WorkCompCollege.com Announces Board of Trustees To Provide "Whole Person Recovery Management" Training for Workers' Comp Professionals

Atlanta, GA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Board of Trustees has been established for the soon to be launched WorkCompCollege.com. The board’s function is to act in an advisory capacity to the company’s founders and help establish a broad and deep curriculum for the training of professionals within the workers’ compensation space. In addition to technical skills, WorkCompCollege.com will emphasize training in critical “soft skills” of whole person recovery management on a virtual, on-demand technology platform. Core curriculum will include courses in the claims, stakeholders, legal, regulatory/legislative, clinical, Return to Work, and humanities departments. Graduates of the national program will receive a Workers’ Recovery Professional, or WRP, certification.

WorkCompCollege.com, LLC is the result of a partnership between Robert Wilson of Bradenton, FL, Mark Pew of Peachtree Corners, GA, and Donald A. Abrams of Austin, TX. Wilson will serve as President of the organization. Abrams will function as the Chief Financial Officer and Pew will be the school’s Provost.

Both Wilson and Pew credit Abrams with the original idea. Pew says, “Don has been very concerned with the wave of retirement hitting the workers’ compensation industry, along with our current challenges in finding new talent to replace those who are leaving. He wanted to establish a new training system that would meet the needs of a new generation of work comp professionals and injured workers.” Collectively the group felt an education system that focuses on understanding the whole person to achieve optimum clinical and financial outcomes was needed by both newcomers and existing professionals in the industry.

Abrams’ concept dovetailed nicely with the focus of both Pew and Wilson, with Pew being a founder of The Transitions in 2020 and Wilson having advocated for a workers’ recovery philosophy for over a decade.

Members of the Board of Trustees were selected based on a diverse criterion and have expertise and experience within their respective positions in the industry. Wilson says of the group, “These folks are highly motivated and recognize the importance of the mission before them. WorkCompCollege is intended to be a community driven project, and the early support we are seeing from the board is tremendous.”

For more information, please visit https://workcompcollege.com, or contact WorkCompCollege at admin@workcompcollege.com.

The Board of Trustees is comprised of the following members.

Abbie Hudgens

Abbie Hudgens is the Administrator of the State of Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and was previously the risk manager for Nashville/Davidson County and risk/ benefits manager for Knoxville. She has been the national president of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA), and Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA). She was also president of the Knoxville Risk Management Society, a member of the Tennessee Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation, and chairman of the Board of HC 21, an East Tennessee employer led healthcare coalition. Ms. Hudgens was awarded the IAIABC Frances Perkins Award for Innovation and Progressive Leadership in Workers’ Compensation and Social Security in 2015 and WorkCompCentral’s Comp Laude Award for Industry Leadership in 2017. As she has long advocated that those in workers’ compensation should “believe in better,” she is excited about this new approach for workers’ compensation professionals to both increase their knowledge and contribute to the improvement of the U.S. workers’ compensation system.

Albert Betts, Jr.

Albert Betts is the executive director of the Insurance Council of Texas in Austin. Prior to joining ICT, he was a partner at the law firm of Thompson Coe Cousins and Irons, LLP, practicing in the firm’s Insurance law and Governmental and Legislative Advocacy Group. While there he served as general counsel for ICT and represented other insurance related clients at the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas legislature. In 2005, he was appointed by then Texas Governor Rick Perry as the first Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation for the State of Texas, and reappointed in 2007. He served as Commissioner from 2005 through 2008. Prior to being appointed Commissioner, he served as Chief of Staff for the Texas Department of Insurance.

Dawn Hays, CPCU, SCLA, AIC

Dawn Hays is the Supervisor of Workers Compensation Claims for UFG Insurance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She has over 25 years of claims management experience, and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Iowa. Currently, her leadership is focused on an initiative to evolve claims handling from a transactional process to a holistic service driven relationship between employees, employers and medical teams.  She has participated in numerous conference presentations across the nation for the last 15 years, providing empowerment through education to various stakeholders in the workers compensation relationship.  Some of the most rewarding opportunities of outreach have been through association with the Vaughan Institute at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and Gamma Iota Sigma, the only international business fraternity with a mission to spark interest for students in insurance, risk management, and actuarial science industries; the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety at the University of Iowa College of Public Health; and the Pomerantz Career Center’s Career Leadership Academy. Upon conferment of the Charter Property and Casualty Underwriter designation, Dawn made a commitment to uphold the canons to continually maintain and improve her professional knowledge, to improve the function of the insurance mechanism, to raise the professional and ethical standards of the industry as well as elevate the profession of workers compensation claims to one known for wellness driven outcomes.

Julie Bandy

Julie Bandy is a Claims Manager with CBCS in Dubuque, IA. Julie has been a part of the insurance industry for the last 26 years. Beginning her career in the health field, she moved her focus to workers’ compensation 18 years ago. During that time, she has developed extensive knowledge in the trucking and manufacturing industries. Three years ago, Julie stepped into the Claims Manager role where she focuses on the operations of the workers’ compensation department.  She leads the department in developing efficiencies for the adjuster and supervisor teams in regards to compliance, vendor relationships, and the customer experience. During Julie’s career she has earned the AIC, AINS and AIC-M designations. In addition to her industry education, she also holds a degree in Psychology from Loras College in Dubuque, IA.

Melissa Steger

Melissa Steger is the Associate Director of Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Insurance for The University of Texas System (the UT System). Melissa is responsible for administering the self-insured workers’ compensation program for academic and health institutions of the UT System. The program includes a certified workers’ compensation health care network and claims handling through a third-party administrator with close oversight by the UT System. She is also responsible for administration of the self-insured unemployment compensation insurance fund. Melissa has extensive experience with the public, private and regulatory sectors of the workers’ compensation insurance industry. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in 1993 and her Master of Public Administration in 2003. She holds a Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation from the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. Melissa is the 2021-2022 President of National PRIMA and served two terms on the Texas PRIMA board of directors. She received the 2016 Texas PRIMA Risk Professional of the Year award, the Servant Heart Award in 2019, and the 2020 Chapter Service Award.

Patti Colwell

Patti Colwell is the Manager of Workers’ Compensation for Southwest Airlines. In her role, Patti is responsible for the on-the-job injury care of the company’s more than 59,000 employees. Patti brings over 30 years of experience with Southwest Airlines and 22 years of workers’ compensation industry experience to her current position. Her responsibilities are as unique and varied as the employees and company for whom she serves. She is continually challenged to develop and implement innovative and cost-effective strategies, including both pre-loss and post-loss initiatives. This requires that she understand the job demands associated with each position within the airline and communicates effectively with management and employees throughout the organization. It also entails forming strong relationships with brokers, insurance carriers, third party administrators, and other service providers who work diligently on the company’s behalf. Patti knows the value of strong partnerships and her management style in dealing these outside resources is frequently credited with much of the program’s success. In 2015, Southwest Airlines was awarded the National Underwriter’s Excellence in Workers’ Compensation Risk Management Award and also nominated for the Comp Laude Employer Award. In 2016, Patti was a Comp Laude Honor Roll Recipient.

Ryan Guppy

Ryan Guppy is the Director of Work Disability Prevention at Linea Solutions and Principal Partner with Vocational Recovery Partners, LLC. His experience spans two decades in workers’ compensation specializing in work disability prevention and mitigation, vocational rehabilitation and return-to-work, interdisciplinary chronic pain management, psychosocial interventions, and leadership.  Most recently, Ryan led the design, implementation, and management of innovative evidence-based work disability prevention and mitigation interventions for a large state fund that produced historically positive human and financial outcomes. He is a Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS) who currently sits on the IAIABC’s Work Disability Prevention and Return to Work committee and was the past President of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals –Washington Chapter. In 2017 he received the Washington Governor’s Leadership in Management Award.

Stuart Colburn

Stuart Colburn is a shareholder of Downs & Stanford. He is board certified in workers’ compensation law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Stuart was the founder and first Chair of the State Bar of Texas Workers’ Compensation Section. He co-authors the Texas Workers’ Compensation Handbook published by LexisNexis and serves on the executive committee of the LexisNexis Advisory Board for Larson’s on Workers’ Compensation. Stuart served as a contributing editor for the Texas Insurance Code Annotated and was a contributor for The Complete Guide to Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance. Stuart is active in the education of attorneys, adjusters, and employers regarding workers’ compensation. He is certified by the Texas Department of Insurance as a continuing education provider. A sought-after speaker, Stuart has delivered over a thousand speeches nationwide regarding workers’ compensation. He has served as the course director for numerous programs including the Texas State Bar’s Advanced Workers’ Compensation Seminar and Texas Workers’ Compensation Forum. The Texas Bar CLE Staff awarded Stuart the “Standing Ovation Award” recognizing his efforts, commitment, and leadership. He received the Comp Laude Award by Workcompcentral.com for his contributions as a defense attorney. Stuart has served on the Texas State Bar Committee for MCLE and will serve as the Chair of the MCL Committee for the State Bar of Texas in 2022.

Ya’sheaka Williams, Esq.

Ya’Sheaka Williams is a lawyer with 18 years’ experience, a Board Certified attorney in Workers’ Compensation by the Florida Bar and a Martindale Hubbell Preeminent AV rated attorney. She is a Partner at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood, & Boyer, P.A. based in Tampa FL. She is skilled in trial advocacy, risk assessment and avoidance, management of legal team including attorneys and staff, legal budgeting, and with extensive experience in settlement negotiations and claim resolution. She is a Certified Workers Compensation Instructor, with certification provided through the Florida Department of Financial Services. She has prepared training materials and presentations for lectures on various Workers Compensation topics. She received her Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts from Brenau University Women’s College, Gainesville, Georgia in 2000, graduating with majors in conflict resolution and pre-law. Florida Super Lawyers magazine named her a Rising Star in the areas of Insurance Coverage and Workers Compensation respectively. She received the Comp Laude award for Defense Attorney in November 2021. Bloom awarded her with the Women Leading the Way in Workers’ Compensation Award and the Exceptional Defense Attorney Award.

About the Founders:

Robert Wilson

Bob Wilson is a founding partner, President & CEO of WorkersCompensation.com. He is an experienced presenter for the workers’ compensation industry and is the author of “From Bob’s Cluttered Desk”, a blog repeatedly named as a top workers’ compensation blog by LexisNexis. Additionally, he has been named one of the “50 Most Influential People in Workers’ Comp” by the SEAK National Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference and is the recipient of a Comp Laude Industry Leader Award. Known for an extraordinary sense of humor, his industry presentations reflect both entertaining and practical advice for both people managing claims as well as the people “picking up the tab”.  Bob serves on the Board of Directors for Kids’ Chance of America, Inc. and is a founding board member and past-president of Kids Chance of Florida, Inc.

Mark Pew

Mark Pew is an award-winning international speaker, blogger, author, jurisdictional advisor and thought leader. After more than two decades of experience in work comp, he launched The RxProfessor LLC consulting firm in August 2021. Mark has focused on the intersection of chronic pain and appropriate treatment since 2003 with an emphasis on the BioPsychoSocialSpiritual treatment model. He is a prolific educator, having presented wide-ranging content more than 650 times to over 64,000 people in 42 states, DC and internationally since 2012. Mark received the WorkCompCentral Magna Comp Laude award in 2016, IAIABC’s Samuel Gompers Award in 2017 and was named “Top 100 Healthcare Leader” by IFAH in 2021. His blog was recognized in 2016, 2017 and 2018 as a WorkersCompensation.com "Best Blog." He is the driving force and co-founder of The Transitions and is on the Advisory Boards of Simple Therapy, Harvard MedTech and Goldfinch Health.

Donald A. Abrams, PA

Donald A. Abrams, PA is a 1977 graduate of the Albany Medical College Physician Assistant program, specializing in and actively practicing orthopedic surgery for more than 15 years. Overseeing several exceptionally successful start-ups, Mr. Abrams has established himself as a leader in cost containment strategies for the workers compensation professional. Now celebrating his tenth year with Clinical Compensation Consultants, Mr. Abrams has participated and spoken at hundreds of local, regional and national educational conferences on a multipole of topics germane to the workers comp professional. Additionally, Mr. Abrams has presented a number of webinar-based lectures endorsed for continuing education credits by the Texas Department of insurance. Described as an excellent and passionate speaker, Mr. Abrams continues to strive to deliver each of the workers’ compensation professional he is honored to provide services to the level of expertise that best serves all participants in the workers’ compensation system.

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