Vickie Kennedy and Ryan Guppy Join Linea Solutions' Expanding Workers’ Compensation Practice

Marina del Rey, CA (WorkersCompensation.com) - Linea Solutions is pleased to announce the hiring of Vickie Kennedy as Vice President - Workers’ Compensation and Ryan Guppy as Director - Work Disability Prevention. Both join Linea from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries(L&I) where they led Workers’ Compensation operations and implemented a best practices approach to vocational recovery of injured workers. This program created new business processes, policies, and designed evidence-based strategic interventions to prevent and mitigate needless work disability. These efforts saved hundreds of millions of dollars and increased positive outcomes for workers and employers. With the addition of Ryan and Vickie, Linea will provide the opportunity for other carriers to achieve these same outcomes. 

With decades of experience, Vickie has partnered with organizational leadership, external stakeholders, and legislators to improve Workers’ Compensation practices. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) where she also chairs the Work Disability Prevention and Return to Work Committee. Last year, Vickie was honored for her contributions to the industry with IAIABC’s Frances Perkins Award. She has been awarded the Comp Laude Award from WorkCompCentral.com as well as Washington’s Governor’s Distinguished Manager Award. 

“During my many years in the Workers’ Compensation industry, I’ve learned numerous lessons through the successes and failures I’ve witnessed or been a part of,” said Vickie. “Thanks to Linea Solutions, I have the opportunity to put industry best practices to work with carriers, jurisdictions, and organizations whose leaders share my passion for ensuring those who are hurt on the job have every chance to return to work – for themselves, their families, and their employers.”    

Ryan has nearly 20 years of experience in Workers’ Compensation, specializing in vocational rehabilitation and return to work, interdisciplinary chronic pain management, and psychosocial interventions. As a Certified Disability Management Specialist, Ryan applies evidence-based approaches to provide workers with services customized for their return to work and vocational needs. He currently sits on the IAIABC’s Work Disability Prevention and Return to Work Committee and is a past President of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals – Washington Chapter. In 2017, he received the Washington Governor’s Leadership in Management Award.

“I’m truly excited to join Linea Solutions to advance the just cause of work disability prevention for injured workers, employer policyholders, and administrators across North America,” said Ryan. “Guiding others to prevent and mitigate needless work disability to avoid suffering is extremely fulfilling and rewarding. I look forward to bringing innovative thinking and progressing new client practices.”

“With Vickie and Ryan on board, we are furthering our commitment to the Workers’ Compensation market by focusing on the most impactful areas for carriers, provincial Boards, State funds, TPAs, and self-insured groups,” said Lon Tiggelaar, Linea Solutions’ Senior Vice President & Insurance Practice Leader. “Our work disability prevention best practice implementation strategies will redefine the relationship between injured workers and policyholders/employers, by championing a client-centric model that will significantly reduce claim costs while improving return to work outcomes.”

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