David Abbene is a Managing Director and National Practice Leader for the Claims Consulting Practice of Marsh Risk Consulting (MRC). Based in the Chicago office, David’s practice focuses on developing and delivering claims process improvement and cost reduction strategies. He assists a variety of organizations in the design and implementation of operational audits and assessments and in redesigning processes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. David, a licensed attorney, brings a broad range of business experience to Marsh and works with clients in several industries including financial services, insurance, manufacturing, not-for-profit, real estate development, telecommunications, transportation, retail, and energy/utilities.

David joined our firm in 2002 and has 20 years experience, including several positions at Marsh, where he advised clients on risk management, workers ’ compensation, and process improvement. He was previously, a member of a Big 4 accounting firm’s Financial and Commodities Risk Consulting Practice where he assisted a variety of international organizations with operational risk issues. Previously, David served as a civil defense litigation attorney for a Midwest based law firm.

Licensed To PracticeTennesseeGeorgiaEducationJ.D. Emory University School of LawB.A. David Lipscomb University (Honors)Practice AreasWorkers' CompensationGeneral LiabilityProfessional Memberships And HonorsAtlanta Claims AssociationChattanooga Bar AssociationNational Council of Self-InsurersSouthern Association of Workers' Compensation AdministratorsState Bar of GeorgiaTennessee Bar AssociationTennessee Defense Lawyers AssociationDefense Research InstituteNational Committee Member, Claims and Litigation Management AllianceNational Committee Member, Council on Litigation ManagementDefense Research InstituteTennessee Defense Lawyers AssociationTennessee Bar AssociationState Bar of GeorgiaSouthern Association of Workers' Compensation AdministratorsNational Council of Self-InsurersChattanooga Bar AssociationAtlanta Claims AssociationProfessional Memberships And HonorsGeneral LiabilityWorkers' CompensationPractice AreasB.A. David Lipscomb University (Honors)J.D. Emory University School of LawEducationGeorgiaTennesseeLicensed To Practice

The American Medical Association has repeatedly listed Dr. Barth among their “internationally recognized experts”.  The AMA has repeatedly asked him to contribute to their publications focused on chronic pain, brain injury, and mental illness.  He has also served as faculty, editor, or author for theAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Psychological Association, the European Union of Medicine in Social Security and Assurance, the North American Spine Society, the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Official Disability Guidelines, the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, the National Association of Workers' Compensation Judiciary, and several governments internationally.  Dr. Barth has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, for having made a significant contribution to science and practice.  His full time education culminated with a Harvard Medical School internship and Harvard Medical School post-doctoral fellowship training.

Ebru Craft got her Chemistry degree from the College of Charleston.  She started her career in operations in the chemical industry working overseas.  Upon moving to the US, she entered the construction chemicals field.  17 years ago, She joined Lafarge and after several years of working in safety, Ebru moved into Risk Management.  She is currently the Director or Risk Management of Lafarge a LafargeHolcim Company with responsibilities in the US and Canada.

Ebru is a Certified Risk Manager (CRM) and also has her AIC and ARM designations.

Julie Fortune is Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer for Arrowpoint Capital based in Charlotte, NC. The Arrowpoint Capital insurance operation has a 165-year history in the United States, formerly as part of the worldwide Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Group plc. Julie is responsible for the workers' compensation claims management operation.  She has more than 20 years of claims and legal experience in the insurance arena with both ongoing and run-off companies.

Prior to joining Arrowpoint Capital, Julie served as the Vice President of Staff Counsel, Services Provider Group and Claims at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., Sr. Vice President Claims Zurich Canada, Vice President – Customer Services Provider Group and National Litigation Manager for Zurich North America, and National Litigation Manager for Liberty Mutual. Throughout her career she has gained extensive experience in claims, organizational transition, and vendor and litigation management.

Julie earned her B.S. degree from the University of Oregon, M.A. degree from the Ohio State University, and J.D. degree from the Antioch School of Law.  She is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States, Tennessee, and Oregon.

She is a frequent speaker at industry events and has been quoted in various publications on the topic of claims and litigation management. She is the current Co-Chair and an Advisory Board member of the CLM, and a Chancellor for the Litigation Management Institute.  Julie is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Bill Frese has been in the risk management industry for over 17 years, specializing in general liability and workers compensation claims management, loss control, risk financing and contracts. Mr. Frese spent 12 years in healthcare risk management and was a frequent speaker and writer on medico-legal topics. In 2006, he made the switch to the hospitality and gaming industry where he was the Director of Risk Management for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, the premiere hospitality destination in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Mr. Frese has served as adjunct faculty at Rutgers University, teaching a course entitled “Security, Loss Prevention & Risk Management in Hospitality” as part of Rutgers’ Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Program.

In 2010, Mr. Frese accepted the position of Director of Risk Management at Bob Evans Farms, Inc. Bob Evans Farms owns over 700 restaurants with two concepts – Bob Evans and Mimi’s Café. Bob Evans Farms also has a Food Products division that produces sausage items as well as refrigerated and frozen convenience and side dish products.

Mr. Frese received his B.S. in Criminal Justice from West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctorate from The Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
 

Michael is responsible for the marketing, strategy, and business development efforts of PRIUM. Most recently, Michael served as Chief Operating Officer of the company. Michael brings to PRIUM deep experience in several major sectors of the health care industry. Before PRIUM, Michael was a consultant with Kurt Salmon Associates, a leading provider of strategic advisory services to the healthcare provider sector. Prior to KSA, he served as the Vice President of Operations for MDdatacor, inc. Before joining MDdatacor, Michael was a consultant with The Monitor Group in Cambridge, MA. He holds an MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School, as well as a BSBA degree in Finance from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. 

Steven brings to CLM Advisors’ clients more than 30 years in the insurance and reinsurance industries.  His practice with CLM Advisors focuses primarily on elevating the claim audit to predictive analytics, helping claim organizations to predictively identify the 20 percent of claims that drive 80 percent of loss.

Steven’s background encompasses the management of primary and excess claims with an emphasis on primary, excess and reinsurance asbestos and pollution claims, excess liability claims and professional liability claims.  He also has extensive structured settlement and loss structuring experience.

Prior to joining CLM Advisors, Steven was Vice President, Senior Risk Specialist, for Swiss Re America, responsible for internal worldwide claim quality review.  In prior roles he assisted Swiss Re clients to assess and improve their claim department performance.  He has extensive experience in claim audit design and implementation, process analysis, redesign and change management.

Carolyn has over 15 years insurance experience. Carolyn began her insurance career at a smaller independent insurance agency as a personal lines customer service representative. There she serviced multiple clients as well as selling various forms of insurance. It was there that she first developed an interest in claims. Carolyn joined Wells Fargo Insurance Services in August 2002 as a Commercial Lines Assistant Account Manager.  After a year she was promoted to a Claims Specialist in the claims department and began to report and manage claims. In March 2005, she was again promoted to her current role as a Client Advocate. She holds the Ohio Property & Casualty Agent license and holds the Certified Insurance Services Representative and Certified Insurance Counselor designations. As a Claims Consultant, Carolyn provides multiple services for the larger commercial clients. Some of her primary responsibilities include claim reviews, claim audits, claim evaluations, claim advocacy, collateral review, trend analysis, providing loss forecasting and mod calculations, as well as, reporting and managing all claims for assigned accounts. In addition, Carolyn works with our Safety Consultants analyzing trends and developing risk solutions.

As a Technology Coordinator, Carolyn is involved in many programs either developed internally or with a vendor partnership. Some of these programs include Cybersure, Summit, Loss Forecaster, ModMaster, Zywave, ODG, HR Employment Law Helping and more. In addition to being the lead contact for these programs and the development of several, she provides training to both staff and clients. She also leads a committee for social media.

Lisa Jurski is the Director, Workers’ Compensation Programs for HCR ManorCare. HCR ManorCare is a long term care provider with approximately 60,000 employees in over 30 states. HCR ManorCare is both insured and self-insured for its workers’ compensation program with 70% of the claims population self-administered by Lisa’s team in Toledo, Ohio. HCR ManorCare has also integrated its non-work related disability benefit plan with Workers’ Compensation and it is also managed by Lisa’s team.

Lisa began her workers’ compensation career in 1980 when she took a position with the Industrial Commission of Ohio Appeal Board. Since that time she has worked with two TPA’s as an employer’s representative as well as benefits administrator of a self-insured/self-administered health care and workers’ compensation program for another Toledo employer. She joined HCR ManorCare in 1994.

Lisa resides in Toledo, Ohio and previously presided as the President of the Northwest Ohio Self-Insurers Association and a board member of the Pennsylvania Self-Insurers Association and the National Workers’ Compensation Coalition (NWCC). Lisa is deeply committed to providing a safe workplace for the employees of HCR ManorCare as well as a workers’ compensation program that is responsive to the needs of all 60,000 employees
 

Phil LeFevre is a Senior Account Executive with Work Loss Data Institute (WLDI), where he's worked for the last 12 years in the development and delivery of disability duration, impairment, medical treatment and utilization review guidelines for workers’ comp, group health and disability insurance, including the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) product line. Phil is one of the primary developers of the first generation ODG Crosswalk UR Advisor tool, for auto-approval of charges consistent with the guidelines. This tool has reduced friction and unnecessary, nonproductive UR costs associated with workers’ comp, reducing treatment delay and ensuring access to quality and timely care for workers injured in guideline jurisdictions. Phil has worked as project manager for WLDI at guideline installations at over 150 different facilities throughout the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including Federal, State and Municipal installations, as well as installations at 15 of Fortune Magazine’s 100 largest American companies. Coinciding with the trend among States to adopt evidence-based treatment guidelines, Phil has worked with the departments in Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Phil is the featured trainer in WLDI’s online tutorial, ODG: Good to Go!

Rich Lenkov brings a killer instinct and unparalleled focus to representing his clients. He partners closely with his clients, ranging from Fortune 50 Corporations to small businesses, to achieve successful litigation outcomes.

Selected to the 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers List (given to no more than 5% of lawyers in Illinois), named Leading Lawyer from 2012-2014 and honored by SEAK as one of the 50 Most Influential People In Workers’ Compensation, Rich enjoys the respect of his peers. He is also a frequent lecturer and involved in a number of national organizations, including:
Claims and Litigation Management Alliance – Chicago Chapter President RIMS Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Illinois Retail Merchants Association Foodservice Industry Risk Management Association Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute
Rich is also very involved in his community, including serving on the Board of Visitors for the Northern Illinois University College of Law, as Local School Counsel Chairperson for Agassiz Elementary School and on the Advisory Board of Legal Prep Charter Academy, Chicago’s only legal-themed charter school. Rich was recently honored as NIU School of Law Alumnus of the Year. 

Michael Mattix has thirty-two years experience in the insurance industry, beginning his career as an attorney in private practice specializing in insurance defense matters.  He has more than 20 years experience in managing primary, excess and reinsurance claims with an emphasis in both personal and commercial property and casualty lines, as well as workers compensation and professional liability claims.  Michael was named General Counsel and  Chief Claims Officer for Armed Forces Insurance in 2011 and Chief Underwriting Officer in 2013.

Prior to his association with Armed Forces Michael spent nearly 25 years with Swiss Re (formerly known as Employers Reinsurance)  During his tenure, he created and managed a state-of-the-art claims and financial transactional audit team, as well as a claim consulting group.  He is a recognized expert in claims management, process redesign and effecting change within organizations, and is a frequent speaker at industry events.

Leo A. McCann, CPCU, ARM, ABCP is Vice-President – Carrier Relations for York Risk Services Group and is based in Dublin, Ohio.  In his capacity, Mr. McCann is responsible for all aspects of insurance carrier relations across the U.S.  York is an established and innovative national service organization committed to providing the best risk management services.  Founded in 1960’s in New Jersey, York has 80+ offices nationally, providing claims administration and risk management services in all fifty states.
His background before York includes ten (10) years with American Electric Power (AEP) in their corporate risk management department.  While at AEP, Mr McCann was responsible for Business Continuity Management and the Security Program Management Office of Risk Management – Enterprise Security (RMES).  His work involved overseeing the development of continuity plans and implementing strategies for AEP as well as the financial and project management of RMES.  Previous to this position Leo was Director – Risk & Insurance Management for AEP for nine (9) years.  He taught the activity based costing system, Activity Based Management System (ABMS) during its implementation. Mr. McCann joined AEP, the largest electric utility in the US, in April 1995.
His background before AEP includes nine (9) years of underwriting, selling, brokerage and, business recovery planning experience at Nationwide Insurance company based in Columbus.  Leo has taught the complete course in the Associate in Risk Management program for the Columbus Chapter of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters (CPCU) for ten (10) years.  For the 1993-1994-semester year, the Columbus Chapter CPCU awarded him their Instructor of the Year award.  For the 2001 to 2002 year, The Spencer Educational Foundation awarded LaSalle University a grant for the Risk Manager in Residence Program for a series of lectures by Mr. McCann.  In addition to this, he has lectured at Ashland University and Ohio University on the subject of Risk Management and Insurance.
Leo earned his Bachelors of Science Business Administration (BSBA) degree with a major in Insurance and Risk Management in 1986 from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.  While there, his core class work centered on Insurance, Risk Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Risk Management, and Finance.  He was the Treasurer of the Alpha Chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma (GIS), the professional insurance fraternity. Leo has spoken several times for student meetings of this organization.  In addition, he was a member and squad leader for The Ohio State University Marching Band.
In February 1989, he was awarded the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation.  His CPCU professional designation was earned in October 1995.  Leo is also a Competent Toastmaster, given by Toastmasters International.  In April 2002, Leo attended Cornell University’s Leadership Development Program.  In the fall of 2003, he attended the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University’s OSU/AEP Strategic Leadership Program for Executive Education.  Disaster Recovery International awarded him the Associate Business Continuity Professional designation in January of 2005.
Mr. McCann previously was the treasurer for the Risk Management Committee of Edison Electric Institute (EEI).
He resides in Hilliard, Ohio with his wife Crystal, and their children, Allison and Andrew.


Leo A. McCann, CPCU, ARM, ABCPVice-President – Carrier Relations
York Risk Services Group, Inc.  614.791.76425000 Bradenton Avenue  Fax. 614.932.8663Dublin, Ohio 43017  Mobile. 614.394.5172www.yorkisg.com  leo.mccann@yorkrsg.com
 

Bill is a partner in the Mobile, Alabama office of Austill, Lewis, Pipkin & Maddox, P.C.  He has a civil defense practice, focusing on the defense of personal injury, workers' compensation, premises liability and general liability matters. 
 
 Admitted to practice in Alabama and Florida, he is an experienced trial and appellate attorney in both state and federal courts throughout Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.  He is AV rated in Martindale-Hubbell.  He is a member of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute (Construction Law, Trucking Law and Workers’ Compensation Committees) and the Florida Bar.  He is past Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Defense Research Institute and is a frequent speaker at professional education seminars.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Workers' Compensation Attorneys and co-Chair of the National Workers' Compensation Review Program at the annual WCI Conference. He co-authored the CLM Workers' Compensation Claims Handling Guide for the State of Alabama for use by claims professionals and members of CLM.  He served as chair of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Alabama State Bar from 2006-2007He earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1989 and his undergraduate degree in English and History from Birmingham-Southern College in 1986.
 

Jim is a shareholder in the Pittsburgh based law firm, Poerio & Walter, Inc. His practice is concentrated in the defense of workers’ compensation and Federal Black Lung claims. Jim was defense counsel in the landmark case of Republic Steel Corporation v. WCAB (Petrisek), which fundamentally changed the law in Pennsylvania eliminating most claim petitions filed by retirees, saving Pennsylvania employers and carriers literally millions of dollars. Jim is active in the National Counsel of Self-Insurers  in addition to the CLM, where he has served as Co-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee, and is a member of the Workers' Compensation Community Advisory Board.  He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1981. He has been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in workers’ compensation law and for inclusion in “Best Lawyers in America” since 2006. Jim is AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell.   Jim's firm, Poerio & Walter, Inc., has been recognized as well as a Tier 1 Firm for workers' compensation defense by US News & World Report Magazine.

Ms. Rabie is a leading authority in the fields of safety, health and environmental compliance. She has over 40 years experience in health care, industry and construction. She has developed and implemented system wide procedures for compliance with federal and state regulations and best practices. In addition, Ms. Rabie has successfully implemented injury reduction programs that have resulted in significant workers compensation savings. This was accomplished through: engineering and work practice changes, improved incident reporting and near misses and individual accountability.

Ms. Rabie participated in an international study on safe patient handling programs with Germany, Holland, England and the United States. She is currently implementing a minimal lift program across ProMedica Healthcare System, to eliminate manual lifting and movement of patients.

Some of her professional memberships and affiliations include:

o Past Chair and current board member of the Safety Council of Northwest Ohio
o Served on the Work Practices Subcommittee of the American Health Care Association, in Washington D.C.
o Co-director of School of Science Safety Consortium of Lucas County
o Certified in Health and Safety Hazardous Waste Site Management
o Member of Northwest Ohio International Facility Management Association

Mike Reid oversees the Midwest Region of claims operations for Strategic Comp, a division of Great American Insurance Group.  Additionally, he leads the Subrogation team and litigation management efforts.  Previously, he was the Director of Litigation, Subrogation, and Medicare at Accident Fund Holdings, Inc., responsible for staff counsel in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, and California while overseeing panel counsel nationwide. He was also responsible for Medicare compliance within the claims operations. Before joining Accident Fund, Mike was part of the management team at Sedgwick CMS servicing the General Motors account. With this account, he led multi-jurisdictional teams for the Midwest and East Coast regions. Prior to working in insurance, Mike practiced commercial litigation and securities arbitration in Michigan.

Mike graduated from the University of Michigan with an A.B. in Philosophy and cum laude from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, its workers compensation section, and was a Trustee of the Michigan state funds including the Second Injury Fund, the Silicosis, Dust Disease and Logging Industry Compensation Fund, and the Self-Insurers' Security Fund.

Ann Schnure is a Vice President in Risk Management at Macy’s. Ann currently has responsibility for Workers’ Compensation/Systems/and Operations in that area. Ann oversees a largely self insured/self administered Workers’ Compensation program with a staff in 4 locations. She also oversees a variety of claims with TPA’s for runoff claims from acquisitions as well as claims that are not self administered. Ann has been with Macy’s for 17 years in the Risk Management area.Prior to joining Macy’s, Ann worked for Safeco Insurance Company ending her career there as a Branch Claim Manager over a large claim office.Ann is a graduate of Wilmington College, Wilmington, OH. She also is has CPCU and AIC designations and is a member of RIMS and the National Council of Self Insurers.

Jessica C. Smythe is a Medicare Secondary Payer compliance consultant with ISO Claims Partners. Prior to joining ISO Claims Partners, Jessica was a workers’ compensation defense attorney.

Jessica is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer on the subject of Medicare compliance, including the impact of Medicare compliance on claim handling and litigation management. She also writes a bimonthly column, “Medicare Matters,” for Claims Management Magazine and was awarded the designation of CLMP (Certified Litigation Management Professional) in October 2012. Jessica also holds the designation of CMSP (Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Act Professional). 

Jessica is a graduate of Meredith College and the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University. She is an inductee to the Order of the Barristers and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Wake County Bar Association, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) and the National Association of Medicare Set Aside Professionals (NAMSAP).

Eric W. Spalsbury is the Director of Risk Management for Stanley Steemer International, Inc., a large U.S. based residential and commercial cleaning company headquartered in Dublin, OH.

Eric has over 30 years of experience managing risk at various levels and differing applications. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Science from Ohio University in 1983. He has been with Stanley Steemer for over eight years where he oversees all aspects of risk control. He leads a small team of in-house professionals that utilize a range of external partners to pursue proactive and reactive continuous improvement. 

Prior to Stanley Steemer, Eric spent nine years working in global logistics with DHL and Exel Logistics; nine years in the chemical manufacturing and distribution industry with Ashland Chemical; and six years in the nuclear waste management industry with Battelle Memorial Institute. 
Eric has been a member of the board of directors for the Central Ohio Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society, serving as current Vice President. He has authored and acted as consulting editor in various publications.

Eric is married with a son recently graduating Wittenberg University and a daughter attending Ohio Wesleyan University. Eric is an avid outdoorsman and patron of the fine arts.
 


 
 

Manager – Legal Resource Control Unit, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies
 
Brad Spicer has over 23 years of P&C insurance experience, ranging from claim handling, to litigation supervision, to a management roles in The Cincinnati Insurance Companies’ Complex Claims group.  Brad currently oversees CIC’s Medicare claim handling compliance and serves as Manager of CIC’s Legal Resource Control Unit, where he also oversees CIC’s legal e-billing technology, legal spend analytics and is responsible for maintenance of CIC’s approved panel legal counsel, litigation guidelines, and billing guidelines.  Brad holds an M.B.A. degree, as well as AIC, AIS, and INS designations.

 
 

Desiree Tolbert is AVP, National Technical Compliance with the Sedgwick Workers’ Compensation Practice Group.. She is based in Lake Mary, Florida.  Ms. Tolbert has over 35 years of experience as an insurance professional with a record of success in the areas of multi-jurisdictional claims handling, management, marketing, regulatory compliance and customer service.
Ms. Tolbert holds a certification in workers’ compensation litigation from the WCCP. She has earned the Associate in Claims (AIC), Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Associate in Service designations (AIS) through the AICPU.

Pamela Webster is the Senior Claims Manager for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. based in Roanoke, VA where her primary responsibility is to manage and develop the workers’ compensation, general liability, property and auto claims program and strategies; her secondary responsibility is to provide direct assistance to the Director of Risk Management in the areas of risk financing and risk control. Pamela has over 25 years of experience in the Corporate Claims and Risk management profession. She most recently worked in Risk Management with Furmanite Corporation in Richardson, TX and previously held corporate Claims/Risk Management positions with Mary Kay Inc., CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese’s) in Dallas, TX and Macy’s Inc. in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Pamela received her BBA from the University of Cincinnati with a dual degree in Finance and Management and is a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS).