WCI Launches Diversity & Inclusion Program

(West Palm Beach, FL) – The Workers’ Compensation Institute announces its inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program and DEI Council at its annual conference in Orlando, Florida. This 2-hour event, “Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Excellence: Why Workers’ Compensation and Why Now?” is scheduled for: Monday, December 13^th 2021 – 9:00 am to 11:00 am., Margaret Spence and Yvonne Guibert have been tapped to lead this new initiative.

This program focuses on concrete steps that any organization can take, at any size, to build a sustainable diversity and inclusion culture. Building a diversity program that significantly affects performance is not complicated; however, many initiatives fail to influence change – you will learn from your peers what works and what doesn’t.    

The past year has shown us why we must move diversity beyond lofty policies and mission statements to sustainable visual actions.  This event will guide you on building and sustaining a culture of inclusion while adding diverse talent to your teams. “I’m so excited to be on this journey with an amazing group of leaders. I’m confident that we will be able to foster great inclusion and opportunity for diverse professionals in the workers’ compensation and insurance sectors,” said Margaret Spence.

The Program:

• 9 am – 10 am:  The Critical Component of a Sustainable Diversity, Inclusion, and Women’s Leadership Program
• 10 am – 11am:  Talent Management Within The Workers’ Compensation Industry – How Do We Sustain Diversity and Inclusion While Building an Effective Talent Pipeline.

Our Focus Areas: 

• Becoming a Leader in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equality
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Building A Sustainable Culture of Inclusion and Belonging
• Strategic Shifts and Specific Actions: Creating an Inclusive Workspaces and Career Advancement

This event provides the opportunity for you to learn from your peers and build a new vision for greater diversity and inclusion at every level within the workers' compensation industry. Our roundtable will bring together: Educators, Colleges, Insurance Carriers, Third-Party Administrators, Risk Managers, Employers, Attorneys, and Vendor Partners. Our Platinum Sponsors: Gallagher Bassett Services and Mollie Kallen Case Management-MKRS

Attendees Must Pre-Register For The Event, Visit WCI360 Website: www.WCI360.com

Our Speaker Line-up:

Executive Sponsor: Jim McConnaughhay, Esq. Founder and General Chairman WCI (Tallahassee, FL)

Committee Chair:

• Margaret Spence, CWC, CEO - C. Douglas & Associates, Inc. Founder, The Inclusion Learning Lab (West Palm Beach, FL)
• Yvonne Guibert, Vice President, WorkCompCentral (Tampa, FL)

Moderators:

• Rafael Gonzalez, Esq. – Partner, Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC (Tampa, FL)
• Ya’Sheaka C. Williams, Esq. – Partner, Eraclides & Gellman (Tampa, FL)

Plenary and Roundtable Speakers Representing:

Educators:

• Erin O’Hara O’Connor, JD – Dean and McKenzie Professor, Florida State University College of Law (Tallahassee, FL)
• Carmen Johnson, Esq., Executive Diversity Officer at Stetson University College (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Velmarie L. Albertini, Ph.D. – Dean of Curriculum, Palm Beach State College (West Palm Beach, FL)

Carrier/TPA:

• Julia Oltmanns – Asst. Vice President & Asst. General Counsel, Zurich North America, Corporate Law (Dubuque, IA)
• Sabrina Taylor Mitchell, CWC, CWCL – Asst. Vice President of Claims, Southeast Region at PMA Companies (Tampa, FL)
• Caryn Siebert, JD – Vice President of Carrier Practice, Gallagher Bassett (Orange County, CA)
• Shani Wright – Assistant Branch Manager, Gallagher Bassett (Daytona Beach, FL)

Risk Managers:

• Brenda Cogdell, Director, Risk, and Safety Division at Hillsborough County (Tampa, FL)
• Rosa Royo, Director of Workers’ Compensation and Loss Prevention, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (Miami, FL)

Legal, Association, and Vendor Partners:

• Gina Jacobs, Esq. Partner, Cole, Scott, & Kissane (Orlando, FL)
• Whitnee Dillard – Director, Diversity and Inclusion, Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (Big-I) (Washington, DC)
• Carlos Luna, Vice President of Marketing and Development RISICO and Hispanic Insurance & Risk Management Association (Denver, CO)

Platinum Sponsors: Gallagher Bassett and Mollie Kallen Case Management- MKCM

Program Sponsors: PMA Companies, Zurich, The Inclusion Learning Lab, WorkCompCentral, Cole Scott, & Kissane, Hillsborough County, Eraclides Gellman, The Big I, HIRMA, Swiftivity, and Cattie & Gonzalez. 

Our Education Partners:

Florida State University, Stetson University, Palm Beach State College, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools   

About WCI 

The Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) is a nonprofit educational organization that serves as a comprehensive resource to all workers’ compensation stakeholders. WCI sponsors the annual Workers’ Compensation Education Conference and brings together workers’ compensation professionals from across the country. To learn more, visit www.wci360.com 

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