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2010 Speakers Michael B. Adreani, Esq., Partner Catherine Aguilar, WCCP, Workers' Compensation Claims Manager Christine Baker, Executive Officer Donald R. Barthel, Esq., Partner Angela M. Bradstreet, State Labor Commissioner Martin Brady, Executive Director Nancy J. Brown, Esq., Partner Ronnie Caplane, Commissioner Adam Dombchik, Esq. Dennis Downing, President John C. Duncan, Director Jake Falbo Esq., Partner Mary E. Farrell, Esq., Partner Susan Gard, Chief, Legislation and Policy Susan V. Hamilton, Assistant Secretary and Deputy Commissioner William A. Henderson, Risk Manager - City Attorney’s Office Helyn Hoffman, WCCP, CPDM, Transitional Return-to-Work Coordinator Mary-Beth Hoyt-Dixon, Esq., Attorney Carlton Jacobson, CFO Lori C. Kammerer, Principal Steve Legg, CPCU, ARM, Director of Risk Management Monica Lichtenstein, Western and Central Regional Claims Manager Jeffrey E. Lowe, Esq., Attorney Sean McNally, Esq. Rosa Moran, Workers' Compensation Judge Alfonso J. Moresi, Commissioner Priscilla Morse, Director of Workers' Compensation Bernadette M. O'Brien, Esq., Of Counsel Destie Overpeck, Chief Counsel Fred O. Pachón, WCCP, CPDM, ARM, CRM Theo Pahos John J. Parente, Esq., Partner Barry S. Pearlman, Esq., Founder Jeffrey W. Pettegrew, Executive Director Tom Phillips, CPCU, ARM, CRIS, Risk Manager Rick Plein, Deputy Commissioner, Enforcement Branch Hernan C. Rivero, Senior Management Analyst - Risk Management Tito P. Rubio Esq., Attorney Vincent J. Scotto, III, Esq., Attorney Thomas L. Sheehy, Acting Secretary, State and Consumer Services Agency Earl H. Sherman, Corporate Director of Claims - Retail West Tiffany A. Speers, Esq., Managing Partner Tracy Sturtevant, Esq., Partner Lachlan Taylor, Staff Judge Steven Wiesner, MD, Chief, Occupational Health Department Michael B. Adreani, Esq. Mr. Adreani specializes in the areas of bad faith litigation, class actions, wage/hour laws, civil appeals, insurance regulation, administrative actions and appeals, employer liability, and legislative action. He represents employers, brokers, public entities, school districts, trade organizations, reinsurers, sureties and individuals in a wide variety of insurance related matters with an emphasis on risk management, coverage, and workers' compensation cost containment. Mr. Adreani also represents both employers and employees in prosecuting and defending against various wage and hour matters. Prior to joining RPNA in 1997, Mr. Adreani gained valuable experience in insurance related issues while working at the California Department of Insurance, legal division, in San Francisco, and with the in-house legal team at Hannover Re-, one of the world's largest reinsurers located in Hannover, Germany. Mr. Adreani also served as a legal extern in the Eastern District of California, and worked in the international division of The Coop Bank in Basel, Switzerland.
Catherine Aguilar, WCCP Catherine (Cathy) Aguilar recently moved to Northern California and is the Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager for the San Francisco USD. She has been active in the workers’ compensation industry for almost 30 years, working her way up from the mail room to claims examiner, supervisor, manager, director and Vice President of Claims for a National TPA. In addition, Ms. Aguilar worked for Costco Wholesale as their Regional Director for the East Coast workers’ compensation program and was the Manager of the Workers’ Compensation Program for the San Diego County Schools JPA for over 3 years. Ms. Aguilar is the current Chairperson for the PARMA Bay Area Chapter and serves on the Golden Gate RIMS Board. She has also been an active member of the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation and is currently a Commissioner on the Commission on Health, Safety and Workers’ Compensation, appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger. She has presented at numerous conferences and seminars and taught various courses for the Insurance Education Association over the years. Christine Baker 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. Donald R. Barthel, Esq. Donald Barthel graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with honors in 1986, and received his Juris Doctorate from U.C.L.A. in 1990. A Founding Partner of a statewide workers’ compensation defense firm with twelve offices, Bradford & Barthel, LLP, Mr. Barthel's entire legal career has been dedicated to the defense of employers' rights, particularly those involving workers' compensation matters. Having practiced in southern and northern California, he has appeared at virtually every WCAB district office in the state. Mr. Barthel’s clients number in the hundreds and include insurance carriers, TPAs, governmental entities, and private businesses, running the gamut from small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. Mr. Barthel, an acknowledged expert regarding the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, founded the B&B Rating Services in 2005. At last count, the rating service had successfully identified tens of millions of dollars in permanent disability savings for clients. Mr. Barthel is a Reviewer for the AMA Guides (6th), and the only non-physician on the Board of Advisors for the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME), an organization established to enhance the quality of independent medical examinations in California, the US, and throughout the world. An accomplished public speaker, Mr. Barthel regularly addresses groups of workers’ compensation professionals—including adjusters, human resource directors, brokers, employer representatives, attorneys and physicians—throughout both California and the United States. Angela M. Bradstreet Angela M. Bradstreet is the Labor Commissioner for the State of California. Until her appointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in June 2007, she was the firm-wide Managing Partner of Carroll, Burdick & McDonough LLP. Ms. Bradstreet was selected as one of the top 75 female litigators in California in 2005. During her 25 years in private practice at CB&M, she defended employers in whistleblower, sexual discrimination, harassment, disability, wrongful termination, and racial discrimination claims. She also defended employers in a variety of commercial litigation matters. Ms. Bradstreet is a former President of the Bar Association of San Francisco, California Women Lawyers and the Queen’s Bench Bar Association and is the creator of the No Glass Ceiling Initiative that has been endorsed by over 90 law firms and corporate legal departments. She is a recipient of the California State Bar’s Diversity Award and the Anti Defamation League’s Jurisprudence Award. She is also the recipient of the Margaret Brent Award, the highest award given by the American Bar Association in recognition of accomplishments of women lawyers who have excelled in their field and been leaders in advancing women in the legal profession. Selected as one of the top 75 female litigators in California in 2005, Ms. Bradstreet was a senior partner with Carroll, Burdick & McDonough LLP until her appointment as California’s Labor Commissioner in June 2007. She specialized in the defense of sexual harassment, race, age, disability and sex discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, whistle-blower and other employment-related claims. She has also successfully defended a variety of commercial litigation matters. She has had a long string of successes in summary judgment motions and earned an excellent reputation as an effective litigator. As Labor Commissioner Ms. Bradstreet also has expertise in wage and hour and related legislative matters. Martin Brady Martin Brady is executive director of Schools Insurance Authority, a joint powers authority providing liability, property and workers’ compensation insurance to 34 school districts in northern California. Martin joined SIA in 1988 as wellness program manager and has been executive director since 1997. He is a strong advocate for pools and their potential for providing cost-effective, innovative services, particularly in the public sector arena. Martin is an active board member with the California Coalition for Workers’ Compensation (CCWC) and California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA). Nancy J. Brown, Esq. Nancy J. Brown received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, in 1981. She received her Juris Doctor in 1991 from Pacific Coast University College of Law in Long Beach, California. She was admitted to practice in 1992 and became a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation in September 1999. From 1981 to 1992 she worked exclusively in the medical field. This included consultation on a direct basis with physicians of various medical specialists including Orthopedic, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Radiology. She has an extensive background and working knowledge of how the various medical specialties interact with Workers’ Compensation cases. Ms. Brown is a partner at Samuelsen, Gonzalez, Valenzuela & Brown. She specializes in workers’ compensation defense, and is a former President of the Long Beach Bar Association. Ms. Brown has been Chairperson of the Orange County State Bar Association/Workers’ Compensation section and has served as a Judge Pro-tem. She was also appointed to the State Bar’s Workers’ Compensation Law Advisory Commission in 2005, serving as Vice-Chairperson from 2007-2008, and beginning September of 2008, Ms. Brown will serve as the Chairperson until 2009. Ms. Brown currently works out of the Irvine office. WCAB decision published: Irvin v. WCAB/City of Los Angeles, 62 CCC 1297 (1997). Additional decisions can be sent to your attention per your request for any attorney. Ronnie Caplane The Honorable Ronnie Caplane serves as Commissioner on the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board where she reviews appeals from the 18 local workers’ compensation trial courts throughout the state. Every month the commission reviews and issues decisions on 300 to 350 cases. Ronnie received her law degree from Hastings College of the Law and was admitted to the California Bar in 1975. As a practicing attorney in San Francisco, she handled issues such as workers’ compensation, employment discrimination and personal injury. Adam Dombchik, Esq. 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 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® and SITTINGSAFE® 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. John C. Duncan 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. As DIR Director, Duncan oversees a department with 2,700 employees and a $382 million budget. DIR is composed of eight divisions/programs including the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner’s Office) which enforces labor law in California, investigates wage claim disputes and discrimination complaints; the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) which monitors safety and health in the workplace through standards enforcement, consultation assistance to employers and training programs; the Division of Apprenticeship Standards which administers California law governing standards for wages, hours, working conditions and the specific skills required for state certification at the journey level of apprenticeable occupations; the Division of Labor Statistics and Research which publishes information on economic, employment, workplace safety and health statistics; and the Division of Workers’ Compensation which monitors administration of workers’ compensation claims and assists in resolving disputes over claims for workers’ compensation benefits. 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 the immediate past president of the Industrial Relations Association of Northern California, and a former chair of the California Employment Training Panel. Jake Falbo, Esq. Jake Falbo is a second generation partner with the San Francisco office of the statewide defense firm of Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, LLP. He joined the firm in Redding in 1992 and was certified as a Workers’ Compensation Specialist in 1999. Jake represents a variety of carriers, third-party administrators and self-insured and self-administered employers, including public agencies. He currently appears at the Bay Area district offices of the WCAB but continues to handle cases from Redding to Salinas and throughout California. Mary E. Farrell, Esq. As the founding partner of the Farrell Law Group, Mary has extensive experience defending wrongful termination cases, handling employment discrimination and harassment matters, and providing preventative advice to both private and public employers. Mary counsels employers on all aspects of employer-employee relations including privacy issues, proprietary rights/trade secret conflicts, wage and hour laws, personnel policies, and employee leave issues. By offering preventative advice, Mary assists employers in reducing the incidence of litigation. When litigation is imminent, however, Mary provides employers with an alternative to expensive and protracted litigation. As an effective advocate, Mary has experienced significant success in resolving disputes short of trial by way of dispositive motions and/or settlement negotiations. In addition to her employment law practice, Mary has handled complex business litigation and intellectual property matters. Susan Gard Susan Gard was appointed as the chief of legislation and policy for the California Division of Workers’ Compensation in June 2007. Ms. Gard brings extensive experience developing strategic internal and external communication programs, as well as departmental policies, to her role. Ms. Gard served as the division’s spokesperson for several years prior to this appointment, during which time she managed its communications and served as liaison to members of the Legislature. Prior to her tenure with the DWC, Ms. Gard served for five years in the Department of Industrial Relations, Office of the Director, where she worked closely with cabinet-level members of government, managed major events and spearheaded the department’s effort to implement educational programs for non English-speaking workers and employers. As chief of legislation and policy, Ms. Gard serves as a special advisor on policy issues affecting DWC, acts as the DWC administrative director's representative, coordinates policy and implementation of special projects with other DIR divisions and entities inside and outside government, oversees the development of new training programs, is responsible for the evaluation of alternatives and recommendation of DWC positions related to policy direction, program planning and ongoing research, and interacts with the legislative coordinator of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, as well as senior management in other departments, divisions and commissions. Susan V. Hamilton Susan V. Hamilton currently serves as a Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Secretary to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. Her primary responsibility is to oversee the preparation of opinions and orders on petitions for reconsideration, removal and/or disqualification. Prior to her current assignment she was the presiding judge of the San Francisco WCAB District Office as well as a workers’ compensation judge assigned to the San Francisco District Office. She also served as a judge on the staff of the Office of the Administrative Director during the tenures of Ad John O’Sullivan and Casey Young. She served as an Acting Deputy Administrative Director during the tenure of Ad Richard Gannon. William A. Henderson Bill Henderson has spent over 33 years working for public agencies in the risk management field. He has been the risk manager for the City of Livermore for the past 13 years. As such, he has represented Livermore on the Board of Directors on the California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority, CJPRMA, holding the position of President from 2000 – 2006, and the Local Agency Workers’ Compensation Excess Joint Powers Authority, or LAWCX, where he currently holds the position of Treasurer. Prior to coming to Bay Area, Bill was Risk Manager for the City of Port Angeles, Washington. Bill works in the City Attorney’s Office, where his current duties include, managing claims and tort litigation, the City’s insurance portfolio, workers’ compensation, employee health and safety, contract review and approval for indemnification and insurance requirements, all certificates of insurance, and his newest responsibility is permitting all special events in Livermore, especially in it’s revitalized downtown. Helyn Hoffman, WCCP, CPDM Helyn Hoffman is the Transitional Return-to-Work Coordinator for Stanford Hospital and Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Clinics and Hospitals located within the OHS( Occupational Heath Service) and Human Resources team for the last year and a half. For more than five, Helyn was privileged to work with the international and national organic food company, Whole Foods Markets. While in service with Whole Foods Markets, she was the Associate Director of Human Resources and Mid-Atlantic Risk Manager for seven key operative states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Helyn brings over 30 years of Human Resources experience as a specialist in claims, risk, and disability management for such organizations as Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kaiser-Northern California, and Macy*s California. Helyn is a past-president of DMEC SF CA chapter and instructor of the prestige IEA (Insurance Education Association) for over seven years. Mary-Beth Hoyt-Dixon, Esq. Mary-Beth Hoyt-Dickson, with a Masters in Economics and a Law Degree brings a varied background to the field of workers' compensation practice. She has worked for the United States State and Commerce Departments and in the Oklahoma Governor’s office as a Federal-State liaison in a joint venture project with the US & Foreign Commercial Service and the Oklahoma Department of Economic Development. Mary-Beth lived in Guatemala for almost 20 years, working as a teacher, university professor, US embassy consultant, and co-author/translator of a USAID Template Policy Manual for sustainability in the third world. She also owned, taught and administered alternative education schools with U.S. accreditation in Guatemala. Returning to the Bay Area in late 2001, she worked for a non-profit organization and as an interpreter in various courts. She moved into workers' compensation practice in 2003. She currently works with the Law Offices of Timothy D. Timmons representing injured workers before the WCAB at various venues. Carlton Jacobson Carlton Jacobson received a BS degree in Business Administration and a B.S. degree computer science at Pacific Union College in 1982. During his career has worked in the accounting and business field in Laboratories, nursing homes, retirement centers and hospitals. He began his work in hospitals in 1987 where he accepted a position as Controller with Valley Community Hospital, a 70 bed acute care hospital in Santa Maria, Ca. In 1993 he accepted a position as Controller with Simi Valley Hospital and Health Care Services, a 225 bed acute facility in Simi Valley, Ca. In 2000 he accepted a position as VP of Finance with Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital a 25 bed Critical Access Hospital in beautiful Willits, Ca. Here he oversees all financial operations and with the executive team sets direction for hospital growth. Carlton in his position has been instrumental business development and cost control at Howard Memorial Hospital. These efforts have increased net patient revenue by over 400%, moving the bottom line from a 5.2% loss to over 13% profit margin. At Howard Memorial Hospital we are proud of the accomplishments in the area of workers' compensation control where we have in conjunction with Future Industrial Technology implemented a program to reduce loss claims by over 10 fold saving the hospital over $500-600 thousand per year. Lori C. Kammerer 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. Steve Legg, CPCU, ARM Steve Legg is the director of risk management for Seattle based Starbucks Coffee Company and he has been with the company since 1997. Steve’s responsibilities include global property and casualty insurance, claims management and risk financing activities. Prior to joining Starbucks in 1997 Steve worked as an independent insurance agent, and also as an adjuster of workers’ compensation and general liability claims. Steve served on the Board of the Washington State Chapter of the Risk & Insurance Management Society (RIMS) for seven years, serving as President of the Chapter during the 2005-2006 year. Steve has been an active participant within National RIMS and has served as a speaker to insurance industry groups such as the CPCU Society, the Professional Liability Underwriter’s Society (PLUS) and the Marine Insurance Association of Seattle. Steve has also served as a speaker on insurance and risk management to local high schools and universities. Steve has a degree in Political Economy of Industrial Societies from the University of California at Berkeley, and holds the chartered property & casualty underwriter (CPCU) and associate in risk management (ARM) designations. Monica Lichtenstein Monica Lichtenstein has been the Western and Central Regional Claims Manager for ARMARK since 2006. Prior to working at ARMARK, Monica worked adjusting and supervising the management of industrial claims for over 10 years. As an employee of ARMARK’s Global Risk Management Department, her responsibilities include the management and fiscal integrity of all industrial injuries in her regions. She is also responsible for the continued success of the medical provider networks and legal firms in her jurisdictions. Monica’s work at ARAMARK was essential in ARAMARK receiving the 2009 Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Award. Jeffrey E. Lowe, Esq. Mr. Lowe is a seasoned workers’ compensation practitioner with more than 20 years experience. A native Southern Californian, he was associated and later became a director/shareholder of a state-wide law firm’s Orange County office. In 2004 he relocated to the Bay Area to assist in the opening and management of his former firm’s San Francisco office. In 2008, Mr. Lowe become a member of Laughlin Falbo Levy & Moresi’s, based at the firm’s San Francisco headquarters. His current practice consists of defending workers’ compensation cases for insurance carriers and self-insured employers, and he also handles third-party subrogation recovery claims. His undergraduate studies were completed at the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Lowe obtained his law degree from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California. He is a member of the DRI Workers’ Compensation Committee. Sean McNally, Esq. Sean McNally is the vice president of human resources and legal counsel for Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield, California. He is certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in workers’ compensation law. He is a licensed general contractor and serves as a trustee for the Self Insurer’s Security Fund. His community activities include serving on the Kern Adult Literacy Council Board of Directors as the president, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Golden Empire Gleaners and the Board of Trustees for Garces Memorial High School. He is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and was a partner at the law firm of Hanna, Brophy, MacLean, McAleer and Jensen. He graduated from the University of San Francisco with bachelor's degrees in English and Theology. Following that, he did graduate studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem Israel. Rosa M. Moran Rosa M. Moran has served as a Workers’ Compensation Judge for over 5 years with the Oakland District Office of the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Prior to that she was a sole practicioner for 16 years and her practice focused on representing injured workers before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, consumer bankruptcy and immigration. Before focusing on the Workers’ Compensation arena, Judge Moran worked for an international law firm in the Philippines. She is one of the first female Filipino-American judges in the Bay Area. Judge Moran has been a guest lecturer for OSHA annual conferences, the Insurance Educational Association, Bay Area Rapid Transit, Golden Gate University School of Law, as well as the California Applicants’ Attorney Association. She is also a member of the Bench and Bar Committee for the Oakland Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, where members are tasked with creating working solutions for the increasingly complex practice of Workers’ Compensation Law. Alfonso J. Moresi The Honorable Alfonso Moresi is a commissioner on the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board in California. He has served as a workers’ compensation defense attorney and has represented insurance carriers, employers and government entities for 34 years. Mr. Moresi has served as a senior partner at the law firm, Laughlin Falbo Levy & Moresi, LLP since 1985. Priscilla Morse Priscilla started with San Francisco on May 1, 2006 as the Deputy Director of Human Resources in the Workers’ Compensation Division. Priscilla earned a B.A. from Hollins University in Virginia and also has earned the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management designations. Bernadette M. O'Brien, Esq. Bernadette M. O’Brien is managing attorney of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly LLP’s employment law department. She provides advice, counsel, and defense to employers in employment related matters such as claims for discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, leave of absence policies and procedures, privacy issues, and employee handbook development and implementation. In order to help employers understand and comply with the law, Ms. O’Brien conducts employment law related seminars and training sessions throughout California. Ms. O’Brien is also author of the LexisNexis publication Labor and Employment in California: A Guide to Employment Laws, Regulations and Practices, which has been in publication since 1992. The treatise is an easy-to-understand overview of the key topics in labor and employment law as governed by both federal and California law, including hiring, termination, wage and hour, the Family and Medical Leave Act, employee privacy, drug testing, sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also edits Floyd, Skeren & Kelly’s, employment related website (employmentlawacademy.com), which provides daily employment law updates and the latest news related to employment law. Destie Overpeck Destie Overpeck was appointed chief counsel for the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) in 2005, where she has worked as an attorney since April 2000. Ms. Overpeck served as lead attorney on many of the reform regulations. She is currently leading the regulatory teams implementing the Division’s 12-point plan to help control medical and administrative costs. Ms. Overpeck graduated from U.C.L.A. cum laude in 1980 and from Hastings College of Law in 1983. She was admitted to the California state bar in 1983. Prior to working with the DWC, Ms. Overpeck was a partner in a civil practice law firm in San Francisco. Fred O. Pachón, WCCP, CPDM, ARM, CRM Mr. Fred Pachón brought to Select staffing “Enterprise Risk Management in 2001.” As a result, his program has saved the company close to $200 million of what could have been a costly liability. That’s how important Risk Management is to Select’s bottom line. It is the company’s second-greatest expense after payroll. Along with sales, Risk Management plays a major role in driving the company forward. Fred originally joined Select in 2001 on a short-term assignment as a Workers’ Compensation Consultant. Soon after delivering his initial risk assessment report, the company offered him a full-time position as Corporate Risk-Insurance Manager. Fred now leads a Risk Management department with over 60 safety, claims, and underwriting professionals. His program is considered the most sophisticated and successful risk program in the staffing industry and among the best in the nation. Under Fred’s direction, Select has implemented an innovative Risk Management program that encompasses the very essence and principals of this doctrine; risk avoidance, risk detouring, risk transferring and risk reduction. Some of his most innovative initiatives include the development of a risk dashboard, attorney performance benchmark, investigators performance reports, TPA quarterbacks, etc. This program touches almost every part of the company and it includes key activities, such as comprehensive review and purchase of insurance policies, review of contracts, safety training, safety incentives, and in-depth claims management. The programs have been extraordinarily successful, reducing injuries and dramatically decreasing the number of workers’ compensation claims filed by the employees. In addition, the program has had exceptional results in the area of general liability, EPLI, Crime and other insurance lines. In 2008, Select's Risk Management program was awarded 2 prestigious awards: Risk Innovator of the year by Risk & Insurance magazine and National Underwriter-NCCI award for Excellence in Workers’ Comp/Risk Management. Lastly in April of 2009, Fred Pachon was named Risk Manager of the year. This is the highest award in risk management. This was sponsored by Business Insurance & RIMS (Risk & Insurance Management Society) Today, Fred is responsible for managing all of Select’s insurance matters, including 14 lines of coverage, from workers’ compensation to general insurance. He is also the General Manager of Select’s TradeForce construction-focused division, where he is involved in everything from pricing to selling. In addition, he was recently asked to head a heath-wellness program for his company. Fred has over 20 years of experience in the insurance field. He has worked as a Claims Adjuster for Republic Indemnity (Great American), an SIU Investigator for Industrial Indemnity, a special investigator for the department of insurance, and a Unit Claims Supervisor for Crum & Foster. He was also employed as a Disability Manager for Western General, a Regional Safety-Claims Manager for Monarch Life, and a Consultant for Heritage Life & Disability. Additionally, Fred has worked on a contract basis for several insurance carriers, including Hartford-ITT Insurance, Royal Macabees, Pen-Mutual, Lumberman Insurance Company, and Monarch Life Insurance, successfully negotiating hundreds of claims for each carrier. In 1997, Fred served as the Risk/Claims Manager for OneSource, a service company with more than 45,000 employees nationwide. He was instrumental in reducing the company’s losses from $33 million to $17 million over a period of 24 months. In addition to Fred’s extensive work experience, he has acquired key professional designations. These include CPDM (Certified Professional in Disability Management), WCCP (Workers’ Compensation Claims Professional), and ARM (Associate in Risk Management), OSHA-Certified and licensed by the State of California to run a Self-Insured Program. Mr. Pachón’s educational background includes a degree in Business Administration. He was involved in the California Workers’ reform and has given numerous lectures and presentations to peers and other professionals at different venues and forums. He is an active member of RIMS (Risk & Insurance Management Society) and serves in 2 advisory boards for 2 large insurance companies. Theo Pahos Theo Pahos is managing partner in Kester/Pahos, a Governmental Affairs Firm that represents insurance and energy interests. Mr. Pahos represents the Association of California Insurance Companies and the National Association of Property Casualty Insurers, as well as Allstate and others. Mr. Pahos represented the Alliance of American Insurers during the reforms of 2002-2004. Prior to Kester/Pahos, Mr. Pahos was regional Director of Government Affairs, for Mirant, a worldwide utility company. From 1990 through 1998 Mr. Pahos represented several Blue Chip companies such as Hughes Aircraft, Johnson & Johnson, Cardinal Health, and others. During the 1993 reforms, Mr. Pahos represented several of these companies in the state legislature. John J. Parente, Esq. John Parente started in the workers’ compensation industry as a claims examiner with the State Compensation Insurance Fund while attending law school. While at SCIF, John worked on Uninsured Employer Fund Claims, Longshore and Harbor Worker Claims, State Fund employee Claims and Reinsurance Claims. He also wrote policies and procedures for claims handling and reserving. He also obtained his certification as an Administrator of Self-Insurance Plans. John is the founding partner of Parente & Christopher. He specializes in representing self-insured employers in defense of workers’ compensation and other employment related claims. He also consults with insured employers regarding the handling of their claims and insurance rating issues. He is a past president of both the Northern California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorney and the California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys Associations. He is a Judge Pro-Temp at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. John also serves as an expert witness in the areas of claims handling of workers’ compensation and re-insurance claims. Barry S. Pearlman, Esq. 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. As a respected member of the Workers’ Compensation community, Barry is a frequent lecturer and instructor on current trends in procedure, law and strategy. His comprehensive approach has made him a popular presenter to insurance carriers and employer groups across the country. 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. Jeffrey W. Pettegrew Since 2004, Jeffrey W. Pettegrew serves as the first Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the California Self Insurers’ Security Fund (SISF). He previously served 12 years as Vice President of Risk Management & Insurance for Westaff, an international staffing company with 48,000 employees headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA, where he designed and managed a complex self-funded workers compensation, liability and employee benefits program covering all employees of the company. Prior to that, he was Chief Administrative Officer for 10 years of the Contra Costa Municipal Risk Management Insurance Authority, where he pioneered one of the nation’s first self-insured and self-administered joint powers authority pools which provided workers comp, liability, property, safety and health coverage to 18 municipalities. Former Assistant City Manager of Walnut Creek, he also served as the first Risk Manager for the cities of Walnut Creek and Sunnyvale. In a parallel role over the years, Mr. Pettegrew has enjoyed serving as a risk management consultant designing complex self-insured joint powers authorities and configuring various program components for self-insured public and private entities. Mr. Pettegrew was named "Risk Manager of the Year" in 1989 by Business Insurance magazine (the only public entity risk mgr. designee in its 32 year history) and was the standing Chairman of the Business Insurance National Workers Compensation Conference for 9 years. He also served as President of the Public Agency Risk Managers Association (PARMA); the California Joint Powers Association (CAJPA) – wherein he was a founding member; as well as President of the Golden Gate Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS). During the past 30 years, Jeff has a frequent lecturer and spokesperson at various regional and national conferences and workshops around the country, and has appeared on CNN and 60 Minutes regarding complex risk management issues. He has taught at doctoral level classes in insurance at Golden Gate University as well as ARM courses. He has served as an expert witness in state and federal complex, insurance-related litigation and special studies. In addition, he continues to meet with organizations, and lawmakers on self-insurance issues, including testimony at all levels of government. A former Captain (Administration and Protocol) in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Pettegrew handled VIP arrangements for the White House; Congress and the Pentagon in California and Iceland. He earned a Masters in Public Administration from California State University, Hayward; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Denison University, Granville, Ohio; and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation. Tom Phillips, CPCU, ARM, CRIS Tom Phillips, CPCU, ARM, CRIS, has been Risk Manager for the County of Orange since November 2008. He is in charge of all aspects of risk management including insured/self-funded property/casualty insurance programs, claims administration, loss prevention and safety, contractual risk transfer, cost allocation, budgeting and risk consultation services. The County has 18,000 employees and a budget of $5.5 billion; the Office of Risk Management has a staff of 23. Previously he was the Risk Manager for the City of Santa Monica establishing it’s first risk management program in 1986. He had responsibility for in-house claims administration programs for liability, workers’ compensation, subrogation actions and property losses. In addition, he had responsibility for loss control services, risk financing programs, budgeting, contractual risk transfer requirements and risk consultation services for a full service entity. Tom was on the PRIMA National Board of Directors from 1988-1994 and served as President in 1990/91. He is Past President of the Authority for California Cities Excess Liability (ACCEL) a statewide liability risk sharing pool for municipalities which he was instrumental in founding back in 1986. He also served on the Board of Directors for the CSAC-Excess Insurance Authority another statewide pool serving counties, municipalities, schools and other special districts. Tom is also a contributing author in the “Risk Management for Public Entities” textbook produced by the Insurance Institute of America. He was identified in a survey conducted by the University of North Carolina’s Institute for Government as one of the top risk managers in the country in the year 2000. Previous work included risk management positions for a school district and a transit district. Tom attended California State University-Fullerton and earned degrees in political science and history. Rick Plein Rick Plein is the Deputy Commissioner of the Enforcement Branch for the California Department of Insurance (CDI), which consists of two investigative units—the Fraud Division and the Investigation Division. Mr. Plein has more than 19 years of law enforcement experience beginning as a CDI fraud investigator, and then as a supervisor, chief investigator, and bureau chief. He has extensive managerial and program experience in planning and directing statewide law enforcement operations. The Fraud Division oversees five major anti-fraud programs: Automobile, Organized Automobile Insurance Fraud Activity Interdiction, Workers’ Compensation, Property/Casualty/Life, and Disability/Health Care. The Investigation Division enforces the criminal and administrative laws related to insurance agents, brokers and insurance companies, specifically Premium Theft, Senior Citizen Abuse, Title Insurance and Bail Bond issues. As Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Plein provides program planning and oversight, budget control, training, outreach, state and regional case development, and strategic planning to the Enforcement Branch. Mr. Plein has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton. Hernan C. Rivero 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. Tito P. Rubio, Esq. Tito P. Rubio joined the Hanna & Brophy Los Angeles Office in 2005. He is now located in the Anaheim office of Hanna & Brophy. Mr. Rubio’s prior legal work experience includes working as an applicants’ attorney for over two years, and also performing individual representation before the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission. Mr. Rubio has also worked at the legal aid center “Bet Tzedek: House of Justice” in Los Angeles, and at the California State Public Defender’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office, both located in the beautiful city of San Francisco. Mr. Rubio graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law located in San Francisco. Prior to law school, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine. His major was Psychology & Social Behavior, with a second major in Criminology, Law & Society also completed. Mr. Rubio is a member of the State Bar of California and also of the California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association. Vincent J. Scotto, III, Esq. Having practiced personal injury and workers' compensation law since 1979, Vincent Scotto has learned how to recognize and best serve the needs of clients in crisis due to disability or death. He also learned that small practices provide the greatest attention and results. Since founding the Law Offices of Vincent J. Scotto, III, they have provided the level of personal, hands-on attention our clients expect and deserve. In appreciation, our clients have continually referred friends and family to us; we are honored by their trust. Vincent is respected throughout the legal community and commonly receives referrals from doctors and other attorneys. Mr. Scotto practices in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice and workers’ compensation law; with 100% of his practice devoted to litigation. Mr. Scotto is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation through the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and has presented numerous seminars in the area of workers’ compensation and subrogation. He is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, San Mateo Trial Lawyers Association where he is the Former President, Emeritus Board Member, the California Applicants Attorneys Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, and the San Francisco Italian American Bar Association. Thomas L. Sheehy Thomas L. Sheehy was appointed Undersecretary and designated Acting Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on January 4, 2010. The $1.7 billion agency is responsible for civil rights enforcement, consumer protection and the licensing of 2.3 million Californians in more than 230 different professions. The Agency also handles procurement of more than $9 billion worth of goods and services, as well as the management and development of state real estate. Prior to that he served at the California Department of Finance from 2006 to 2010 first as Chief Deputy Director for Policy where he sat on more than 40 boards, commissions, and authorities to advance the Schwarzenegger Administration’s policies. Then, from 2006 to 2008, he served as the Deputy Director of Finance where he represented the Administration before the Legislature by testifying on over 900 bills and legislative measures. Prior to that, he was the western Regional Vice President for TIAA-CREF state government affairs from 2004 to 2006 where he led the successful effort to improve teacher's retirement investment options in California. Over 200,000 TIAA-CREF participants benefited from the change in California law directed by Mr. Sheehy. Mr. Sheehy served for 10 years in the California Legislature first as a Principal Consultant to the Assembly Appropriations and Budget Committees from 1995 to 1999, and then the Senate Republican Fiscal Office where he worked with Mike Genest from 1999 to 2003. In December 2003 he was appointed by Senate Minority Leader, James L. Brulte to be his Legislative Policy Director where he served until Brulte’s departure from the Senate in November 2004. He was Chief of the Budget Development Branch at the Department of Transportation from 1993 to 1995 where he oversaw a $2 billion support budget and a $3 billion capital outlay program. He started his career in public policy at the California Department of Finance where he served from 1989 to 1993 as a staff analyst. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1982 from the University of California at Davis with Honors, and his Master of Administration (MBA) in 1989 from the Graduate School of Management at U.C. Davis. Earl H. Sherman Earl H. Sherman started his career in the Claims field in December, 1968, after honorable service overseas with the United States Naval Security Group. After working for multiple Insurance Carriers and Employers over the years in Sr. Claims Management positions, he was most recently the Director of Risk Management for Ralphs/Food4less Grocery Stores, (a Division of the Kroger Company), and now works as the Corporate Director of Claims, Western Region, for New Albertsons, Inc., (a Division of SUPERVALU INC), overseeing claims matters for workers’ compensation, general liability & property. He currently holds an Associate of Arts degree in Retail Merchandising as well as a Bachelors, (BBA), & Masters Degree, (MBA), in Business Administration. He has also attended Western State University College of Law and has been certified as an Expert on Workers’ Compensation matters in State and Federal Court. He is further state-certified in Self-Insurance and Claims Administration by the California Department of Insurance and is also currently licensed in Texas and Oklahoma. Earl has served on many and varied committees over the years to and including the California Department of Insurance’s Committee implementing rules on certifying claims adjusters & medical bill reviewers who administer workers’ compensation claims, (requested by John Guaramendi, then California Insurance Commissioner). In addition, he is past Education Committee Chair for Orange County RIMS, (Risk & Insurance Management Society), and a Task Force member of the California Grocers Association committee on Workers’ Compensation as well as a current speaker at the WC Forum Conference. He most recently served as a member of the Workers’ Compensation Law Advisory commission for the State Bar of California, certifying attorneys for legal specialization in workers’ compensation law. Tiffany A. Speers, Esq. Tiffany Speers graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with degrees in Political Science and Communications. Thereafter, she moved to the Bay Area where she obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law. The sole focus of her legal career has been in the defense of employers, insurers and third-party administrators in all aspects of workers' compensation litigation, including serious and willful misconduct and Labor Code Section 132a allegations. She is the former legal counsel for the San Francisco Industrial Claims Association and is currently the Managing Partner of the San Francisco office of Adelson, Testan, Brundo & Jimenez. Tracy Sturtevant, Esq. Tracy Sturtevant, a UCLA law graduate and partner with Gray & Prouty represented injured workers for two years before moving to the defense firm of Allen, Rhodes & Sobelsohn in 1986. In 1997, she opened the Santa Barbara office of Gray & Prouty, moving to the San Francisco Bay area office in 2004. For over 20 years, Tracy has protected the interests of carriers, self-insured employers and adjusting agencies on all issues before the WCAB. An attorney whose secret wish is to be a teacher, Tracy believes that education and communication are vital to assist employers in controlling comp costs. She has spoken at and coordinated past CEM seminars, coordinates her firm's speaking engagements, and she often speaks on and writes articles about workers' compensation law issues for employers and carriers. Lachlan Taylor 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. Steven Wiesner, MD Steven Wiesner, M.D. is a physiatrist and Chief of the Occupational Health Department and Co chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, California. He serves as the Medical Director for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, California Workers’ Compensation Department-Northern California and is the National Physician Advisor for Kaiser Permanente’s Integrated Disability Management Program. Dr. Wiesner received his undergraduate and medical training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed his internship and residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Northwestern University Medical School/Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Following completion of his residency, Dr. Wiesner continued at Northwestern University, as a faculty member, as well as developing two outpatient musculoskeletal clinics. Dr. Wiesner joined The Permanente Medical Group in 1994 where he provides clinical care to injured and ill workers as well as services requested directly by employers, including preemployment evaluations, medical surveillance, fitness-for-duty assessments and work site evaluations. Dr. Wiesner has a special interest in disability management and is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the California Medical Association.
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