California Workers' Comp Forum:
Receive vital legislative and case law updates and proven cost-containment solutions from leading industry experts.  Some of the session topics include:  Workers’ Comp Case Law Updates; Innovative Cost-Control Strategies; New Workers’ Comp Legislation; Combating Fraud; Return-to-Work Programs; Claims Management Tactics; Untangling the FMLA, ADA and Workers' Comp Web; Health & Wellness Programs; Risk Management Best Practices; and Workplace Accident Investigations.  This is an event every Workers’ Compensation, Risk Management, Health, Safety, Insurance, and Human Resource professional should attend.

Susan H. Abeln, MPH, ARM, PT
Founder and President
Strategic Health Alternatives, Inc.

Ms. Abeln (pronounced Abe Lyn) is the founder and President of Strategic Health Alternatives, Inc., a company formed in 1990 and dedicated to helping healthcare organizations reduce the frequency and severity of their work-related injuries. She received her Bachelor of Science degree with honors from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; her graduate degree in Health Policy, also University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ,and this degree was also conveyed with honors. She has held the Associate in Risk Management designation from the Insurance Institute of America since 1989. Ms. Abeln is a licensed physical therapist, certified Field Safety Representative and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, American Society of Quality, American Society of Safety Engineers and the Risk and Insurance Management Society. Susan has over 21 years of the area of workers' compensation cost containment and more than 30 years experience in the healthcare industry.

Ms. Abeln has been a consultant, widely in the areas of occupational injury management and injury prevention, disability management, return to work, functional outcomes, benchmarking, and workers' compensation cost containment including extensive work demonstrating return on investment of selected interventions. Ms. Abeln has written and lectured has lectured nationally and internationally on these issues and authored "Rehabilitation and Disability Management" for the Insurance Institute of America's curriculum for Associate of Risk Management. She has also been a regular and featured regular writer for the publication Workers' Compensation Cost Control published by Quinlan Publishers.

Mike Alio
Risk Manager
City of Long Beach

Michael Alio is the current Risk Manager for the City of Long Beach. He has over 15 years of experience in Risk Management in both the private and public sector, working in the corporate office of a Fortune 50 company and now working for the 5th largest City in California and has also taught risk/safety classes at the community college level.. Michael has a Master's Degree in Environmental/Occupational Health and holds the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) Designation and the Risk Management for Public Entity Designation (RMPE). He has served as the President of the Public Agency Safety Management Association (PASMA) and is an active member of the Public Agency Risk Manager's Association (PARMA).

Saul W. Allweiss, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Law Offices of Saul Allweiss

Mr. Allweiss' initial employment in workers' compensation was with Fremont Indemnity between 1976 and 1982. Mr. Allweiss' next position was with the City of Long Beach where he held the position of Claims Officer from 1982 to 1985. After a year of self-employment, Mr. Allweiss commenced his career at Republic Indemnity Company of America. From 1986 to 1994, he served as a Hearing Representative, making more than 500 appearances per year which included trials, conferences and depositions. Upon admission to the California Bar in 1994, Mr. Allweiss was moved into Republic's Home Office where he was eventually promoted to the level of Assistant Vice President of Home Office Claims.

Mr. Allweiss entered private practice in the year 2001 and in October 2002 opened his own firm, The Law Offices of Saul Allweiss. The practice focuses on the basic defense of workers' compensation disputes. In particular, Mr. Allweiss has developed a unique expertise in the settlement of permanent and total losses that involve Medicare. He is available as a trainer for claims and legal personnel. He serves as a consultant for Legislative and Regulatory matters. He has been retained as an expert in first-party bad faith litigation and holds himself out as an expert witness in regard to claims handling in first- and third-party bad faith litigation.

Mr. Allweiss has been retained as a consultant on behalf of employers and insurers, serving on numerous ad hoc committees created by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation, that were involved in the drafting of regulations and policy and procedure. Mr. Allweiss was recently retained as Legislative Consultant for a number of employers and insurers in regard to the newly enacted Workers' Compensation Reform (SB 899)(2004) and remains as a consultant in regard to the drafting of regulations needed to enact the provisions of SB 899.

The Workers' Compensation Section of the California State Bar has named Mr. Allweiss as its "Defense Attorney of the Year" for 2006.

Alison D. Alpert, Esq.
Partner
Best Best & Krieger LLP

Alison D. Alpert is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group of Best Best & Krieger, LLP. Ms. Alpert represents private and public employers in a broad range of employment litigation including harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation and discrimination based upon gender, race, national origin, age and disability. Ms. Alpert also frequently advises clients concerning employee handbooks and employment policies related to harassment, wage and hour issues, workplace violence, drug and alcohol testing, privacy, discipline and termination. Ms. Alpert additionally has significant experience in representing and advising clients on issues related to public access and accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Ms. Alpert also regularly participates as a speaker in labor and employment seminars, speaking on issues of family and medical leave, drug and alcohol policies and disability issues.

Ms. Alpert graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Government in 1995. She received her law degree from the University of California at Davis, King Hall in 1998. While attending UC Davis, she was an intern for the United States Attorney's Office Eastern District of California and participated in a civil rights clinic. Bar and Court Admissions: California, 1998.

Linda F. Atcherley, Esq.
Attorney
Linda Atcherley & Associates

Ms. Atcherley is the current Legislative Chair of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA), and the immediate past President. She has also served with CAAA on the Executive Board of the Applicants’ Attorneys Association as Secretary, 2001-2002 and 2003-2004; Treasurer 2004-2005; President Elect 2005-2006 and as a member of the Board of Governors from 1995 to the present. Ms. Atcherley has also served as Chapter President, San Diego, 1995-1997. Ms. Atcherley is an AV rated attorney with a practice in San Diego consisting of Workers’ Compensation, Employment Law, Social Security Disability and Civil Litigation. Ms. Atcherley was admitted to the Bar in 1990. She practiced as a sole practitioner with Linda Atcherley & Associates 2006-present; a partner in Atcherley & Levine, LLP, 2000-2005; a sole practitioner with the Law offices of Linda F. Atcherley 1995-1999; and as an Certified Law Clerk and Associate Attorney with Ludecke, Denton & Bunn, 1987-1995. While maintaining a primarily plaintiff practice, Ms. Atcherley has also represented employers for workers’ compensation and wage and hour claims. She was named “Applicant Attorney of the Year” by the State Bar of California for 2008.

Born 4/25/1959, Hong Kong, BCC, she did her undergraduate work at the University of California, San Diego and received her JD from Western State University College of Law, San Diego. Ms. Atcherley is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Federal District Court, Southern District and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Atcherley has also been a speaker at various seminars, including those with CAOC and CAAA, speaking on Workers’ Compensation and Third Party issues.

Christine Baker
Executive Officer
Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation

Christine Baker is the Executive Officer of the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) in San Francisco since its inception in 1994. She has served in several management capacities in the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) since 1984, including Chief of the Division of Labor Statistics and Research and Deputy Director for the Division of Workers' Compensation. Previously, Ms. Baker worked at various research organizations and taught college courses on US military bases in Japan and Korea and at the Confucian and Catholic Universities in Seoul, Korea. Under her leadership, CHSWC has grown into its role of overseeing the health, safety and workers' compensation systems in California and recommending administrative and legislative changes for improvement. CHSWC from the start has based its recommendations on findings from studies conducted by independent researchers, with the involvement of the entire community. Ms. Baker currently is a member of the executive committee of the International Association of Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), a member of the advisory board for John Burton's Workers' Compensation Policy and Review. She is also a member of the steering committee for the Workers' Compensation Research Group. She is also a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance. Ms. Baker earned a Masters Degree and achieved Ph.D. candidacy at the School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.

Lisa Banducci
Senior Consultant
Heffernan Insurance Brokers

Lisa has over 15 years experience in the workers’ compensation industry.   In her current role as a Senior Consultant, she assists Heffernan clients with the management of their workers’ compensation claims costs and functions as a liaison between the carrier and client. In addition, she developed and currently directs Heffernan’s Human Resources Consulting Program which provides California employers with the resources necessary to navigate labor laws successfully. Previously, she was the Director of Business Development with a California Third Party Administrator as well as oversaw their Claims Department. In this capacity, she gained valuable knowledge regarding non-profit clients, large grocery chains, transportation clients, public entities and Captive programs and their specialized needs.

Brent Barnhart, Esq.
Senior Counsel - Legal and Government Relations Department
Kaiser Permanente

Brent Barnhart, Senior Counsel at the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan’s Legal and Government Relations Department, has been with Kaiser Permanente since June, 1996. From April 1999 to April 2002 he served as counsel to the KFHP California Division’s regulatory compliance department, assisting and representing KFHP in dealings with it’s regulator, now named the Department of Managed Health Care). Since 1997, he has also served as one of two attorneys representing Kaiser Permanente before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. 

Before coming to Kaiser he served as staff to the California State Assembly from May 1993 through June 1996, in a variety of assignments: Senior Counsel to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Chief Consultant to the Assembly Insurance Committee, and Program Manager for the Assembly Office of Research. In those positions he dealt primarily with health, insurance, and corporate governance issues. 

For nearly ten years prior to serving as legislative staff to the California Legislature, Mr. Barnhart served as attorney and lobbyist for the health insurance industry in Sacramento, California. From February 1991 until May 1993, he served as Legislative Affairs Director for Blue Cross of California. From August 1987 until February 1991, he was Counsel and Secretary to the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies (ACLHIC), and from November 1983 until August 1987, he served as Senior Attorney and Legislative Advocate for Blue Cross of California.

Mr. Barnhart is admitted to practice law in the states of California and Indiana. He received his law degree from Indiana University, Bloomington, and his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside.

Jeffrey A, Berman, MD is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon in Los Angeles. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree from UCLA. He attended medical school at USC. His orthopaedic residency was in the UCLA program. He has been in private practice since 1984 and is located in Century City. Along with an active private practice, Dr. Berman has been involved in the workers' compensation field for many years and has considerable experience. He has treated and evaluated patients on a regular basis. He is on the state panel for second opinion spinal surgical consultations. For many years he has been an AME used on a regular basis. This continues to the present time.

Sondra Lynn Binotto is an Associate in the Medicare department. Her practice concentrates on Workers' Compensation and Medicare Compliance at Burns, White & Hickton. She joined the firm in 2004.

Ms. Binotto received her Juris Doctor in 2003 from Washington and Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Ms. Binotto is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Areas Of Law

• Medicare Compliance
• Workers’ Compensation

Education

• Washington and Lee School of Law (J.D. 2003)
• Allegheny College (B.A. 2000)

Memberships

• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Allegheny County Bar Association

Jacquetta Bratton, ARM, CPDM
Regional Claims
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.

Jacquetta Bratton is a Claims Specialist for Coca-Cola Enterprises. Her responsibilities include TPA oversight and litigation and large loss management of multi-state workers’ compensation claims. She has over 12 years of workers’ compensation experience in both the public and private sectors. Jacquetta has a B.S. in Business Administration Risk Management and Insurance and ARM and CPDM professional designations.

Dean S. Brown, Esq.
Partner
Law Offices of Pearlman, Borska & Wax

Dean Brown is a partner in the Law Offices of Pearlman, Borska & Wax. Mr. Brown specializes in the defense of workers' compensation claims, serious and willful misconduct claims, and claimed violations of Labor Code §132a. He is an experienced litigator and has successfully tried various and complex issues before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board on behalf of both the insurance carriers and self-insured employers.

He graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1985 where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of Law and Society. He achieved his Juris Doctorate degree in 1989 from Whittier College School of Law in Los Angeles, California.

He has extensive experience in the workers' compensation arena and is also presently specializing in employment law/labor law in and outside of the workers' compensation arena.

Mr. Brown has a wide array of clients comprised of school districts throughout Southern California, the aerospace industry, large manufacturers, the freight industry and many other employers and insurance carriers.

Mr. Brown regularly presents seminars to insurance companies, self-administrators, and self-insured employers on a wide range of topics in connection with the handling of workers' compensation matters.

Mr. Brown is a member of the State Bar of California and the Century City County Bar Association, and is a member of the Workers' Compensation Defense Attorneys' Association.

Robert E. Buch, Esq.
Partner
Seyfarth, Shaw

Robert Buch is a partner with Seyfarth, Shaw, a management labor law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, San Francisco, Sacramento, Boston, Houston, Atlanta and Brussels.

Mr. Buch is a former chairperson of the Workers' Compensation Law Advisory Commission; member of the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization; former chairman of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Workers' Compensation Section; Certified Specialist, Workers' Compensation, State Bar Board of Legal Specialization; and member, State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

Mr. Buch testified before United States Congress on workers' compensation issues and has chaired a Congressional Blue Ribbon Committee regarding asbestos injured workers. He has lectured extensively before California Self-Insurers Association, The Employers Group, and National Managed Health Care Congress. Mr. Buch has presented seminars for National Business Institute and Conference Development, Inc., and addressed American Trial Lawyers at their National Convention on numerous occasions.

Academic Background: University of Southern California, B.A., 1969; M.S., 1970; Loyola University School of Law, J.D., 1973. Certified Specialist, Workers' Compensation Law, 1981. Associate Professor of Business Law, California State University, Northridge, 1976-1978.

Publications: "The Role of an Occupational Variant in Determining Permanent Disability under California Workers' Compensation Law," 15 California Western Law Review 369, January 1980; "The Political Prisoner Syndrome," 20 Crime and Delinquency 2, April 1974; contributor to Lindemann, Barbara, and David D. Kadue, Primer on Sexual Harassment, (Bureau of National Affairs, Washington, D.C., 1992); coauthor, California Workers' Compensation Practice, June 2003, 4th Edition (California Continuing Education of the Bar); contributing author to Lindemann, Barbara, and David D. Kadue, Primer on Age Discrimination (Bureau of National Affairs, Washington, D.C., publishing in June 2001).

Alison Carmichael, RN
Disability Manager
St. Jude Medical Center and St. Jude Heritage Healthcare North

Alison Carmichael has been in the field of worker health and safety since 1983. Following her training as a Registered Nurse and Registered Mental Nurse in Scotland, she had her first experience of caring for injured workers in a small electronics assembly factory.

Her next position was with a company which provided occupational health services to a variety of industries including food and textile manufacture, semiconductor manufacture and assembly, microwave and communications technology, waterproof coatings, explosives manufacture and healthcare.

In 1990, she was appointed to a position as an Employee Health Nurse with Hartwood Hospital in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was quickly promoted to Assistant Director of Occupational Health and Safety for Lanarkshire Health Board, one of the regional groupings of the National Health Service, with over 11,000 employees.

A family move to California in 1994 gave Alison a few years at home to care for her family, pursue her interests and transfer her credentials. Returning to the workforce in 2001, Alison currently manages the Workers' Compensation, Leave of Absence and Return to Work programs for St. Jude Medical Center, a 359-bed hospital in the center of Fullerton, California, and St. Jude Heritage Healthcare North, a provider group with general and specialty medical offices situated across Northern Orange County.

Daniel Chizever, MBA, ARM
Director of Risk Management
Abercrombie & Fitch

Dan Chizever has more than 15 years in corporate insurance and risk management within diverse industries such as staffing, Fortune 500 retailers, and Fortune 100 insurance/financial services. Dan handles all aspects of risk management for Abercrombie & Fitch which operated 1,047 retail clothing stores at the end of first fiscal quarter 2008, under iconic brands of Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie, Hollister Co., RUEHL and Gilly Hicks.

Dan served three terms as Chapter President of Risk & Insurance Management Society in Central Ohio and is an experienced presenter within the business insurance community. Dan holds an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation, BS in Administration of Justice and a MBA with Finance focus.

Dr. Ann Clark, CEO
ACI Specialty Benefits

Founder and CEO of ACI Specialty Benefits-a leading worldwide provider of Wellness, EAP, Work/Life, Concierge, and Crisis Support Services - Dr. Clark has continually led her corporation into the nation's Top Ten ranking of the largest EAP providers. As an experienced mental health professional and Fortune 500 consultant, Dr. Clark revolutionized the benefits industry by creating wellness solutions that effectively and simultaneously addressed behavioral, emotional and physical health needs. She created the widely acclaimed "GetFit Cell Phone Diet" and numerous other innovative products designed to increase workforce health and productivity. Recently named the Benefit and Compensation Solution Magazine's "Benefits Superstar," Dr. Clark is committed to improving the quality of life for the nation's workforce and families by leading the innovation and delivery of specialty for corporations worldwide.

Dr. Clark is also a best-selling author, accomplished motivational speaker, lecturer, and commentator. She was named one of San Diego's "Women Who Mean Business" by the San Diego Business Journal and received the "Bravo" award for excellence from the National Association of Women Business Owners. Her extensive published works include Citadel Press' best-seller, Surviving Your Boss, Looking Good, Alone but Not Lonely, Surrender to Win and Single Parent Families.

Dr. Clark received her doctorate in Behavior Disabilities and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin and completed post doctorate research on Alcoholism and Sexuality at the University of New Mexico. Prior to founding ACI Specialty Benefits in 1985, Dr. Clark achieved the rank of Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Director of Education at the New Mexico Facility for the Mentally Retarded, and later Statewide Director for Child Abuse Services. She is one of the original Certified Employee Assistance Professionals (CEAP) in the country, Forensic Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist and member of numerous professional associations.

Raymond F. Correio, Esq.
Judge
Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, Santa Monica

Raymond F. Correio is presently a Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCJ) at the DWC Marina Del Rey District Office. Before becoming a WCJ he spent many years in private practice as a workers’ compensation defense attorney. He was a partner with the firm of Correio, Wai & Connor (now, Wai & Connor) and most recently a senior associate at the law firm of Pearlman, Borska & Wax until he returned to the bench in December 2007. He is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. He has been an invited speaker on a variety of topics by CAAA, the California Defense Attorneys’ Association, the DWC Educational Conference, the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar, and many other organizations.

Joseph Coto (Invited)
Assembly Member
California State Assembly

Assembly Member Joe Coto (D-San Jose) is currently serving his second term in the California Assembly. His agenda in the Legislature continues to focus on making California's schools the best in the nation. He is also striving to ensure that all of California's children have health insurance and are provided with the ability to experience the American dream. This dream includes going to college, securing a good paying job, and owning a home.

A lifelong Democrat, Coto proudly represents the 23rd Assembly District in San José. The District includes the east side, downtown and the Monterey Road corridor. The 23rd District represents about half of the city of San José.

Mr. Coto was recently elected Chair of the 26 member Latino Legislative Caucus. The Latino Caucus is seen as one of the most influential in the legislature. The Caucus' focus is primarily on improving the quality of life for working families in California. With over 35 % of the population in California being Latino, the issues affecting them, affect all Californians. The key legislative priorities identified by the Latino Caucus are Education, Health, Housing, Economic Development and Leadership.

Assembly Member Coto was also appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to serve as Chair of the Insurance Committee. In addition, he serves on the following committees: Education, Banking and Finance and Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media. Mr. Coto also chairs the Select Committee on Urban Education.

Mr. Coto has had a number of bills chaptered into law. One of the most significant provides over $30 million to support English Learners, other educational bills provide support to underachieving schools, standards for math instruction for blind students, and flexibility in spending to support the educational program. In the area of health, one of his bills provides cultural and linguistic training for physicians so that they can serve their patients more effectively and another extends the Healthy Families' program so that children throughout the state can be eligible for health insurance.

Joe Coto began his career as a teacher in the Oakland Unified School District. There, he experienced first hand the influence of public policy on education. While he was in Oakland, Mr. Coto was elected as an Oakland City Councilmember and served in that capacity for four years. He returned to education and ultimately became the Superintendent of the Oakland schools. In 1988 he accepted the position of Superintendent of the East Side Union High School District in San José and served the East San José community for 14 years. Mr. Coto has a lifetime commitment to the advancement of all students and their families. In recognition of his contributions as superintendent of the East Side Union High School District and beyond, the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) named him the 2003 'Superintendent of the Year'.

During his tenure as Superintendent, Mr. Coto used his leadership and experience to craft policies that reached beyond the East Side Union High School District. Coto organized the East Side Consortium of school districts which led to the approval of SB 1051, the Voluntary Integration Program. Since its inception, the program has brought over $100 million for participating districts and contributed to increased diversity and integration in East San Jose schools. During his tenure in the East Side Union High School District, Mr. Coto was able to bring nearly half a billion dollars in grant monies and improvement bonds to East San José.

In addition to his commitment to excellence in education, Mr. Coto has continued to serve the community by serving as Chair of the Mexican Plaza Cultural Arts Center in San José and as President of the Latino Democratic Forum. He has served on the boards of Joint Venture Silicon Valley and the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital.

A healthy community is one that builds on the strengths of all its residents. Joe Coto has demonstrated through a life of service and commitment, that he will empower and defend the people to maintain the building blocks of a strong and healthy community: jobs, quality education and affordable housing.

Adam Dombchik, Esq.
Partner
Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein

Adam Dombchik began advocating for the rights of the injured early in his career. He started working for the firm while at Southwestern University School of Law, then joined full-time after graduation and was named partner in 2005. Mr. Dombchik received the Exceptional Achievement Award in Workers' Compensation Law & Practice from his alma mater.

Recognized by the California State Bar as a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation , Mr. Dombchik sits on the Executive Board of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association, a 1,000-member statewide organization that advocates for injured workers' rights, and is a past president of the Southern California chapter. He has served as a delegate to the California State Bar's Conference of Delegates. He is also licensed to practice law in Florida.

Mr. Dombchik received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from Pennsylvania State University in Speech Communication. Law & Politics magazine has named Mr. Dombchik a "Rising Star" among Southern California lawyers for three consecutive years.

Dennis Downing
President
Future Industrial Technologies

Dennis Downing is CEO and Founder of Future Industrial Technologies (F.I.T.), an international organization with the goal of reducing workers' compensation costs through effective injury prevention protocols. For over 11 years he has worked with companies large and small across America. Through the practical applications of BACKSAFE(r) and SITTINGSAFE(r) employees around the world have benefited from reduced injuries and improved quality of life, while companies have enjoyed lower work comp costs and increased employee morale.

William J. Dritsas, Esq.
Partner
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Mr. Dritsas is a partner in the San Francisco office of Seyfarth Shaw, specializing in the practice of labor and employment law on behalf of management. Since 1980, he has represented employers in all aspects of labor and employment law and litigation, including state and federal employment discrimination litigation, wrongful discharge litigation, National Labor Relations Act and Railway Labor Act matters, union elections, arbitrations, strike activities, FMLA, OSHA, ERISA, OFCCP and wage and hour matters. He has advised clients extensively in various aspects of Human Resources and Labor Relations, including drug and alcohol testing programs, workplace violence, employee handbooks and general labor and employment counseling. His practice includes jury and administrative trials and federal and state appellate advocacy.

Mr. Dritsas has extensive experience in training managers, supervisors, and employees on a multitude of employment law topics, including sex harassment, discrimination, ADA, FMLA, dealing with the problem employee, and OSHA.

Mr. Dritsas was honored by the California Lawyer in 1999 as one of the top 20 attorneys in California for his contribution to the development of employment law.

Education:  J.D., University of Michigan (1980); B.A., University of Michigan, with high honors (1977), Phi Beta Kappa

John C. Duncan
Director
California Department of Industrial Relations

John C. Duncan, for the second time in his career, has been appointed Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).

Duncan has had a distinguished career in both state and federal service including an appointment as special assistant to former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger. He assisted the Secretary in writing "Fighting for Peace," an autobiographical account of the Secretary's years at the Pentagon. In 1987, he received the Secretary of Defense Award for Outstanding Public Service.

His current state government appointment-by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 9, 2007-follows previous service to DIR that included chief deputy director and then DIR director from 1995 to 1999. From 1991, he was DIR deputy director of communications.

During his first DIR tenure, he was the principal advisor to Governor Pete Wilson on labor and employment issues and was a member of his Cabinet.

As DIR Director, Duncan oversees a department with 2,700 employees and a $382 million budget. He also serves as the administrator of apprenticeship and as an ex-officio member of the State Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors.

Prior to his current appointment, he was Chair of the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) from March 2004 and was a member of Governor Schwarzenegger's transition team where he was charged with handling issues and personnel for the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

Duncan has also had significant private sector experience in labor and regulatory matters. He was president of Duncan Consulting, Inc. where he designed communications strategy for corporate, legal and governmental clients and specialized in navigating labor-related regulatory issues. He was also president and COO of Magnitude Information Systems, a company specializing in software and internet solutions for preventing workplace injuries, for several years.

As part of his federal service, Duncan was an assistant to the secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense and special assistant to the deputy assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs, East Asia and Pacific Affairs.

He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor's degree in history and of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government with a master's in public administration.

Duncan is a board member of the Yosemite National Institute and California Conservation Corps Foundation, a former president of the Industrial Relations Association of Northern California, and a former chair of the California Employment Training Panel.

Michael David Duvall
Assembly Member
California State Assembly

Michael D. Duvall was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2006 to represent the Seventy-Second Assembly District which includes the cities of Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Orange, Brea, Yorba Linda, and La Habra.

Within a month of his arrival in Sacramento, Duvall was appointed to the Vice-Chairmanship of the powerful Assembly Transportation Committee tasked with overseeing the many roadway, rail, air and port operations of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP). In subsequent weeks, he was assigned to the Assembly Insurance Committee, the Education Finance Subcommittee (Budget Sub 2), and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee overseeing the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

Since his first election to the Yorba Linda City Council in 2000, Duvall has developed a reputation as a strong leader advocating for fiscal responsibility and economic development. While on the council, his colleagues elected him Mayor twice, appointed him Council Liaison to the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce and appointed him to the City Audit Committee. Recognizing his hard work on their behalf, twice as many of the city's voters decided in 2004 to elect him to another term on the council.

In addition to his service on the Yorba Linda City Council, Assemblyman Duvall has also served the county on numerous boards and committees.

In December 2000, Duvall was appointed to the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) where he served four years on the Finance, Administration, and Human Resources Committee. From 2005 to 2006, he was Vice Chairman of the committee. Also, in November 2005, he was appointed to the District's Capital Improvement Projects Oversight Committee.

In January 2005, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), serving as the Vice Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, Vice Chair of the Operations Committee, and an active participant on the State Route 91 Advisory Committee. On the board, Duvall contributed to the discussion and solution of transportation challenges facing Orange County and the surrounding region, especially on transportation policy discussions regarding the Riverside Freeway (SR-91) corridor, and the delivery of projects promised to Orange County voters, such as the completion of the Garden Grove Freeway (SR-22) Improvement Project. As a staunch supporter of Measure M and road projects in Orange County cities, he worked tirelessly to improve mobility and plan for the future transportation needs of Orange County. His efforts have resulted in significant savings for local taxpayers.

Beside his work on the city council, OCSD, and OCTA, Duvall served on the Foothill/Eastern Corridor Joint Powers Authority, the Ground Water Replenishment System, and the Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency.

Assemblyman Duvall continues to own and operate a local insurance agency and understands what it takes to operate a small business in California's strict regulatory environment. As the two-time President of the Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Yorba Linda General Plan Steering Committee, he was a passionate defender of local businesses. Chapman University awarded Duvall the Ethics in America Award for his "demonstration of the highest standards of ethical integrity" while a member of the Chamber team.

Andrew S. Flor joined Real Mex Restaurants in 2001 and is currently the corporate Director of Risk Management. Real Mex Restaurants is the largest full service, casual dining Mexican restaurant company in the United States with nearly 200 restaurants operating in more than a dozen states with sales in excess of half a billion dollars. Mr. Flor is responsible for all insurance-related matters for the company, as well as overseeing the administration of workers’ compensation claims, general liability claims, litigation, safety initiatives and safety incentive programs. Mr. Flor has over 14 years of experience in the field of Risk Management. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of La Verne and a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to coming to Real Mex Restaurants, he worked for the Walt Disney Company where he administrated claims.

Scott T. Ford is a partner with Levy, Stern and Ford, a Los Angeles based union-side labor, employment and workers’ compensation law firm. He is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in workers’ compensation law.   He has acted as a Judge Pro Tem at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and is also on the faculty of the Labor Studies Program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College where he teaches workers’ compensation and employee benefits law. He has also been recognized in Los Angeles Magazine’s 2006 and 2008 “SuperLawyers” edition. Mr. Ford is currently a Member of the Board of Governors of the California Applicants Attorneys Association and is a past President of the Southern California Applicants Attorneys Association. He graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 1993 with Dean’s List Honors and received his B.A. from the University of California, at San Diego in 1988.

L. Scott Frazier, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist and Qualified Medical Evaluator
State of California

Dr. Frazier attended Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts and received a Masters Degree in Psychology, and then received a Doctorate Degree in Psychology from University of Oxford - St. John's College, Oxford, England. Dr. Frazier is a licensed psychologist practicing in the greater Los Angeles area since 1978.

Dr. Frazier is a Qualified Medical Evaluator for California Workers' Compensation cases and has performed numerous agreed medical evaluations. He has twenty plus years of psychiatric and psychological evaluation and treatment based on referrals from insurance companies; Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; Los Angeles Police Department and Fire Department; Los Angeles Unified School District; Los Angeles DPSS; the County of Kern; Las Vegas Police Department, and numerous defense attorneys. He also serves as an Independent Medical Examiner for U.S. Government cases.

David Brian Freeman, Ph.D., Q.M.E., A.M.E.
Clinical Director
Cal Psych, FMT

Dr. Freeman is a UCLA trained Neuropsychologist. He is a Qualified Medical Examiner for the Industrial Medical Council and has conducted over 500 AME/QME medical-legal psychiatric examinations and neuropsychological assessments.

Dr. Freeman is joined at Comprehensive Psychological Services, Inc. (CPS) by a talented team of clinicians which includes QME's, neuropsychologists, bilingual psychologists and treating psychiatrists.

CPS offers considerable expertise in the areas of Malingering, Toxic Exposure, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Neurocognitive Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as Competency in Older Adults.

Brian Gannon is the Western Regional Vice President of Business Development for Broadspire, one of the nation’s leading third-party administrators, and a member of the Crawford and Company family. He is responsible for the management of the sales team in the western United States, as well as for product development for the company. He is a graduate of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, having earned his MBA in finance and marketing. He is also a graduate of California State University, Northridge, with a BS in Finance and Real Estate. Brian has 15 years’ experience in the commercial insurance and claims industry.

Mr. Gannon has worked for several of the leading claims and insurance companies in the industry, including The Travelers, Cigna, SRS, Sedgwick CMS, and most recently, Cambridge Integrated Services. In his career, he has worked as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Representative, an Account Manager, and a Sales Executive. Mr. Gannon is a frequent speaker at industry events, having spoken at the CAWC in years past.

Bill Gonser
Director of Safety & Workers’ Compensation
Disneyland Resort

Bill Gonser is the Director of Safety & Workers’ Compensation for the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. His responsibilities include all safety programs and workers’ compensation claims management for the Resort’s more than 20,000 Cast Members. His scope also encompasses the safety of the millions of guests visiting the Resort’s two theme parks, three hotels and a retail, dining and entertainment district. Bill previously led the initiative to assure compliance with the State of California’s new permanent amusement ride legislation. He also managed the Resort’s Predictive Maintenance process and was an Attractions Maintenance Manager.

Prior to coming to the Disneyland Resort, Bill was an infantry Officer in the 101^st Airborne Division. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Eric Gritz is the founding Partner of the Law Firm Bender & Gritz and is the head of the workers' compensation department. His practice is exclusively devoted to the representation of individuals injured on the job. He has a vast amount of experience handling all manners of workers' compensation cases, including death claims, third-party workers’ compensation crossover claims, serious and willful violations, 132(a) claims and toxic exposure matters. Mr. Gritz has had multiple trials before the state Superior Courts and Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, including appellate work. Mr. Gritz earned a B.S. degree from the University of California at Davis and a J.D. degree from Western State University in San Diego and he holds an AV peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell. He is admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of California and the South United States District Court. He is a member of the State Bar of California and the California Applicant Attorney's Association.

Leif Guerrero, RN, MSN, COHN-S
Manager Occupational Health - Human Resources Department
Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center

Leif Guerrero RN, MSN, COHN-S, is the Manager of Occupational Health at Mission Hospital, a regional trauma center with 2,400 employees. He has over 15 years experience in health care, which includes Behavioral Health, Emergency, Radiology, and Occupational Health. His leadership resulted in an average of 79% per quarter decrease in work related injury cost and an 85% reduction in ergonomic/repetitive motion related expenditures. He served as a board member of the Orange County American Association of Occupational Health Nurses from 2005 through 2007 and is a member of the Western Occupational and Environmental Medical Association. He has a Graduate Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles specializing in Nursing Administration and Occupational Environmental Health and is Board certified as an Occupational Health Nurse Specialist.

Kelly Hamilton started her career in workers' compensation more than 20 years ago as an insurance claims adjuster. After five years, she began working as a law clerk for a defense firm and entered law school shortly thereafter. Kelly joined Gray & Prouty in 1998 and has been a partner in the firm since 2000. In addition to representing employers and insurance carriers, she is certified in rating medical reports utilizing the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. Kelly has also taught extensively, both for the Insurance Education Association and in training sessions for various clients.

Matthew Hurlimann, Esq.
Attorney
Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP

Matt Hurlimann focuses his practice on the aggressive defense of workers' compensation claims. His clients include self-insured employers, insurance companies, and a Fortune 200 company. He obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. Prior to his law career, Matt was an adjunct professor at the Universidad de Monterrey in Mexico.

Mark H. Hyman, MD, FACP, FAADEP
Associate Professor of Medicine
UCLA

Dr. Hyman is an Associate Professor on the clinical faculty at the University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA). He was born in Detroit and attended The University of Michigan for undergraduate studies. He pursued medical school, internship and residency at UCLA. Now an Associate Professor, his internal medicine research and interests have expanded to include headaches, smoking cessation, spinal disorders, police arrest techniques, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, impairment and workers’ compensation issues. He is currently studying worker compensation patient’s for sleep disorders, addictions and digital retinal examinations. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He has published many articles and is a chapter author for the American Medical Association book, A Physician’s Guide to Return to Work, Guides to Disease and Injury Causation, as well as the Contributing Editor for the AMA Guides 6th Edition. Dr. Hyman also served as the chair for the Internal Medicine section of the Medical Disability Advisor Fifth Edition. He has lectured extensively for legal groups, Insurance Industry and at National Disability meetings. Dr. Hyman has testified before the United States Congress as a national expert on disability issues.

Brian Jacks, M.D. F.A.A.C.P.
Psychiatrist
Clinical Professor, USC Keck School of Medicine
Qualified Medical Evaluator, State of California

Dr. Jacks received his medical degree from the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada and completed his psychiatric residency at LAC-USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. He is a Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and active in private practice since 1979.

He serves as Clinical Professor University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, with full time faculty duties. His time is divided between teaching on a post-graduate level to senior psychiatric residents in academic seminars, teaching demonstrations, lectures and direct supervision. Teaching duties also include, medical students, students and graduate nurses, and psychiatric social workers.

In 1996 he was appointed as Expert Medical Reviewer for Medical Board of California.

Dr. Jacks is a Qualified Medical Evaluator for California Workers' Compensation cases, and has performed numerous agreed medical evaluations. He also serves as an Independent Medical Examiner and Medical Expert Witness for civil cases.

Carl Jacobs, Esq.
Managing Attorney
Jacobs & Associates

Carl Jacobs has been in the practice of law since 1976 and has been involved in the field of workers compensation from the outset. Initially, for the first three years, he represented the interests of the injured worker, and since 1979 he has been exclusively involved in the defense of workers compensation claims primarily representing the interests of the employer. During that time frame he has taken at least 1000 doctor depositions if not more in a variety of medical specialties. These vary from those relating to musculoskeletal issues to those involving chemical exposure, internal medicine and psychiatric claims. He has spoken before many panels including those with the State Bar of California Workers Compensation Section as well as at the California Applicant's Attorneys Association primarily focusing on the development of the medical record in a workers compensation claim as well as the challenges presented by the AMA guides.

Lori C. Kammerer
Principal
Kammerer and Company

Lori C. Kammerer is recognized nationally as a leading authority on policy issues affecting California's Workers' Compensation System. Lori has represented the business community as Executive Director of the California Coalition on Workers' Compensation from 1987-2002. More recently, she founded Kammerer & Company and serves as the Legislative and Workers' Compensation Policy Director for employers and trade associations across the state. In addition, she serves as an advisor to several boards, commissions and task forces including the California Commission on Health & Safety & Workers' Compensation, The RAND Corporation, the California State Council of Laborers, and numerous chambers of commerce.

Marijo Kuperman, Esq.
Managing Partner
Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP

Marijo Kuperman is the managing partner of the San Diego office of Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, LLP. She is a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law and has been vigorously and effectively defending workers' compensation claims and related matters for over 20 years. Marijo provides a full range of services to self-insured employers, insurance companies, and public entities. She earned her juris doctor from Western State University in San Diego.

Fred Kuyt, MD
Urologist, Century Urology Medical Group
Chief, Division of Urology, Century City Doctors Hospital
Clinical Instructor, USC Keck School of Medicine, USC and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Qualified Medical Evaluator, State of California

Dr. Kuyt, a board certified urologist, has been providing thoughtful, compassionate and state-of-the-art urologic care to his patients for more than 26 years. His practice encompasses all aspects of urology with an emphasis on prostate cancer and renal stone disease, neurogenic bladder as well as pelvic pain syndromes and interstitial cystitis. He had a pioneering role in the diagnosis and development of highly effective treatment protocols and gratifying results for patients suffering from interstitial cystitis. His sensitive interactions with his patients have allowed him to develop a specialized approach to prostate cancer in our aging population. Dr Kuyt is highly regarded for his experience in treating the urologic problems of injured workers, a subject on which he has published and about which he frequently lectures. His vision in regards to urologic health has influenced his creation of Century Urology's urologic team and their caring approach to all patients.

He practices at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Century City Doctor's Hospital, where he is Chief of the Department of Urology. In addition to the outstanding work he does with each patient and his excellent working relationship with the medical community in Los Angeles and beyond, Dr. Kuyt has been an award winning Assistant Clinical Professor for over a decade at USC's Keck School of Medicine, where he also sits on the admission committee.

Dr. Kuyt trained in surgical and urologic specialties at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. He continues to enhance his skills with all of the new technological approaches to urologic care. He has participated in numerous clinical studies on drugs and drug interactions and remains in the forefront of the latest approaches to urologic health by attending and presenting annually at the International Prostate Cancer Review conference.

Selected as a judge for the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board in 2005, Judge Levy became presiding judge of the San Diego District Office of WCAB in 2007. Prior to this he was in private practice of law for twenty-four years. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of San Diego, School of Law. He was a partner at Myles, Hanauer and Levy where he represented injured workers at the WCAB, in Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Act claims, and in Social Security proceeding. In 1997, he joined the Law Offices of Jeff Scott, specializing in the representation of public agencies and other employers in workers' compensation and labor law related matters. Judge Levy is a past chairperson for the North County Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section. He has lectured and written extensively on topics of interest to the workers’ compensation community.

Decisions by Judges Re: DFEC

In 2006 the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued an en banc decision (binding on all workers’ compensation judges) in Costa v. Hardy Diagnostic, 71 California Compensation Cases 1797, holding that the applicant’s DFEC expert fees are to be paid by the defendant, under L.C. §5811, even where the expert’s opinion does not rebut the rating schedule (the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule is prima facie evidence of the percentage of permanent disability, however parties can present evidence to rebut the AMA based rating schedule).

Since Costa there has not been an en banc decision from the Appeals Board concerning DFEC.

Navarro v. Arbor View Retirement Community (2006). The trial judge awarded 15% permanent disability relying on the DFEC expert’s opinion. The applicant, Veronica Navarro, injured her back on July 2, 2004. Her permanent disability was 0% under the AMA Guides. The AME concluded she was unable to return to work at her usual and customary occupation as a caregiver due to her permanent work restriction to avoid very heavy work.

Bojorquez v. Rosendin Electric, Inc. (2006). The trial judge averaged the AMA schedule rating of 13% with the DFEC expert’s opinion of 41% and issued an award of permanent disability of 27%.

Alvernaz v. UPS (2006). The AMA schedule rating was 0% for a customer service clerk who sustained injury to her bilateral upper extremities. Both parties presented DFEC expert testimony. The judge found 20% permanent disability based upon the “range of evidence” between the two expert opinions.

Felix v. Crescent Truck Lines (2007). A tow truck driver’s permanent disability rating for his low back injury under the AMA Guides was 21%. The DFEC expert’s opinion was that the injured worker sustained a 52% loss of future earnings due to the injury. The judge awarded a 52% permanent disability, declining to award the actual dollar value of the loss of future income.

Magana v. Essey International, Inc. (2007). An Appeals Board panel decision (not binding on judges). The Appeals Board affirmed the WCJ’s award of 12% permanent disability under the AMA schedule. The DFEC expert for the applicant testified that the injured worker had a DFEC of 18½% to 27%. The defendant’s DFEC expert testified there was 0% DFEC. The panel suggested that the testimony of both experts was lacking. The experts could have explained how the Administrative Director did not use DFEC adjustment factors from the 2003 Rand study, as required by statute, and as discussed in the 2005 Rand report, and the experts could have consulted the treating physician to help assess medical restrictions. The panel stated, “… it is clear that a rating based upon rebuttal testimony which arrives at a PD rating established solely on DFEC, without more, is not a valid rating. To simply convert a DFEC percentage to the overall percentage of PD, as suggested in applicant’s petition herein, is invalid under L.C §4660(d) and is insufficient to rebut a rating thereunder.”

Benko v. EMCOR / Marelich Mechanical (2007). The trial judge combined the 16% AMA schedule rating with the 25% DFEC opinion of the agreed DFEC expert to award 37% permanent disability, using the combined values table.

Wirick v. State of California (2007). The AMA schedule PD was 6%. The applicant’s DFEC expert testified the applicant sustained DFEC of 25%. The judge increased the monetary value of a 6% PD award ($3,960) by 25%.

Jeffrey Linnetz is a solo practitioner with his office in West Los Angeles. He has been representing legitimately injured workers since 1978 and is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. He has represented many public employees including City, County, and State Employees.

He also represents claimants in Social Security Disability cases. He has presented oral arguments before the State Court of Appeals on three occasions. He graduated from Long Island University and attended law school at The University of West Los Angeles. He has been a guest speaker on various panels including California Applicant's Attorneys Association.

Timothy S. Lo, M.D., M.P.H.
Attending Physician
The Northern California Functional Restoration Program

Dr. Lo is a graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and completed his residency in Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in Pain Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard Medical School and is trained in interventional pain procedures. He is board certified in Neurology. He received a Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of California at Berkeley and is a medically-trained acupuncturist. He is a member of the American Pain Society, International Association for the Study of Pain, American Academy of Neurology, and the American Headache Society. He joined the Northern California Functional Restoration Program in Emeryville, CA [and Pain and Rehabilitative Consultants Medical Group in Oakland, CA] in July 2007.

Helen Lopez
Director/Chief of Staff
Governor's Office of Emergency Services

In 2008, Helen Lopez was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger as Assistant Director/Chief of Staff for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES). Ms. Lopez oversees the Executive Operations Branch which supports and facilitates the directives of the Director and provides oversight over the OES Warning Center operations. She is also responsible for the Public Private Partnership effort which is a statewide collaboration with the private sector in government emergency management efforts.

Helen Lopez is OES' representative on the Border Governors Conference for the Emergency and Civil Protection sub work table where she works with the 10 Border States on issues of emergency and management services. The Border Governors Conference is the largest binational venue to discuss and resolve some of the most important border issues between the United States and Mexico.

Since 1991 to 2007, Helen Lopez served the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in many capacities. She was the Executive Director of the State Board of Food and Agriculture where she provided administrative leadership to the 15 State Board members and was the liaison between the members, agency, industry, and public on agricultural matters.

Ms. Lopez was also the Mexico Liaison for the Department of Food and Agriculture and represented the agency at international meetings working closely with other secretaries and agricultural leaders from the USA, Mexico, and Canada on agricultural policy. She was the agency's representative for the Border Governor Conference (BGC) Agriculture Work Table where she collaborated and worked with the 10 Border States and provided recommendation and action plans on agricultural issues to the 10 Border Governors. Ms. Lopez also assisted and participated on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's International Trade Missions.

In 2003, Ms. Lopez assumed the responsibility as Director of the Grant Management Program, administering and providing fiscal oversight over federal grants. Prior to this, she was the Audit Director of the Internal Audit Office where she was responsible for the financial and compliance audits of the agency and District Agricultural Associations.

In 1991, Ms. Lopez graduated from the California State University Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accountancy.

Kim Weiss Lopez
CEO
Remedy Interactive, Inc.

Kim Weiss Lopez is the CEO of Remedy Interactive in Sausalito, California. She has over 15 years of experience leading the development and implementation of business strategy. Kim came to Remedy Interactive from a healthcare strategy consulting firm, where she worked with leading health systems and managed care organizations to develop strategic plans, new product development strategies, cost reduction plans and product pricing models. Previously as the CEO and Executive Director of the National Association for Women’s Health (NAWH), Kim spent five years developing alliances with partners across the country, including large federal agencies such as the NIH and the CDC. She is a graduate of the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University, and received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Elisabeth (Betsey) H. Lyman
Deputy Director, Public Health Emergency Preparedness
California Department of Public Health

Elisabeth (Betsey) H. Lyman is Deputy Director, Public Health Emergency Preparedness for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). In that capacity, she is responsible for coordinating CDPH's emergency preparedness and response to all hazards, working with programs throughout CDPH. Ms. Lyman is the program manager for federal emergency preparedness grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hospital Preparedness Program.

Ms. Lyman has 30 years experience in CDPH, working in several program areas, including family health, Children's Medical Services, Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition program; Medi-Cal, and vital records. Prior to assuming her current duties, she was the Assistant Deputy Director of Primary Care and Family Health.

Prior to coming to California, Ms. Lyman worked for the New York Medicaid program and conducted managerial studies in community health centers in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Lyman has a master's degree in public health with an emphasis in medical care organization from the University of Michigan.

Suzanne Marria, Esq.
Counsel
California Division of Workers' Compensation, Legal Unit

Suzanne Marria is an attorney who has practiced in the areas of workers' compensation and occupational safety and health law since 1986.

From June 1999 to January 2004, Ms. Marria served as the Undersecretary/Assistant Director and Acting Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations, which is now part of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. She served as a key advisor in the negotiations that led to reform workers' compensation bills including AB 749, SB 228 and AB 227. She also worked as a staff attorney in the CalOSHA Legal Unit, for the WCAB reconsideration unit, in the Office of the Director, Legal Unit, for the Industrial Medical Council and as a Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge.

Currently as a staff attorney with the Division of Workers' Compensation she works with and advises the Medical Unit on matters relating to utilization review and the qualified medical evaluator system.

Ms. Marria is a graduate of UC San Diego (B.A., cum laude 1975) and Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D., 1983). She is the author of "Occupational Safety and Health Regulation" in the California Employment Law, Matthew Bender, and co-authored, "California Passes Workers' Compensation Reform: Implementation is the Next Challenge," Workers' Compensation Policy Review, July/August 2002.

Robert M. Milane
Managing Director of Risk Management
FedEx Ground

Robert M. Milane is the Managing Director of Risk Management for FedEx Ground Inc., the small-package ground delivery unit of FedEx Corporation. His duties include the direct responsibility for FedEx Ground, Fed Ex Home Delivery, FedEx Supply Chain Services and FedEx SmartPost's Property and Casualty Insured and Self-Insurance programs, including the administration of the claims functions associated with these exposures. Mr. Milane is a graduate of the University of Akron School of Law and has been involved in Risk Management for the past 27 years.

Candysse Miller
Executive Director
Insurance Information Network of California

Candysse Miller joined the Western Insurance Information Service in 1996 as its Regional Director, and oversaw its reorganization into the Insurance Information Network of California in 1999.

As the chief spokesperson for the property/casualty industry in California, she has appeared on such programs as Dateline NBC, 20/20, Nightline, the Today Show, NBC Nightly News and ABC World News Tonight as well as newspapers including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post and Los Angeles Times.

Her efforts spearheading the insurance industry's communications efforts following the 2003 Southern California wildfires earned IINC the Public Relations Society of America's prestigious Silver Anvil Award for Crisis Communications, the highest honor awarded by the national association.

In addition to her media relations work with IINC, Ms. Miller also represents the organization on a number of public-private coalitions on subjects ranging from brushfire preparedness to community development, including an appointment in 2007 as the insurance and financial services appointee to the Governor's Public-Private Partnership for Disaster Preparation.

Prior to joining IINC, Ms. Miller served as a deputy press secretary for the California Department of Insurance, managing Los Angeles media operations. She began her career as a reporter covering regional public policy issues at newspapers in Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Ms. Miller attended UCLA and UC Riverside, where she graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Journalism. She is a Southern California native who lives in Alta Loma.

IINC is a non-profit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to consumer and media relations on property/casualty issues. With offices in Los Angeles and Concord, IINC is an affiliate of the Insurance Information Institute.

Joseph M. Miller
Chairman
California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Joseph M. Miller was appointed Chairman of the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in June 2005. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he practiced law in California for over 30 years before his appointment and was a partner of Seyfarth Shaw, a national management labor and employment law firm. Before he began representing employers and insurance carriers, Chairman Miller represented employees and labor unions for a number of years. He graduated with honors from Harvard University, received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and completed an LL.M. degree in administrative and labor law at New York University.

Chairman Miller served as Chair of the State Bar Workers' Compensation Law Advisory Commission and was a member of the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He has a strong background in mediation, personal injury law, and employment law, with particular emphasis on medically-related problems, workers' compensation, and disability issues.

The author of several law review and law journal articles, Chairman Miller has conducted frequent seminars on workers' compensation and related issues throughout the country. He is also a co-author of the treatise, California Workers' Compensation Practice, published by the Continuing Education of the Bar.

Philip Millhollon
Executive Director, California Self-Insurers Association
Former Director of Claims, Chevron

Phil is CSIA's Executive Director, taking over that position in November of 2005. Prior to this current position, Phil worked for Chevron Corporation for 36 years. He worked in Chevron's Workers' Compensation Division since 1981 and was the Claim Manager from 1989 through 2005 with overall responsibility for Chevron's Workers' Compensation activity in 25 state and federal jurisdictions.

Prior to joining CSIA, Phil served on the following committees: California Manufacturers and Technology Association - Chair of the Workers' Compensation Committee 1998 to 1995; California Self-Insurers Association - Board of Directors 2001 to 2005, and Chairman of the Board 2004 to 2005; California Self-Insurers Security Fund - Trustee, 2002 to 2006; National Council of Self-Insurers - Board of Managers 2005; and Workers' Compensation Research Institute - Research Committee Member, 2002 to 2005.

Phil has a BA from San Francisco State University. He is also a certified Self-Insurance Administrator and he has his CPDM.

Muira Mishra is Assistant Vice-President and Labor & Employment Counsel for St. Joseph Health System. In this role, Ms. Mishra regularly provides legal advice and counseling to the Health System in all aspects of employment law, including disciplines/terminations, drug testing, leaves of absence, disability management, and issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and reductions-in-force. She also creates and presents training programs and workshops for human resources professionals and supervisors, as well as drafts workplace policies and forms. On the labor front, she oversees union organizing campaigns, arbitrations, unfair labor practice charges and collective bargaining negotiations. Prior to her current role, Ms. Mishra was Senior Counsel with Foley & Lardner, LLP, where she represented national employers before federal and state courts and administrative agencies on such matters as wrongful termination, family and medical leave, disability discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour class actions.

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Ms. Mishra received her J.D. degree from Loyola Law School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in economics/business from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ms. Mishra is a member of the Labor and Employment Law section of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of California, the Association of Corporate Counsel, the South Asian Bar Association and the Women Lawyers Association.

Karen Nash
Workers' Compensation Manager
Big 5 Corp.

Ms. Nash has worked for Big 5 Corp for the past 18 years, and currently serves as Workers' Compensation Manager, handling all workers' comp issues in 11 states. She handles all disability and leave compliance issues as well as the Workers' Compensation Program. Prior to her position as Workers' Compensation Manager, she served as HR Manager and Store Manager. Ms. Nash has a BA in Business Management from University of Phoenix, and a Certificate in HR Management from California State University, San Bernardino.

Frank Neuhauser
Project Director
Survey Research Center UC-Berkeley

Frank Neuhauser is on the research faculty at the University of California at Berkeley's Survey Research Center. There his work has focused on disability insurance and other social insurance programs, judicial processes, and medical delivery. Since receiving his Masters in Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy in 1993, worker on long-term forecasting models for state revenue and expenditures. More recently Mr. Neuhauser has worked extensively on workers' compensation, occupational injuries, and the cost of occupational medical treatment. His models and analyses were extensively used in legislative and policy debates during the recent of reforms to the workers' compensation system.

Carrie Nevans
Administrative Director
California Division of Workers' Compensation

Carrie Nevans was appointed to the position of Deputy Administrative Director (AD) for the California Division of Workers' Compensation in February 2006 and is also serving as Acting Administrative Director. Ms. Nevans brings a wealth of workers' compensation experience to her role. She started her career as a claims adjuster for the State Compensation Insurance Fund in 1982. She is a certified self-insurance administrator and is fully versed in all the specifics of workers' compensation, as well as the ethics of claims administration. As AD, Ms. Nevans administers the division's diverse programs and manages a staff of 1,200, along with a budget of over $135 million. Ms. Nevans has overseen the promulgation of regulations for medical treatment guidelines, return-to-work provisions, predesignation of personal physician and others. This year Ms. Nevans is specifically focused on promptness and quality of care for injured workers as well as improving access to the division's services for non-English-speaking workers.

Ms. Nevans received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1979 and, prior to her current appointment, gained administrative and fiscal expertise working for the Department of Corrections (CDC), the Department of Finance, the California State Senate and the Department of Industrial Relations.

Barry S. Pearlman, Esq.
Founder
Law Offices of Pearlman, Borska & Wax

Barry Pearlman, who founded Pearlman, Borska & Wax with a loan from his parents, started the firm as a sole practitioner in May 1984.

In addition to maintaining a full case load, he is the managing partner of the firm. Barry specializes in the litigation of workers’ compensation matters involving complex legal and factual issues, representing employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators, in coverage disputes, defense of workers’ compensation claims and other employment law issues. He is an experienced litigator with numerous successes before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Superior Court and the California Court of Appeals.

Out of his commitment to the legal profession and the Workers’ Compensation community, Barry acts as an Arbitrator for the State Bar of California, has previously served on the Governor’s Workers’ Compensation Community Task Force and the Administrative Director’s Advisory Committees on Permanent Disability and Medical Provider Networks.

Barry has twice served as President of the California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association and served six years as President of the Southern California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association.

He is a member of the State Bar of California admitted to practice before all Courts in the State of California and the United States District Court. 

Most know Barry as an avid traveler and is involved in community affairs. He has been happily married since 1983 and has two lovely children of whom he is so very proud.

Danelle Pereira
Wellness Director and Fitness America Champion
ACI Specialty Benefits

An accomplished "Fitness America" competitor, Danelle Pereira is the Director of Wellness for ACI Specialty Benefits and oversees global wellness initiatives designed to improve employee health while decreasing employer healthcare costs. She is highly skilled at developing ongoing promotional activities that drive employee participation and produce measurable results. Danelle graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.S. in Kinesiology, and holds a secondary teaching credential in Physical Education and Health Science from San Francisco State.

Effective October 1, 2008, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner appointed Rick to the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Enforcement Branch, California Department of Insurance. In this role, Rick oversees the operations of both the Fraud and Investigation Divisions of the Department. Prior to his appointment, Rick was the Bureau Chief of the Workers’ Compensation Anti-Fraud Program for the Fraud Division. Prior to promoting to the Bureau Chief position in June 2005, Rick was the Chief Investigator of the Enforcement Branch’s Headquarters Office and later the Fraud Division’s Sacramento Regional Office. Rick has been with the Fraud Division since 1992 working assignments in both the Los Angeles and Sacramento areas. During his tenure with the Fraud Division he has worked a variety of workers’ compensation fraud investigations, on both the state and federal levels, including claimant fraud and medical-legal mills. Rick has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from CSU Fullerton.

Steve Poizner
Insurance Commissioner
State of California Department of Insurance

Steve Poizner was elected California Insurance Commissioner on November 7, 2006 and took the Oath of Office on January 8, 2007. Commissioner Poizner has been described as "independent" (Modesto Bee), "a man of integrity" (LA Times) and someone with "an impressive command of the issues" (SD Union Tribune).

A highly successful businessman/entrepreneur, Poizner founded several companies, the most recent of which pioneered life-saving technology that put GPS receivers into cell phones. As a result, 9-1-1 emergency responders are able to locate with pinpoint accuracy those making emergency calls from cell phones. This technology is now the industry standard and can be found in more than 200 million cell phones around the world.

While the Insurance Commissioner post is his first elective office, Poizner has long been active in public service and civic affairs. In 2001-02, Poizner served as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C., where he was the Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection in the National Security Council. He is also a co-founder of EdVoice and has served on the boards of several organizations committed to assisting disadvantaged children in K-12 schools. Poizner also spent a year teaching 12th grade government at Mount Pleasant High School in East San Jose.

As Insurance Commissioner, Poizner oversees the California Department of Insurance (CDI), the largest consumer protection agency in the state. CDI has more than 1,300 employees, a $200 million budget and regulates more than one-seventh of the California economy.

Poizner was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Texas where, based on academics and extracurricular leadership, he was named the Top Male Student in the University. Poizner was also recognized as one of the Top 10 Electrical Engineering Students. He moved to California in 1978 to attend Stanford University, where he earned a Master's Degree with Honors in Business Administration.

Barry W. Ponticello, Esq.
Partner
England Ponticello & St. Clair, PC

Mr. Ponticello obtained his Bachelors' degree in History from Rutgers University in 1988, wherein he achieved membership in the Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society. Thereafter, he attended the University of San Diego School of Law and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1991. Mr. Ponticello's work on due process has been published as a lead law review article, "Over" Due Process: The Saga of the NCAA, Its Members, and Their Representatives, at 20 Lincoln L. Rev. No. 1, 43, (1991). He is admitted to practice law in both the State of California and the State of New Jersey. Mr. Ponticello is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States District Court, Southern District of California.

Mr. Ponticello initially practiced general civil litigation. In 1993, his practice became concentrated in the representation of employers and insurance carriers in various employment related litigation matters. Mr. Ponticello is a certified specialist in the field of workers' compensation by the California bar. In addition to defending employers and insurance carriers and pursuing subrogation in connection with California workers' compensation litigation, Mr. Ponticello also provides employers with defense representation under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, Jones Act and in general civil litigation matters. Mr. Ponticello has successfully argued matters for employers before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the California District Court of Appeal.

Mr. Ponticello has for many years been a speaker and presenter at educational conferences on litigation topics. He has been an instructor for the Insurance Education Association, teaching Advanced Workers' Compensation Claims and Current Case Law, in addition to being a frequent leader of in-house employer educational seminars.

Arlene Prater, Esq.
Partner
Best Best & Krieger LLP

Ms. Prater is a partner in the San Diego office of Best Best & Krieger LLP. She is a member of the firm's Labor and Employment practice group. She has specialized for many years in providing advice to public and private employers on personnel and labor matters and representing public agencies and private employers in employment law litigation and administrative proceedings.

Ms. Prater regularly handles discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination litigation in State and Federal Court, as well as a wide range of other litigation involving the rights and obligations of employees and employers. Ms. Prater has handled many cases arising under the federal and state discrimination laws and federal and state labor laws. Ms. Prater defends clients against administrative complaints of discrimination pending with the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and represents clients in employment matters before other state and federal agencies.

Ms. Prater regularly advises clients on all aspects of personnel management, including employee discipline and grievance matters, employee handbooks, employment contracts, personnel policies such as sexual harassment and drug and alcohol, and compliance with the many state and federal constantly changing employment laws including the discrimination laws, the Family Leave Acts, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She advises clients on wage and hour issues, employee safety issues, workplace violence issues, drug and alcohol issues, employee and applicant privacy issues and advises clients and drafts documents for all stages of employee disciplinary matters.

Ms. Prater also advises and represents public and private clients as to matters arising out of the collective bargaining process under state and federal laws. She also conducts and assists in contract negotiations, impasse procedures, grievance and arbitration proceedings, Union representation proceedings and unfair labor practice charges before local, state and federal agencies.

Before joining Best Best & Krieger LLP in October 1993, Ms. Prater was a partner at Jennings, Engstrand and Henrikson, where her emphasis was employment and labor law, and she was chairperson of that firm's employment and labor practice group. Ms. Prater was employed with the San Diego County Counsel's office from 1977 to 1988 and represented the County of San Diego and school districts in civil litigation involving employment, labor relations, civil rights, education, tort liability and other substantive areas.

Ms. Prater regularly conducts human resources training for clients, and she is a frequent speaker at employment law seminars for attorneys and human resource professionals on a wide range of current personnel issues. She belongs to various professional organizations, is on the Board of Trustees of the Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation, the Board of Trustees of San Diego Senior Community Centers, and provides pro bono services to various nonprofit agencies in San Diego.

Bar & Court Admissions: California, 1975

Education: JD, University of San Diego School of Law; BA, University of Wisconsin

Hernan has held the position of Senior Management Analyst for the Santa Clara Valley Water District since 2003. Prior to joining the water District Hernan was the HR Manager for a metal plating company in Hayward, California, 2001-2002, HR Manager and Acting Controller for a Labor Law E-Training start-up 1998-2001, General Manager at Western Digital Instrumentation, managing the Printer Division, 1996-1998. Hernan was also an independent contractor for US Leasing, AT&T Capital Corporation and E.I. DuPont de Nemours, 1989-1996. He was also a corporate trainer for Lucky Stores, Inc. having trained over 400 employees in 8 divisions nationwide. 

Hernan is responsible for the workers’ compensation administration for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and also responsible for the ergonomics program administration reporting to the Risk Manager working closely with the District’s Employee Health & Safety manager. Hernan manages all Districts’ workers’ compensation claims and is responsible for the prompt return to work of injured workers. He has served as interim EH&S Unit manager and has been directly involved in various employee health and safety initiatives of the District. He is the liaison between the TPA and the injured workers providing assistance when needed. He plays an integral role in the District’s Safety Committee, and through his active participation he has developed simple yet comprehensive metrics to timely provide management with information relevant to injuries and illnesses. In 5 years of Hernan’s tenure the recordable claims have decreased from 75 in 2003 to 26 in 2007, a decrease of 65%.

He obtained his BS in Business Administration, Personnel Management at San Jose State University. He has completed an Advanced Human Resources program at Notre Dame de Nemours University, and holds a Project Management Certificate from UC Santa Cruz.

Alex Rossi
Acting Manager, CEO
Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office

Alex Rossi is the County of Los Angeles Workers’ Compensation Contract Administrator. The County’ self-insured workers’ compensation program, one of the largest in the state, is one of several programs under the Risk Management Branch of the Chief Executive Office. In his current position, Mr. Rossi verses workers’ compensation third-party administrative contracts responsible for the claims management of over 23,500 workers’ compensation claims and workers’ compensation medical and disability cost-containment programs.

Mr. Rossi received his Master of Business Administration degree from the State University of New York at Albany. He holds numerous certifications and designations from various industry organizations. In addition to presenting at various seminars, Mr. Rossi serves as an instructor for the Los Angeles County Training Academy, a public-public partnership with the California State University system.

Nicholas P. Roxborough, Esq.
Partner
Roxborough, Pomerance & Nye

Nicholas P. Roxborough is a leading expert in the areas of workers' compensation and insurance bad faith. He has represented businesses in California as well as other states including Utah, Nevada, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and New York in all aspects of insurance and employers' rights issues through litigation, legislation and public policy. In addition to his past appointment as chairman to the California Workers' Compensation Task Force, Mr. Roxborough is regularly invited to present at insurance, legal and risk management conferences. A well-known and nationally respected trial attorney, he is also quoted as an expert in areas of insurance and privacy matters in numerous employer and insurance trade journals, legal and business publications, and newspapers throughout California.

Anne Searcy, MD
Executive Medical Director
California Division of Workers' Compensation

Dr. Anne Searcy was appointed to the position of executive medical director for the California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) in March 2006. Searcy manages all the division's medical and health-related programs, including the qualified medical evaluator, medical provider network, independent medical review, utilization review, health care organization and spinal surgery second opinion programs. She also guides the provision of optimal medical services in the workers' compensation system by educating and training primary treating physicians, identifying research needs and overseeing studies related to workers' compensation medical services and analyzing and implementing new legislation and policies in conjunction with the DWC administrative director.

Ms. Searcy is a licensed physician and surgeon and is board certified in family practice. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from U.C. San Diego and attended medical school at U.C. Davis. Ms. Searcy completed an occupational and environmental medicine "mini residency" at U.C. San Francisco and completed post-graduate courses in occupational medicine at the Medical School of Wisconsin. Ms. Searcy worked as both a physician and medical director in occupational medicine practices before coming to the Department of Industrial Relations, where she has served as associate medical director at the Industrial Medical Council and for the DWC since 1995.

Bernard Sobelsohn, Esq.
Managing Partner
Sobelsohn & Johnson LLP

Bernard Sobelsohn manages the Encino office of Sobelsohn & Johnson, LLP and has specialized in workers' compensation law for more than 30 years. He is a Certified Specialist, a frequent lecturer and a widely published author on a variety of issues concerning workers' compensation and employment related matters.

Mr. Sobelsohn is often called upon to conduct seminars to educate judges, attorneys, doctors, and insurance industry executives on changes made in the Labor Code, employment discrimination issues, serious & willful misconduct complaints and other issues in the field of workers' compensation law. He regularly addresses a broad range of groups including: the California Manufacturers Association (CMA) Department of Industrial Relations, Industrial Medical Council, California Society of Industrial Medicine (CSIM), Source Seminars, Workers' Compensation Claims Association and Continuing Education for the Bar (CEB). He has also been a guest lecturer at Columbia University School of Law. Honorarium fees for all of his speaking engagements are donated to the American Red Cross.

Mr. Sobelsohn is a graduate of Columbia College with an A.B. degree, in 1964. He received his M.B.A. from Columbia University School of Business, and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1967.

Mr. Sobelsohn is a member of the Board of Columbia University School of Law. He is also the former chairperson to the American Bar Association Committee on Workers' Compensation. He is a member of the California and Los Angeles County Bar Associations and has served as a board member of the Southern California Defense Attorneys Association. Mr. Sobelsohn has also served as an officer and board member on numerous legal, charitable and religious organizations for many years.

Mark Spoonamore, MD
Orthopedic Spine Specialist
Assistant Professor, USC Keck School of Medicine
Director of Spine Surgery, University of Southern California

Dr. Mark Spoonamore received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, after completing his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dr. Spoonamore completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the nation's top-rated orthopaedic training programs. He completed a fellowship in Spinal Surgery at the University of Southern California Medical Center and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

After completing his spine fellowship training, Dr. Spoonamore served as Chief of Spine Surgery at the University of California-Irvine Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California-Irvine for two years.

Dr. Spoonamore was subsequently recruited by and returned to the University of Southern California, and was appointed as the Medical Director of the USC Center for Spinal Surgery.

Dr. Spoonamore continues to specialize in minimally invasive spine surgery and complex revision spine surgery, including spine tumors, spine trauma, and spinal deformity (scoliosis/kyphosis) surgery. Dr. Spoonamore also has a significant interest in pediatric spinal disorders. He was involved in numerous scoliosis research projects while at the University of Iowa, one of which received the prestigious Russell Hibbs Award at the 1998 Scoliosis Research Society meeting. Other research interests include spinal cord injuries and bone biology. He is a member of the North American Spine Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and is a reviewer for Spine (journal).

He maintains a specialized practice for adult and pediatric spinal disorders and is available for patient consultation at the USC Center for Spinal Surgery in Los Angeles, California. Requests for hospitalized patients to be transferred to Dr. Spoonamore and the USC University Hospital can also be made by contacting the Center.

Dr. Spoonamore also serves as Chief of the Spine Surgery Service at the Los Angeles County Hospital (LAC+USC Medical Center/General Hospital), providing surgical and non-surgical treatment to admitted patients with spinal disorders.

Dr. Spoonamore's academic and clinical offices are located at the USC Center for Spinal Surgery, adjacent to USC University Hospital in Los Angeles, California.

Renee St. Clair, Esq.
Partner
England Ponticello & St. Clair, PC

Ms. St. Clair received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 from the University of California at Santa Barbara, majoring in Law and Society, with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. Thereafter she attended law school at the University of San Diego, where she received her Juris Doctor degree in 1995. She is admitted to practice by the State of California, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the District Court, Southern District of California.

Since September 1996, Ms. St. Clair has been defending workers' compensation claims under the California workers' compensation system, the federal Workers' Compensation Act and the Longshore & Harborworkers' Act with the firm. She is a certified workers' compensation specialist in the State of California. Additionally, she defends employers with respect to Labor Code § 132a and Serious and Willful Misconduct actions. Ms. St. Clair has past experience investigating fraud. She has worked for the U.S. Attorney's office and has experience in the federal Tort Claims Act, Title VII claims and medical malpractice.

Ms. St. Clair, who was her high school valedictorian, is a frequent public speaker on state and Federal workers' compensation topics. She is often requested to address issues concerning the AMA Guides to Impairment. Ms. St. Clair has been an instructor for the Insurance Educational Association, teaching the Advanced Class of Case Law and the Labor Code, and has acted as a seminar leader for various Council on Education in Management events.

Scott Stoner
Director of Risk Management
Kendall Jackson Wineries

Scott Stoner, of Kendall Jackson Wine Estates in Santa Rosa California, has been Facilities and Risk Management Director for 5 years. He has a Degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. Scott has an extensive background in the wine-making industry, with over 25 years in the field. Proven effectiveness in general and plant managing has resulted in improved performance standards and operational efficiencies, with reductions in cost.

Urvi Sutariya, CWCP
Workers' Compensation Administrator
Honda North America

Urvi Sutariya joined Honda North America in October 2006 as the Workers' Compensation Administrator for all of the North American Honda companies comprised of manufacturing facilities, warehouses, sales, and education center. Prior to this role, she worked for Honda of America, Mfg., in Ohio for 13 years overseeing their workers' compensation program. Both multi-million dollar programs require oversight of compliance, reserves, and claims management.

She is a graduate of The Ohio State University. Additionally, she has her CWCP (Certified Workers' Compensation Professional) designation.

Kent A. Takemoto, M.D.
CEO
Laser Shaping Centers

Prior to joining Laser Shaping Centers, Dr. Takemoto was the President, CEO and founder of Takemoto Enterprises, Inc/COMP Medical, when it was acquired by First Health in April, 2003. Since 1990, Dr. Takemoto has been a leader in developing innovative solutions to health care management issues in workers’ compensation. He initially began as Medical Director/Consultant to many of the largest workers’ compensation insurance companies, third-party administrators and health care organizations. He pioneered centralized-read radiology networks and transplanted the concepts of global fees and case rates to create innovative solutions to pain management and injections, thereby creating the first health care carve-out subspecialty pain management program in the nation. As President of the First Health Priority Services Division of Coventry Health, Dr. Takemoto led efforts to improve the delivery of scheduled medical and insurance services. He pioneered innovative solutions to the Medicare Set-aside challenge. Dr. Takemoto has a bachelor’s degree and medical degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He also trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Southern California and Noninvasive Cardiology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center/UCLA. Dr. Takemoto has an extensive background in clinical and laboratory medical research and has published numerous articles in several major medical journals from UCLA, USC and Harvard.

Lachlan Taylor
Staff Judge
Commission on Health & Safety & Workers' Compensation

Lachlan Taylor is a Workers' Compensation Judge serving on the staff of the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation (CHSWC) since January 1, 2004. Prior to working with the Commission, Judge Taylor served as a trial judge since 1995 at the Sacramento and later at the Oakland offices of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. Previously he was a Senior Staff Counsel at the State Compensation Insurance Fund and in a private workers' compensation practice he represented employers, insurers and public agencies. Mr. Taylor began practicing law representing injured workers in 1975.

Charles L. Thompson, IV, Esq.
Partner
Kauff McClain & McGuire LLP

Charles L. Thompson, IV is a partner in Kauff McClain & McGuire LLP in California. He has extensive litigation and trial experience representing employers in wrongful termination, discrimination, and other employment-related cases. Mr. Thompson primarily counsels employers in all areas of employment law. This includes employee discipline and termination, ADA compliance in the workplace, and the Family Medical Leave Act. He assists employers in the area of layoffs and reorganizations. He also advises and defends employers regarding wage and hour compliance including independent contractor and exempt/non-exempt status issues. Mr. Thompson creates and provides workplace-training programs for California employers on sexual harassment, workplace violence, corrective action and discipline, workplace investigations, managing the borderline employee, and avoiding wrongful termination claims. He is frequently a featured speaker on various employment topics.

Mr. Thompson received his B.A., cum laude, from Yale University, and earned his law degree from University of Texas School of Law.

Judie Tsanopoulos
Director, Workers' Compensation & Loss Control
St. Joseph Health System

Judie Tsanopoulos is responsible for the Workers' Compensation & Loss Control Program for St. Joseph Health Systems operating in California & Texas through 16 hospitals and 100 non-hospital systems. These duties include over-seeing the TPA administration, carrier relationships and developing Best Practices in Workers' Compensation & Loss Control to reduce frequency of incidents and ensure an effective post-incident management system. Judie has worked in the broker field, medical delivery systems, Instructor for the Insurance Education Association & Workers' Compensation claims for the past 23 years. Judie is a graduate in Public Health from UCLA, California Self- Insured Administrator, Certified Professional in Disability Management (CPDM ) and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM). In 2003, Judie served on The Workers' Compensation Task Force for the Insurance Commissioner, John Garamendi.

Pam Walden received her B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976 and her M.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 1978. She began her career in physical therapy at St. Jude Hospital in Fullerton, California. She then left the medical field for five years to pursue a career as an account executive with a financial investment firm. Ms. Walden returned to physical therapy in 1991 at St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, California. She has had extensive experience working as a physical therapist, primarily in outpatient orthopedics until being promoted to Clinical Coordinator in 2000. Her primary focus and patient base was in the workers’ compensation area. She acted as the liaison for the Physical Rehabilitation Department with the Occupational Medicine Department at St. Joseph Hospital. She worked side-by-side with the Occupational Medicine physicians, nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists as part of the Occupational Medicine Team, in the evaluation, treatment implementation, and return to work process for our work related injuries. In addition, she has had extensive experience with functional capacity evaluations/assessments, post offer testing and return to work testing.

In February of 2005, Ms. Walden accepted a new position at St. Joseph Hospital as the Job Function Specialist in Employee Health Services. She is part of an exciting, innovative program that is proactive and job-function specific. Her primary responsibility is to develop and update functional job descriptions and to implement Job Function Tests on employees, with the purpose of objectively measuring the employee’s physical abilities in relation to their specific physical job tasks. The results of this testing objectively determine work accommodation. For the past three years, Ms. Walden has continued to expand her responsibilities in this role by assisting with the Interactive Process, the temporary and permanent work accommodation process, and the evaluation and determination of causation of injury.

Kathleen Webb, CPCU
Director
Governor's Office of the Insurance Advisor

Kathleen Webb was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on January 11, 2006, to serve as Director of the Office of the Insurance Advisor, within the State and Consumer Services Agency. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Webb was a twenty year veteran in the insurance industry working for State Farm Insurance in the capacity of claims management, regional catastrophe coordinator, agent and statewide grassroots coordinator, all within California. Ms. Webb is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) designee and maintains her California Resident Insurance Producers license.

As a member of the State and Consumer Services Agency executive team, Kathleen serves as the Information Security Officer, Business Continuity Coordinator and as the Secretary's risk management advisor for the largest and most diverse Agency in state government. She also serves as a member of the Governor's health care advisory team. In addition, Ms. Webb participates on the following: Governor's Emergency Operations Executive Council, the State Emergency Management (SEMs) Advisory Board, the California Readiness Advisory Workgroup, the Governor's Emergency Partnership Advisory Workgroup, the Department of Insurance Advisory Task Force on Insurance Fraud, and the California Alluvial Fan Task Force.

Ms. Webb has served as a member of public boards, including the Girl Scouts, and is currently serving on the board for the California Center for Civic Participation - host for youth civic education programs throughout California (Capitol Focus) and the Annual California Roast in Sacramento.

A fourth generation Californian, Ms. Webb received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley, while also representing the school as a student athlete.

Mark Webb
Vice President Governmental Relations
Employers Direct Insurance Company

Mark Webb joined Employers Direct in February, 2006. Mark works closely with workers' compensation regulators, policymakers, and advocates in the business community and organized labor to maintain the efficient operation of California's multi-billion dollar worker benefit system. He also provides current and prospective policyholders with the latest news on workers' compensation issues.

Previously, Mark was Assistant General Counsel for American International Companies (AIG) for four years, where he coordinated all lobbying activity on legislative and regulatory issues involving property and casualty, life and annuity, and consumer finance lines of business. Mark also served as Vice President, State Affairs, for the American Insurance Association (AIA), where he led the advocacy and analysis of legislative and regulatory activities affecting the property and casualty insurance industry throughout the Western United States. In addition to being a member of the Arizona State Bar, Mark has been a lobbyist for insurance organizations and also a Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Insurance.

Mark serves on numerous advisory and legal committees for the California Division of Workers' Compensation, CWCI, CHSWC, WCRI, and the several state business associations. Mark holds a BA Degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona and a JD Degree from the University of Arizona, College of Law.

Becky Yee is the current Risk Manager for the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles. She has over 25 years of public sector experience and for the past 15 years, has worked herself up through the ranks of Risk Management. Becky has taken many classes through the Insurance Educational Association to enhance her work experience and is certified in Workers’ Comp Administration. She has also been an active member of the PARMA steering for the past 5 years and has served on the board for PASMA. Her hands-on approach is paramount to the success her agency has attained in minimizing loss and liability. Maintaining a reduction in exposures is no accident. It requires aggressively managing claims and remaining dedicated to protecting the interests of the agency for which she works.

William M. Zachry
Vice President, Workers' Compensation, Safeway Inc.
Chair, California Fraud Assessment Commission

Mr. Zachry has held the position of Vice President, Corporate Workers' Compensation with Safeway Inc. since 2001. Prior to joining Safeway, he held positions as Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer for eStellarNet (2000-1001), Vice President, Zenith Insurance Company (1998-2000), Senior Vice President, C.E. Heath Insurance/HeathCal/CareAmerica Comp/HIH Insurance (1987-1998), Claims Manager/Settlement Specialist, Western Employer Insurance (1985-1987) and Supervisor, Workers' Compensation, Self-Insurance Program (1983-1985).

He obtained his BS in Business Administration, Personnel & Industrial Relations, Wage & Salary Administration at the San Francisco State University. He has completed Financial Management program at Stanford University, Process Mapping and Operational Analysis at Pepperdine University, and Risk Management Concepts at Marsh.

Mr. Zachry's professional appointments include State of California Fraud Assessment Commission, Self-Insurance Security Fund, California Grocers Association, California Chamber of Commerce, California Retailers Association and California Applicants' Attorneys Association.