Risk & Resilience Thtr. Breakout Session

What Can Your Broker Do for You? Rethinking Risk — Beyond the Policy

Tuesday, September 22, 2026
10:30 AM (30 minutes)
Founders Ballroom

Session Overview

Your broker is more than a middleman between you and an insurance carrier. The right broker is a strategic risk partner: someone who sees around the corners, challenges assumptions, and engineers solutions the standard market never puts in front of you. Learn what it looks like when a broker thinks outside the box.

A transactional broker sells you a policy. A strategic broker becomes part of your risk management team: protecting your balance sheet, freeing up capital, and giving you the confidence to take the risks that grow your business. The question isn’t just what your broker can do for you. It’s whether they’re thinking big enough.

Learning Objectives

1. Recognize what strategic broker partnership looks like in practice. Participants will observe how a broker coordinates expertise across occupational health, claims operations, and legal, and what conversations change when those disciplines are in dialogue.
2. Identify critical gaps in your risk strategy. Participants will assess whether their broker and their key partners (medical, claims, legal) are orchestrated or siloed, and commit to one conversation that bridges that gap.

Speakers

David Chmiel

SVP North America Director Claims

HUB International

Over 35 years experience in the risk management space. Value being a team member both internally and externally. Management of the resources within specialities and line of coverage expertise throughout the U.S. and Canada. Responsible for the growth and retention of accounts affiliated with our claims and speciality practices in North America. Experience in the health care, non for profit , sports and entertainment , mining and hospitality industries. Power Broker Winner 2021 Non-Profit specialty. Sport and Entertainment claims lead.

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John Brown

CEO

Convergent Claim Services

John Brown is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Convergent Claim Services. With more than 35 years of experience in the insurance and claims industry, he has built Convergent into a nationally recognized third-party administrator known for delivering innovative, client-focused claims solutions. John is passionate about advancing workers' compensation through collaboration, operational excellence, and improved outcomes for clients and injured workers.

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Negar Matian

President Managing Attorney

Matian Law Group

Having practiced for over 20 years, Ms. Matian not only has a background of litigating high exposure and catastrophic injuries but also 132a filings, S&W allegations, OSHA violations, as wells a FEHA and ADA issues that overlap with the case in chief. She has litigated hundreds of trials and managed thousands of cases.

Ms. Matian graduated with a degree in Communications and minor in Biology from the University of California, Davis with highest honors in under three years. She earned her J.D. from University California Davis School of Law and in her last year transferred to University of Los Angeles Law School. Most recently she completed the prestigious Oxford Programme on Negotiation. She interned for the 9th Circuit Appellate Court during law school and the public defender's office.

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Yolanta Petrofsky, MD, MPH

Occ Med Medical Director

Tahoe WoRx & NorthBay Healthcare

Dr. Petrofsky is a Board Certified Occupational and Environmental combat veteran physician with 25 years of occupational safety experience preventing, assessing, identifying, and reducing workplace hazards through collaboration with city, state, federal and corporate clients. Creative team-based approach to efficient patient centered work injury care, claims resolution and risk management. She is a subject matter exert for complex Fit-for-Duty, Return to Work and Medico-Legal Evaluations assessing exposures and causation. She is currently an Executive Board Member for the California Society Industrial Medicine & Surgery, (CSIMS), Vice President as well as Education Chair and CSIMS 2025 Committee Chair. She is passionate about Worker Injury Care and the Workers Compensation medical delivery system. Dr Petrofsky is involved in philanthropic community service with National Charities League, and can be found outside of work spending time with kids and dogs in mountains and on the ski slopes.

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Attendee Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests from attendees must be submitted in writing to the Elevate Conference team. The following refund schedule applies:

90 Days or More Prior to the Conference

(On or before June 23, 2026)

A cancellation made 90 days or more prior to the event is eligible for a 50% refund (minus admin fees) of the total attendee fee. Alternatively, the attendee may choose to roll over 75% of the paid fees as a credit toward Elevate 2027.

Between 89 and 60 Days Prior to the Conference

(June 24 – July 23, 2026)

Cancellations received between 60–89 days prior to the event are not eligible for a refund. However, 50% of the paid amount may be applied as a one-time credit toward Elevate 2027.

Less Than 60 Days Prior to the Conference

(July 24, 2026 and after)

Cancellations received less than 60 days prior to the event are non-refundable. No credit or rollover will be offered due to the proximity to the event and expenses already incurred.

Substitutions

Attendees may transfer their registration to another representative within their organization or to another company at no cost. Substitutions must be submitted.

Event Cancellation by Organizer

If the organizer or Hotel Del Coronado cancels due to unforeseen issues (fire, pandemic, etc.), exhibitors and sponsors will receive a full refund (minus admin fees) or full rollover credit toward a future Elevate event.

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Thank you for your interest in Exhibiting or Sponsoring the Elevate Conference!

We are thrilled you are here. Elevate has grown into one of California’s most dynamic, relationship-driven conferences in the Workers’ Compensation and Risk Management community, and 2026 will be our biggest, most innovative year yet.

By completing the form below, you will be among the first to receive details on exhibit opportunities, sponsorship tiers, early-bird pricing, private event options, and all the new features coming to the 2026 Elevate Conference at the iconic Hotel del Coronado.

We look forward to learning more about your organization and exploring how we can create meaningful visibility, connection, and ROI for your brand at Elevate. Let’s build something unforgettable together!

Elevate 2025 wasn’t just a conference, it was a MOVEMENT. For three unforgettable days at the legendary Hotel del Coronado, leaders, innovators, and change-makers from across the workers’ compensation world came together with one mission: to redefine what this industry’s gatherings can be. And wow – we delivered. When preparation meets opportunity, magic happens.

Wednesday Night: The 3rd Annual Karaoke for a Cause roared back, benefiting Hazel’s Hands, founded by Dr. Tyrone Spears. Industry icons became rock stars. Together, we raised thousands for foster care and at-risk youth and had the time of our lives doing it!

Thursday Morning: Enter Coach Tyler Gillum, Head Coach of the world-famous Savannah Bananas. His keynote hit like lightning, daring us to embrace creativity, seize opportunities, and bet on ourselves. Just hours later, he and the Bananas brought that same energy to a SOLD-OUT Petco Park, proving that when you seize the moment, you can ignite not just a stadium, but an entire industry.

Thursday Afternoon: We made history with the very first Changemaker© Award Ceremony, presented by the Deconstructing Comp Podcast. This beautiful new tradition celebrates the leaders breaking barriers, driving progress, and inspiring true change in our industry.

Thank You, Sponsors & Exhibitors! Special appreciation to our Visionary Sponsor HUB International our Trailblazer Sponsor Agile Occupational Medicine. Your support is the heartbeat of this event, and this conference thrives because of you.

Cheers to the Education Committee! Led by Yvonne Guibert, with members Carlos Luna, Felicia Amenta, Sandy Avina, Stuart Colburn, Rafael Gonzalez, Hon Robert Rassp, Michelle SebringJoseph Sousa, Dawn Watkins, Scynthia Syfrett, and William Zachry – you created one of the most powerful lineups we have ever seen.

This past year proved that when opportunity knocks, we answer with energy, heart, and impact. This isn’t just about conferences. This is about championing the future of Work Comp, empowering leaders, and showing the NEXT GENERATION that our industry isn’t just IMPORTANT, it’s COOL!

Keep supporting one another, keep pushing boundaries, and keep Elevating! 

Why the Hotel Del Coronado is Worth It

We’re excited to welcome you to this year’s conference at the legendary Hotel Del Coronado—a significant step up in setting, style, and seaside charm. While the nightly rate is a bit higher than in years past, we want to share why this year’s experience is something truly special—and why the value is well worth it. We negotiated a fantastic rate for our attendees, including waiving the resort fee of $35 and reducing overnight self-parking to $30 per night.

Let's Compare:
Hotel Del Coronado 2025
Marriott Marquis 2024
Room Rate
$409
$279
Historic Fee
$15
N/A
Resort/Destination Fee
WAIVED ($35 savings) ✓
$25
Parking
$30
$45
Total Before Tax
$454
$349

What value do you receive for an additional $105 per night?

Location, location, location

Just steps from the magnificent Pacific Ocean, the Hotel Del Coronado offers breathtaking beach views, iconic sunsets, and historic architecture all in one place. Think beach walks with colleagues before and after sessions, morning coffee with an ocean breeze, and evenings under the stars with industry friends.

An iconic destination

Be among the first to experience the Del after a stunning $550M restoration spanning six years, including full revitalization of the hotel’s famed Victorian building and upgraded resort amenities.

A destination in itself

The Del offers a one-of-a-kind, resort-style experience where every detail—from the rooms to the grounds—feels like a retreat. Come early or stay late to unwind at the Del Spa and Salon, play a round of golf, or enjoy boating and other water activities in beautiful Glorietta Bay. New dining options on the property include Nobu Del Coronado and Veranda, along with several other fantastic spots: Serea, ENO Market & Pizzeria, Babcock & Story Bar, the Taco Shack, and Sundaes—home to gourmet gelato and hand-crafted paleta popsicles!

More than a conference—it's a memory

Just steps from the magnificent Pacific Ocean, the Hotel Del Coronado offers breathtaking beach views, iconic sunsets, and historic architecture all in one place. Think beach walks with colleagues before and after sessions, morning coffee with an ocean breeze, and evenings under the stars with industry friends.

Consider Sharing A Room

If the room price exceeds your company’s budget, consider sharing a room with a friend to make the experience more affordable and even more memorable.

It has been our dream to bring the ELEVATE® conference to this historic hotel, and we believe the Del’s iconic coastal setting reflects the quality of the program we’ve built—and expanded to two full days. We can’t wait for you to experience it with us.

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Stay Informed About Elevate 2026

Complete the form below to stay connected with event developments, early-bird registration opportunities, and program announcements.

Interested in Presenting at ELEVATE 2025?