Tim East Award

Douglas Benner, MD, FACOEM, is a pioneer in the California workers’ compensation and occupational medicine field. His dedication to industry peers and strong belief in the importance of ensuring injured employees receive the most appropriate care to return to productive living has been felt for decades across the workers’ compensation industry. 

Dr. Benner has over 40 years’ experience as a medical doctor offering his expertise to workers 'compensation insurers, self-insured employers, and public agencies. He spent 29 years as Program Chair of Occupational Medicine Services in the largest private multi-specialty medical group/hospital in the world and Coordinator of Occupational Health for Northern California Kaiser Permanente. A diplomate of the American Board of Preventative Medicine in Occupational Medicine, he was certified as an independent Medical Examiner and Medical Review Officer. 

He served as chair of the California Medical Association Committees and Task Forces on Workers’ Compensation and is also a Consultant to the Medical Committee of International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. 

In 2005, Dr. Benner received the Rutherford T. Johnstone Memorial Lecture from Western Occupational Health and Environmental Medical Association for exemplary contributions to the field of occupational medicine and in 2010, was named among the most influential people in California workers’ compensation by Workers’ Comp Executive. In 2011, he was awarded the ACOEM William S. Knudsen Award for outstanding contributions to occupational and environmental medicine. 

As a lifelong learner striving to advance the field of medicine, in 2021, Dr. Benner earned his Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.  

In 1989, after a successful career in liability claims, Matt O’Shea began his career in workers’ compensation.

He worked several years in workers’ claims, which included a three-year hiatus as an investigator, and then went to work for Safeway. It was in that role that he developed the skills in resolving complex claims, becoming a Medicare and structure settlement specialist.

Matt felt fortunate that his employer recognized his skills and encouraged him to join the California Coalition on Workers’ Compensation (CCWC). While Matt initially worked on CCWC’s conference committee, and as a highly regarded member of the Association’s board of directors, he eventually began working on legislative and regulatory issues. Leaning on his claims experience, Matt submitted constructive commentary to limit unintentional consequences of otherwise poorly drafted legislation. His expertise led him to become his company’s stakeholder representative during reforms in 2012 and continuing until his retirement in 2023.

Though Matt has retired, he continues to lend his expertise on developing workers’ compensation issues.

Jeremy Merz was most recently Department Vice President of State Government Relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Prior to this position, he was the Western Region’s Vice President of State Affairs for the American Insurance Association for five years and a policy advocate for CalChamber for five years, specializing in workers’ compensation, transportation, local government, and international trade issues. Prior to joining CalChamber in 2011, he was a litigation attorney for Downey Brand LLP.

He cared so much about the issues he worked on, and was extremely well-respected by all who were lucky enough to work with him. But much more than his wealth of policy experience and successes, Jeremy was a good man. He was a devoted husband, father and friend to many. He was a caring and thoughtful soul, with a wit and sense of humor that drew people in.

Jeremy was diagnosed with ALS in March 2022. While the grim diagnosis would have stopped others in their tracks, Jeremy took it in stride. Jeremy immediately began using the skills he honed his entire life to advocate for ALS. He made a huge difference in the lives of so many – fighting for more resources to improve access to care and accelerate the search for effective treatments and cures. He worked closely with the ALS Association’s Golden West Chapter to advance a significant one-time allocation in state funding to support the organization’s wraparound model of care. This funding not only supported essential care services and offset out-of-pocket costs for ALS families, but it established the development of two new Certified Treatment Centers of Excellence and five multidisciplinary satellite ALS clinics.

Our time with Jeremy was limited far more than we wanted it to be – but he made sure it was full of life, love, and joy. He passed away January 24, 2023, surrounded by family and loved ones.

Martin is Executive Director of Schools Insurance Authority, a joint powers authority providing liability, property and workers’ compensation insurance to over 70 school districts in northern and central California. Martin joined SIA in 1988 as wellness program manager and has been executive director since 1997. He is a strong advocate for public agencies and their potential for providing cost-effective, innovative services. He is a leader and a mentor to those that know him and have the pleasure of working with him.

Martin was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve on the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) to represent employer interests throughout California.

He has worked tirelessly on the reforms that we have all benefited from. He is a compassionate advocate for his organization, but always has his mind open to the concerns of the injured worker. He previously served as Chair of CCWC, is a longtime Board member and a champion for a just and impartial workers’ compensation system – for employers, for employees and for California.

CCWC is grateful for Martin’s leadership and honored to celebrate his many achievements and enduring impact on California’s workers’ compensation system with the 2022 Tim East Award!

Dan Bagan’s retirement in 2019 culminated 36 years of dedicated service. Prior to retirement, he was the West Region Director of Risk Management for UPS, where he was responsible for managing the workers’ compensation claims in 15 western states, including California, over a span of 16 years.

He previously served as Director of Finance for UPS in Oklahoma from 1993 to 1996, Director of Finance in Washington from 1997 to 1999 and Northwest Region Director from 2000 to 2003. Dan started his career with UPS in 1983 as a package car driver in Denver, Colorado.

Dan was the Chair of the CCWC Board of Directors from 2016 through 2018, and had served on the board from 2004 until his retirement. He was also a longtime member of CCWC’s Conference Committee. During his tenure on the board, Dan provided leadership and expertise for two major reform bills in California: Senate Bill 899 in 2004, and Senate Bill 863 in 2012. Both bills succeeded at increasing benefits while at the same time reducing costs.

In 2014, he was appointed by the Speaker of the State Assembly as an employer representative to the Commission on Health Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC). Dan was unanimously elected as chairperson for CHSWC in 2017. He was also an active member of the Workers’ Compensation Action Network.

In addition to his service to the workers’ compensation industry, Dan is a member of the United Way’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society, which recognizes local philanthropic leaders and volunteer champions in the United States, France and Romania who have devoted time, talent, and funds to create long-lasting changes by tackling our communities’ most serious issues.

Since 2011, Christine Baker has served as the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, the first woman ever to hold that position.

Renowned for innovative targeting in fighting fraud and the underground economy, Christine served from 1984 to 1989 as Chief of the Division of Labor Statistics and Research. From 1990 to 1994, she was the Deputy Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

When the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation was formed in 1994, Christine was its first Executive Officer. She held that position for 17 years, helping to expand the commission’s role to include oversight of the health, safety and workers' compensation systems in California, and recommending administrative and legislative changes for improvement.

In April 2011, Christine was named acting director of DIR and was appointed director by Gov. Brown in December of that year. The Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to confirm her appointment in May 2012.

Christine is president-elect of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards & Commissions, and has chaired the California Insurance Commissioner's Workers' Compensation Fraud Focus Group and the advisory committee of the International Forum on Disability Management.

She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2008 Small Business Heroes honor presented by Small Business California, and the 2012 Human Rights Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens.

A longtime leader of the workers’ compensation industry in California, Bill Zachry is widely known for his tireless efforts and countless hours put towards making the California workers' compensation system one of equity and effectiveness while keeping all key stakeholders, especially employees and employers, at the forefront of all of his work.

Since 2001, Bill has served as the Vice President of Risk Management for Albertsons Companies, the second largest grocery company in the United States. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the California State Compensation Insurance Fund, a member of the Board of Trustees for the California Self-Insurers Security Fund, and a former Chair of the State of California Fraud Assessment Commission. These positions represent appointments by different California Governors dating back to Pete Wilson.

Bill previously served as Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Officer with eStellarNet; Vice President, Claims, for the Zenith Insurance Company; and Senior Vice President for C.E. Heath Insurance / HeathCal / CareAmerica Comp/HIH Insurance. In 2014, he was named the RIMS Risk Manager of the Year by Business Insurance Magazine. He has also received the Richard Bland Award from RIMS for legislative efforts in California.

He is a widely-published author in the world of workers’ compensation, and is a well-known contributor to a number of industry publications.

Jill Dulich received her B.S. and M.A. from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She also received her J.D. from Western State University College of Law.

Since February 2015 Jill has been the Claims and Operations Manager for the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund. In this role she manages the daily operations of the Fund and provides oversight on all aspects of claims management.

From 1983 to 2015, Jill was the Senior Director for Marriott Claims Services, as part of Marriott International. She was responsible for management of workers' compensation, auto and general liability losses for all Marriott managed operations within 8 western states and also managed 3 satellite offices in Hawaii, Oregon and Nevada.

Prior to Marriott International, Jill was a Continuing Unit Supervisor for Allstate Insurance Co., a Unit Supervisor in workers' compensation at Alpha Beta Co. and Vice President of Claims at R. L. Kautz & Company.

Jill was certified as a Qualified Administrator for the state of California in 1980. She also holds a WCCP certification.

She was a former Commissioner and 2003 Chair of the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation having been appointed in 1998 by Governor Pete Wilson to be the private employer representative.

Jill is active in workers’ compensation in a number of states and was the former Chair of the Board and Executive Committee Chair of the California Self Insurers Association. She currently serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Managers.

Jill is an active participant in the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute CompScope Advisory committee and has been since 2007. Jill was a member of the Legislative Committee of the Oregon Self Insurers Association and the Washington Self Insurers Association. Jill is also the President of the Claims and Litigation Management Orange County Chapter.

Jill serves on the Board of Directors, Easter Seals Southern California and was the former Chair of the Board.

Throughout her career Jill has participated in a number of various organization committees including the Office of Self Insurance Plans Advisory Committee; Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi's Workers' Compensation Task Force; Joint Technical Advisory Committee for 1993 Workers' Compensation Reform; Division of Workers' Compensation Information System Steering Committee.

Jill is a frequent speaker and has presented at various organizations including the Orange County Business Council (formerly Industrial League of Orange County), Council on Education in Management, California Hotel & Motel Association, Rotary Club, Skypark Medical Groups, RIMS, PIRA (Association of Human Resource Professionals), California Chamber of Commerce, California Orthopaedic Association, UCLA Institute for Industrial Relations, California Manufacturers and Technology Association, Council of Self Insured Public Agencies, National Council of Self Insurers, International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC), California Self Insurers Association and the National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference.

Saul Allweiss has been involved in the California workers’ compensation community for nearly four decades. He began as a claims examiner, supervisor and hearing representative at various insurers and self-insured entities.

Saul attended Law School at the University of LaVerne College of Law receiving his J.D. in 1993 and was admitted to the California Bar in 1994.

In his first years as an attorney, Saul was employed as Claims Counsel at Republic Indemnity’s home office, working on difficult and high profile cases. He was responsible for setting policy and coordinating the activities of the claims department with other departments of the company.

Saul worked with brokers and employers on disputes involving claims handling and the effects of reserving on unit statistical reporting and dividend calculations. He also conducted training statewide for Republic’s claims staff.

In October 2002, Saul opened his own practice. The practice focuses on the basic defense of workers’ compensation disputes. He is available as a trainer for claims and legal personnel. He serves as a consultant on legislative and regulatory matters. He has been retained as an expert in first-party bad faith litigation. Saul has been retained to defend claims administrators in disputes arising of out Compliance Audits conducted by the Division of Workers' Compensation and the Department of Insurance.

Saul has served on numerous ad hoc committees created by the Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation and the Commission on Health Safety and Workers Compensation. He was retained as a Legislative Consultant for a number of employers and insurers in regard to the Workers’ Compensation Reform Acts of 2004 (SB 899) and 2012 (SB 863) and remains as a consultant in regard to the drafting of regulations needed to enact the provisions of these statutes.

In 2006, the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar of California honored Saul as the Workers’ Compensation defense attorney of the year.

A native of Chicago, Saul received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois in 1975.

Sean McNally is the CEO of KBA Engineering in Bakersfield, California. Prior to KBA, he was the Vice President for Corporate and Government Affairs and Vice President of Human Resources at Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield, California (1997-2012).

He graduated from the University of San Francisco with Bachelor’s Degrees in English and Theology. In 1979 and 1980 he did graduate theology studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. He is a graduate of the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Sean is certified by the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. He was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the Commission on Health, Safety and Workers’ Compensation (CHSWC) and was the Chair in 2009 and 2011. He was also appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the State Board of Food and Agriculture. He serves on the Board of Directors of the California Workers Compensation Institute. He serves as a trustee for the California Self Insurer’s Security Fund and he is the Co-Chair of the California Chamber of Commerce Amicus Committee.

His community activities include serving on the Board of Directors of the Golden Empire Gleaners, the Mercy Hospital Foundation and Stockdale Country Club.

Suzanne Guyan, Workers Compensation Consultant, has a diverse and comprehensive background in workers' compensation including presenting at local, regional and national workers compensation and benefit conferences.

She serves on a number of boards such as CCWC and LexisNexis Editorial board. In 2012 she was awarded CCWC’s Tim East Award presented to the workers' compensation professional of the year.

Prior to launching her current consulting practice, Suzanne held several executive positions with Costco Wholesale divisions including workers compensation, employee benefits and legislative affairs. When she relocated to Arizona in 2006, she joined CompPartners as Director of Product Development. She left that position in 2013 to begin her consulting practice.

Suzanne has a bachelor's degree in Public Relations.

Tina Coakley enjoyed 38 years in the field of workers’ compensation. Her career began with claims handling for ten self-insured employers in Washington State for four years, then progressed to consulting for large insurance brokerage clients at Marsh & McLennan and Johnson & Higgins for three years in various states. These clients offered her experiences in many varied workers’ compensation exposure environments and allowed her to develop expertise in state laws and regulations.

Desiring more exposure to claims and self-insured employer management, Tina moved on to The Bon Marche’s self-insured self-administered program in Washington and provided oversight in Montana, Idaho and Utah for 10 years. Allied Stores owned The Bon Marche and also had her auditing East Coast-insured subsidiaries for proper claims handling service to their employees and confirm proper reserving on claims.

At that point in her career she decided to take on a job with a challenge, which was managing The Boeing Company’s global workers’ compensation program (160,000 employees) for eight years and then transferring to a legislative/regulatory position for workers’ compensation while also working on Boeing Medical Clinic issues for federal and 11 state jurisdictions for 14 years.

She found gratification in working with workers’ compensation professionals from employer, broker, insurer, legal and employer trade association groups to work towards establishing a better workers’ compensation law and/or regulations that benefited both the injured employees and the employers. Tina's strength lay in her prior job experience, love of researching published data to support legislative and regulatory changes, and in comparing various state laws and regulations to see if any other states had better language to benefit the states she worked with in employer trade association groups.

Tina retired from Boeing in May of 2010.

Carrie Nevans established herself as a leading voice in the workers’ compensation industry.

Nevans was the Administrative Director (AD) at the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), part of the state Department of Industrial Relations. She had served since 2005 in the roles of Acting AD, Deputy AD and AD at the DWC. During her tenure, DWC effectively implemented workers’ compensation laws passed by the Legislature, which saved employers at least $70 billion cumulatively. Results of regulatory and other programmatic changes she carried out include a continued decrease in the number of claims filed and quicker resolution of claims, competition returned to the workers’ compensation marketplace, improved employer satisfaction with the workers’ compensation system, more injured workers returning to gainful employment and continued injured worker satisfaction with medical care, which is now evidence-based.

Carrie graduated from California State University-Stanislaus with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science in 1979, with subsequent postgraduate work at the same university in Public Administration. After graduating from college, she worked for four years as a claims examiner for the State Compensation Insurance Fund. She then worked for the California Youth Authority for one year as a staff services analyst and transferred to the Department of Corrections as a Staff Services Manager from 1986 through 1994.

From 1994 until her appointment as the DWC’s Acting Administrative Director in 2005, Carrie continued in state service as a budget and finance analyst. She came to the Department of Industrial Relations (the “mother ship” of the DWC) in May 1999 and then began her final assignment at the DWC as the Chief of Programmatic Services from August 2004 until her appointment by then Governor Schwarzenegger as the Acting AD in 2005. She was officially appointed AD in October 2007 but was not confirmed one year later. She was then appointed by the Governor as the Acting AD for the remainder of her career with the DWC. She remained the de facto Administrative Director of the DWC until her passing in 2011.

Carrie is regarded as one of the highest caliber leaders in the history of the DWC. Her background prepared her for a leadership position with a strong emphasis on fiscal and budgetary matters. As a seasoned workers' compensation professional, Ms. Nevans was a claims examiner for the State Compensation Insurance Fund and also worked for the California Department of Corrections. Prior to working for the DWC, she became an expert in state finance and budgetary issues along with analyzing the fiscal impact of pending legislation.

CCWC’s annual award honoring the workers’ compensation professional of the year is named for its first recipient, Tim East. A former Chair of the CCWC Board of Directors, Tim is Director of Risk Management for The Walt Disney Company at its headquarters in Burbank, California. In this role, he is responsible for risk financing, construction risks, government affairs and risk management for Disney’s international theme parks.

Prior to assuming his position at Disney in January, 1996, Tim served in a variety of risk management positions at The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, starting as Supervisor of Safety in 1982.

A Disney Employee since 1974, Tim started in Administrative Services and was involved with training and supporting the opening of Tokyo Disneyland in 1982.

Tim holds a Master of Science in Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. He is also has Professional Certification in Occupational Safety and Health from the University of California, Irvine and additional certifications as a California Self-Insured Administrator and Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Tim is a past instructor for the Insurance Education Association and has been published in Risk Management magazine, the OSHA Compliance Advisor and the California Workers’ Compensation Examiner.