WorkCompCentral, a sister publication of Business Insurance, presented awards Tuesday for outstanding contributions to the workers compensation industry during its annual Comp Laude Awards and Gala in Huntington Beach, California.
The event borrows its name from the Latin phrase “cum laude,” which means “with honor,” which is commonly used in academia.
The top two awards were given to people chosen by an advisory committee for recognition of career contributions and observed impact on the comp industry.
Dawn Watkins, of the Los Angeles Unified School District, won the Summa Comp Laude — “with highest honor” — award, also known as the David J. DePaulo Award.
Bryan Conner, of American Airlines, received the Magna Comp Laude — “with great honor” —award.
Additional awards were presented in 11 categories, including:
Applicant/claimant attorney: Bob Burke.
Defense attorney: Jennifer Morris Jones.
Doctor/physician (two winners): Dr. Robert Snyder and Dr. Melissa Tonn.
Medical professional: Silvia Sacalis.
Service provider/vendor: Eddy Canavan.
Claims professional: Jill Leonard.
Work comp philanthropy: Kristen Chavez.
Risk professional: Kurt Leisure.
Industry leader (two winners): Joseph Paduda and Shawn Crosby.
Injured worker: Victor Aguirre, Tyler Wilson, Brance Tully, Josh Shutts, Dave Repsher and Amanda Repsher.
People’s choice award, chosen by the audience using text-to-vote: Natalie Torres.
Finally, the inaugural “Be the Change” award — intended for the person who most embraces the mission and spirit of Comp Laude — was given to Patrizia Cassaniti.
The Comp Laude Awards and Gala concluded Wednesday.
For a complete list of 2022 nominees and finalists, click here.
WorkCompCentral is a sister publication of Business Insurance. More stories here.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.