For many in the Illinois workers’ compensation community, was more than an industry event. It was a deliberate in building something stronger: a more connected, collaborative space where claims professionals, attorneys, employers, vendors, and risk leaders could move beyond transactional conversations and focus on practical solutions together.

In an industry often shaped by complexity, competing priorities and rising claim challenges, creating space for meaningful collaboration matters more than ever.

And the timing is important. Workplace injuries continue to carry significant human and financial impact across the country, with employers navigating rising medical costs, mental health considerations, return-to-work challenges, and increasingly complex claims environments, private industry employers reported approximately 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2024 alone, underscoring the continued importance of helping injured employees recover safely. Yet many professionals continue to face those challenges in silos, separated by role, organization or perspective.

set out to change that.

Building Something More Connected

For Abbi Brock, Workers’ Compensation Claims Resolution Specialist at ���Ĵ�ý, involvement as a founding member of the organization came from recognizing an opportunity to create a different kind of industry experience — one rooted not only in education, but in authentic connection and actionable discussion.

“There are a lot of great events out there,” Brock explains, “But we saw an opportunity to build a space that felt a bit more connected — where industry professionals could have honest conversations about the challenges we’re all facing.”

The response suggested that a vision had been needed all along.

Throughout the conference, the most meaningful conversations often extended beyond the scheduled sessions. Panel discussions evolved into hallway conversations, and hallway conversations became opportunities to exchange ideas across roles, organizations and perspectives. What emerged was something deeper than networking; it became much more of a shared recognition that many organizations are navigating the same challenges and that meaningful progress often begins by bringing people together earlier and more intentionally.

“It didn’t feel like just another conference,” Brock says. “It felt like people were genuinely invested in learning from each other and improving how we approach claims.”

Connecting the Dots Before Claims Spiral

One of the conference’s standout discussions centered on Brock’s panel: Red Flags and Rescue: Connecting the Dots Before Claims Spiral.

The conversation focused on a growing reality within Workers’ Compensation: claims rarely become complex overnight. More often, escalation begins with smaller indicators — communication breakdowns, delayed interventions, psychosocial concerns, or missed opportunities to coordinate care and return-to-work efforts proactively.

The panel emphasized recognizing those signals early, improving communication across stakeholders and acting before smaller concerns developed into more complex claims. Recent that cases involving days away from work resulted in an average of eight days away from work. Stats like this help highlight the importance of timely communication, coordinated care and effective return-to-work strategies.

“Successful outcomes often come down to connecting the dots,” Brock explains. “Whether that’s between medical care, return-to-work efforts or the psychosocial factors influencing recovery, early communication often creates opportunities to change the trajectory of a claim.”

That proactive mindset reflects a broader evolution taking place across the Workers’ Compensation industry. As claims environments grow more nuanced, organizations increasingly recognize that strong outcomes depend not only on technical expertise, but on communication, partnership, and early intervention strategies that keep people moving forward.

Perhaps no message captured that mindset more clearly than one simple reminder shared during the discussion.

“In the words of Lindsay Huffman, AVP of Workers’ Compensation Claims here at ���Ĵ�ý,” Brock shared, “‘Say less, listen more.’�ĝ

Simple in phrasing, but powerful in practice.

Behind the scenes, bringing IL Work Comp Connect to life required months of coordination, planning, and shared commitment among organizers and industry partners. But for Brock, the turnout ultimately validated the larger purpose behind the effort.

Momentum Built Through Collaboration

“When you’re building something from the ground up, there’s always a level of uncertainty,” she says. “But seeing the engagement really validated the vision we had.”

Attendees responded with the same enthusiasm, expressing appreciation for having an event in Illinois dedicated not just to presentations, but to meaningful industry dialogue and practical learning opportunities.

That sense of momentum may ultimately become the conference’s greatest success. , sharing injury and illness data helps employers identify workplace hazards and strengthen prevention efforts. Conferences like expand that idea by creating opportunities for professionals to exchange experiences, discuss emerging challenges and learn from one another.

Rather than repeating the same conversations year after year, organizers hope to continue evolving the event around the topics the Illinois workers’ compensation community wants to explore most.

“This year really set the foundation,” Brock says. “I think we’re just getting started.

Stronger Outcomes Start with Stronger Connections

At its core, demonstrated that the industry’s greatest opportunities often begin with a conversation.

Because the strongest outcomes rarely happen in isolation. They’re built through relationships. Through shared expertise. Through people willing to listen carefully, act early, and work together toward better solutions for injured workers and employers alike.

At ���Ĵ�ý, we believe those moments matter. Helping organizations navigate risk, strengthen workplace outcomes, and build resilient partnerships takes more than technical knowledge alone — it requires people willing to meet challenges head-on and move the conversation forward together.

Behind every meaningful change in insurance are people leading and willing to share what they’ve learned. ���Ĵ�ý’s expert employees regularly contribute their expertise to industry conversations—through articles, panels, and speaking engagements—helping translate real-world experience into ideas that strengthen the insurance experience for our agents and policyholders.

���Ĵ�ý Guidewire Transformation Team – 2025 Innovation Award Winner, Guidewire Connections Conference, (Watch some of the ���Ĵ�ý team talk about the impact of our Guidewire initiative

Steve Donnelly, Chief Service Officer – Elected Board Member, RISE Advisory Board,

Matt Latham, Purchasing Manager – Presenter and speaker, From Pitch to Approval: Building a Business Case for CLM,

Ryan Anderson, Risk Management Technology Manager – Presenter and speaker, Leveraging Technology to Improve Workplace Safety,

Kimberly Vaughn, Vice President of Claims – Presenter and panel member with the Topics included:

AI Wins and Wipeouts: Lessons from the Insurance Frontlines

Fireside Chat: Communication & Executive Presence

Strategic Litigation Management: Driving Efficiency, Controlling Costs, and Protecting the Brand

Meg Palchak, Loss Sensitive Programs Experience Manager – Winner, 2025 Guidewire All-Star Class, Guidewire

Ashley Parker, Risk Management Manager – Presenter and speaker,��Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS) Conference,

John Coffaro, AVP of Premium Audit – Presenter and panel member,��Increasing Auditor Efficiency and Reducing Operational Strain and ���Ĵ�ý’s Payroll Validator,

Stay tuned for more in Q1! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from ���Ĵ�ý right here on the��Newsroom��each quarter.

Ashley Parker, Senior Risk Management Consultant – President-Elect, American Society of Safety Professionals – Heart of America Chapter,

Brian Wilsher, Director of Program Business – Speaker and “Phenoms Under 40” award recipient, Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Annual Conference,

Kathleen Babilon, Risk Management Specialist – Presenter and speaker, Rising Auto Rates: The Cost of Distracted Driving and Nuclear Verdicts,

Kimberly Vaughn, Vice President of Claims – Presenter and speaker, From Peer to Manager: Navigating the Leadership Transition,

Matt Latham, Purchasing Manager – Presenter and speaker, From Pitch to Approval: Building a Business Case for CLM,

Ryan Anderson, Risk Management Technology Manager – Presenter and speaker, Leveraging Technology to Improve Workplace Safety,

Steve Donnelly, Chief Service Officer – Presenter and speaker, Litigation Management Hot Takes: Insights from the Task Force,

Tyah Williamson, Senior Claims Adjuster – Presenter and speaker, Workers’ Compensation 101,

Stay tuned for more in Q3! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from ���Ĵ�ý right here on the��Newsroom��each quarter.

Greg Crabb, President and CEO – Roundtable speaker, How to Move Forward on Legal System Abuse Reform,

Steve Donnelly, Chief Service Officer – Presenter and speaker, Litigation Management Hot Takes: Insights from the Task Force,

Enjonli Hutchison, Risk Management Manager; Kathleen Babilon, Risk Management Specialist; George Pavarini, VP of Complex & Specialty Commercial Claims – Presenter and speakers, The Nuclear Verdict Experience for Commercial Auto,

Ryan Anderson, Risk Management Technology Manager – Presenter and speaker, Exosuit Case Study: Deploying Exosuits to Improve Worker Well-being and Improve Productivity,

Matt Latham, Purchasing Manager – Presenter and speaker, Pitch to Approval: Building a Business Case for CLM,

Ashley Parker, Senior Risk Management Consultant – Presenter and speaker, Claims Management: A Key to Your Safety Program,

Marcus Rasberry, Risk Management and Lead Property Specialist – Podcast guest and speaker, Insurance and the Psychology of Risk,

George Pavarini, VP of Complex & Specialty Commercial Claims – Presenter and speaker, ���Ĵ�ý Response to Social Inflation and Reptile Litigation Tactics,

Abbi Brock, Rotational Claims Specialist – Worker’s Compensation – Roundtable presenter, Functional Capacity Evaluations and Use in Worker’s Compensation Litigation,

Stay tuned for more in Q2! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from ���Ĵ�ý right here on the��Newsroom��each quarter.

Amjed Al-Zoubi, Chief Information Officer – Presenter and keynote speaker, Agility, Acceleration and an 8th Grade Band,

Brian Wilsher, Director of Claims Program Business – Award-winner, 2024 Phenoms Under 40, CLM

John Coffaro, Premium Audit Manager – Presenter and speaker on ���Ĵ�ý’s revolutionary Premium Audit Portal,

Kimberly Vaughn, Vice President of Claims – Conference panel, How I Got Where I Am,

Michael Fortuna, Director of Application Engineering – Presenter and speaker, From Legacy to Leading: How ���Ĵ�ý Transformed Its Insurance Business with SnapLogic,

Ryan Anderson, Risk Management Technology Programs Manager – Presenter and speaker on ���Ĵ�ý’s innovative HeroWear Apex 2 exosuit pilot,

Stacy Van Vlerah, Marketing & Communications Specialist – Award-winner, 2024 MarCom Platinum Award for Safety Connect^®,

Yee Leong-Mok, AVP Underwriting Systems & Technology – Presenter and speaker, Sprinting to the Cloud: Innovative Strategies for Commercial Lines Projects,

Check out these contributions and mentions for the second quarter of 2024:

April

• Robert Nicholas, Vice President, Sales Enablement & Marketing, author, ,
• Bob Bacigal, AVP of Information Security, contributor, Keeping up with Cybersecurity at the CyberRisk CISO Dinner,
• Tony Petrucci, Claims Specialist, award-winner, ,
• Arif Pal, AVP of Liability Technical Claims, conference panel, To Be or Not To Be Civil and Ethical: How is that Even a Question,
• Kimberly Vaughn, Vice President, Claims, conference panel, Strategic Priorities for 2024 and Beyond,

May

• Kevin Clary, Vice President, Risk Management and Premium Audit, teacher and executive sponsor, ,
• Robert Nicholas, Vice President, Sales Enablement & Marketing, presenter and speaker, Unlock Your Sales Force Potential: A Sales Academy for Today’s Modern Organization, , with
• Kathleen Babilon, Risk Management Specialist, instructor, OSHA 10-Hour Construction Training, 
• Amjed Al-Zoubi, Chief Information Officer, presenter and speaker, ,

June

• Scott Reister, AVP of IT Data & Analytics, presenter, , 
• Lindsay Huffman, Director, Workers’ Compensation – Field Claims, conference panel,��Data Whispers: The Power of Predictive Analytics, Metrics, and Workflow Automation, ,
• Gregory J. Crabb, President & Chief Executive Officer, keynote speaker, ,

Looking Forward

Stay tuned for more in Q3! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from ���Ĵ�ý right here on the Newsroom each quarter.

Check out these contributions and mentions for the first quarter of 2024:

January

• Gregory J. Crabb, President & Chief Executive Officer, interview, ,
• Mike Fairbrother, Risk Management Specialist, author, ,

February

• Nic Gaither, Claims Unit Manager, speaker, ,
• Rachel Frassetto, Claims Unit Manager; Enjonli Hutchison, Risk Management Manager; Cody Kelly, Risk Management Manager; Jeremy Reaves, Technical Underwriting Manager; and Kerry Rotella, Business Development Manager, recognized at the 2024 Emerging Leaders Conference,
• Enjonli Hutchison, Risk Management Manager, award-winner for Business Leadership at the 2024 Emerging Leaders Conference,
• George Pavarini, Vice President, Technical Claims, contributor, Trial Techniques for Combatting the Edge/Reptile Theory discussion at the
• Jason Vonhaz, AVP, Contract Surety, recognized for Five Years of Serving as Faculty to the Surety School,

March

• Nic Gaither, Claims Unit Manager, speaker, Motivation: Getting the Best from Your Team at South Regional Forum, NAAIA
• Kimberly Vaughn, Vice President, Claims, speaker, Can AI Really Help with Rising Litigation? ,
• Michael Ito, Senior Vice President, Surety, panelist at the Federal Legislative Fly-in, and

Looking Ahead

Stay tuned for more in Q2! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from ���Ĵ�ý right here on the Newsroom each quarter.