Livestream - ADR in the Workers' Compensation Arena

Hon. Edwina M. Charles Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

The Honorable Edwina M. Charles is the Division Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC). She was promoted to this position effective November 1, 2023 after serving as the ADR Division’s Deputy Division Director for approximately four (4) years. In addition to managing the ADR Division, she also serves as an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)—having been appointed by the Directors of the SBWC in June 2019. Judge Charles rules on motions and requests for attorney fee approval in non-litigated workers’ compensation claims pending across the state. Her role also includes serving as a mediator in litigated and non-litigated claims—assisting parties to resolve myriad issues and facilitating the settlement of workers’ compensation claims. Since 2015, Judge Charles has been a registered neutral through the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution.

Early in her career, Judge Charles worked as a judicial clerk in the State Court of Cobb County and as an Assistant Attorney General. She began her workers’ compensation career in 2007 as an associate at a midsized, Atlanta law firm, where she practiced workers’ compensation defense for almost six years, before becoming workers’ compensation staff counsel for a major insurance company. In August 2015, she began her tenure at the SBWC and as the Deputy Division Director of the Settlement Division. Immediately prior to her appointment as an ALJ, she devoted three (3) years to serving as an administrative attorney in the Appellate Division, where she assisted the Chairman and Directors with deciding workers’ compensation cases on appeal.

Judge Charles is a proud and loyal “Double Dawg.” Judge Charles earned her B.B.A. in Risk Management & Insurance from the University of Georgia’s (UGA) prestigious Terry College of Business and her J.D. from the UGA School of Law. Most recently, in May 2024, Judge Charles graduated from the Certified Public Manager® (CPM) program through UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG).

She enjoys watching UGA football, practicing yoga, and traveling. Judge Charles and her husband (Erik) have two (2) adult sons and two (2) cats. They worship and serve at Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, GA, where Judge Charles sings on the choir and serves on the Board of Trustees.

Mr. Benjamin James Vinson Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Ben Vinson is the Chairman and Chief Appellate Judge of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. He was first appointed to the State Board by Governor Deal in 2017, then reappointed by Governor Kemp in 2021 and 2025. Chairman Vinson hears appellate cases and leads the state agency on regulatory, policy, and operational matters. Previously, he was a partner at Dentons US LLP focusing his practice on public policy and political law. Before that he was majority caucus counsel in the Georgia House of Representatives and clerked for U.S. District Judge W. Brevard Hand. He is a member of the Federalist Society and the board of Kids’ Chance of Georgia. Chairman Vinson went to Furman University and the University of Georgia School of Law. He lives in Greensboro, Georgia with his wife and two children.

Ms. Kimberly Piper Reaves Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Kimberly P. Reaves, Mediator, ADR Division

Ms. Reaves joined the Alternative Dispute Resolution Division at the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation as a Mediator on March 1, 2013. Since joining the Board, she has mediated almost 4,000 cases on behalf of the ADR Division and has regularly presented on the topic of best mediation practices through ICLE Georgia, including for the ethics and professionalism credits. Ms. Reaves completed her undergraduate degree in political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989, and then attended the Meredith College Program for Legal Assistants, following which she worked as a litigation paralegal in North Carolina for four years. She then enrolled full-time at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude in 1996. Ms. Reaves was admitted to the State Bar of North Carolina in 1996 and was engaged in the private practice of law in North Carolina from 1996 to 2008, during which time she primarily represented insured and self-insured employeStachler, II, a licensed patent attorney. They enjoy taking their standard poodle, Georgette, to the dog park and on road trips. Ms. Reaves is able to specially set your mediation through the ADR Division (reavesk@sbwc.ga.gov; 404-657-3830).

Mr. David McGinnis Kay Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

In February of 2022, the Honorable David Kay was sworn in as the newest Administrative Law Judge in the ADR Division at the State Board. He was the Settlement Division Director at the Board for the past decade; prior to that, he was a mediator in the ADR Division for six years. He graduated with a B.A. in cinema from the University of Southern California and received his J.D. in 2003 from the Emory University School of Law. Prior to working at the Board, Judge Kay worked as an associate at a workers’ compensation defense firm and as an Assistant Solicitor for Dekalb and Fulton Counties.

Ms. Michelle Marie Thomas Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Michelle Thomas received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and her law degree from The Columbus School of Law at Catholic University.

She began her legal career as a claimant’s disability attorney in her hometown of Athens, Georgia. In 2000, she joined an insurance defense firm in Atlanta as a workers’ compensation associate. Thereafter, she spent several years working for an insurance company as part of their workers’ compensation defense team, before returning briefly to private practice in 2016.

In 2018, she joined the State Board of Workers’ Compensation as a mediator, helping parties to resolve issues and achieve settlement across the state. In 2019, in addition to her role as a mediator, she began serving as a Staff Attorney for the Appellate Division of the Board, assisting the Appellate Judges with their decisions in workers’ compensation cases on appeal. Michelle became the Division Director for the Settlement Division of the Board in 2022.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys baking, reading, and yoga. She is fluent in German and frequently travels to Germany to visit friends and family.

Mr. Neil Chandler Thom Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Neil Thom is the Managed Care and Rehabilitation Division Director for the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Prior to this, he provided legal support to the three-member Board in its role as an appellate body in litigated workers’ compensation claims. Before joining the Board staff, he spent 25 years in private legal practice, representing injured workers, employers, and insurers in workers’ compensation claims.

Neil is a member of the Chairman’s Advisory Council, has authored numerous articles on workers’ compensation, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and continuing education programs. He obtained his law degree as a Hatton Lovejoy Scholar and his Bachelor of Arts as a Foundation Fellow, both from the University of Georgia.

Outside of professional activities, Neil’s interests include serving on the board of Trinity United Methodist Church, Atlanta, and managing an online community for francophones learning English.

Neil can be reached at (404) 651-7831; ThomN@sbwc.ga.gov; State Board of Workers’ Compensation, 270 Peachtree St. NW, Atlanta GA 30303.