Visionary Sponsor
San Diego’s pre-eminent, must-attend
Work Comp EXTRAVAGANZA of the year!
- September 3-4, 2025
-
Hotel del Coronado,
San Diego, CA
What Attendees Say
“Most impressive”
5/5
I can’t wait to attend #ELEVATE2025! By far the best workers' compensation and risk management conference in the US!
“It's a fantastic event”
5/5
I am excited to attend ELEVATE® 2025!! Last year was an amazing event for workers' comp, safety and HR. I won't miss it!! Great topics!! Great networking!! Great people!! Great everything!
"Exceptional!"
5/5
I have been to 2 of these events and they are exceptional, extremely well run, so much valuable information!
About #ELEVATEWORKCOMP
This annual event is all about championing the cause to improve Workers’ Compensation, tackling some of the system’s most important challenges and inspiring leaders to make a difference in their sphere of influence. Bring your curiosity, ideas and desire to learn. Leave with lasting connections, practical tools and some serious Workers’ Compensation sophistication.
ELEVATE® Agenda
An action-packed agenda will set sail soon at this must-attend Work Comp event.
ELEVATE® Sessions
Our sessions provide an unmatched opportunity to engage, learn, and connect with others.
ELEVATE® Exhibitors / Sponsors
ELEVATE® guarantees attendees access to top service providers in the Work Comp arena.
Get Ready For #ELEVATEWORKCOMP
On May 22-23, 2024 make plans to join 600+ like-minded Work Comp professionals at the ELEVATE® Workers’ Compensation & Leadership Conference in beautiful San Diego at the stunning Marriott Marquis.
May 22: Pre-Conference
Exhibitor Setup / 2nd Annual Karaoke for a Cause Charity Benefit
May 23: ELEVATE® Conference
Exhibitor Row / Education / Happy Hour / Live Concert – CC&R Band
Attention Exhibitors / Sponsors
Exhibitors and Sponsors will be in the midst of all the action. This means more awareness, more dialogue, and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean throughout the entire day.
Don't Miss Out and Book Today!
In May 2024, Work Comp professionals gathered for an unforgettable experience at the 2024 ELEVATE® Workers’ Compensation & Leadership Conference. Along with host company Akeso Occupational Health and proud Diamond Sponsor HUB International, we "Sailed into Summer" in the stunning setting of San Diego's Marriott Marquis. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, and presenters for their invaluable participation.
We kicked off the conference with our 2nd Annual Karaoke For A Cause event, benefiting Hazel’s Hands. This electrifying evening combined networking, music, and philanthropy, setting a new standard for charitable events and creating unforgettable memories with our guests.
ELEVATE® is dedicated to advancing Workers’ Compensation by tackling the system’s most significant challenges and inspiring leaders to make a meaningful impact.
Like-Minded Work Comp Professionals
Master Presenters Power-Packed Sessions
This conference offers CEU Credits
San Diego’s Must Attend Work Comp Event
Like-Minded Work Comp Professionals
Master Presenters Power-Packed Sessions
San Diego’s Must Attend Work Comp Event
This conference offers CEU Credits
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ELEVATE® 2024 Agenda
An action packed agenda will ignite at San Diego’s Must-Attend Work Comp extravaganza of 2024!
06
PORT OF CALL 2
Divergent Perspectives: Lively Discussions About Comp
- 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
07
Lunch Break on the Promenade Deck
- 11:50 AM - 12:40 PM
12
EXCURSION | ELEVATE® Short 2
Prescribing Solutions: Addressing the Physician Shortage
- 3:45 PM - 4:05 PM
13
Stretch Break on the Main Deck
- 4:10 PM - 4:25 PM
15
Disembark
Welcome to Happy Hour featuring CC&R Band on the Promenade Deck
- 5:30 PM
2023 Recap
LET'S GET EXCITED! #ELEVATEWORKCOMP
Tickets
Make plans to join like-minded Work Comp professionals in beautiful San Diego for some serious Workers’ Compensation sophistication.
Coming Soon...
Service Provider Ticket
$549
- Attorney
- Consultant
- Service Provider
- Broker
- Physician
- Sales
- Business Development
Sessions
- September 3-4, 2025
- Hotel del Coronado | San Diego, CA
ELEVATE® sessions provide a unique opportunity to learn, get inspired, and discover the most important challenges facing Workers’ Compensation professionals today.
Coming Soon...
EMBARK | Opening Keynote
California: State of the State
Top experts present a town hall discussion and a 30-thousand-foot view of trends and issues currently shaping the insurance and Workers’ Compensation landscape in The Golden State.
William Zachry
Executive DirectorCompSense
George Parisotto
Administrative DirectorDivision of Workers’ Compensation (DWC)
Rafael Gonzalez, Esq.
PartnerCattie & Gonzalez, PLLC
Annie M. Davidson Esq., MSCC
Vice President of Client SuccessExamWorks Compliance Solutions
Bridget Smith, JD, MSCC, CMSP
Senior Vice President, National Accounts and Settlement ConsultingIMPAXX
EXCURSION | ELEVATE® Short 1
MSP Compliance Issues: 20 Tips in 20 Minutes!
Get ready for the most energizing (and shortest) session you will ever attend on the topic of Medicare Secondary Compliance (MSP)! This expert panel will share 20 important tips about MSP issues focused on Section 111, conditional payments, and Medicare Set Asides. Complete with amazing sound effects, this session is designed to entertain as well as educate you!
EXCURSION | ELEVATE® Short 2
Prescribing Solutions: Addressing the Physician Shortage
The entire healthcare system is experiencing significant provider shortages. According to a recent survey of Workers’ Compensation stakeholders by Risk and Insurance and Healthesystems, health care provider shortages ranked #1 as a major concern among Workers’ Compensation professionals. Projections indicate a deficit of 124,000 physicians and 200,000 nurses by 2030. Panelists will discuss the causes of this shortage and explore comprehensive solutions.
Leslie Cadet, MD, MPH
FounderASCEND Occupational Medicine Consulting
Kimberly Kinney
WC Risk ManagementLoma Linda University
Doug Clark, FCLA
AVP Client ServicesSedgwick
Ruth Aguilera Esq.
Director, Risk ManagementLos Angeles Angels
Michelle Darringer
Senior Director, Risk ManagementLos Angeles Dodgers
Marla Perez
Risk ManagerOakland Athletics
Joanne Bautista
Director, Benefits & Risk ManagementSan Diego Padres
Joelle Hicks
Director of Risk Management & ComplianceSan Francisco Giants
PORT OF CALL 1
Trends in Professional Sports: Insights from MLB Risk Managers
♬ Take me out to the ball game! ♬ This stellar panel brings risk professionals from all five California MLB teams to the ELEVATE® stage! Panelists will share their innovative approaches to injury prevention from the perspective of professional baseball. We’ll get a real glimpse of the MLB risk manager perspectives including the importance of collaboration and building effective partnerships between players, medical staff and risk management and also the future of risk management in professional sports with emerging trends and technologies.
PORT OF CALL 2
Divergent Perspectives: Lively Discussions About Comp Claims
This session highlights the many different nuances and perspectives of Workers’ Compensation by exploring several hypothetical case studies, or scenarios, likely to occur within the Workers’ Compensation system. Panelists will discuss their varied perspectives on important topics like mental health/psyche claims, workplace violence and marijuana. The injured workers, employers and insurance companies are fictitious, and the discussions will focus on the general handling of Workers’ Compensation claims from intake to the appellate process and all the conversations in between. This session is an interesting journey through different stakeholder perspectives common in the Workers’ Compensation claim handling process.
Stuart Colburn
Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation LawDowns & Stanford, P.C.
Hon. Robert Rassp
Presiding Judge WCABLos Angeles District Office
Dr. Gene Ma
Chief Medical OfficerAkeso Occupational Health
Joseph Sousa
WC Program ManagerCity of San Diego
Dawn Watkins, ARM-P, AIC, SHRM-CP, PHR
Chief Risk OfficerLAUSD
Michelle Sebring
PartnerLaughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, LLP
Les Shute
Chief Innovation OfficerInfinity Nurse Case Management
Raja Sundaram
CEOPlethy
Gia Sawko
Chief Claims OfficerSignal Mutual
David Chmiel
SVP, National Director Claims North AmericaHUB International
PORT OF CALL 3
AI's Role in Reducing Friction with Injured Workers
This panel will discuss AI strategies that are already breaking down silos and creating a more seamless journey for injured workers. Discover how workers’ compensation stakeholders are using cutting-edge technology to revolutionize worker support, minimize friction, and enhance overall well-being. You’ll want to attend this session to get on the train toward AI innovation that is already drastically changing systems as we know it.
PORT OF CALL 4
Rx Trends: The Math Isn't Mathing!
What do you get when claims frequency is decreasing, drug prices outpace inflation, the quantity of new drugs explodes, and social media influencers are peddling on every corner? Dysfunction and the next big drug trend, that’s what. This session will explore the latest pharma trends and issues in Workers’ Compensation.
A few highlights:
- New drugs approved faster than 20 years ago
- Off-label used drugs approved faster than 20 years ago
- Weight loss drugs: Ozempic and Wegovy, aka semaglutide, and Mounjaro, aka tirzepatide
- Considering Impact on WC settlements and MSAs
- Impact of advertising and social media vs. clinical evidence and doctors
- Drug tsunami vs. adjuster workloads
Ron Carter
CEORxBridge
William Zachry
Executive DirectorCompSense
Dr. Clark Smith, MD
Chief Medical OfficerInstitutes of Health
Dr. Katherine Turner, PhD
Director IOH Academy | Behavioral Medicine | Neuropsychology
Institutes of Health
Negar Matian, Esq.
FounderMatian Law Group
Yvonne Guibert
VP, Education StrategyInstitutes of Health
Josh Schuette DPT, MBA, M.E.S.S., CFCE, WRPM
Executive Director of National Workers’ Compensation Sales & Account ManagementBrooks Rehabilitation
Josh Shutts
Injured WorkerBrooks Rehabilitation
Declan Graham
Injured WorkerWalt Disney Parks & Resorts
Brook Feerick, RN, CCM, CLCP
Nurse Case ManagerFeerick Medical Planning
PORT of CALL 5
Voices of Resilience: The Injured Worker Journey
This engaging discussion includes clinical providers side-by-side with injured workers as we hear amazing stories of resilience, grit, faith, bravery, and courage. Walk in their shoes and discover the injured worker’s journey. This session is sure to inspire and renew your passion for why you do what you do every day, regardless of your role.
Visionary Sponsor
HUB International
Insurance Brokers
HUB International is a proud supporter of the ELEVATE® Conference.
When you partner with HUB, you’re at the center of a vast network of risk, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management specialists that bring clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy.
So you’re ready for tomorrow.
- September 3-4, 2025
There is a feeling that you come to at Hotel del Coronado. Enveloped by the simple luxuries of sun, sea, and time together, your senses engage, and you’re transported into The Del state of mind.
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave.
Coronado, CA 92118
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Visionary Sponsor
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