June 12-14, 2025 | Anaheim, California
Key Sessions and Insights
7:30 am - 6:00 pm
Registration Desk Open
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions I
Two senior risk managers share experiences, challenges, and solutions for elevating their risk-management programs. This presentation discusses filling in gaps in service, building a better model with greater accountability for all parties, implementing best practices for care, and proactively managing claims to prevent cost and litigation. The session offers practical takeaways for attendees at all levels—regardless of career, position, or company.
Molly Kallen
The IMA Group
Tania Matulewicz
Vallarta Supermarkets
Tamara Ulufanua-Ciraulo
Stater Bros. Markets
This presentation explains how AI technology can support injured employees throughout their recovery—from care coordination to care engagement to claims strategies. The use of AI and data analysis can effectively track a patient’s medical progress over time, identifying patterns and trends to improve the accuracy and efficiency of claims processing.
Andrea Buhl
Sedgwick
Bryan Conner
American Airlines
Greg Nichols
MedRisk
Scott Parulski
Travelers
Bryan Peters
This is a live, mock first interview between an applicant attorney and an injured worker, where the details of the claim and claimant are initially revealed. Attendees will learn what an applicant attorney is looking for in evaluating a case for representation, including AOE/COE issues, impairment valuation, credibility evaluation, and more.
Chad Coleman
Coleman, Chavez & Associates, LLP
Jason Marcus
Marcus & Pulley, LLP
Kenton Trigger
12:15 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch and Expo
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Opening General Session
More than a decade has passed since employers and labor negotiated comprehensive reform of California’s workers’ compensation system. Employers have been successful in combatting efforts by applicant attorneys, labor unions, and their legislative allies to create systemic friction, expand benefits, and form new presumptions for both public and private sector union members. However, there is a growing list of deferred maintenance needed for system stability, and injured workers have not had an increase in permanent disability benefits for a long time. This session talks about the latest legislative battles and the likelihood of comprehensive reform as Governor Newsom winds down his term.
Jason Schmelzer
California Coalition on Workers' Compensation
Paul Yoder
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm
Networking Break and Expo
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Concurrent Sessions II
This presentation explores the shift from sole reliance on conventional treatments to the inclusion of a holistic approach to manage chronic pain and improve recovery outcomes. A case study on opioid dependency and delayed pain management highlights the importance of incorporating pain psychology into treatment plans—an integration that offers timely and comprehensive care for workers recovering from chronic pain. Partnering with pain psychologists, physicians, and healthcare providers can offer patients faster and more effective treatment options.
Les Aria, PhD
Menda Health
Leslie Cadet, MD, MPH
Ascend Occupational Medicine Consulting
Kim Kinney
Loma Linda University
Permanent disability awards have traditionally been kept low by applying the combined values chart to avoid duplication of impairment ratings. This session helps employers, risk managers, claims examiners, and defense attorneys understand how the Kite and Vigil cases dramatically increase impairment ratings when an employee has multiple disabilities. How to respond to nuclear demands and how to reduce exposure via early resolution strategies and meaningful discovery will be discussed.
Brenna Hampton
Work Comp By Design
Kenneth Kingdon
Law Office of Kenneth Kingdon
This interactive session presents real scenarios of claims filled with tricky twists and unexpected turns. Participants will analyze the facts, debate with fellow attendees, and cast their votes on whether the claim is compensable—then learn the actual WCAB ruling. This lively and competitive presentation provides a fresh, engaging approach to mastering AOE/COE defenses and offers practical insights that can be applied to claims strategies.
Joshua Hanthorn
Michael Sullivan & Associates, LLP
Serena Neves
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Welcome Reception and Expo
7:30 am - 9:00 am
Breakfast and Expo
9:00 am - 10:30 am
General Session and Tim East Award Presentation
This engaging, live mock trial demonstrates the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in workers’ compensation cases. It shows how ADR carve-outs can simplify the trial process—providing faster, cost-efficient resolutions while avoiding common hassles and delays. The session offers practical insights that can be applied to streamline case outcomes and improve efficiency.
Adam Dombchik
Gordon Edelstein Krepack Grant Felton & Goldstein
Jolly Hamid
University of Southern California
Demetra Johal
Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, LLP
Vicki Lindquist
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Concurrent Sessions III
This presentation reveals techniques for creating an effective workplace violence-prevention plan. It explores legal requirements, common pitfalls, and collaboration with risk management, unions, and other departments to build a comprehensive strategy. The session also offers real-world success stories and actionable resources to ensure a plan's success.
Eddie Avilez
BBSI
Anthony Carlton
Arthur J. Gallagher
Rob Cutbirth
Law Offices of Robert A. Cutbirth
When applicant attorneys gather to strategize, their goals are clear. This discussion sheds light on their evolving priorities and emerging trends, offering actionable insights to keep defense strategies sharp and one step ahead.
Jonathan Liff
John Orman
There are many potential hazards in claims that touch California Workers’ Compensation claim and Employment Practices Liability Insurance claims (EPLI). These claims are overlooked as many attorneys focus on a specific area of practice. This session will focus on strategies to prevent, mitigate and reduce litigation costs in potential cross over exposures.
Steven Bondy
Bondy Law Group
Steve Gatley
Lewis Brisbois Bisgard & Smith
11:45 am - 1:30 pm
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm
General Session
Career paths are not always a straight line. This session explores why it is critical to change networking strategies and create your own personal board of directors. Whether in the arena of claims, sales, safety, or employers, it is sometimes difficult to pair novices with experienced individuals who can provide guidance, support, and knowledge. In this presentation, attendees of all ages will gain insight on how to find the right mentor and leverage mentorship success. The panel of experts will break down the essential components of an effective mentorship program at every sector of the industry.
Jennifer Johnson
Institutes of Health
Sheri Lawrence
Southern California Gas Company
Julio Martinez
Gilson Daub LLP
Caryn Siebert
Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.
Carroll Wheatley
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions IV
This session focuses on the critical role of engagement in recovery and return-to-work outcomes. Attendees will learn how to identify injured workers at risk of disengagement and explore effective methods to encourage active participation in their recovery process. Using proven tools, this presentation offers strategies for addressing barriers such as kinesiophobia, poor coping mechanisms, and psychological distress. By fostering collaboration among injured workers, employers, and healthcare providers, recovery outcomes are improved and costs are reduced.
Stephen Feinberg, MD
Feinberg Medical Group
Cathey Jackson
Albertsons
Bill Zachry
CompSense
The med-legal evaluation is an essential part of the workers’ compensation system. This session addresses how a defendant can be sure to get all necessary information to the QME, the case law that must be included in the cover letter, and the QME perspective on these evaluations. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the process and learn how to get the highest quality report possible to facilitate early resolution of workers’ compensation cases.
Ira Fishman, MD, QME
ExamWorks
Ivan Moe
Ro & You, LLPS
Expensive dental claims usually come up as a compensable consequence when an employee has another injury claim. A large percentage of claimants are referred by their attorneys to one of a handful of treating physicians without prior notice to the employer. This session presents the legal, medical, and bill-review knowledge needed to anticipate, defend, and mitigate costs in unreasonable dental claims.
Paula Baker
Encompass Health Solutions, Inc.
Tedy Norohian
Medical Cost Review
4:45 pm - 5:45 pm
Concurrent Sessions V
This session provides insight to employers and attorneys about interpreting med-legal reports, reviewing decisions on denied cases, assessing the report for settlement, and, if the case can’t settle, what judges want to see in the med-legal report before a case can be set for trial
Handling claims when your workers’ comp staff is on leave requires a strategic and resourceful approach to maintain service quality and compliance. This presentation explains the importance of enhanced communication — with employees, employers, medical providers, and insurers — to uphold trust, transparency, and efficiency while ensuring that clients receive necessary support.
Kimberly Alexander Clay (retired)
City of Long Beach
Azucena Coronel
Douglas Gibb
Athens Administrators
Monica Quinonez
City of Orange
Sabino Santos
Kindred Hospital
This session explains how to mitigate disability exposure by utilizing apportionment with timely identification of potential subrogation.
Diann Cohen
Macro-Pro Inc.
Liz Ewert
Rossi Law Group
James Rossi
8:00 am - 11:30 am
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am - 10:00 am
An informative, interactive staple at CCWC, the Bloggers’ Panel provides an educational and entertaining discussion of the state of workers’ compensation in California and nationally. Questions are always welcome, and answers are rich with the bloggers’ insightful, humorous perspectives.
Mark Pew
WorkCompCollege.com and theRXprofessor.com
Robert Rassp
WCAB Los Angeles
Ann Stephenson
Robert Wilson
WorkCompCollege.com and bobscluttereddesk.com
Julius Young
Boxer & Gerson
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Weight-loss medications seem to be the newest fad in popular medicine, but is workers’ compensation ready for them? This presentation discusses whether the side effects of these “miracle drugs” outweigh the benefits and whether the benefits justify the costs. An esteemed panel of legal, medical, and UR experts provides the latest science and claims-handling concerns related to weight-loss medications and their impending impact on the industry.
Teresa Bartlett
Robert Hall
Optum
Jamie Hawkins
11:00 am - 11:15 am
Closing Remarks & Adjournment
For more information on this event, please contact CCWC at info@ccwcworkcomp.org or call 916.441.4111.