From 'Closed for Business' to 'Open for Resilience': Perspectives on Mapping the Workers' Comp Path Forward


More than a year after the pandemic drove everything to a grinding halt, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But the path out is still long, and many of the workplaces we’re slowly returning to have changed. This leadership panel will delve into the current evolution of the workforce as employers work toward a new level of normalcy. Employers are bringing people back to offices and facilities, navigating new permanent remote and hybrid work arrangements, and working to keep frontline employees safe as larger crowds return. The plethora of workplace safety, health, mental health and claims challenges we now face – some old, some new – is daunting. This panel will look at the key obstacles in front of us, and outline the keys to leveraging the tools we have, as well as new opportunities to build more resiliency across the workers’ comp space.

Mike Cirillo
CEO, myMatrixx
Mike Cirillo is responsible for overseeing the workers’ compensation division’s national strategy and corporate operations across the U.S. His responsibilities include developing the company’s growth and productivity initiatives as well as forming new business and industry partnerships. Through his experience, Mike has led efforts in combatting the high costs of medications and improving patient safety in workers’ compensation.
Tom Warsop
CEO, One Call
Thomas Warsop leads the One Call team, helping to ensure injured workers get the care they need, when they need it. His passion for the mission of the company is evident every day. Prior to joining One Call, Tom was the Chairman and CEO of York Risk, a leading third-party administrator, where he focused the company squarely on its mission of reducing risk and getting people and organizations back to health, work and productivity.
Jennifer Saddy
Managing Director, Absence Management, American Airlines
Jennifer Saddy has 18 years of experience in the workers’ compensation industry. Under Saddy’s leadership, American Airlines earned a 2015 Teddy Award from Risk & Insurance. Saddy has received multiple national awards and has been widely recognized due to the impressive results that she has achieved due to the integration of the workers’ compensation program following the merger of US Airways and American Airlines.
Dave Taylor
Senior Director, Workers’ Compensation, Charter Communications
Dave Taylor is the Senior Director of Workers’ Compensation for Charter Communications, a $48+ billion, 97,000 employee national provider of broadband, cable and telecommunications services. With an unbroken record of process improvement, enhanced service to employees and cost reduction, Dave has been responsible at various positions for non-occupational disability programs and FMLA, in addition to workers’ compensation administration.
Michelle Kerr (moderator)
Chair, National Comp; Workers’ Compensation Editor, Risk & Insurance
Michelle Kerr has been covering the workers' comp, safety and injury prevention space for 20 years. In 2019, Michelle Kerr became the Chair of National Comp in addition to Worker's Compensation Editor for Risk & Insurance. In addition to workers’ comp, she has covered a broad range of topics for R&I including cyber risk, CAT risk, emerging technologies and reputational risk, and has been the coordinator of R&I’s Teddy Award program, recognizing workers’ comp excellence, since 2003.