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2009 Speakers Diana Alvarez, Occupational Health Manager Mario Basurto, Commissioner Glen Boyle Elena E. Butkus, Vice President, Finance & Corporate Officer Jesse P. Butler, MD Lynn Combs, Esq., Partner Dennis Downing, President Mark M. Flannery John Gatlin Christopher J. Gibbons, Esq. Larry Hochstetler, VP Planning and Development Elaine Johnson, Assistant Human Resources Director Robert Johnson Eugene Keefe, Esq., Partner Larry Krause, Risk Manager Richard W. Lenkov, Esq., Member Nancy Lindsay, Commissioner Terry Link, D-Lake Bluff (INVITED) William A. Lowry, Esq., Shareholder Hilary Malina, Esq., Corporate Counsel Nicole Martell, Senior Manager of Advocate Fitness and Worksite Wellness Michael Martin, Workers' Compensation/Human Resources Stephen Mathis, Arbitrator Michael J. McCue, Director of Risk Management David B. Menchetti, Esq. Matt Murphy, R-27th District Bridget Neuson, RN, BSN, JD, President Diane M. Pidgeon Jay Dee F. Shattuck, CAE, President John Smolk Robert B. Ulrich, Esq., Partner Sandra Usselmann, RN, CCM, President Richard A. Victor, J.D., Ph.D., Executive Director Francis “Buzz” Walsh Nancy J. Wolfe, Esq., First Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew S. Zelby, M.D., F.A.C.S., Neurosurgeon Diana Alvarez Diana Alvarez is currently responsible for directing key workers’ compensation initiatives for 25 hotels in the Midwest Region and part of the Eastern Region (Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania). Ms. Alvarez oversees the hotels to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local workers’ compensation and safety laws. She also oversees initiatives relating to cost containment and the performance of workers’ compensation carriers, and monitors medical management on all claims. Ms. Alvarez partners with Human Resource teams to train and support workers’ compensation responsibilities. Ms. Alvarez has worked in various settings such as the hospital, manufacturing, and insurance industries; field case management; and in the medical office of a spine surgeon, which has provided her with a well-rounded view of injury prevention and claims management. Mario Basurto Commissioner Mario Basurto has served as a Business Representative on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission since March 1, 2005. He is a life-long resident of Chicago, growing up on Chicago’s West Side. He attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. Commissioner Basurto received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Champaign, Urbana. He received his Law Degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1993, where he served as the President of the Latino Law Students Association. Following law school, Commissioner Basurto worked at a small Plaintiff and Petitioner’s firm. He spent the last ten years prior to joining the Commission, as a trial lawyer for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. In addition to his litigation duties, he also served as an assistant supervisor. He has twelve years of litigation experience. During the five years prior to his appointment to the Commission, Commissioner Basurto also chaired Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Hearings. Glen Boyle Glen Boyle is president of True Course Medical Data Analysis and Claim Services – Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His undergraduate degree is from Marquette University and he earned his law degree from Golden Gate University. Boyle has provided medical cost containment and consulting services to employers and the insurance industry since 1990. In addition to his work on the cost containment side, he has prepared numerous studies on medical costs, fee schedules, and other related workers’ compensation issues for the State of Wisconsin, State of Illinois, the IAIABC, and other industry participants. Boyle is currently working on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission’s fee schedule as the project manager. Elena E. Butkus Elena Butkus is Vice President, Finance & Corporate Officer of the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) and has served in this position since January, 2004. IHA represents more than 200 Illinois hospitals and health systems and the patients and communities they serve. In her current position she is in charge of public policy issues related to hospital finance and the private market. Issues falling under her area include hospital costs, commercial insurance, insurance reform, workers’ compensation, fee schedules, risk pooling arrangements, guaranty funds, and the uninsured. In addition, she is responsible for forecasting future delivery systems issues and developing responses. From 1996 to 2003, Elena Butkus served as both Executive Director and Associate Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Health Plans (IAHP) reporting to a Board of insurance company chief executives. In that capacity, Ms. Butkus oversaw an organization, which provides health insurance companies in the Illinois managed care market with political lobbying, regulatory representation, education and media relations. In addition, there were over 55 other corporate entities, which were associate members of the Association. From 1987 to 1996, Elena Butkus worked for the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS), where she served as Director in the Health Care Finance Division. In addition, Elena Butkus worked for several years in Baxter’s Corporate Communications Division. She has been a registered lobbyist in Illinois since 1995. In 2006, the Governor appointed and the Senate confirmed Elena Butkus to the Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedule Advisory Board and she most recently joined the Board of Directors of the Self Insurance Association of Illinois. In addition, for 2002, Crain’s Chicago Business named Ms. Butkus one of their picks for “Forty Under 40” -- “the area’s best and brightest.” The same year Elena Butkus joined the Board of Directors of the Gilead Center, which addresses local and state public policy and referral issues for the uninsured population in Illinois. She has been bestowed other Governor’s Office and State agency appointments including the Illinois Health Care Credentials Council, which coordinates hospital and insurance company credentialing activities for the State and the Illinois Health Care Cost Containment Council. Elena Butkus is a 1985 graduate of Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications. Jesse P. Butler, MD Dr. Jesse P. Butler graduated from Southern Methodist University Cum Laude with a BA in Chemistry & Economics. He attended medical school at Finch University/Chicago Medical School, orthopaedic residency at Northwestern University and completed a 1-year spine fellowship at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center under the direction of Dr. Howard An. He was certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners in 1993 and certified Diplomat by the American Board or Orthopaedic Surgery in 2000. Dr. Butler continues to perform research for DePuy Spine, Medtronic, Kyphon, and is also a Medical Director and Director/Surgical Advisory Board at Vertebral Technologies. Dr. Butler has been treating patients in the workers’ compensation industry for over 9 years and is board certified and fellowship trained in Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Butler was appointed to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Medical Fee Advisory Board in 2005. Dr. Butler’s areas of practice include: adult revision/ reconstructive surgery, cervical/thoracic/lumbar spine disorders; occupational injury/workers’ compensation; degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, sciatica, spinal stenosis & spondylolithesis; osteoporotic compression fractures; Independent Medical Exams (IME). Dennis Downing Dennis Downing is CEO and Founder of Future Industrial Technologies (F.I.T.), an international organization with the goal of reducing workers’ compensation costs through effective injury prevention protocols. For over 11 years he has worked with companies large and small across America. Through the practical applications of BACKSAFE(r) and SITTINGSAFE(r) employees around the world have benefited from reduced injuries and improved quality of life, while companies have enjoyed lower work comp costs and increased employee morale. Mark M. Flannery Mark M. Flannery is the Workers' Compensation Manager for Caterpillar Inc. and subsidiaries. He earned his J.D. at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1985, with distinction, and engaged in the private practice of law, focusing on workers' compensation defense of employers, until joining Caterpillar Inc. in August 2003. He currently sits on the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Advisory Board as the representative of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, having been appointed by the Governor in September 2005. Christopher J. Gibbons Mr. Christopher J. Gibbons is a Shareholder at the Chicago Law Firm Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C., Executive Secretary of the Illinois Self-Insurers’ Association and Chair of the Illinois Employer Workers’ Compensation Coalition (Tuesday Working Group). Mr. Gibbons earned his Juris Doctorate in 1992 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and since then has defended the interests of Illinois self-insured employers and insurance companies in the workers’ compensation and liability fields. Mr. Gibbons’ clients include Advocate Health Care, Caterpillar, Inc., Commonwealth Edison/Exelon and Exxon Mobil. He is also a frequent speaker, having spoken most recently at the 2007 Illinois Self-Insurers’ Association Annual Meeting. The Illinois-Self Insurers’ Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing and promoting the interests of self-insured employers in Illinois. For more information on the ISIA, please visit http://www.illinoisselfinsurance.org. Robert Johnson Robert Johnson is Managing Counsel for McDonald's Corporation where he is responsible for the oversight and management of all workers’ compensation claims initiated against the company. McDonald's Corporation is the leading quick service restaurant in the world. McDonald's, a Fortune 500 corporation serves over 52 million customers daily in over 100 countries worldwide. Mr. Johnson is directly responsible for the management, supervision coordination and defense of every aspect of workers’ compensation indemnity claims. His oversight and management of the litigation process includes decision-making authority regarding sensitive cases brought against McDonald's by customers. Prior to assuming his current role, Robert held the position of Senior Counsel with the McDonald’s Customer Action Team. In this capacity, Mr. Johnson was directly responsible for managing the litigation brought against McDonald’s Corporation as a result of customer complaints and injuries. He was also responsible for managing sensitive litigation across the United States and consulted the McDonald’s international markets frequently on issues related to crisis management and customer litigation. Mr. Johnson formerly owned Robert Johnson & Associates Ltd., a full service law firm and consulting firm specializing in representing various business and individual clients in commercial and civil litigation. He was involved in numerous negotiations to resolve disputed matters and served as the chief architect that structured various commercial deals for individual and business clients. Prior to starting his own firm, Mr. Johnson worked as a civil trial attorney for several prominent defense firms where he represented a number of Fortune 500 clients and various individuals. He gained extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution and negotiated many complex deals. Mr. Johnson has extensive experience in consulting individuals and companies regarding risk assessment and reduction. He has specialized in developing programs to prevent business hazards and reduce legal exposure. He has also presented numerous seminars on crisis management and avoidance. As a complement to his legal and consulting experience, Mr. Johnson also has a special emphasis on addressing diversity and social responsibility issues. He has served as chair of numerous organizations and committees that address issues focusing on various diversity and pro bono concerns. He has actively addressed issues of diversity and the role that diversity initiatives play in risk reduction and crisis management strategies. Mr. Johnson received his Juris Doctorate for the University of Illinois College of law and dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Economic and Business Administration, and Sociology and Anthropology from Knox College. He also currently serves in leadership positions on various boards and in several organizations that emphasize youth development and economic development in undeserved communities. Eugene Keefe, Esq. Mr. Keefe’s areas of practice include workers’ compensation, employment litigation and general liability. His professional affiliations are with the Chicago Bar Association; Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association; Workers’ Compensation Claims Association; Arbitrator, Cook County Mandatory Court Annexed Arbitration; and the Editor of Workers’ Compensation Law Update, July 1992-present. His written work has been published in the Journal of Workers’ Compensation, Vol. 4, No. 2, Winter, 1995, Standard Press, Boston, MA, and he is Co-Author of The Road to Understanding Workers’ Compensation. He is a frequent lecturer on workers’ compensation and employment law. He earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola University of Chicago and his Juris Doctorate at John Marshall Law School where he was member of the John Marshall Law Review. Gene has been appointed an adjunct professor at John Marshall Law School and will be teaching Workers’ Compensation Law in the spring 2007 term. Larry Krause Larry Krause has been the Risk Manager for the City of Champaign since May 1999. He is a board member of the Illinois Self Insurer's Association, President of the Eastern Illinois Safety Network and President of the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society. Prior to joining the City, he was the Loss Prevention/Office Service Manager for the Sun-Sentinel, a Tribune Company newspaper in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was the Risk Manager for Discovery Zone, an indoor playground chain from 1993 to 1997, and was involved in retail loss prevention and claims management for the J.L. Hudson Company, Saks Fifth Avenue, Target Stores and Venture Stores with positions ranging from uniformed guard to Regional Assets Protection Manager. He has been involved in safety, claims management and workers' compensation since the early 1980s. Richard W. Lenkov, Esq. Richard W. Lenkov, Esquire, is a partner and trial attorney in the Chicago, Illinois, law firm of BryceDowney, LLC. He received his BA from McGill University and his JD from Northern Illinois University. Attorney Lenkov is Panel Chairman of the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program and an active member of the Defense Research Institute, DuPage County Bar Association, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Manufacturer's Association, Illinois Retail Merchant's Association, Illinois Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association and Workers' Compensation Claims Association. Attorney Lenkov's practice areas include workers' compensation and personal injury defense. Nancy Lindsay Nancy Lindsay has served as a commissioner since June, 2006. She was an attorney and shareholder with Ramelkamp Bradney, P.C. from 1989 to 2006. Her primary area of concentration was workers’ compensation, and she represented small businesses, major corporations, self-insured, and insurance companies at all levels of workers’ compensation proceedings. Commissioner Lindsay has served on the board of directors for the Illinois College Alumni Association, the Morgan County Health Department, and the Sherwood Eddy YMCA. She is a member of the David A. Smith House Board, Illinois College, the Reverend James Caldwell Chapter, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Commissioner Lindsay earned her B.A., summa cum laude, from Illinois College and her M.A. from Sangamon State University (n/k/a University of Illinois Springfield). She received her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law. She is permitted to practice in both the State of Illinois and the U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois. Senator Terry Link Senator Terry Link, D-Waukegan was re-elected in 2006 to a 4th term as State Senator of the 30th District. Link was born in Waukegan and has remained a lifelong resident of Lake County. Senator Link was first elected to the State Senate in November of 1996. He currently serves as Majority Caucus Chair, and as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Revenue Committee. In addition, he is a member of the Financial Institutions: Local Government and Appropriations II Committees. Senator Link was also appointed to the Illinois Economic Development Board, which will allow him to assist local officials in attracting new businesses to the region and in creating new jobs for local residents. He recently served on the Toll Highway Financial Restructuring Committee, an ad hoc board that reviews the financial condition of the Authority and explores restructuring alternatives. Prior to entering the Senate, Link was a partner in Major Industrial Trucking, a Lake County industrial equipment business. Link also worked at Johnson Controls in the governmental affairs division. He embarked on his career in government, and learned the intricate workings of Illinois government, through service with the State Treasurer’s office and the Secretary of State’s Office. Senator Link is an active member of a number of organizations throughout the 30th Senate District. These include: member of the Lake County Child Care Coalition and College of Lake County Foundation Board member. He is also a participating member in the Chambers of Commerce in several of his Municipalities, and a NICASA Board member. Through his service in the Senate and in Lake County, Senator Link has been recognized by a number of organizations. These include the prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship and BILLD Fellowship for outstanding leadership in the General Assembly; recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Illinois Committee of Honest Government: Lake County AFL-CIO Person of the Year, recipient of NICASA Partners Award: recipient of JCYS Mitzvah Award; recipient of the Chicago Horticultural Society Award: recipient of the Barat College Presidential Award; and recipient of Psychological Society of Illinois Legislator of Year Award; recipient of NICASA Humanitarian Award. In 2002 Senator Link received the Helmet Award from the Associate Fire Fighters of Illinois in recognition of his efforts on behalf of fire fighters across the state. Senator Link was the recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers – Northeastern District. In the spring of 2003, 2004 Legislator of the Year award from the Public Transportation Association and the 2004 Friend of Agriculture award from the Lake County Farm Bureau and Illinois Farm Bureau. In October 2003, the Illinois Environmental Council awarded Senator Link a 100% Environmental Voting Record Award for his leadership in the Illinois General Assembly, during the 2003 Spring Legislative Session in support of a healthful environment. Numerous awards have been presented to him again in 2006 and 2007. His present term ends in 2009 and he is seeking re-election. William A. Lowry, Esq. William Lowry is a shareholder with Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C., a Chicago law firm with 23 attorneys, where he conducts a trial and appellate practice in Workers' Compensation on behalf of employers. He is admitted to the Bar in Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. His areas of specialty are trial and appellate practice in workers' compensation and employer liability law. His clients include General Motors Corporation, Marriott International, City of Aurora, International Truck and Engine Corporation (Navistar), University of Illinois, Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc., and the Illinois Hospital Association. He is a member of the American Bar Association, The Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association (Section on Workers' Compensation Law), Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Cook County Bar Association, The Economic Club of Chicago, Durban/Chicago Sister Cities Committee. He is the author of: "The Expansion of the Accidental Injury Concept in Repetitive Trauma Cases," ISIA Bulletin (January, 1989); and "Mental-to-Mental Stress Claims in Illinois," Illinois Bar Journal (April, 1992). He has presented seminar lectures to Illinois Self-Insurers Association, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Associated Employers of Illinois/Management Association of Illinois, Lorman Education Services, Illinois Workers' Compensation Coal Group, The Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and Chicago Dental Society. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS), Lake Forest College, and The Ancona School. Mr. Lowry received his undergraduate degree from Lake Forest College and Juris Doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago. Stephen J. Mathis Arbitrator Stephen J. Mathis graduated from of the University of South Florida in 1980 and John Marshall Law School in 1985. From 1986 to 1996 he worked as legal counsel to the Illinois State Senate. In 1996 he was appointed an Arbitrator with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. He is currently assigned to the Springfield and Mattoon dockets. He has presented at numerous workers’ compensation seminars. David B. Menchetti, Esq. David B. Menchetti is a shareholder in Cullen, Haskins, Nicholson & Menchetti, P.C. in Chicago and concentrates his practice in the representation of injured workers throughout Illinois before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Circuit Courts and the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. He graduated from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law (JD) and attained an undergraduate degree (BA) with distinction from Stanford University. Mr. Menchetti is a former staff counsel to Illinois State Senate President Philip J. Rock and concentrated in legislation dealing with insurance, pensions and licensed activities. He has served as counsel to Illinois State Senate Minority Leader and Senate President Emil Jones, Jr. and advised about and drafted reforms to the Workers’ Compensation Act in 1989 and 1991. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association (Workers’ Compensation Law Section Council Chair and Legislation Committee member); the Chicago Bar Association (Industrial Commission Committee Chair ); the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (Workers’ Compensation Committee Chair); the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association (President); the American Association for Justice (Workplace Injury Section); and the Workplace Injury Litigation Group. He has authored the chapter on “Penalties” in the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Workers’ Compensation Notebook, and has lectured on workers’ compensation issues for the Illinois State Bar Association; the Chicago Bar Association; the National Business Institute: the Council on Education in Management; the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education; the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Claims Association; the judicial training program for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission; the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission; the United Food and Commercial Workers Union; Combined Orthopedic Specialists; the Illinois Bones Association; and at Kankakee Community College. He serves as an advisor to the Illinois AFL-CIO on workers’ compensation matters and participated in the negotiations and drafted the amendments contained in the historic 2005 Workers’ Compensation reform legislation. He is listed in the Who’s Who in American Law, has been designated as one of the Best Lawyers in America and has been selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer and a Super Lawyer. The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association has presented him the President’s Award. He was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board. Senator Matt Murphy State Senator Matt Murphy was elected to the Illinois Senate in November 2006, to represent the 27th District which is comprised of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Inverness, Palatine, Prospect Heights, and South Barrington. Senator Murphy has already established his legislative priorities, and will fight for balanced budgets, to protect education funding, to provide affordable health care, and for honest, ethical government. Senator Murphy is a life-long resident of the northwest suburbs. He grew up in Mt. Prospect and attended St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. Murphy is an alumnus of the University of Iowa, and graduated from the John Marshall Law School in 1996 with a J.D. Currently, Senator Murphy is a practicing attorney with Brian J. McManus & Assoc. in Chicago. In 2003, Senator Murphy was elected to serve as a Trustee on the Harper College Board of Trustees. Murphy was able to draw on his knowledge of the community, business expertise, and integrity to lead the charge on providing quality higher education, while keeping tuition rates affordable for the community. During his tenure, Murphy supported balanced budgets that did not raise executive salaries. He also formed partnerships with universities that offer four-year degrees, further expanding the education opportunities available to local residents. Additionally, Senator Murphy served as a Trustee on the Greater Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce from 2003-2004. Senator Murphy currently serves as the co-chairman of the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence. Bridget A. Neuson, RN, BSN, JD Ms. Neuson, a nurse and attorney, practices law in the areas of employment law, workers’ compensation and civil litigation defense. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois and Wisconsin, and is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, the U.S. District Courts in Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, The American Association of Nurse Attorneys, and the Chicago Area Nurse Attorneys Association. She is currently serving as a Director of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys. Ms. Neuson’s reported cases include National Manufacturing v. The Industrial Commission, 331 Ill. App 3d 1045 (3rd Dist., 2002); Hydraulics v. Industrial Commission, 329 Ill. App. 3d 166 (2nd Dist., 2002); Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute v. Industrial Commission, 314 Ill. App. 3d 149 (1st Dist. 2000); Palos Electric Company v. Industrial Commission, 314 Ill. App. 3d 920 (1st Dist. 2000); and Effremidis v. Industrial Commission, 308 Ill. App. 3d 915 (1st Dist. 1999). Ms. Neuson’s publications include, Avoiding Discrimination Claims When Interviewing Job Candidates, Vol. 38, No. 2, Nursing Management, page 16, February, 2007; What You Don’t Know About the FMLA Can Hurt You, Vol. 37, No. 5, Nursing Management, page 14, May, 2006; Properly Investigate Harassment Complaints, Vol. 36, No. 6, Nursing Management, page 14, June, 2005; Facts Come First With Work Injuries, Vol. 36 No. 3, Nursing Management, page 20, March, 2005; Recent Developments In Employment Law, 37 Tort & Insurance Law Journal 391 (2002) (co-author); Sexual Harassment: Supreme Court Adopts New Standard on Student to Student Sexual Harassment, Monograph for ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) (co-author); Sexual Harassment Liability Under Title VII, Monograph for ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) (co-author), 1998. Ms. Neuson has been a Registered Nurse in Illinois since 1985, and received a Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Loyola University of Chicago (1985) and a J.D., with high honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law (1994), where she was a member of the Law Review. Ms. Neuson represents and counsels employers in Illinois and Wisconsin. She frequently speaks to business and professional groups on the subjects of Employment Law, Workers’ Compensation, discrimination law, and litigation. Diane M. Pidgeon Ms. Pidgeon has been at her position with Advocate Health Care since 1995. In her position, she manages and coordinates all activities of a self insured workers’ compensation program for eight hospitals, occupational health facilities and home care products involving approximately 27,000 employees. She previously held positions with Lutheran General Health System, Cook County Hospital and Public Health Service/Centers for Disease Control. She received a BS in Health Education/Community Health Education from Russell Sage College and a graduate degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois. Diane recently received her certification in workers compensation from the Workers’ Compensation Center, School of Labor & Industrial Relations, Michigan State University. She is the current President of the Illinois Self Insurers Association and has been a member of the Board of Directors for eight years. Jay Dee F. Shattuck, CAE Jay Shattuck formed Shattuck & Associates Consulting, Inc. in 1997 after twenty years of lobbying the Illinois General Assembly on behalf of various business organizations. In 1993, Mr. Shattuck's Springfield team was recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) as a recipient of ASAE's prestigious Award of Excellence in Government Relations. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. Mr. Shattuck received his Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 1992 and recently was recertified through 2007. Actively involved in a number of professional and civic organizations, he is a past president of the Illinois Society of Association Executives (ISAE), a past chairman of the Business and Industry for Economic Concerns (BIFEC) and President of Project Safe Illinois. Mr. Shattuck served as one of three Illinois business leaders appointed by the Governor to the Illinois Industrial Commission Advisory Council. No stranger to the Illinois legislative process, Mr. Shattuck previously held high-profile, senior level lobbying positions with the Associated Employers of Illinois (1987-1996), Central Illinois Public Service Co. (1983-1987) and the Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (1978-1983). He is one of the state's most respected business lobbyist and association executive. His imprint is on many insurance, energy and employment law statutes and regulations considered by the General Assembly and Illinois state government for the past twenty-five years. Robert B. Ulrich, Esq. Mr. Ulrich is a founding partner of the law firm of Maciorowski, Sackmann & Ulrich. Prior to that he was a partner in the Chicago office of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson representing management in employment litigation, including workers' compensation, wrongful discharge, and employment discrimination. Much of Mr. Ulrich’s experience includes cases involving repetitive trauma, statutory causes of action, strict liability and negligence. He has also handled product liability cases involving chemicals, industrial equipment and common law negligence. In the area of insurance law, Mr. Ulrich’s experience includes bad faith and related punitive damages claims and some ERISA work. In the area of workers’ compensation, he is on the staff of the Center for Human Resources for the University of Wisconsin conducting courses in Illinois workers' compensation cost controls. Mr. Ulrich is also a contributing author for Illinois Jurisprudence on workers' compensation. Education
Bar Memberships
Affiliations Management Chair, American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, Committee on Workers’ Compensation Law (1992-1998) Publications
Sandra K. Usselmann, RN, CCM Ms. Usselmann is a Registered Nurse and Certified Case Manager with an extensive clinical background in Orthopedics and Neurosurgery. In 1984, she was part of a human resources/ medical team with a national restaurant chain, Red Lobster Inns of America, which pioneered one of the first employer-based Utilization Review Programs. She assisted in the development and administration of a regional HMO for the Hospital Sisters Health System in Illinois, and its Independent Physician Association and Provider Network. She has been providing medical case management services in the field of workers’ compensation and liability since 1989. She is a consultant for Best Doctors catastrophic case management program, a member of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IIARP), and is the Southern Illinois Coordinator for the Workers’ Compensation Claims Association. She educates and lectures on quality care and the cost containment benefits of proactive medical case management. Ms. Usselmann founded Paragon Health Services, Inc. in 1993 and is the Medical Services Director for E.P.S Rehabilitation, Inc. These organizations, in concert, have been establishing excellence in providing ethical medical and vocational rehabilitation services primarily in Illinois, Eastern and Southern Missouri, as well as the surrounding states, for workers’ compensation, liability, catastrophic, short and long term disability cases. Additional services include, but are not limited to, Medical Bill Audits, short or long term Medical Cost Projections and Needs Assessments, Forensic File Reviews and testimony, job placement, job modifications, Labor Market Surveys, and Transferable Skills Analyses. They provide job coaching and consult with employers on injury prevention, ADA compliance, transitional and return-to work programs. Their primary focus is on the review and development of proactive Disability Management Programs which promote quality care for injured workers and maximize savings and outcomes for the Insured. Richard A. Victor, J.D., Ph.D. Dr. Victor has been the Executive Director of the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) since its inception in 1983. The Institute, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is an independent, not-for-profit research organization providing high-quality objective information about public policy issues involving workers’ compensation systems. Dr. Victor is the author of numerous books and articles on workers’ compensation issues. Prior to working at the Institute, Dr. Victor spent seven years conducting research at The Rand Corporation in both Washington, D.C., and Santa Monica, California. At Rand, he was a principal researcher at the Institute for Civil Justice. Dr. Victor received his J.D. and Ph.D. (economics) degrees at the University of Michigan, where he was the George Humphrey Fellow in Law and Economic Policy. Andrew S. Zelby, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Zelby is a neurosurgeon based in the western suburbs of Chicago. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at Loyola University Medical Center, and a fellowship in spine surgery at Rush University Medical Center. He was faculty in both neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery at Loyola before going into private practice. He is on the staffs of four suburban hospitals, and was a clinical associate in neurosurgery at the University of Chicago. He currently holds an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Rush University Medical Center. His practice covers all aspects of neurosurgery, with an emphasis on spine care. His spine practice includes conservative management and surgical management, including minimally invasive surgery and motion preservation procedures. He is board certified in neurosurgery, is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
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