Mrs. Amanda M. Conley Related Seminars and Products

Morgan & Akins PLLC

Amanda M. Conley is a partner with Morgan Akins & Jackson and an experienced defense attorney representing employers and insurers in workers’ compensation matters across the State of Georgia.  She received her B.A. in History from Boston College and earned her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Amanda’s clients include the largest insurance company in the Southeast and companies in the hospitality, tree service, cable, utility, ride sharing, manufacturing, furniture, staffing and construction industries.  She is a zealous advocate for her clients and uses knowledge from her long experience and prior work as a claimant’s attorney to diligently pursue their desired goals.

Amanda is a busy mom of two young boys and an avid Alabama football fan.

Hon. Nicole Danielle Tifverman Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Nicole Tifverman is an Administrative Law Judge with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation in Savannah, Georgia. Prior to her appointment as a judge in 2011, she practiced workers’ compensation law in Atlanta for 24 years. She received a B.A. from the University of Rhode Island and a J.D. from Emory University School of Law

Mr. William Baldwin Warihay Related Seminars and Products

Morgan & Morgan PA

Will Warihay is an Attorney handling workers’ compensation cases out of the Morgan & Morgan Atlanta office.  Will attended Elon University for undergraduate and law school. He has been specializing in workers’ compensation and employment law since 2010, and while he currently represents injured workers, Will has worked on both sides of the bar.  Outside of his legal practice, Will volunteers to serve on the American Mock Trial Association Board of Directors, and he teaches at Georgia Tech, where he coaches the nationally-ranked GT Mock Trial team.

Mr. Benjamin James Vinson Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Ben Vinson was appointed as Chairman and Chief Appellate Judge of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation for the State of Georgia by Governor Brian Kemp in May of 2021. He previously served as Director and Appellate Division Judge for the Board having been appointed by former Governor Nathan Deal in July of 2017. In addition to hearing workers’ compensation cases onappeal, ChairmanVinson shares responsibility with Judges McKay and Bah lfor governing the state agency, which includes regulatory, policy,and operational matters.Prior to joining the Board, he was a partner at Dentons US LLP, focusing his practice on public policy and political law for over ten years. Before that he served as majority caucus counsel in the Georgia House of Representatives and as counsel to the administration floor leaders for former Governor Sonny Perdue. He clerked for Judge W. Brevard Hand of the United States District Court following law school and has been a long-time member of the Atlanta Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society. During his time at Dentons, he was appointed by Governor Deal to serve as Chairman of the Governor’s Commission on the City of Brookhaven and the Georgia Immigration Enforcement Review Board. ChairmanVinson grew up in Dallas, Georgia and earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University then a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law, where he was a member of the editorial board and an articles editorof the Georgia Law Review. Heand his wife, Ansley, have two children and reside in Greensboro, Georgia

Hon. Viola Sellers Drew Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Judge Viola Drew is a graduate of Emory University School of Law. She has been an administrative law judge with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation for over 30 years.  She has also served as a Director of the Board, as Chief Judge, as Interim Executive Director, and as acting Director of the Licensure and Self-Insurance Division during her tenure with the Board.  She is currently serving as Deputy Executive Director of the Board, and she also continues to hear cases as an administrative law judge in Atlanta.  In addition, she serves as Ethics Counsel to the Board and as a member and staff liaison to the Advisory Council’s Rules Committee.

Mr. Kyle D. Johnston Related Seminars and Products

The Law Office of Kyle D Johnston LLC

Originally from Chicago, Kyle has been practicing law in the State of Georgia for 17 years. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Philosophy and Portuguese at Brigham Young University and his law degree from University of Miami, graduating in 2007. At age 19, Kyle lived in Brazil for 2 years where he became fluent in Portuguese. During his time in Brazil, Kyle developed a great admiration and respect for the culture and people of Brazil. Because of this, he would like to extend his practice to better serve the Brazilian (and other Portuguese) speaking communities in Atlanta, and Statewide. Kyle is proficient in Spanish and together with his native Spanish speaking Paralegal, Pirosa Merritt, is eager to serve our Spanish speaking clients and broaden our influence in Georgia's Hispanic Community.

Kyle dedicates his practice to representing injured workers in the State of Georgia as well as clients who have been injured due to the negligence of others. Kyle’s intention from the outset of his career was to represent and fight for individuals who had been injured on the job or as the result of negligence by another party. In anticipation of this, Kyle made the strategic decision to spend the first five years of his practice representing the employers and insurance companies in work accident claims. Through that process, he gained valuable insight and understanding as to how the employers and the insurance company evaluate and defend claims. With that knowledge, Kyle can more effectively represent injured Georgians.

In his free time, Kyle enjoys mountain biking and fishing and cheering on the Chicago Blackhawks and Cubs, and spending time with his wife and four children.

Mr. Marc Eric Sirotkin Related Seminars and Products

Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers LLP

Marc E. Sirotkin represents employers and insurance carriers as an insurance defense
attorney handling workers’ compensation claims.

He serves a range of large businesses, including insurers, airlines, consulting firms, retail
stores, electronics manufacturers and technology companies, newspapers, packaging
companies, automobile auction companies, nursing homes, environmental design firms
and more.

Marc’s practice has expanded and grown in scope beyond
workers’ compensation through the years to include an
ancillary practice – handling recovery of client judgments
through the garnishment process and protecting judgments
in bankruptcy court. Most recently he has helped clients with
matters of catastrophic claims, subrogation, collections,
bankruptcy issues and employer/insurer claims.

Swiftly responding to clients, listening carefully and validating their needs with informed
responses, Marc is always ready to discuss precision strategies and solutions.

Prior to joining Swift Currie, Marc handled domestic relations and general civil litigation
matters.

PRACTICE AREAS
? Subrogation
? Workers' Compensation

EDUCATION
? Georgia State University College of Law (J.D., 2006)
? University of Georgia School of Environmental Design (M.H.P., 2001)
? Wake Forest University (B.A., 1998)

BAR ADMITTANCES
? Georgia
? U.S. District Court for Northern District of Georgia
? U.S. District Court for Middle District of Georgia

AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
? AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review

MEMBERSHIPS
? State Bar of Georgia

PUBLICATIONS
? “Getting Answers on Questionable Claims"
03.07.2019

Mr. Thomas Chandler Cauthen Related Seminars and Products

Drew Eckl & Farnham LLP

Thomas Cauthen has represented employers, insurers, and
third-party administrators in the defense of workers’
compensation claims throughout Georgia since 2014. He
received his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of
Law, where he was a Dean’s Scholar, and his B.A. in Political
Science from the University of Georgia.
He has extensive experience litigating cases for clients in the
automotive manufacturing, warehouse, food service, and retail
industries. Thomas prides himself in understanding each
client’s business and specific goals in order to better represent
them in individual cases.
Thomas has taken and defended hundreds of depositions. He
has also mediated over 100 cases to successful resolution. He
works to resolve workers’ compensation claims expediently,
advising clients from the early stages of claim investigation
through the appeals process.
He has tried cases before the State Board of Workers’
Compensation and has argued before the State Board of
Workers’ Compensation Appellate Division. He has been
selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in
America: Ones to Watch in the field of Workers’
Compensation Law – Employers in Atlanta for 2024 and 2025. Thomas was also selected to Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for 2024.

Mrs. Natalie Elizabeth Elkins Related Seminars and Products

Gerber & Holder

Natalie E. Elkins is a partner at Gerber & Holder.  She devotes her career to the representation of injured workers in the State of Georgia. Prior to joining Gerber & Holder, Natalie represented employers and insurers.  Natalie graduated from Georgia State College of Law. She is a dual Canadian-American citizen, and received her undergraduate degree from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

Mr. Frank McKay Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Judge FRANK R. McKay is an Appellate Judge and Director for the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation where he served as Chairman and Chief Appellate Judge for eight years.

In 2024, Judge McKay was inducted into the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary Hall of Fame. He also received the 2019 National Judge Comp Laude Award from WorkCompCentral.  He is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (CWCL).  He is a Past-President of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) and Co-Dean of the 2024 and 2023 Roger L. Williams National Regulators College.  He served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ).  He served on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI). He served on the Board of Directors of Kids’ Chance of Georgia.  He served on the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute’s (WCRI) Georgia Advisory Committee.  He serves on Georgia’s Statewide Opioid Task Force.  Judge McKay is a frequent speaker at the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary College and many other conferences.

He came to the Board in 2013 from private practice where he was a partner in the Stewart, Melvin and Frost law firm in Gainesville, Georgia. His practice was concentrated in workers’ compensation, and he tried and presented many cases before the Administrative Law Judges and the Appellate Division of the State Board and appeals to the Superior Courts and the Georgia Court of Appeals. He was a former Special Assistant Attorney General handling workers’ compensation claims for the State of Georgia. He was on the State Board’s Advisory Council prior to being appointed the Chairman by the Governor of Georgia in 2013 and 2017.  He was reappointed as a Director and Appellate Judge by Governor Brian P. Kemp in 2021.

He obtained his law degree (J.D.) from Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University, and his undergraduate degree (B.A. Economics) from Clemson University. 

Dr. Thomas Lawhorne III, MD Related Seminars and Products

Optim Orthopedics

Dr. Lawhorne

When Dr. Thomas Lawhorne says he fell into orthopedic surgery, he’s being quite literal.

While attending Emory University Medical school with a notion of going into cardiac surgery, he tore his ACL. “I had a complicated recovery and surgery, so I got to know a lot of the orthopedic residents and learned about the medicine behind it,” he said. “That triggered my interest in orthopedics.”

That initial interest blossomed into a dedication to spinal surgery, nurtured by Dr. Lawhorne’s passion for doing the most good. “With the spine, it satisfied the urge to do things that made a very big impact on someone’s life. When you give someone back the use of their neck or their back, you make a huge impact,” he said. “There’s a significant impact that a spine surgery can make on someone life. I was drawn to that.”

The intervening years have seen him focus his expertise more narrowly on minimally invasive spinal procedures, making him uniquely suited to help patients achieve the best results with the smallest impact. And, helping patients help themselves. Building a partnership between patient and physician is paramount to the work Dr. Lawhorne does.

“You may not do the same procedure for someone who’s 75 years old and retired vs. someone who is 35 and works a manual job. Those patients have different objectives, and you really have to talk to them. and get the patient involved in the decision making process,” he said. “I want to help my patients be as knowledgeable as anyone on their problem. I try to give my patients the whole picture and then let them guide the treatment pathway. They’re the boss.”

College: Princeton University

Medical School: Emory University

Residency: Hospital for Special Surgery

Fellowship: Rush University

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons Certified

Mr. Richard Alan Phillips Related Seminars and Products

Morgan & Akins PLLC

Richard Phillips is a partner at Morgan, Akins & Jackson, and serves as managing partner of the firm’s Georgia offices. In his practice, he represents employers and insurers in workers’ compensation matters and advises them on various other matters. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and his juris doctor from Mercer University. He was born and raised in Northeast Georgia and enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, fishing, watching football, and traveling.

Ms. Whitney Creech Roughen Related Seminars and Products

Law Office of Susan Mager LLC

Whitney C. Roughen - Bio

Mrs. Roughen has practiced exclusively Georgia workers' compensation law on the Claimant's side with the Law Office of Susan Mager, LLC, for over a decade. Whitney grew up in Arkansas. Her dad was a pilot and her mom a journalist, so naturally she spent a lot of time traveling and reading and writing when she was young. After graduating from High School, she attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies. While attending the University of Tennessee, Mrs. Roughen spent a summer abroad studying in Sippy Downs, Australia. That trip solidified Mrs. Roughen's love for travel, and after graduating from college, she backpacked solo through parts of Europe and the Middle East starting in Ireland and ending in Egypt. 

Mrs. Roughen received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Bowen School of Law. She then married a Georgia native, Daniel, and relocated to South Georgia. Whitney and Daniel have a blonde, curly-headed son named Sean, who keeps them on their toes, along with their two dogs, Riggs and Murtaugh. In her free time, Mrs. Roughen enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures, as well as reading, writing, paddleboarding, and watching her beloved Tennessee Volunteers. GO VOLS!

Dr. David Sedory, MD Related Seminars and Products

Optim Orthopedics

Dr. Sedory

Specializes in arthroscopic surgery of the hip, knee, and shoulder. His practice focuses on joint and cartilage preservation surgeries including the treatment of hip impingement and labral tears, complex ligament reconstruction in the knee, meniscal repair and transplantation, rotator cuff repair and shoulder stabilization procedures, cartilage reconstruction, and growth factor delivery using Bone Marrow Concentrate (BMAC).

For Dr. David Sedory, the education he received in the classroom and in the OR were just a part of his medical journey. Certainly he shined as a medical student – he graduated Cum Laude from Washington University in St.Louis, MO in 2001 with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and earned his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, graduating in the top 10% of his class and receiving the honor of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) membership.

It’s just that his most intense education came in the military, where he served as a staff surgeon in the U.S. Army. First at a medical facility in Texas and overseas in Afghanistan as part of the 126th Forward Surgical Team, his skills were sharpened as he helped heal those who had been injured serving their country.

“It was a very unique experience,” he said. “At the time it wasn’t the most fun because I was away from family, but in retrospect it was a very eye-opening experience… It was a significant honor to take care of some of the best our country has to offer. To see the sacrifices those guys make put a lot of things in perspective.”

It’s a depth of experience he brings to Optim Orthopedics, where he offers anterior hip replacement, patellofemoral replacement, and total knee replacement among a host of surgical and non-surgical options. Over the past few years he has obtained additional training in hip arthroscopy and hip preservation surgeries with Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, Tennessee and Dr. Richard Mather at Duke University and has performed hundreds of arthroscopic hip surgeries since 2013.

College: Washington University

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Internship: Brooke Army Medical Center

Residency: Brooke Army Medical Center

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons Certified

Hon. Jerome J. Stenger Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

JERRY STENGER, ALJ

State Board of Workers' Compensation

7 East Congress St., Suite 601

Savannah, Georgia 31401

(912) 651-6223

Graduated with a B.A. from West Georgia College (now the University of West Georgia) in 1983

Graduated with J.D. from Mercer University School of Law in Macon, Georgia, in 1986.

Law Clerk for trial court judges in Savannah, Georgia 1986-1989.

Practiced workers' compensation law in Savannah and Atlanta from 1989 to 1995.

Administrative Law Judge in the Savannah office of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation from October 1995 through the present.

Ms. Shari Sigman Miltiades Related Seminars and Products

Shari S Miltiades PC

Shari Sigman Miltiades practices workers compensation law in Savannah Georgia.   The Toledo, Ohio native holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from Mercer University.

Since 1986, Shari has specialized in in all aspects of  workers compensation litigation She has handled state workers compensation litigation from the ALJ through the Georgia Supreme Court and longshore litigation from the ALJ through the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Shari has been a speaker at many seminars on both state and federal workers compensation issues and has been a contributing writer to the Longshore Textbook.

In 2018, Shari was inducted into the College of Workers Compensation Lawyers. She has also been recognized as a Super Lawyer.

Shari lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband Chris and their rescue puppy, Carmy.  She is the mother of two adult children.

Mr. Joseph A. Munger Related Seminars and Products

Morgan & Akins PLLC

Joseph “Joe” A. Munger comes to Morgan & Akins, PLLC from Swift Currie where he was a Partner for many years. Joe is a veteran workers’ compensation defense attorney with 38 years of experience. On average, he tries one workers’ compensation case per month and, as a result, he has appeared in front of every administrative law judge in the state.

Joe has worked with a wide variety of clients including organizations in the retail, hotel, restaurant, construction, utilities, health care, insurance, tree service, manufacturing, transportation and banking industries. His reputation as a vigorous advocate, with a victorious trial record to match, serves his clients well in the courtroom and at the settlement table. As a result, he is able to instill confidence in his clients because they know he can meet their needs and solve their problems efficiently.

To his practice, Joe brings strong legal writing and research skills, which he honed during his time as a clerk for a federal court judge. When he is not using his communication skills to obtain wins for his clients, Joe shares his experience by giving lectures and publishing articles on employment-related subjects, such as the drug-free workplace, discrimination, disability and workers’ compensation topics.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys cooking and running. He is also an avid traveler who has been to Europe, South Africa and Central America.

Hon. Sharon Hurt Reeves Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Judge Sharon Reeves is the Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation.  Before her appointment in 2017, she spent more than 20 years in private practice specializing in workers’ compensation and general litigation.  She is a Board Member of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ) and a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.  She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia School of Law.

Mr. Terrence Timothy Rock Related Seminars and Products

The Rock Law Firm LLC

Terry studied History at Arizona State University and graduated in 1983. He then took a couple of “gap” years, saved his money and spent a summer traveling through Europe before entering law school at Northern Illinois University. He graduated in 1988 and immediately began trying cases at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in Springfield. While there, Terry met his future wife Robin and she persuaded him to leave the frozen tundra and move to Atlanta, Georgia in 1993.

Terry spent nearly 20 years at Drew Eckl & Farnham representing employers throughout the State of Georgia.  In 2012, Terry opened The Rock Law Firm, LLC in downtown Decatur in order to be closer to his daughter, Madeline and son, Jackson as they started high school.  Now the kids are long gone, one is a lawyer in Birmingham the other a budding rock star in Austin.

As a long-time practicing defense lawyer, Terry prides himself on providing quality advice to employers in a professional manner.  By focusing on quality over quantity, Terry has been able to continue to enjoy serving clients in an ever changing legal atmosphere.  Adjusters and employers that call Terry receive no-nonsense advice when they need it—now.

The Rock Law Firm, LLC

104 Cambridge Avenue # D

Decatur, GA 30030

404-378-1240

trock@therocklaw.com

www.therocklaw.com

Ms. Rebecca Kirkland Halberg Related Seminars and Products

Stottlemyer & Associates LLC

Rebecca Halberg is a partner at Stottlemyer & Associates in Atlanta, Georgia.  Mrs. Halberg graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Journalism. She subsequently graduated from law school at the University of South Carolina. After law school, Mrs. Halberg began her legal career representing employers and insurance companies through all stages of the workers’ compensation process. She previously served as a shareholder and chair of the workers’ compensation practice group at a defense firm in Columbia, South Carolina.

While in South Carolina, Mrs. Halberg was also the President of Kids’ Chance of South Carolina, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to the children of workers injured or killed on the job. Her involvement in Kids’ Chance gave her the opportunity to help injured workers and their families who experienced the devastation of a work-related accident.

In 2014, Mrs. Halberg and her family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. She initially worked for one of the largest workers’ compensation defense firms in Georgia prior to changing her career to focus on representing people injured and killed due to work accidents. As a Partner at Stottlemyer & Associates, she is honored to represent injured workers by helping them navigate the complex workers’ compensation system to obtain the compensation to which they are entitled. Her extensive experience representing employers allows her to anticipate potential roadblocks to benefits and to take difficult cases to trial, while also allowing her to negotiate favorable settlements for her clients. Her favorite cases are work-related auto accidents, which when handled properly can provide the best recovery for injured workers.

Rebecca currently serves on the Legislative Committee of the Chairman’s Advisory Council, which is a position that allows her to assist in drafting new legislation to improve the workers’ compensation laws in Georgia. She was also elected by her peers to serve as Secretary of Workers’ Compensation Claimant’s Lawyers (WCCL), which is a part of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA). Rebecca has been rated as at top attorney on Avvo.com, and she has been selected annually as a Super Lawyer since 2019. 

Rebecca and her partner, Sarah Stottlemyer, regularly appear as guests on 680 The Fan "The Locker Room" on Friday mornings to discuss current legal events.  When she is not working, Rebecca can usually be found attending youth soccer, baseball, and football with her 3 kids. 

Ms. Meg Tysinger Hartin Related Seminars and Products

Judge

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Meg Tysinger Hartin grew up in Atlanta.  She attended Converse College for her undergraduate degree and the University of Georgia for her J.D.  After graduating from Georgia, she clerked for Judge P. Harris Hines then worked several years in private practice in Marietta focusing on civil litigation.  She served as a Regional Attorney and then Deputy Managing Attorney at the Atlanta office of the FDIC.  Meg joined the Board as an ALJ in 1997.      

Ms. M. Ann Nama McElroy Related Seminars and Products

Swift Currie McGhee & Hiers LLP

M. Ann McElroy is a senior attorney at Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, where she has practiced law in the area of workers’ compensation defense since 2008. She graduated with a history degree from the University of Georgia, and she received her J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law. She is ranked by her peers among an elite group of attorneys who earn the AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review. Her clients include county governments, insurance companies and large-scale claims management companies. In addition to Georgia, Ann is licensed in and practices in Tennessee.

Before joining Swift Currie, Ann practiced at a criminal defense and plaintiff firm for four years before switching to workers' compensation defense. She also formerly prosecuted misdemeanors for Fulton County during her third year of law school and after graduation. 

Ann has run several half-marathons and plays tennis on her neighborhood ALTA team. She also enjoys watching all types of sporting events, including the Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons, US soccer teams, and especially her two daughters' club soccer games.

Steve Ehretsman Related Seminars and Products

Shamrock Prosthetics

Steve Ehretsman is Founder & CEO of Shamrock Prosthetics, Inc. Ehretsman is responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the company but spends his days on the road heading up the new patient onboarding via mental coaching. Prior to starting Shamrock in May of 2015, Steve spent most of his career in various results-based marketing and sales roles working for some of the most prestigious consumer brands like Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and Gatorade. 

Ehretsman received Bloom Magazine’s excellence awards 2023 Winner of Men Leading The Way in Workers Compensation Award. In 2021, Steve received Work Comp Central’s Comp Laude Awards National Service Provider/Vendor Award. In 2019, he received the Annual Spirit Award from The David Corey Company. In 2017, Steve received the Georgia State Board of Workers Compensation Annual Spirit Award. And in 2011, Ehretsman was named to Atlanta Business Chronicles 40 under 40 Rising Business Leaders. 

Steve is a former Division 1 Student-Athlete and was Captain of Boston University’s Men’s Basketball Team. 

He is a featured speaker across the country on “Trauma to Triumph”. 

Ehretsman is from Cleveland, OH and resides in Midtown Atlanta.

Dr. Mason Florence, MD Related Seminars and Products

Kathryn Haggerty Related Seminars and Products

Kathryn has 27 years of comprehensive experience in insurance rehabilitation, and medical and vocational case management. She has provided case management services in the worker's compensation, disability, and group health services arenas. Kathryn has comprehensive experience in vocational evaluation and assessment, forensic documentation of employability, transferable skills analysis, job analysis, labor market surveys, return to work programs, job preparation and placement, vocational training and education and industrial/office ergonomics. Kathryn has provided services as a State Board of Georgia rehabilitation supplier to injured workers deemed catastrophic since 2013.

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. David Alexander Hurtado Related Seminars and Products

David Hurtado Mediations, LLC

Since 2010, David has been litigating and fighting for his clients. Outside a brief stint practicing family law, David has dedicated his entire career to the practice of workers' compensation. He started his practice working on behalf of Employers and Insurers, which provided valuable insight on how employers and insurers think, how they operate, and what is necessary to provide the best result possible.?

As a first generation Cuban-American, David speaks both English and Spanish.  This is critical in situations where an injured worker or other participant in the mediation needs to have direct communication with the mediator, and is significantly helpful in fostering a trusting relationship between the mediator and the parties to the claim.  Being able to connect with the parties in a mediation can sometimes be far too important to be left to a third party translator.

After several years of representing Employers and Insurers, David switched sides and began representing injured workers in 2016. This change provided David with a breadth of new experience and understanding of what the workers' compensation system does right, and (probably more importantly), what it does wrong.

With experience on both sides of workers' compensation claims, David is able to approach each claim with a fresh set of eyes, compassion, and a unique experience that helps everyone feel comfortable, understood, and eager to reach a resolution.

Ms. Michelle Cooper Miller Related Seminars and Products

Michelle Miller is a Registered Mediator with the State of Georgia. Prior to mediating, Michelle spent 14 years in private practice litigating Workers' Compensation claims, and was a partner with an Atlanta area defense firm. Born and raised in Atlanta, she is a graduate of Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia. 

Mr. Jonathan Jeremy Smith Related Seminars and Products

Apex Dispute Resolution

Jonathan Smith began mediating in 2008 in a Fulton County court program that allowed law students to spend a year of school attached to the court system.

Following graduation from Georgia State University School of Law in 2010, Jonathan entered civil litigation and spent several years representing employers and insurance companies before transitioning to represent Injured Workers beginning in 2017.

Jonathan now uses his years of his experience advising clients to thousands of resolutions to help parties work towards resolution and works exclusively as a mediator throughout the State of Georgia.

Hon. Tasca Badcock Hagler Related Seminars and Products

Judge Tasca Hagler has been an Administrative Law Judge  for the Ga State Board of Workers’ Compensation for the past 34 years , serving 22 counties in the Columbus area.  She graduated from Mercer University with a BS degree in Economics. She received her law degree from Mercer University where she served as President of her legal fraternity and Treasurer of the Student Govt Association. Upon graduating from law school, she entered the practice of law as an assistant district attorney , prosecuting felony cases throughout the five county Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Following eight years as a prosecutor , she entered the private practice of law focusing on criminal defense and family law. She was appointed an Administrative Law Judge in 1988.  While at the Board she served as past chairman of the Annual Workers’ Compensation seminar, has written numerous articles on various aspects of Ga.’s Workers Compensation law and is frequently a guest speaker at various seminars throughout the State. Along with hearing cases she also mediates cases at the Board. In her spare time she has served on the Board of the Urban League, past president of the Springer Theater board,  and board member of the local American Cancer Society. She  currently serves as a deacon in her church and volunteers at the Seneca Pro life center.

Ms. Joanna Loree Hair Related Seminars and Products

Morgan & Morgan

Joanna Hair is a proud graduate of Agnes Scott College and Samford University's Cumberland School of Law. Following law school, Joanna clerked for the Honorable Chief Judge Albert B. Collier of the Clayton Judicial Circuit. She then spent six years as a workers' compensation associate at Swift Currie before joining Morgan and Morgan in 2023. Joanna has been interviewed for Risk and Insurance Magazine and has published articles in CLM Magazine, Law 360, HR News, and The American Journal of Trial Advocacy. 

Ms. Kelly Renee Speir Related Seminars and Products

Levy Sibley Foreman & Speir LLC

Kelly Speir is a defense attorney representing employers, insurers and self-insurers in workers’ compensation claims for the past 12 years. She joined her law firm Levy, Sibley, Foreman & Speir, LLC immediately after graduating law school and became a named partner in 2017. She obtained her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of West Georgia and law degree from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and State Bar of Alabama. Kelly is married and recently welcomed her first child, Harper, in February of this year. In her spare time, she enjoys playing golf and cheering on the Atlanta Braves.

Ms. Carrie Stiefel Annis Related Seminars and Products

Stottlemyer & Associates

Carrie Stiefel Annis joined Stottlemyer & Associates after representing Employer/Insurers for over 10 years in the area of workers’ compensation defense, as well as in the areas of general and premises liability. She was formerly a partner at a large defense firm in the Atlanta area and has extensive experience handling numerous claims in administrative court, as well as attending mediations, taking depositions, and trying cases at the various levels of Appellate Courts.

Carrie graduated from Valdosta State University in 2008 and went on to pursue her law degree. After representing Insurance Companies as a Partner with a larger insurance defense firm, Carrie was honored to lend her experience in helping injured workers through the complex world of Workers’ Compensation claims. Carrie is a zealous advocate for her clients, understanding that the Workers’ Compensation system can be unfair in its treatment of the injured worker.

Carrie is presently the sitting chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association. She has been acknowledged as a Super Lawyers Rising Star over the past several years by her colleagues. 

Hon. David K. Imahara Related Seminars and Products

Chief Judge

State Board of Workers' Compensation

David is the Chief Judge in the Hearing Division at the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.  David has been involved in Georgia’s workers’ compensation system for over 25 years.  David is a frequent speaker on hearings, mediations, the Board’s paperless/online processes, and workers’ compensation.  David obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Georgia (“Double Dawg”). 

Mr. Rahul Sheth Related Seminars and Products

Richter Head Shinall White & Slotkin LLP

Rahul is a partner at Richter, Head, Shinall, White & Slotkin LLP. He joined the firm in 2022, and focuses mostly his entire practice on representing employers and insurers under Title 34, the Georgia Workers' Compensation Act. Rahul has over a decade of expertise in defending workers' compensation matters throughout the state. He also specializes in subrogation recovery on behalf of his clients and handles Occupational Accident and contingent liability scenarios. 

Rahul also sits on the Board of Directors for the Asian American Insurance Network (AAIN), a national 501(c)(6) non-profit organization of API insurance professionals. He was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, attended UGA for undergrad, and obtained his law degree from Mercer University.

Hon. Melodie Lynn Belcher Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Melodie Belcher is an Administrative Law Judge for the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. After spending nearly 10 years as a flight attendant, Melodie attended Georgia State University College of Law where she was an editor on the law review and graduated cum laude. Melodie then went to work for Swift, Currie, McGhee and Hiers, an Atlanta firm, where she represented employers and insurers in workers’ compensation claims. In 1999, Melodie joined the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. She served as the chief judge from 2009 until 2012. Melodie is actively involved with the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators and  previously served as SAWCA’s president. She served on the Board of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ) and was inducted into their initial Hall of Fame class. She has also been inducted as a fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys. Melodie speaks frequently on workers’ compensation issues in Georgia and nationally. She lives in Lagrange, Georgia. 

Hon. Kimberly Stone Boehm Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Kimberly Boehm is an administrative law judge with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation’s Atlanta office.  Prior to joining the Board in 2017, she represented injured workers for several years and before that, had a defense practice representing employers, insurers, servicing agents, and group funds in Duluth.  She graduated from the University of Georgia with an undergraduate degree in history and philosophy, and obtained her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 1996. She is a member of the National Association of Workers’ Compensation Judiciary (NAWCJ) and Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA). 

Mr. William S. Cain Jr. Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

WILLIAM S. CAIN, JR

Born January 14, 1948 in Atlanta, GA

Married Mary Tippins Cain and has three children, six grandchildren

EDUCATION

                        Attended Columbus high School, 1962-1966

                        University of Georgia, 1966-1970

                        University of Georgia School of Law, 1970-1973

1975-1987  Private practice of law - general practice

Oct. 1980 - July 1981  Recorder Pro Tem, Recorders Court of Columbus, GA

July 1981 - Dec. 1988  Judge of Municipal Court,  Columbus, GA

Jan. 1989 - Feb. 1991  Private practice of law - general practice

Feb. 1991 - present   Administrative Law Judge, State Board of Workers' Compensation

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. 

Mr. William Brian Mallow Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Ms. Shari' B. Mann Related Seminars and Products

Eraclides Gelman Hall Indek Goodman Waters & Traverso LLC

Mr. William Fleming Underwood III Related Seminars and Products

Law Office of William F Underwood III PC

William F. “Trey” Underwood, III, graduated from Florida Coastal School of Law in December, 2006.  Upon graduation, he returned to his hometown of Albany, GA where he began practice as an Assistant District Attorney under the Graduate Practice Act.  He joined his father’s practice in March 2009 where he began exclusively representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases and claimants in workers’ compensation cases.  He is a past president of the Dougherty Circuit Bar Association, a past chairman of the General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia, a GTLA Lead Graduate, a former member of the State Bar Board of Governors, has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, and was selected as the winner of the Legal Category for the 40 Under 40 group by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce.

            When he isn’t spending time with his wife and two daughters, he does his best to help injured workers.

Hon. Neera Ahuja Bahl Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Workers' Compensation

Judge Neera Bahl started her legal career in January 2005. Prior to starting her legal journey, Judge Bahl worked as a Research Specialist in the Pulmonary Department at The University of AL, Birmingham, and later in the Dermatology Department at Emory University, Atlanta. Transitioning to law (after 22 years) in 2005, she joined a small firm and eventually became a named partner in 2007. In 2009, she bought the same firm and founded Neera Bahl & Associates, specializing in all areas of Immigration and Family Law. Renamed One Path Legal in 2018, she sold the practice in 2019 and ran Neera Bahl Legal Consulting, LLC until her Judicial Appointment in August 2020. On August 17, 2020, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp swore Neera Bahl into office as an Appellate Judge and Director of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation. On July 8, 2024, Governor Kemp reappointed Judge Bahl to serve another four-year term in her capacity as Appellate Judge and Director of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.

Judge Bahl is the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award 2010 from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School as well as the “TIP Volunteer of the Year Award” in 2007. She is the recipient of the Glory of India Award in January 2012 and on the Super Lawyers List for 2012, 2013, and 2014. Ms. Bahl is the 2014 Honoree of the “I Am the Dream: Legends of a New Era” MLK Celebration. In July 2024, she was honored with an award as one of the 25 most influential Asian Americans in Georgia by the Georgia Asian Times. She is a member of several organizations, some of which include the State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), South Asian Bar Association of Georgia (SABA-GA), Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA), Multi Bar Legal Council, Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, Georgia Indo American Chamber of Commerce (GIACC), and Cobb Chamber of Commerce. She is a former member of the Lawyers Club of Atlanta. Currently she serves on the Board of SAWCA (Southern Association of Workers’ Comp Administrators) and NAWCJ (National Association of Workers’ Comp Judges)

Judge Bahl served as the Chairwoman of the Regional Advisory Council of the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC-SE) after serving three years as the President of this organization. She also served on the Board of Advisory Council for the Chairman’s Club of Cobb Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Diversity and Inclusion section of the Chamber. She was appointed by Governor Brian P. Kemp to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission in January 2019. She was a member of Rotary Club of Marietta until 2021. She was appointed to serve on the Cobb Board of Elections in 2018 for a four-year term. Ms. Bahl strongly believes in giving back to the community and community service. She herself volunteers and helps at least six different volunteer and community service programs.

Mr. Charles W. Barrow Related Seminars and Products

Goodman McGuffey LLP

Charles W. Barrow is a Partner in the Savannah, GA office of Goodman McGuffey LLP and has been in private practice since 1976. His practice is concentrated in insurance defense work representing employers in the State of Georgia on Workers’ Compensation cases.

Mr. Barrow is a state approved mediator. He has represented the Town of Thunderbolt since 1995 as general counsel, providing legal assistance in numerous areas of local government law to the Mayor, Council, and Administrative Staff. He also represents Chatham County in the acquisition of property for Public Projects and in Condemnation cases. Mr. Barrow also represents the City of Savannah in condemnation matters as well. Previous representation includes Chatham County as County Attorney (1985-1989), and the City of Springfield as City Attorney (1991-2009).

Charlie is a 1976 graduate of the Walter F. George School of Law and received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia. He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association and the Savannah Bar Association.

Mr. Andrew Lane Davidson Related Seminars and Products

Jones Cork LLP

Andrew L. Davidson has practiced with Jones Cork, LLP since graduating from Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, in 2015.

Mr. Davidson’s general trial practice includes litigation through the trial and appellate levels. Since 2016, he's defended employers, self-insured employers, and insurance carriers in connection with workers’ compensation claims throughout Georgia. Additionally, he represents defendants regarding personal injury claims, including motor vehicle accidents as well as premises liability actions. He also handles probate matters and business disputes.

Along with Jones Cork’s Education Law Attorneys, Mr. Davidson handles various litigated matters and advises school districts throughout Georgia. Mr. Davidson also represents financial institutions, as well as individuals, in various matters including foreclosures, loan workouts, dispossessory proceedings, and collections.

Mr. Davidson is originally from Roberta, Georgia. He is an Eagle Scout, and enjoys spending time outdoors, canoeing and fishing, especially on the Flint River.

Ms. Shalini A. Patel Related Seminars and Products

Clements & Sweet LLP

After many a frigid Midwest winter, Shalini, a University of Michigan graduate, landed in Georgia in 1992. Ever idealistic, she attended law school at Emory University with an eye towards the public interest. Undeterred by a first-year professor who pointed out that the sign situated in front of the building read “School of Law” not “School of Justice,” she proudly joined the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office as a staff attorney in 1995.  She moved into civil practice in 2001 with hopes of expanding her repertoire. For the next seven years, Shalini represented teachers and school employees in due process hearings as well as in proactive employment discrimination lawsuits. It was a natural progression to represent working people across all trades and professions when her firm merged with Clements & Sweet in 2008. Since then, Shalini has assisted individuals injured while working in getting and keeping the benefits to which they are entitled. It is the personal connections she makes with her clients that motivate and continue to inspire her.

Outside the office, Shalini loves to fill her downtime with travel. Although she enjoys traveling internationally with her husband and kids, she also likes visiting the Pacific Northwest where her two sons attend college. With a newly-emptied nest, Shalini hopes to spend more time reading, going to concerts, watching plays and exploring unfamiliar parts of Georgia, the state which she has called home for more than thirty years.

Ms. Hannah Lee Turner Related Seminars and Products

Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell

Hannah Turner joined Moore, Ingram, Johnson, & Steele in October 2023 as an associate attorney in the Workers Compensation department. She was also a summer associate at MIJS during the summer of 2023.

Hannah earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish from Georgia Southern University.  Hannah earned her Juris Doctor and a Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

During law school, Hannah was a research assistant for Professor Melissa T. Lonegrass and an Obligations Tutor for Professor Olivier Moreteau. She received CALI awards for Obligations and Immigration Law. She also served as the Production Editor for the LSU Journal for Social Justice and Policy Volume III.

Hannah was heavily involved in LSU’s Advocacy Programs. She competed in several internal and external moot court competitions. In the Fall of 2022, Hannah participated in the Wrongful Conviction Clinic. She also was selected to the 2022-2023 Board of Advocates and served as the Director of Internal Trial Advocacy Competitions.

After graduating from law school, Hannah was selected to the Order of the Barristers, a national advocacy honors society.

Mr. Stephen Holloway Brown Related Seminars and Products

Hollington Brown LLP

Stephen H. Brown received his undergraduate degree in 1992 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He then attended the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, where he graduated cum laude in 1996.  Stephen began practicing with Fulcher Hagler LLP in Augusta, Georgia, becoming a partner in 2001.  During his time at Fulcher Hagler LLP, Stephen focused on the defense of employers/insurers in workers’ compensation, general civil trial work, including medical malpractice defense, construction defense, and domestic relations.

In 2012, Stephen left Fulcher Hagler LLP, joining the Law Offices of Larry N. Hollington, P.C.   In January 2013, Stephen formed a partnership with Larry N. Hollington, creating the law firm of Hollington Brown LLP.  Stephen’s practice now focuses on the exclusive representation of injured workers before the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation.    

Hon. Johnny W. Mason Jr. Related Seminars and Products

Judge

State Board of Workers' Compensation

JUDGE JOHNNY MASON, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, obtained his B.A. in 1978 from the University of Pennsylvania, and obtained his law degree in 1984 from Woodrow Wilson College of Law. Judge Mason was in private practice as a trial lawyer from 1985 to 1995, primarily practicing in the areas of civil rights, domestic law, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and personal injury. In 1995, Judge Mason was appointed as an Administrative Law Judge with the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation. In 2000, on appointment by the Governor, Judge Mason served for one year as Chief Judge of the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings and, thereafter, returned to the Workers’ Compensation Board where he continues to serve as an Administrative Law Judge.

Ms. Kathryn Stazak Rotenberry Related Seminars and Products

Savell & Williams LLP

Kathryn Rotenberry focuses almost exclusively on workers’ compensation defense, representing businesses, insurers, and self-insureds in coverage and compensability issues. Kathryn has successfully tried cases before Administrative Law Judges throughout the State and handled numerous appeals. Additionally, she has had great success bringing hundreds of cases to resolution in a timely manner. Kathryn enjoys working closely with clients to best serve their needs and achieve favorable results.

Kathryn is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the Atlanta Bar Association, and the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association. She is admitted to practice in all State and Superior Courts in the State of Georgia as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Kathryn is an Atlanta native. She earned her undergraduate degree from Furman University with honors and graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law. Kathryn lives in Sandy Springs with her husband and their Labrador, Turbo. She enjoys road biking, hiking, and traveling.

Mr. Richard Hampton Sapp III Related Seminars and Products

State Board of Worker's Compensation

RICHARD HAMPTON SAPP, III is an Administrative Law Judge with the State Board of Workers Compensation. He handles the Northwest Georgia territory including the Dalton, Blue Ridge, Jasper, and Rome areas.  He is a 1984 graduate of Emory University and a cum laude 1987 graduate of Mercer Law School.  He spent four years after graduation from law school handling a variety of cases including criminal cases, divorce cases, and workers compensation cases at the Dalton, Georgia, law firm of Kinney and Kemp.  Next, he was an in-house attorney for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for a few years, and then he was a partner at the Atlanta law firm, Swift Currie, for over 20 years where he handled workers compensation cases.  He has been an administrative law judge for eight years.  

Mr. Matthew Dalby Walker Related Seminars and Products

Drew Eckl & Farnham LLP

Matt Walker obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his law degree from Georgia State University. He practices Workers’ Compensation law, serving national and regional clients who have a Georgia presence. He has worked with both public and private companies and gained valuable experience litigating cases for clients in the automotive industry, health care, telecommunications, food & beverage, manufacturing, and trucking & transportation arenas.

Matt has taken and defended hundreds of depositions, including those of expert witnesses such as physicians and vocational experts. He has developed proficiency in managing complex and high-exposure claims involving technical and sometimes obscure medical issues.

Mr. Alex Brian Wallach Related Seminars and Products

George & Wallach LLLP