Speakers

Ralph Barham is an Injury Analyst at Southwest Airlines corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas.  For the past 15 years he has been part of the Workers’ Compensation Department where he oversees the SWA California Workers’ Compensation program.  By working in partnership with various investigators in Northern and Southern California, SWA was able to identify and win a number of fraudulent cases and show that timely investment in a good investigator can result in a significant cost savings. 

Prior to joining the SWA team, he invested a number of years teaching, training leaders and producing various media communications.  Having been educated at the University of Texas and East Texas Baptist University, he earned a B.A. in the field of Education and holds a Texas Claims Adjuster Certificate.
 

Mr. Brown is the chief claims officer with responsibility for Sedgwick’s total quality initiative, Performance 360®, as well as innovation. Darrell is based in our Long Beach, California, office.
 
Darrell has more than 20 years of experience in claims management. He joined Sedgwick in 2001 as an assistant claims manager. He subsequently worked as an operations manager and also as an area manager for the southern California region. Most recently, Darrell spent over five years as the workers’ compensation practice lead for Sedgwick. Before joining Sedgwick, Darrell worked as a claims manager for a third-party administrator specializing in public entities.
 
Darrell has been an instructor for the American Insurance Educational Association, teaching workers’ compensation advanced and workers’ compensation case law and labor code.
 
Darrell holds a self-insurance license in California. He has also earned the associate of risk management designation (ARM) through the AICPCU. Darrell received a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University at Northridge.

Cliff Connor currently serves as Vice President of Medicare Compliance 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 workers compensation, property and casualty lines of coverage in the US and around the world. Mr. Connor manages all aspects of Medicare Compliance for Gallagher Bassett and has been with the company since 1992.

Prior to joining GB, Mr. Connor held Senior WC Examiner positions at Argonaut, Industrial Indemnity and The City of Long Beach. Mr. Connor holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics.

Mr. Connor is currently a member of The National Alliance of Medicare Set Aside Professionals, The Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC) and holds both MSCC and CMSP designations.

With his wife and son, Mr. Connor lives in Southwest Florida.
 

 

G. Grant Dixon III is the founder of the Dixon Law Office with offices in LaGrange and Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. The firm represents plaintiffs in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. Grant’s cases have included automobile, slip and fall, medical malpractice, product liability, worker’s compensation and toxic tort cases.

Grant has received numerous awards for his representation of plaintiffs. He has twice been named a "Leading Lawyer," an accolade that fewer than 5% of all lawyers receive. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an association of lawyers who have obtained million-dollar settlements or verdicts. Grant has also been selected as one of the "Forty Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch." He was selected from nearly 1,000 other Illinois lawyers to receive this prestigious award.

Grant has authored or co-authored 27 legal articles and given 78 presentations on a wide variety of legal topics around the country.

Jill Dulich received her B.S. and M.A. from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She also received her J.D. from Western State University College of Law.

Since 2015 Jill has been the Claims and Operations Manager for the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund.  In her role Jill oversees the TPA’s that manage the claims that have been assigned to the Security Fund due to the default of a self-insured employer as well as manages the daily administrative operations of the Fund.

Jill retired from Marriott in February 2015 after 32 years.  She was the Senior Director for Marriott Claims Services, as part of Marriott International. She was responsible for management of workers' compensation, auto and general liability losses for all Marriott managed operations within 8 western states and also manages 3 satellite offices in Hawaii, Oregon and Nevada.

Prior to Marriott International, Jill was a Continuing Unit Supervisor for Allstate Insurance Co., a Unit Supervisor in workers' compensation at Alpha Beta Co. and Vice President of Claims at R. L. Kautz & Company.

She was a former Commissioner and 2003 Chair of the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation having been appointed in 1998 by Governor Pete Wilson to be the private employer representative.

Jill is active in workers’ compensation in a number of states and was the former Chair of the Board and Executive Committee Chair of the California Self Insurers Association. She also served as the Treasurer and participated on the Nominating Committee, Board of Managers and Executive Committee.

Jill is an active participant in the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute CompScope Advisory committee and has been since 2007.
Jill served on the Board of Directors, Easter Seals Southern California for 15 years and was the former Chair of the Board.

~~Vince Ferragamo,  retired from professional football after 10 seasons, is best remembered as the only quarterback to take the Los Angeles Rams to the Superbowl.  Vince was drafted by the Rams from the University of Nebraska.  While with the Rams, he set many club records, including passing 509 yards against the Chicago Bears making him second in NFL History.  He compiled over 11,000 passing yards with a career passing percentage of 56%.  Before retiring, Vince spent one season with the Buffalo Bills and one with the Green Bay Packers.  Since retiring, he has remained active with the Rams, doing the color broadcast for pre-season games and makes community service appearances on their behalf.

Following football, Vince went into the real estate business, and opened his own company, Touchdown Real Estate in Orange County.  In addition he currently stays connected with football through radio and television appearances, and is active with Cox Cable and Time Warner in Orange County.

He is very active in the community and lends himself to several different charities. He has proudly hosted the Vince Ferragamo Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic for the past 30 years, raising money  for Special Olympics, the Speech & Language Development Center, Alzheimer’s Assoc., the Boys & Girls Club, and the Ronald McDonald House.  The Ferragamo Foundation sponsors the “Fight with Grace” annual luncheon benefitting the Orange Coast Memorial Foundation and their fight against breast cancer. The hospital has proudly recognized the Ferragamo Foundation for their contribution by naming a wing in their name. He also runs the Vince Ferragamo Football Camp, bringing in current and former college and professional players to help coach young athletes.

Vince also enjoys being in his vineyard where he grows grapes that produce his signature super tuscan wine “Caressa J”.  His 2012 Tenuta di Ferragamo wine has received a gold metal and Best of Class 93 points at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

Vince has received many awards in the community, including Cerritos College Man of the Year, but is most proud of the achievements of his family.  Daughter Venessa graduated from Vanderbilt University where she played basketball for the Commodores, graduated Medical School and has completed her residency in pediatrics at White Memorial in Los Angeles.  Cara is a graduate of DePaul University and is pursuing a career in fashion and Jenna is a graduate of the University of Colorado, having studied a year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  Vince and his wife Jodi live in Orange, CA. 

Angela Henderson is a Claims Supervisor for ESIS Inc, a subsidiary of Chubb Insurance.  Angela has more than fifteen years of experience in the workers’ compensation industry spanning technical and managerial responsibilities.  Angela has a varied background of corporate experiences and worked in marketing research for eight years prior to moving into the insurance industry.  She has managed claims for captive self-insured organizations, large national third party administrators and regional carriers. Angela has recently relocated to Southern California where she continues her adjusting career as an Independent Consultant in Commercial and Residential Property loss estimating. Angela also manages the public site Learn To Adjust, helping contractors who are new to the industry network with other professionals to obtain job leads and training resources.

Tracy Hughes is a Deputy District Attorney with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.  Since joining the office in 1995, she has prosecuted a variety of cases from misdemeanor DUI’s to serious felonies including domestic violence, kidnapping, sexual assault and attempted murder.  Ms. Hughes is currently assigned to the Consumer Protection Unit, where she specializes in civil prosecutions involving consumer products and services.  In her current role, Ms. Hughes settled the two largest violation of injunction cases in Orange County history.  She is the coordinator of the California Food, Drug and Medical Device Task Force, a team of ten prosecuting agencies in California that focus on false and misleading labeling and health and safety issues related to the marketing and sale of ingestible products and medical devices in California.  The FDMD task force recently settled the largest food safety prosecution in California history against Sysco International, Inc., for nearly $20 million.
Ms. Hughes has a BA in International Relations and a MA in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, and a JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.  Prior to attending law school Ms. Hughes worked as an international benefits consultant for Hewitt Associates.

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.

MARIE JOHNSON, CPCU, ARM, AU, AIC, ARM-P, is the Director of Risk Management at Elwyn a non-profit that provides a variety of services to over 12,000 individuals with special needs.  She is responsible for planning, designing and implementing the risk management program that includes risk financing, claims management and risk control.  To control the cost of risk at Elwyn Marie takes an active role in the implementation of policies and procedures to address a large workers’ compensation exposure.
She has over 25 years of experience in the insurance industry working in the insurance department for an, insurance broker, national trucking company and a national hospital system.  She taught Defensive Driving for 8 years, as a Certified Trainer by the National Safety Council.
Professional designations include Charted Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate Risk Management, Associate in Underwriting, Associate in Claims, and Associate in Risk Management Public Entities.
From 2002 to 2006 she served on the Delaware Insurance Commissioner’s Arbitration Panel.  Currently, Marie serves on the advisory board for PA Claims Management Network, a board that provides input to the WC bureau on process changes and workers’ compensation from a self-insured prospective. 

Megan has the stamina and resume of an attorney well beyond her years.  She relishes a challenge and thrives under pressure.  She is an engaging story teller, who eloquently and instanly commands attention.  Megan's passion for the cause she is defending and her undeniable pursuit for truth and fairness draw in the jury with a persuasive voice on behalf of her clients.  Her father and grandfather were both attorneys, so she grew up understanding the importance of seeking and serving justice.  After graduating, cum laude, from law school, Megan began practicing law in 2009.  In her practice, she represents hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, medical labs, insurers and other parties faced with legal challenges.  Throughout her career, Megan has won summary judgments and tried to verdict numerous cases involving medical malpractice, insurance defense and employment issues.  Her practice areas also include also include general litigation and workers' compensation.  
In addition to her active litigation practice, Megan presents to clients on emerging issues and case law updates.  She also offers risk management counseling, deposition training and trial preparation.  Her dedication, experience, expertise and undeniable love for the law has led her to become a trusted mentor to young attorneys and students in the Cumberland School of Law Trial Program.  Additionally, in 2017 Megan was recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as a Rising Star of Law and in 2018, as a Mid-South Rising Star by Super Lawyers. 
When Megan is not working or serving her community, she spends her time with her husband, Justin, sons, Sawyer and Wilder, and two dogs.  She also enjoys playing competitive tennis.  Megan earned her BA from Florida State University and her JD from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.  Go NOLES! 

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. 

Mr. Marshall is a seasoned multiline property and casualty program manager and claims executive with over 29 years of experience. He joined the American Claims Management (ACM) team as president in March 2008. He was then appointed senior vice president at Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. and president of OnPoint Underwriting effective in July 2013. Previously, Mr. Marshall held senior executive positions at American Commercial Claims Administrators, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Liberty Mutual, Golden Eagle Insurance Corporation and Cascade Disability.

Michael McLean graduated from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where he was a Member of the John J. Traynor Honor Society. Michael has been admitted to the California State Bar, the United States District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of California, and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Michael’s practice is focused on representing individuals, employers, and corporations in civil litigation matters throughout California. He specializes in wrongful death cases, cases involving catastrophic personal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and many other matters alleging significant damages claims.

Michael devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing clients who are self-insured or have high self-insured retention limits. He understands the impact that litigation has on their ‘bottom line’ and their need for an aggressive, proactive and realistic advocate.

Michael is committed to providing his clients an immediate evaluation of their cases for early resolution, and to guiding his clients to their best business decision, rather than endless and costly litigation. These clients include national transportation companies, multinational corporations in the oil, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, as well as local employers here in Orange County.

Mr. McLean also serves his clients in cases involving violations of wage and hour laws, state and federal anti-discrimination statutes, including complaints filed under the Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA), and sexual harassment lawsuits.

Mr. McLean has prevailed in appellate matters heard before the State of California Courts of Appeal and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried cases to jury verdict, and also has achieved binding arbitration awards in favor of his clients.

Education:
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, CA 
Juris Doctor

California State University, Chico, CA 
Bachelor of Science, Political Science

Jackie Miller has been with Bickmore since 2005. She serves as the Workers’ Compensation Program Manager for three Joint Power Authorities, as well the Judicial Branch Workers’ Compensation Program providing workers’ compensation Claims oversight, maintenance of governing documents, preparation and maintenance of Workers’ Compensation Claims Procedure Manuals, facilitating election of Third Party Claims Administrators, contract negotiation including Performance Standards, and legislative updates. Jackie also conducts technical and contract compliance audits for multiple jurisdictions.

Jackie’s involvement in the workers’ compensation industry spans 26 years. She has worked for third party administrators, insurance companies, and a bill review company. From a technical perspective, Jackie has monitored and directed litigation, managed complex medical problems for injured workers, developed successful rehabilitation programs, and handled all other administrative aspects of claims adjusting, along with having provided development and management oversight of a statewide special investigations fraud unit. She has extensive past experience as Corporate Quality Assurance Director for a division of Health Net overseeing the audit process for all workers’ compensation claims offices on a national basis, and the audit function of Health Net’s workers’ compensation bill review company. She has analyzed and provided direction for implementation of an automated/image based bill review system and bill review auditing practices, and has provided management oversight for bill review staff. Jackie is familiar with the needs of public and private employers.

 
 

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.

Emphasis
•  Medicare Compliance
•  Workers’ Compensation
 
Published Work
•   Be SMART When Dealing with Medicare Beneficiaries, Alliance Collection Services Newsletter (2014).
•   Be Smart about SMART, California Self Insurer’s Association 3rd quarter newsletter (2013).
•   The SMART Act, PHTS 3rd quarter newsletter (2013).
•   Medicare Set-asides in Workers’ Compensation,  White Paper for the Georgia Self Insured
Association (2013).
•   New Medicare Notification Requirements, Counsel to Counsel, (September 2008).
•   Medicare Set-asides in litigation, California Self Insurers Association Newsletter, (Second Quarter
2006).
•   Medicare Set-asides, The Alabama Self Insurer, (Spring 2006)
•   Recent Developments Concerning Medicare Set-asides from a Workers’ Compensation
Perspective, Vol. 21, No. 5 CWCE Magazine (January/February, 2004).
•   Dealing with Medicare Issues in Workers’ Compensation Settlements, Vol. LXXVII, No. 2
Florida Bar Journal, 47 (February, 2003).
•   Medicare Issues in Workers’ Compensation Settlements, News & 440 Report, Publication of the
Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar, (Fall 2002).
•   Closing Future Medical Benefits for Injured Workers, For The Defense, (October 2001).
•   Closing Future Medical Benefits for Injured Workers, Vol. 62, No. 6. Alabama Lawyer, 323 (September, 2001).
 
Professional
•  Fellow – College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
•  Best Lawyers in America
•  Super Lawyers of Alabama
•  Named to Top Lawyers by Corporate Counsel Publication
•  Member, Alabama State Bar Association; Birmingham Bar Association; Defense Research Institute; Alabama Defense Lawyers Association
 
Education
•  Cumberland School of Law, 1985
•  Samford University, 1982
Freshman Class President
Secretary of Student Association
Lambda Chi Alpha, Chapter President

Bill Randall is a Vice President at Veracity Research Co., a national private investigation and contract SIU firm. Bill oversees the SIU and Field Investigations staff and contract vendor management programs.
 
In his more than 20 years in the industry, Bill has served as Vice President with American Claims Management and as a Regional SIU Manager for Liberty Mutual Insurance. Bill started as an entry level Claims Adjuster, handling multi line claims, working through positions including Investigator, Claims Supervisor and Claims Manager. He has developed field claims adjusting, investigation and property damage appraisal programs, including numerous CAT assignments. Bill has had the opportunity to start and build several SIU organizations, including creation of national anti-fraud plans and an industry leading medical provider fraud interdiction program. Bill is a frequent guest speaker on claims adjusting and anti-fraud efforts and has testified in front of the CA State Senate on SIU legislation. Starting his career in California, Bill has served on several SIU committees with the California Dept. of Insurance.
 
Bill has a history of supporting small businesses, having been a Board Member and Past President of the El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce. Bill earned his Business Degree from San Jose State University. Bill has Private Investigator and Claims Adjuster licenses in multiple states.
 

HEATH SHERMAN, Esq. is the managing member of The Sherman Law Group, LLC. A graduate of the University of Michigan (B.A.) and DePaul University College of Law (J.D.), Heath has handled all aspects of workers’ compensation litigation for over twenty years. Heath has tried numerous cases before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission and has argued cases on appeal at the Commission, Circuit Court and Appellate Court levels. Heath is retained by insurers, third-party administrators and self-insured employers throughout the State of Illinois to represent their unique interests in the underlying workers’ compensation claim as well as employer’s liability defense, subrogation lien recovery, and employment litigation.
In addition to workers’ compensation, Heath has a national product liability practice and has successfully handled cases on behalf of domestic and foreign clients in state and federal courts in multiple jurisdictions including Alabama, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. Heath is admitted to the Illinois bar, the general and trial bars of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and United States Court of Appeals for the 9th and 11th Circuits.

Theda Snyder, known as “Teddy”, mediates injury and business cases throughout California.   She is based in Los Angeles.  An attorney since 1977, she has concentrated on claim settlement for over 25 years.  She is a nationally recognized expert on Medi-Cal, Medicare and Affordable Care Act issues affecting settlement, having written and spoken extensively on these subjects.  More information is available at SnyderMediations.com

Robert P. Walter is a founding shareholder in the firm. He is a 1991 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, where he also received his undergraduate degree. He concentrates his practice in the defense of employers and insurance carriers in the areas of workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, Heart and Lung Act litigation, and subrogation, with a particular emphasis in workers' compensation subrogation issues. His practice also includes general insurance defense litigation including property, construction, and liability claims. He heads the firm's workers' compensation subrogation practice and has established through his litigation skill and creative efforts, many of the most important and leading precedents which favor and enhance the subrogation interests of employers and insurance carriers. Bob's published opinions include Good Tire Service v. WCAB (Wolfe), a 2009 opinion, in which Commonwealth Court held that a defendant's subrogation lien is based on a pro-rata share of the fee actually paid to claimant's counsel, not the hypothetical fee which could have been paid pursuant to the fee agreement, where claimant's attorney attempted to "rescind" a portion of his fee in order to shield it from the lien.Bob counsels employers on a wide range of issues designed to avoid litigation including employee discipline and discharge. His clients range from Fortune 500 companies to closely held businesses. Bob has successfully defended every manner of injury claim as well as psychological claims. He is an active participant of the firm's Subrogation and Recoveries practice and oversees the protection and, where necessary, the litigation of workers' compensation subrogation issues. Through Bob's efforts and keen knowledge of workers' compensation subrogation, he has recovered millions of dollars for his clients.Bob is a member of the bar in all Pennsylvania state courts and United States District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania. He is member of the National Council of Self-Insurers and the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance. He has been listed as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in the area of workers' compensation litigation, and he was selected by Best Lawyers in America for his experience in the area of workers' compensation defense.Significant Appellate Decisions Good Tire Service v WCAB (Wolfe), 978 A.2d 1043 (Pa. Cmwlth 2009)(Defendant's lien based on fee actually paid to claimant's attorney, where such fee is less than the amount recited in the fee agreement between claimant and his attorney.) Areas of Practice Workers' Compensation Defense Unemployment Compensation Heart and Lung Act Claims Workers' Compensation Subrogation Subrogation/ Collections Insurance Defense Litigation Civil Litigation Employment LawLitigation Percentage 100% of Practice Devoted to LitigationBar Admissions Pennsylvania, 1992 U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court Eastern District of PennsylvaniaEducation Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - 1991 Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA - 1988Published Works Employee Handbooks for ClientsHonors and Awards Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Best Lawyers in AmericaProfessional Associations and Memberships National Counsel of Self-Insurers August Wilson Center, Board of Directors

Dawn Watkins is the Director of Integrated Disability Management for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
Ms. Watkins has over 30 years’ experience in Risk Management in both the private and public sector.  In 2004, she joined the Risk Management Division of LAUSD where she held progressively responsible positions. Since 2006, she had led one of the largest self-insured workers’ compensation programs in the state as well as Absence Management Reasonable Accommodations, Return to Work and Protected Leave programs.
In 2008, Ms. Watkins received the Risk Innovator award and under her leadership LAUSD received the “Theodore Roosevelt” award for excellence in workers’ compensation and disability management in the public sector.  Both awards were issued by Risk and Insurance magazine.
Ms. Watkins earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York.  Ms. Watkins holds the Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in Risk Management- Public Entities (ARM-P) designations and a California Self Insured Administrators certificate. 

Wanda Weniger, Recovery Center Vice President, Travelers.  Wanda began her career in 1977 with Aetna in the Policy Services Department.  After various technical and leadership roles in Human Resources and Assigned Risk, Wanda joined the Claim Department in 1981 holding positions such as Auto PD Specialist, PIP Specialist and in 1983 completed a rotation as an outside claim representative in Liability, Property and WC.  After spending several years as an Outside Commercial Liability Representative, she was promoted to a WC Supervisor and in 1987 promoted to Manager over the Mid-Atlantic Region Commercial Subrogation Unit; incorporating Personal Lines subrogation work in 1991.  After the merger with Travelers in 1996, Wanda managed the newly combined subrogation organization for the Mid-Atlantic Region.   
 
In early 2000, Wanda transitioned into the Property Department and after spending several years as a Regional Property Manager for Travelers Mid-Atlantic region; she rejoined subrogation as an Associate Director on the national team and then in 2004 transitioned to the Manager and then Recovery Center Vice President of the Travelers National Workers Compensation Recovery Center.