Lindsey Mills	Smith Mills Law P.C.
Jennifer Morris Jones	Cranfill Sumner LLP
William Pipkin	Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.
Michele Punturi	Marshall Dennehey
Rebekah Ratliff	JAMS ADR
Cathleen Rebar	Rebar Kelly
Lynn Rivera	Resnick & Louis, P.C.
Jim Roach	Hennessy & Roach P.C.
Patrick Sodoro	Sodoro Law Group
Jonathan Spadea	Chartwell Law
Patrice A. Toland	Post & Schell
Marisa Trasatti	Bowman and Brooke
Libby Valos Moss	Kightlinger & Gray LLP
Jeff Vita	Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C.
Eric Wagman	Dean & Fulkerson
Christine Westberg Dorn	Mooney, Lenaghan, Westberg Dorn, L.L.C
David Willis	Vernis and Bowling

Dena Abdallah

Vice President, Managing Consultant

Marsh

Dena Abdallah is a Managing Consultant, based in Chicago, Illinois. In this role, Dena is responsible for coordinating delivery of a broad array of Marsh Claim Consulting services to clients, with capabilities in workers’ compensation and liability claim programs, litigation management, return to work programs, catastrophic claims management, and vendor selection. She provides casualty consulting services for some of Marsh’s largest national accounts.

Tara Acton

Director - Claims & Counsel

Lumen Technologies, Inc.

Tara Acton has been the Director - Claims and Counsel for Lumen Technologies and its predecessors since October 2008. In this role, she is responsible for the casualty claim program, including management of Lumen's third party administrator. She is also involved in the oversight of outside counsel handling liability claims. Prior to joining Lumen's risk management department, she spent a year in the law department focusing on litigated liability claims. Before moving in-house, she was in private practice at Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason, P.C. and Cooley Godward LLP in Denver. Tara earned her B.A. degree from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and J.D. degree with honors from the Emory University School of Law. She is admitted to the Colorado state bar. She holds the following professional designations: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter from the Institutes (CPCU), Associate in Captive Insurance from the International Center for Captive Insurance Education (ACI), and the Associate in Claims from the Institutes (AIC). In May 2019, Tara was named a Break Out Award Winner - West Region by Business Insurance Magazine, which recognizes the next generation of leaders in the insurance sector for their leadership, expertise and professional skills.

Anas Al-Hamwi

Senior Director

Walgreens

Dr. Al-Hamwi leads the Walgreen Co. Health & Safety, Injury Management, and Liability Intake Programs. Anas supports the global Walgreens Boots Alliance group to improve population health, safety and liability outcomes. Anas leads the Health & Safety Governance Committee and serves on the Corporate Social Responsibility governance committee.

Anas developed an enhanced safety management system focused on prevention and risk mitigation, and designed and implemented an Active Care model that delivers improved access to quality care post-injury while reducing cost. Anas has developed a culture at Walgreens that integrates safety care and advocacy into company processes and procedures, resulting in consistent reduction in team member, customers injuries, and liabilities.

Anas serves on the board of the National Safety Council (NSC), is a fellow of the Claims Litigation Management Society (CLM), and is a member of the Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS).

Anas earned a doctor of medicine degree from Damascus University, Syria, and is a member of the Chicago ALSAC chapter of St. Jude charities.

Stefanie Bailey

Director of Claims Management

Diversified Maintenance Systems, LLC

Stefanie Bailey is a Director of Claims Management for both divisions of Diversified Maintenance Systems, LLC, a nationwide janitorial and facilities maintenance company that services major retailers, distribution centers, universities and offices across the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico. At Diversified, Ms. Bailey is responsible for the management and tracking of all General liability claims, including litigation management. Ms. Bailey manages the property damage and auto liability claims and is involved with workers' compensation claims for the retail division's 10,000 employees. Ms. Bailey is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and has over 12 years’ experience in the legal field and 5 years expericence in risk and safety.

Scotty Benton

VP Workers' Compensation Practice

Sedgwick

Scotty Benton is responsible for supporting Sedgwick’s WC operations by focusing on continued development of best practices, ensuring administration of claims in accordance with best practices and in full compliance with legal, regulatory and jurisdictional requirements as well as driving quality initiatives. He plays a pivotal role in helping Sedgwick meet and exceed quality standards and deliver optimal claims outcome
Scotty has more than 30 years of industry experience. He has worked for insurance carriers and third party administrators. During his tenure in the industry, he has worked as a Claims Examiner, Field & Fraud Investigator, Claims Supervisor, Claims Manager, Assistant Vice President and Vice President. He has operational know-how and regulatory and compliance expertise across multi-state jurisdictions and particularly in-depth knowledge of the California workers’ compensation system.

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, North Texas State University
Associate Risk Management (ARM)
Associate in Claims (AIC)

Amy E. Bilton

Attorney

Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C.

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.

Tammy Bradly

VP Clinical Product Development

Coventry

Tammy Bradly is vice president of clinical product development for Coventry Workers’ Comp Services. Bradly is a certified case manager with more than 25 years of comprehensive industry experience through service delivery, operations management and product development. She holds several national certifications, including certified case manager (CCM), certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and certified program disability manager (CPDM).

Fernando Branco, MD., FAAPM&R

Chief Medical Officer

Midwest Employers Casualty Company

Fernando Branco, MD is the Chief Medical Officer, Midwest Employers Casualty a Berkley Company. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain and addiction medicine with 30 years of clinical practice. Dr. Branco was formerly the medical director of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation pain center, one of the centers of excellence for the treatment of chronic pain cases recognized by the American Pain Society. He has decades of experience on worker's compensation cases and, now as the medical director of an excessive carrier (MWECC) he deals with difficult catastrophic (spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, amputees, and burns) and chronic pain patients. www.mwecc.com

Jay Branderbit

Attorney

Kent & McBride, P.C.

Jay is one of the founding members of Kent/McBride, P.C. For more than 30 years, Jay has actively practiced as a member of the Bars of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is also admitted to the bars of the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey. In addition to his practice litigating on behalf of and advising small-medium sized local and regional corporations, as well as for regional and national insurance companies and large self-insured entities, he has lectured extensively on the subjects of Employment Law, Risk Management, Property Loss, Bad Faith Litigation, Mediation and ADR, Insurance Fraud, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Commercial Premises Liability, Contractual Indemnity and Healthcare Insurance. In the Employment Law realm, Jay has appeared numerous times in administrative proceedings before the EEOC as well as the applicable State agencies of PA and NJ, in addition to handling employment discrimination matters filed in both State and Federal courts in PA and NJ

Beth Burry-Jackson

Vice President Clinical Operations

Sedgwick

Beth Burry-Jackson oversees the operations of Sedgwick’s Vocational, Return to Work, and Behavioral Health programs. In this role, she creates and delivers customized services and solutions that help injured employees and their families receive quality support and resources during some of their most difficult life events. Among the services that she and her team provide are medical and vocational case management, job accommodation and modification programs, behavioral health, and return to work consultations. Beth joined Sedgwick in 2013, where she was instrumental in building a case management quality program for Sedgwick’s Field Case Management. Today, this is the industry’s largest network of Field Case Managers. Beth began her career as a medical and vocational field case manager in the workers compensation industry in 2004.

Beth is a graduate of Furman University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Additionally, she obtained a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation from Michigan State University. Beth is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and has earned her Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation. Beth is an avid supporter of the Kids Chance organization and began serving on the board of Kids Chance VA Chapter in 2019.
On a personal level, Beth keeps very busy with her duties as a stepmom of 3, dog-mom of 2, and yoga studio volunteer at Project Yoga of Richmond.

Scot Corrigan

SVP, Head of Workers Compensation Claims

Sompo International Insurance

Scot joined Sompo in May 2016 and is responsible for the Workers Compensation Claim department. Scot has over 25 years of insurance industry experience with third party commercial claims. Prior to joining Sompo, Scot was the Vice President of Claims for a leading workers compensation insurance company. Scot has a reputation for excellent claims technical skills and strong client relations. He has held leadership positions running claim operations as well as overseeing managed care for a national insurance company. Mr. Corrigan is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts.

Kristian Cross

Partner

Self Employed

Kristian M. Cross is an Irmo, South Carolina native. She graduated cum laude with departmental honors from Clemson University in 2004. She earned her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2007.

Kristian practices in the areas of workers’ compensation and employment law. She manages and defends cases through all stages of the workers’ compensation process, from the initial determination of compensability through settlement. Additionally, Kristian litigates cases at the hearing level and at various stages of appeal, including appeals to the South Carolina Supreme Court. She regularly teaches seminars and educational courses to the South Carolina Bar, insurance companies, third party administrators, and self-insured companies on risk management, workers’ compensation laws, regulations and practices, as well as, state and federal laws related to employment law.

Education:
University of South Carolina School of Law, 2007

Clemson University, Calhoun Honors College, 2004

Geralyn Datz

President, Clinical Director

Southern Behavioral Medicine Associates, PLLC

Dr. Geralyn Datz is President and Clinical Director of Southern Behavioral Medicine Associates. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral medicine.

Dr. Datz completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at SUNY Stony Brook in Long Island, NY, a program which ranks in the Top 50 Graduate Schools in the US. She specialized in behavioral medicine during her residency at the New Orleans Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and during fellowship at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University. Pennington is recognized for its scientific contributions to understanding metabolic syndromes, weight gain, and lifestyle change, and is ranked as one of the Top 10 Postdoctoral Fellowships in the country. Dr Datz completed her Masters of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) at Alliant University in June 2020. The MSCP allows psychologists to prescribe in certain states such as Louisiana, Illinois, Idaho and New Mexico.

Dr. Datz provides assessment and treatment of physical and mental health problems. She is also a recognized forensic expert and provides Independent Medical Opinions. Her specialties include treatment of chronic pain, opioid dependence, trauma, panic, anxiety, and adjustment disorders. Personal injuries and chronic illnesses are special populations that she treats. She has treated patients with complex challenges such as traumatic brain injury, complex regional pain syndrome and catastrophic injuries.

Dr. Datz is Clinical Director of the Pain Rehabilitation Program, a 20-day intensive rehabilitation program for injured workers that teaches people how to return to work and daily activity after injuries that result in chronic pain. By treating the “whole person” interference associated with pain and emotional distress is reduced or eliminated. A strong focus is placed on eliminating or replacing opioids and other pain medications, and teaching pain sufferers how to self-manage their symptoms with other proven methods.

Tracey Davanport

VP Clinical Operations

Sedgwick

I am Registered Nurse and Vice President of Clinical Operations for Sedgwick. I have a bachelors degree in both psychology and nursing and i am a certified case manager and a certified life care planner. I have a specific interest in chronic pain/legacy claims and the challenges associated with managing these files to closure. I am constantly searching the community for new opportunities to do “something different”. As part of my job, I train and speak on medical management issues and trends as well as legislative updates. i have had the opportunity to speak on the opiate crisis and Evidence Based Pharmacy at SEAK, FWCI and the annual GA State Board Work Comp Conference.

Susan DeCaro

AVP, Direct Resolution Claims

Arch Insurance Group Inc.

Susan is the AVP of Direct Resolution Claims at Arch Insurance. She is a skilled claims executive specializing in Property/Casualty claims. Susan leads claims teams related to the handling of Personal Lines, Commercial Auto, GL, Property, and Professional Lines. She has experience building out claims staff, TPA and carrier management. Susan is a dynamic and experienced leader managing casualty claims teams involving large deductibles, SIR's, unbundled programs, primary and excess polices. She has strong interpersonal skills with an ability to connect and motivate teams to achieve more than they thought possible.

Curt DeVries

President

Fraudsniffr

Curtis is a 32 year claims professional with 20 years in a carrier context and 10 years in the TPA/Self Insured context managing jurisdictions across the country in both worker's compensation and all lines of liability. In 2015 Curtis launched his own company, Fraudsniffr. Fraudsniffr company has developed proprietary software to allow a user to harvest social media posts at any time during the course a claim with a simple click of a button. Curtis is pioneering the elimination of the "one and done" mentality from claims handling while simultaneously integrating new claims management tools into the product he has developed.

Bert Dizon

Claims Manager

Cardinal Captive Strategies

Bert Dizon is currently the Claims Manager for Cardinal Captive Strategies, where he manages claims and risk for multiple construction captives throughout the US.

Previously, Bert was the client account manager for Arch Insurance under the Alternative Market/Captive, Construction and Transportation space for all lines of coverage including Worker Compensation, Commercial Auto/Trucking and General Liability. He has extensive knowledge in claims management and coverage investigation in multiple lines of insurance including Construction/Construction Defect, personal lines auto (standard/non-standard), Commercial Auto and Trucking, General Liability, Professional Liability, Franchise Risk, Cyber and Cannabis. Since 2001, he has had various roles in carrier and TPA claims operations, brokerage and business development, where he managed different aspects of Claims Operations, including claims resolution and management, leadership, operational excellence, technology development, data analytics, and legal and vendor relations. In addition, he has traveled the county mediating claims in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington. In 2016, he represented the carrier for over 300 mediations with a 95% success rate and averaged a 30% total incurred reduction in his efforts.

He currently serves as the Rising Insurance Star Executive (RISE) Education Co-Chair and a faculty member for the CLM Claims College Schools of Leadership and Transportation. He was the former Vice President of the Orange County CLM Chapter from 2019 - 2022. Bert is also on the Racial Equity Committee for DiveIn and the Include@GB Steering Committee. He is an industry speaker for various conferences, speaking on topics ranging from DE&I, Claims Management, Construction Defect, Transportation, Mediation and Young Professional Development. In 2017, he was an inaugural recipient of the Rising Insurance Star Executive (RISE) Award and a finalist for the Nexus Claims Innovative Leader of the Year. Bert was the CLM Claims Management Professional of the Year in 2022.

Denna Flemming

Assistant General Counsel

AF Group

Denna Flemming is an Assistant General Counsel for AF Group. Since 2007, Denna has represented employers and insurance carriers in Wisconsin worker’s compensation matters. Prior to joining AF Group in 2015, Denna was a shareholder at Kasdorf, Lewis & Swietlik, S.C., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she began her legal career.

Denna graduated from Drake University Law School with High Honors in 2007, where she was also the Research Editor of the Drake Law Review. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Spanish and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004. She also earned her CPCU and AIC-M designations. She received her MBA from the the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 2021.

Denna is admitted to practice law in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois.

Jay Gates CPCU,ARM, AIC

Managing Director

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

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.

Brenna Hampton

Attorney

Hanna, Brophy, MacLean, McAleer & Jensen

"“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

Jeff Heaser

Vice President, Workers Compensation

Astrus Insurance Solutions

Jeff is currently the Vice President Workers Compensation Claims Director for Astrus Insurance Solutions, LLC. Astrus Insurance Solutions is a Managing General Agent (MGA) writing all lines of commercial insurance exclusively in the construction industry. He has been in the insurance industry for over 25 years and specializes in workers’ compensation. He is also a Division I College Football Referee in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Katie Hensley

WC Specialist

Cottingham & Butler

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.

Kellie Howard-Goudy

Attorney

Collins Einhorn Farrell PC

Kellie is a shareholder at CEF. Her practice focuses on professional and general liability claims and litigation. She represents professional clients including Fortune 500 companies in the public utility, automotive and health care sectors. Kellie’s representation of clients involved in complex litigation matters includes general liability defense and managing cases with significant electronic and written discovery issues. She has successfully protected the priorities of clients to the extent those priorities intersect with matters of public interest which may involve the client’s proprietary interest. Kellie has represented attorneys, banking, accounting and real estate executives as well as large non-profit health care organizations and their principles. Her work in representing clients ranges from pre-litigation and claims resolution to successful trial representation.

Kellie has provided significant advice and counsel to organizations interested in and impacted by the development of autonomous vehicles. As this technology has emerged, Kellie has been on the front line in advising clients about new technology and the intersection of it with risk exposure issues. Her work on autonomous vehicles includes advising both OEMs and insurers.

Melissa Icban, ARM

Assistant Vice President, Claims

Sedgwick

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

Kirsten Kaiser Kus

Capital Member

Downey & Lenkov LLC

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.

John Kamin

Partner

Bradford & Barthel, LLP

John P. Kamin was born and raised in Woodland Hills, California. He graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills and attended the University of Arizona, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002 with a major in journalism and a minor in music.

After graduation, Mr. Kamin spent the next five years as an award-winning journalist at a handful of Arizona newspapers, including the Eastern Arizona Courier and the Prescott Daily Courier. During this time, Mr. Kamin covered politics, criminal proceedings, and real estate litigation. Mr. Kamin subsequently returned to California in 2007 to report on the latest developments in workers’ compensation law at WorkCompCentral, a national workers’ compensation news publication.

While covering the latest appellate decisions in workers’ compensation law, Mr. Kamin quickly realized that he enjoyed the complexities of workers’ compensation law and earned his juris doctorate at the Ventura College of Law. Mr. Kamin interned for John A. Futoran Sr., where he gained valuable insight into governmental workers’ employment law disputes at the Merit Systems Protection Board. Later, Mr. Kamin interned at Creative Dispute Resolution, where he assisted a court-appointed discovery master and gained critical insight into abuses of the civil discovery system.

After being admitted to practice law in the State of California in 2013, Mr. Kamin quickly signed on with the firm of Bradford & Barthel because of its sterling reputation as a leader in California workers’ compensation law.

In his spare time, Mr. Kamin is an avid sports fan who enjoys rooting for his Arizona Wildcats, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Lakers. When he is not watching sports, Mr. Kamin also enjoys golfing, fishing, and ocean kayaking with friends and family.

Fred Karlinsky

Partner

Greenberg Traurig LLP.

Fred Karlinsky is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Insurance Regulatory and Transactions Practice Group. Fred has over 30 years of experience representing the interests of insurers, reinsurers, and a wide variety of other insurance-related entities. He is a recognized authority on national insurance
regulatory and compliance issues and has taken a leadership position in many insurance trade organizations. Fred has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Florida Trend 500, and Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” for his work in insurance law.
Fred is recognized as the only Band 1 Florida insurance lawyer by Chambers & Partners and one of the most influential leaders in Florida politics by City & State Florida and INFLUENCE Magazine. He has in-depth knowledge of insurance compliance matters and is a primary strategist in all Florida insurance-related legislative initiatives. In addition to his role with Greenberg Traurig, Fred has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Florida State University College of Law since 2008. Since 2014, Fred has served on and currently chairs the Florida Supreme CourtJudicial Nominating Commission (JNC), which appointed five of the seven current sitting Justices on the Florida Supreme Court during his tenure on the JNC.

Rebecca Kassel

AVP of Claims

PMA Companies

Rebecca Kassel is the Assistant Vice President of Claims, Midwest for PMA Companies, a division of Old Republic Insurance Company. In this role she oversees a workers’ compensation Claims operation located in Schaumburg, IL. Rebecca has over 20 years of insurance claims expertise. Her background includes 10-plus years at The Hartford in various technical and leadership roles, including enterprise-wide responsibility for complex and large claims. Rebecca joined PMA Companies in 2017.
A graduate of Wheaton College (Norton, MA), Rebecca also has a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration from Western New England University as well as a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Conley Knott

Partner

Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.

Conley is a member of Austill Lewis Pipkin & Maddox PC. He has over 24 years of experience in civil litigation.

Practice Areas:
Automobile litigation, construction litigation, fraud - outrage - bad faith, insurance coverage, premises liability, products liability, workers' compensation, and wrongful termination.

Education:
B.A., Birmingham-Southern College (1990)
J.D., University of Alabama School of Law (1994)

Aubrey Kuchar Noltemeyer

Attorney/Partner

Kightlinger & Gray LLP

Aubrey focuses her law practice on the defense of businesses in employment-related litigation. Aubrey’s expertise is in the concentration of litigation before the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board. Aubrey assists employers in worker’s compensation disputes including compensability decisions, investigations and all aspects of litigation from discovery and through trial. Aubrey has written and spoken extensively on the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Act and its practical application for employers. Further, Aubrey counsels’ businesses in other worker’s compensation employment-related issues such as returning to work, termination, and benefit analysis to help her clients minimize exposure due to employment decisions.

In 2013 and 2014, Aubrey taught employment law classes at Marion University. She covered topics such as Title VII, ADA, and Indiana worker’s compensation law in the class “Law in the Modern Workplace.” In 2009, Aubrey was named a Leadership in Law “Up and Coming Lawyer” by The Indiana Lawyer. For numerous years since 2009 she has been selected to the Rising Stars list published in Indiana Super Lawyers Magazine.

Aubrey is frequently asked to contribute to professional publications like Thomson Reuters Practical Law authority and CLM Magazine, as well as lead state-wide conferences like the Indiana Chamber Worker’s Compensation Conference.

David Langham

Deputy Chief Judge

State of Florida

Judge Langham was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1991, after graduating with distinction from Mississippi College School of Law that year. In November 2001 he was appointed Judge of Compensation Claims in Pensacola by Governor Bush. In 2005, he was re-appointed by Governor Bush as the Pensacola JCC. In May 2006 Governor Bush appointed David Deputy Chief Judge of Compensation Claims. He previously practiced as an associate and then partner in a small law firm, then as a sole practitioner, and later as a partner in Langham and Langham, P.A. with his wife. His practice included workers compensation, employment related civil litigation, medical malpractice defense and personal injury. He has lectured at numerous seminars regarding workers’ compensation issues. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of North Florida, and a periodic instructor with the Florida State University Extension Education Program, the University of North Florida's Extension Program, and Pensacola Junior College. David has written articles regarding workers compensation issues, which have been published in The Florida Bar Journal, The News and Four-Forty Report, Florida Comp and the Trial Advocate Quarterly.

Robert A. Luskin

Attorney

Chartwell Law

Robert Luskin is an accomplished litigation defense attorney representing clients in both federal and state courts throughout Georgia and Tennessee. Robert maintains a vast practice defending corporations and individuals in various complex litigation matters. He has extensive experience in the areas of product liability, premises liability, professional negligence, questionable insurance claims and other insurance coverage matters. Robert also represents various companies with regard to employment related matters including discrimination and harassment issues.

Robert is a recognized thought leader often presenting at national risk management and claims litigation conferences throughout the country.

Candace McPherson Hodge

Associate General Counsel

The Parking Spot

In her role as Associate General Counsel, Candace is responsible for overseeing The Parking Spot’s litigation management and claim support functions. She manages outside counsel handling liability claims and she is responsible for the casualty claim program, including management of The Parking Spot’s third-party administrator. The Parking Spot is a premiere off-airport parking provider serving 22 airports nationwide with 38 parking facilities. She is based in Chicago, IL.

Candace holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. She is admitted to the Illinois State Bar.
Prior to joining The Parking Spot in 2018, Candace was engaged in private legal practice and served as in-house counsel for a healthcare corporation in Detroit, MI.

Education
University of Michigan, Bachelor’s Degree
DePaul University College of Law, Juris Doctor
Admissions/Licenses:
Bar Admission: IL

Mary Miller

Senior Broker

ArlingtonRoe

Mary joined Arlington/Roe in 2008 and is a senior workers' comp broker managing her book as well as helping in the growth and development of their workers' comp division. Since 1986 Mary worked for national and regional workers' comp carriers, national third party administrators and self-funded workers' compensation pools as a multi-state workers compensation adjuster. A member of the Indiana Workers' Compensation Institute, Mary previously served as membership director. In 1995 she had the honor of being nominated as the Indiana Claims Adjuster of the Year. She is currently the President of the Indiana Insurance Managers Association. Mary holds an Indiana property casualty producer license and Kentucky independent adjuster license.

Lindsey Mills

Attorney

Smith Mills Law P.C.

Lindsey is a shareholder at Smith Mills Law. She is currently serving as Vice President on the firm’s Board of Directors and is a member of the firm’s Workers’ Compensation and Employment Law practice groups and is the firm’s Associate Attorney and Summer Law Clerk Supervisor. She represents employers in the defense of workers’ compensation cases, employment matters, and civil litigation in Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.

Lindsey is a council member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of The Iowa State Bar Association, a member of Blackstone Inn of Court, and an active member of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, currently serving as Vice Chair of its Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Committee. Additionally, Lindsey is a board member of Polk County Women Attorneys.

Lindsey has been a guest lecturer in a number of seminars including the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee’s 50th Annual Symposium in 2012, the ABA TIPS’ Workers’ Compensation Midwinter Seminar in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. She also frequently provides in-house seminars to clients on issues involving workers’ compensation and employment law in addition to authoring various articles for publication in both the ABA TIPS’ Workers Compensation and Employers’ Liability Committee’s Newsletter and for the Defense Research Institute.

Jennifer Morris Jones

Attorney

Cranfill Sumner LLP

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.

Claire Muselman

Consultant/Professor

Self Employed

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.

Dr. Claire inspires others to ultimately make good things happen for people. Dr. Claire also believes it is her duty and a responsibility to add seats to any table she is invited to participate. She is an Ambassador for the Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation, Board Member for Kids Chance of Iowa, Advisory Board Member for WorkCompBlitz, Advisory Board Member for WorkCompCentral, Board Member for the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) – Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board; Dean of Workers Compensation for CLM’s Claims College, Faculty for Work Comp College, and Advisory Board Member for the Paramedics Program at Des Moines Area Community College.

William Pipkin

Attorney/Partner/Shareholder

Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.

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.

Michele Punturi

Attorney

Marshall Dennehey

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

Rebekah Ratliff

Mediator, Arbitrator, & Neutral Evaluator

JAMS ADR

Rebekah Ratliff is a credentialed former commercial complex insurance claims professional with more than 25 years of experience evaluating, negotiating and settling casualty claims loss matters, nationwide and internationally. Having a wide range of subject matter expertise, she managed and held the authority to negotiate and resolve complex claims loss matters for global commercial insurance carriers, with settlements totaling in the millions. Rebekah is a mediator and arbitrator with the Judicial Mediation and Arbitration Service (JAMS), mediating med mal, auto and trucking, products, construction defect, nursing home/assisted living, public entity, commercial premises liability, wrongful death and employment cases.

Rebekah is a nationally sought-after presenter, panelist, and lecturer in the insurance and legal industries. She is the President of the Atlanta Chapter of the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA). She is active with other leading industry organizations, including Claims Litigation Management Alliance (CLM). Ms. Ratliff is the 2nd Vice Chair of the National Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and the Diversity Committee Co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section. She is the recipient of various prestigious awards to include Business Insurance Women to Watch, Insurance Business America HOT 100 List, and a 7th U.S. District (IL) Congressional Award, for her work in alternative dispute resolution. Rebekah is a native of Chicago, IL, and graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana, holding a degree in Psychology. She is based in Atlanta, GA and operates internationally.

Dorothy Riviere

Chief Clinical Officer

Bardavon Health Innovations

Dorothy Riviere is Chief Clinical Officer for Bardavon Health Innovations LLC and has been a Physical Therapist since 1999 with specialties in spine, advanced biomechanics, manual therapy, exercise prescription, healthcare, and sports medicine. Dorothy has been a guest speaker for the past five years for University of Kansas Medical Center Physical Therapy program on Workers' Compensation and functional treatment introducing physical therapists to the McKenzie Diagnosis and Treatment Method.

Bardavon Health Innovations, LLC
Founded in 2012, Bardavon Health Innovations is a cloud-based clinical intelligence and analytics company steeped in 15 years of data-driven Workers’ Compensation best practices. Since inception, Bardavon has been collecting meaningful data with its patented software, bNOTESÒ, and supporting clinics in achieving superior outcomes for Workers’ Compensation patients. By using the Bardavon platform, Payors reduce consumption while concurrently improving the quality of medical treatments. By integrating these processes and using the Bardavon platform, regional and national companies have saved millions of dollars.

Career Accomplishments
ARC Physical Therapy+, founded in 2003, grew to become one of the largest PT Providers in the Midwest. Dorothy served as the Director of Organizational Development for ARC overseeing client relations, peer mentoring, staff continuing education training, and designing and implementing technological advances for healthcare delivery and efficiency in the Workers’ Compensation market. She also served as a staff therapist and Clinic Director for ARC.

Professional Recognition
Dorothy is a Certified Chronic Pain Specialist, a Certified McKenzie Diagnosis and Treatment Provider, a Fellow of Applied Functional Science through the Gray Institute, a Certified Workers Compensation Healthcare Professional, a Certified Post-Offer Employment Testing Specialist, and a Level 2 TRX provider.

Jim Roach

Attorney

Hennessy & Roach P.C.

James P. Roach is a Founding and the Managing Partner of Hennessy & Roach. The firm represents employers and civil defendants in seven offices throughout the Midwest (Chicago, Springfield (IL), St Louis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Omaha and Overland Park).

Jim concentrates his practice in defending employers in workers compensation claims in Illinois. He also lectures frequently on various topics impacting the defense of workers compensation claims. He was named one of 40 Attorneys to watch under 40 in Illinois, an Illinois Super Lawyer, an Illinois Leading Lawyer, an American Law Journal Top lawyer in Chicago, an American Registry Top Lawyer in Illinois and has received various other recognitions and awards.

Jim received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1990.

Nina Rose

Regional Claims Manager

Builders FirstSource, Inc.

Thomas Ryan

Senior Principal, National Practice

Self Employed

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.

Gary Seale

Regional Director of Clinical Services

Centre for Neuro Skill

Gary S. Seale, PhD, is Regional Director of Clinical Services for the Centre for Neuro Skills. He received his doctoral degree in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. He is dual licensed in Texas as a Chemical Dependency Counselor, and Psychological Associate with Independent Practice, and he holds a clinical appointment at UTMB in the School of Health Professions – Department of Rehabilitation Science. He has worked exclusively in post-acute brain injury rehabilitation for over 30 years and has conducted research and published peer-reviewed articles on topics including rehabilitation outcomes, the relationship between positive emotion and recovery of functional status following stroke, and emergency preparedness for disabled populations.

Caryn Siebert

VP — National Director, Carrier Engagement

Gallagher Bassett

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.

Kimberly Simmons

Property/Casualty Claims Manager

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

Patrick Sodoro

Managing Partner

Sodoro Law Group

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.

Jonathan Spadea

Attorney

Chartwell Law

Mr. Spadea primarily handles workers’ compensation claims; however, he is also well-versed and experienced in matters pertaining to medical fee disputes between providers and insurers.

Mr. Spadea frequently defends insurance carriers, self-insured entities and TPA’s in workers’ compensation matters across the state of Pennsylvania. He has experience helping insurers navigate the fee review arena and litigate disputes over medical bills with providers. Mr. Spadea is dedicated to obtaining speedy resolutions for his clients prior to extended litigation to avoid unnecessary costs. However, when faced with cases in which litigation cannot be avoided, Mr. Spadea works tirelessly and aggressively to fight for his clients and achieve positive outcomes. In addition to providing legal advice and representing clients, Mr. Spadea often presents on workers’ compensation case law updates and has recently presented on medical marijuana in Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining the team at Chartwell Law, Mr. Spadea worked as a law clerk for the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, as well as a prominent law firm in Harrisburg. Mr. Spadea is admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar.

While in law school, Mr. Spadea worked as a certified legal lntern in the Environmental Law Clinic and received an Honors Certificate in Environmental Law upon graduation.

Outside of the office, Mr. Spadea is a strong supporter of the Harrisburg Humane Society and an avid fan of Notre Dame Football.

Dorothy Stolle

Workers' Compensation Administrator

Boeing

Dorothy Stolle currently serves as the Environment, Health and Safety Disability Management Specialist for Boeing.

Dorothy previously served as the Assistant Branch Manager for the Gallagher Bassett claims office in St. Louis, branch 68. Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. ( "GB") is a subsidiary of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., in Itasca, Illinois. GB is a leading Third Party Claims Administrator serving customers in the administration of workers compensation, property and casualty lines of coverage in the US and around the world. Mrs. Stolle joined Gallagher Bassett in December 2010.

Prior to joining GB, Mrs. Stolle held a Senior WC Examiner position at AIG Claims Services as well as Workers’ Compensation Claims Specialist for Orscheln Management Company.

Dorothy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. She resides in St. Charles, MO, a suburb of St. Louis, MO. There, Dorothy lives with her husband, Matt, and two children, Elena and Ethan.

M. Shane Sumrall

Senior Vice President - Attorney

McGriff

Shane Sumrall is a Senior Vice President and Claims Manager for the P&C Claims Division and is a licensed attorney and member of the Alabama State Bar. Prior to joining McGriff, Seibels, & Williams, Mr. Sumrall worked in private practice as an Environmental Litigation attorney with a large corporate defense firm in Birmingham, AL. Mr. Sumrall has represented both policyholders and insurers in insurance coverage litigation involving commercial general liability, professional liability, employer’s liability, errors and omissions, directors and officer’s liability, commercial property and other insurance policies and products. He has significant experience in coverage matters involving additional insured, construction defect, abstention, late notice and cooperation issues frequently litigated in state and federal courts.
Education
J.D., University of Alabama School of Law
B.A., Political Science, Boise State University
A.A.S., Atmospheric Science, United States Air Force

Lauren Tice

Attorney

McGriff

Lauren Tice is a Vice President at McGriff Insurance Services in Birmingham, Alabama and is a licensed attorney and member of the Alabama State Bar. After graduating from law school, Lauren began work at a defense litigation firm, then moved in-house for a large retailer, before returning to private practice to focus on insurance defense litigation. While a practicing attorney, she regularly represented insurance companies and self-insured employers from across the country. Lauren has significant experience in representing insureds in employment, workers’ compensation, and construction defect claims, and brings a wealth of knowledge from her legal background to assisting clients with litigated matters and coverage issues. She is heavily involved in industry groups and in community service efforts.

Lauren earned her BA from The University of Alabama and her JD from The University of Alabama School of Law. She also completed the MBA for In-House Counsel program at Boston University.

Patrice A. Toland

Principal

Post & Schell

Patrice A. Toland is a Principal in the Firm's Workers' Compensation Department, dedicating her practice to the defense of employers in workers' compensation cases. In addition to litigating claims, she assists her clients in developing best practices to prevent liability and to reach favorable resolutions when necessary. She is a frequent lecturer to the industry on current topics in this area. Her client base includes large international corporations in the health care, maintenance, retail, and transportation industries.

In 1999, Ms. Toland became the Firm's liaison to the Philadelphia Bar Association. She served as the Association's defense Chair to the Workers' Compensation Section and its Section representative to the Board of Governors. She was an elected member of the Board of Governors and then served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Board. Ms. Toland was appointed as a Philadelphia member of the House of Delegates to the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She participated in the Women in the Profession Committee and was the liaison between that committee and other organizations for professional women. Ms. Toland also served on the Executive Committee for the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel.

Ms. Toland is a mentor for junior attorneys in Post & Schell and other law firms and organizations. In 2018, The Legal Intelligencer honored her with its Best Law Firm Mentor Award in recognition of her efforts in preparing the next generation of legal talent. In 2019, the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Section honored her with the Martha J. Hampton Award.

Education:
J.D., Cum Laude, New England School of Law, 1978
Law Review: Coordinating Editor, New England Law Review
B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, 1974

Libby Valos Moss

Partner/Attorney

Kightlinger & Gray LLP

http://k-glaw.com/attorneys/ViewAttorney.aspx?aid=29

David Vittoria

Senior Vice President

Carisk Partners

Mr. Vittoria has 30 years of experience in senior clinical and operations capacities within the field of mental health and wellness. Mr. Vittoria provides clinical oversight of all workers’ compensation behavioral health programs at Carisk. Mr. Vittoria began his career as the Clinical Team Leader at Charter Hospital of Miami, a private psychiatric and substance use disorder hospital serving children, adolescents and adults. In 1994, he launched South Florida’s first Chemical Dependency Intensive Outpatient Program at Charter Hospital, overseeing all clinical, regulatory, compliance, case management, and utilization management divisions.

In 1996, Mr. Vittoria joined Transitions Recovery Program as a therapist and later became the Director of Utilization Management. In 2004, he founded Ascendi, providing executive health and employee wellness training and coaching programs for 26 of the Fortune 50 companies in the United States. Following Hurricane Katrina, he founded Helping Those Helping Others, a not-for-profit providing free coaching, stress management, organizational development, and leadership training programs to organizations assisting underserved populations in the hardest hit areas.

He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Master’s Level Certified Addictions Professional, a NationallyCertified Addictions Counselor, a Certified Addictions Prevention Professional, an Internationally-Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. Mr. Vittoria is a nationally recognized addiction expert and has presented at over 50 clinical conferences and symposiums on the topics of substance use, the opioid epidemic, severe mental illness, and trauma recovery, nationally and internationally.

Mr. Vittoria earned BA and MA degrees in Social Work from Florida International University, twice graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Christine Westberg Dorn

Attorney

Mooney, Lenaghan, Westberg Dorn, L.L.C

Christine Westberg Dorn is a partner at Mooney, Lenaghan, Westberg Dorn, L.L.C. in Omaha, Nebraska. She practices in the areas of workers' compensation, general liability, and insurance defense. Prior to entering private practice, Christine spent nearly a decade working in-house for insurance companies. This experience allows her to bring unique perspective to the cases she handles. Christine prides herself on providing an aggressive defense of her clients while maintaining the utmost professionalism, and her favorable case outcomes demonstrate the success of her approach.

Christine began her legal career as a Prosecutor Intern and later as a Student Defense Attorney as part of Drake Law School’s clinical legal program. Following graduation, Christine entered private practice in civil litigation focusing primarily on environmental and personal injury law. She later transitioned to the corporate insurance environment as a member of the Litigation Management Unit of Chubb Insurance, where she worked as an attorney auditor of complex claims before promotion to Quality Assurance and Training Lead. After relocating to Omaha, Nebraska, she became a Litigation Management Consultant, performing contract work for Chubb Insurance and independent legal auditing projects for corporations. She later accepted a position as in-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in the Omaha Field Legal Office, where she defended Iowa workers' compensation and Nebraska general liability claims at all levels of exposure.

Christine is admitted to practice law in Iowa, Nebraska, Georgia (inactive), and Connecticut. In addition to CLM, she is a member of the Iowa Defense Counsel Association, the Nebraska Defense Counsel Association, and the Iowa Association of Workers' Compensation Lawyers.

David Willis

Attorney

Vernis and Bowling

David W. Willis is originally from Pensacola, Florida and has practiced law in Georgia since 1999. Since 2001, his practice has focused on representing self-insured employers and insurers in workers’ compensation and employment related matters. He has successfully litigated many claims throughout Georgia from the administrative hearing level and throughout the appellate process. He has experience handling a variety of workers’ compensation issues, including complex medical claims, second injury recovery actions and subrogation cases.
In 2011, David was honored on the Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, voted by his peers as one of Atlanta’s best young lawyers. The honor is given to only 2.5 % of the lawyers in Georgia. He is also AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. In his practice, David has lectured throughout Georgia and across the country on workers’ compensation topics and presented papers to various employment groups and insurance organizations. He has spoken on such subjects as Medicare issues, occupational disease claims, light duty work issues and cumulative trauma injuries. He is also an approved speaker for the CEU Institute for continuing education credits.
David is a member of the State Bar of Georgia as well as the Florida Bar. He is also a member of the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Section, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the Atlanta Claims Association. David received his undergraduate degree in 1996 from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He earned his law degree in 1999 from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University.
David resides in Marietta, Georgia with his wife and three children. He is a participant and supporter of various community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Kids’ Chance, and the Atlanta Food Bank. He is also a member of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church.
BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS: Georgia Bar, 1999; Florida Bar, 2003; U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia; U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Court; All Georgia State Courts
EDUCATION: Graduate: Mercer Law School, Macon, GA, 1999, J.D. / Undergraduate: Undergraduate: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 1996 Bachelor of Arts in English

Alaa Zuaiter

AVP/Product Line Manager

Berkley Environmental

Alaa has over 15 years of management and leadership experience in the insurance industry. Expertise in the development, implementation and management of customer service and claims infrastructures. He is an Insurance claims professional with industry experience in both Carrier and Third-Party Administrator sectors. Multi-state management experience in commercial insurance operations with proven track record of leading change, establishing effective work processes, and driving measurable results. Expertise in the development, implementation and management of customer service and claims infrastructures. High level of proficiency in outcome focused best practices and performance metrics platforms. Currently, the Assistance Vice President Product Line Manager for Berkley Environmental, whose primary responsibilities include the new products, programs and program management underwriting within the Workers Compensation book of business.