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Many of these executives are seeking a functional understanding of the workers' comp system. The day before the conference officially begins, a half-day, high-level discussion will focus on the fundamentals of workers' comp.

Among the issues to be addressed are:

• Overview -- workers' comp origins, trends and current challenges, and the elements required to design an effective program.
• Pre-loss programs -- what they are and how to build them.
• The importance of pre-loss and policy and procedure on safety, reporting of injuries, and return-to-work programs, and pricing a program -- including the impact of losses on experience modification.
• Medical components of an effective program.
• Claims management tips.
• Vendor management tips.
• Management information sharing, including what to share with whom, the frequency and format.
• The challenges of litigation.

Pamela F. Ferrandino. Casualty practice leader for placement at Willis North America in New York.

Pam brings an extensive casualty background blending the complement of experiences covering traditional casualty insurance/reinsurance, alternative risk solutions and risk finance. She joined Willis in 2004 as a senior vice president in Willis Risk Solutions. Previously, she was vice president of alternative reinsurance solutions at Guy Carpenter.

Ferrandino began her insurance career with The Hartford, where she held a variety of senior positions, including director of national client practices.

Shannon Gardner. Senior manager of risk management at Chick-fil-A Inc. in Atlanta.

In her role since 2006, Shannon oversees insurance management and placement, safety and loss control, claims management, and employee benefits for a company with over 50,000 corporate and franchise employees and $4 billion in annual sales.

Gardner began her insurance career as a liability claims examiner at Safeco Insurance Company. In 1996, she began her brokerage career with Johnson & Higgins as a workers' comp claim consultant acting as a liaison and advocate on claim matters for large national accounts.Shortly thereafter, J&H merged with Marsh and McLennan, where she worked for 10 years.

Denise Gillen-Algire. Practice leader of integrated health and productivity for Risk Navigation Group in Albuquerque.

A registered nurse board certified in occupational and environmental health, a board-certified case manager, and a fellow of the American Association of Occupational & Environmental Health Nurses with an MBA, Denise has designed and implemented integrated disability management programs, performed valuation of national provider networks, and consulted on performance metrics design and implementation.

To Gillen-Algire, concerns over future liabilities keep most insurance companies and payers awake at night. One bright spot she is seeing is a return to a focus on safety and wellness among employers.

Mark Noonan. Managing principal of casualty practice for Integro Insurance Brokers in Boston.

In his current position, Mark oversees state relations, coverage issues, vendor relationships, and various technical functions. In his more than 30-year career, he has worked as a defense trial lawyer, risk manager, and claims manager.

Noonan began his brokerage career at Johnson & Higgins in 1989 as claims manager. He later joined Marsh after it merged with J&H. At Marsh, he held various leadership positions, including practice leader for workers' compensation. He is a columnist for Risk and InsuranceŽ Magazine, published by LRP Publications.

Jim Pocius. Shareholder at Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin in Philadelphia.

As the chairman of the firm's Medicare Set-aside Practice Group, Jim is primarily focused on Medicare issues in workers' comp and liability. He negotiated the Medicare set-aside guidelines with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and maintains a national Medicare practice.

Keeping the workers' comp system solvent is the number one challenge Pocius sees, especially with the upward pressure in many states from the average weekly wage and the increases in medical costs.

Treasa Turnbeaugh. CEO of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals in Urbana-Champaign, Ill.

A former senior vice president at Marsh for 14 years and the client services/risk control manager for Safety National, Treasa has demonstrated her ability to promote services and develop key accounts to maximize company profits. She has also performed diagnostic analysis of business outcomes and processes throughout her career and has led research and development of multiple analytical tools for use throughout the organization. Turnbeaugh has a track record of success both in business start-ups and in turning around failing businesses as well as divesting businesses for substantial profit.

Katrina Zitnik. Director of workers' compensation at Costco Wholesale in Seattle.

Katrina is responsible for managing the programs that provide benefits to injured employees for Costco's entire U.S. operations. She has more than 25 years in the insurance industry. Her previous positions include branch manager with Crawford & Company, senior consultant with Marsh, and safety and claims manager for King County in Washington. She serves on the advisory board of the National Workers' Compensation and Disability ConferenceŽ & Expo.

The 21st annual National Workers' Compensation and Disability ConferenceŽ & Expo takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 7-9. The conference is produced by LRP Publications.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

October 18, 2012

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