Honorable Stephen J. Abbott
Administrative Law Judge Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Stephen Abbott is an administrative law judge for the State of Colorado, where he presides over workers’ compensation disputes. Before serving on the bench, he worked as an Assistant City Attorney for the City and County of Denver, litigating matters that included workers’ compensation, subrogation, and appellate practice. His background also includes experience as a deputy district attorney in Colorado’s 13th Judicial District and as an associate in private practice focusing on workers’ compensation defense.
Claims/Legal – Bar Code: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used in Law
Joe Barela
Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
In December 2018, Governor Polis appointed Joe Barela as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, a 1900-person state agency housing the Divisions of Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation, Labor Standards and Statistics, Vocational Rehabilitation, Employment and Training and Oil and Public Safety. Joe has more than 25 years of experience in workforce and human capital development and is seen as a local and national leader in the field. Joe is passionate about creating more opportunities for better career pathways for working all Americans. Under his leadership he has introduced the Office of the Future of Work, The Office of New Americans and the Office of Just Transitions as well as the Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Division.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Jenna Becker, MSN, FNP-BC
Provider Relations Consultant, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Tiffany Becker
Manager of Business Operations, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Tech Ops. – DOWC Tech Updates: Voices of CoComp; The Prime Directive: Workers’ Compensation and the Life of an Injured Worker
Monica Bonynge
Co-founder, Harmonious Hearts Healing
Monica is an intuitive counselor, hypnotherapist, and energy healer who supports individuals through healing, transformation, and personal growth. Her work centers on helping people reconnect with their inner strength, clarity, and sense of purpose.
With a compassionate and integrative approach, Monica guides individuals through emotional, energetic, and mindset-based work to support recovery, resilience, and authenticity. She is deeply committed to creating a supportive space where meaningful insight and healing can occur, empowering people to move forward with confidence and intention.
Medical – The Effectiveness of Complementary Medicine
Scott Bonynge
Co-founder, Harmonious Hearts Healing
Scott is a Shamanic & Reiki Energy Healer, Medium, Intuitive, and Teacher who offers an integrated approach to spiritual healing and personal transformation. His work goes beyond surface-level relief, focusing on reconnecting individuals with their authentic selves.
Scott is deeply passionate about guiding others to uncover their purpose, activate their innate gifts, and release the patterns that keep them feeling stuck. Through intuitive insight and compassionate guidance, he creates a safe and sacred space for healing, energetic alignment, and personal expansion.
Medical – The Effectiveness of Complementary Medicine
Honorable Laura Broniak
Director and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Courts
Laura Broniak was appointed as the Director and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Courts in September 2022. Prior to her appointment, Judge Broniak served as an administrative law judge for both the Office of Administrative Courts and the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. Before becoming an administrative law judge, Judge Broniak represented the Colorado Division of Insurance and other state agencies as an Assistant Attorney General, and also worked in private practice.
Trailblazer
Dr. Emily Burns, MSPH
Medical Director, UCHealth
Dr. Burns graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2002 and then completed a Preventive Medicine residency in 2006, also through the University of Colorado. She became board certified in Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2022 after having been board certified in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine since 2006. She has a background conducting public health research at the Colorado School of Public Health and practicing primary care for several years before entering the field of occupational medicine about ten years ago. Currently Dr. Burns serves as the Occupational Medicine Medical Director across UCHealth’s Occupational Medicine department and practices full time clinical occupational medicine at UCHealth in Colorado Springs.
The Doctors Are In: Medical Directors’ Roundtable
Alison Butler
Senior Disability Policy Advisor for the State of Colorado's Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO)
Alison Butler is the Senior Disability Policy Advisor for the State of Colorado’s Disability Opportunity Office (CDOO). She joined the State following an extensive career as a civil rights attorney focusing on disability rights and leading the City & County of Denver’s Disability Rights Division. Over the course of her career, Alison has fought for independence, equity, and justice for people with disabilities in accessing governmental services, employment, housing, public accommodations, and physical and mental health care services.
Danny Combs, M.A., BCCS, CAS
Director, Colorado Disability Opportunity Office Founder, TACT (Teaching the Autism Community Trades)
Danny Combs is a nationally recognized leader in building equitable futures for neurodistinct individuals and advancing opportunity for the entire disability community. As the inaugural Director of the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office—the state’s senior strategic and policy agency housed within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment—he works closely with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to make Colorado the best state in the nation for people with disabilities.
Elizabeth Esty, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Vail Community Health Occupational Health Medical Director, Boulder Community Health Occupational Health Associate Program Director, CU Occupational and Environmental Medical Residency Program
Dr. Esty is board certified in occupational and environmental medicine. She serves as the assistant program director for the University of Colorado’s residency in occupational medicine, where her current research focuses on the ethics of employer involvement in clinical care. Dr. Esty is also the medical director for occupational health at both Boulder Community Health and Vail Health Occupational Health. Prior to her residency training, she worked with the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation Medical Treatment Guideline group, evaluating medical literature to inform clinical guidelines. A member of the DIME panel, she also performs both respondent and claimant independent medical examinations.
Medical – The Doctors Are In: Medical Directors’ Roundtable; Return to Work: Getting Them Back in the Game (Safely!)
Martin Kelly
Martial Arts Instructor, Self-Care Arts
Sifu Martin “Mountain Dragon” Kelly is an accomplished martial arts instructor with an impressive 50 years of experience. His expertise includes 20 years spent providing medical Qigong instruction, initially at Penrose Hospital and currently for the City of Colorado Springs wellness department. His teaching philosophy strongly emphasizes self-care arts and holistic wellness, viewing Qigong as a true form of self-care medicine. When used alongside allopathic treatments, this self-healing art has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, effectively complementing Western medical interventions. Sifu Kelly’s comprehensive approach to well-being offers valuable insights directly applicable to professional environments, particularly in the areas of safety, injury prevention, and personal well-being.
Medical – The Effectiveness of Complementary Medicine
Samuel Kelly, PMP®, MBA, CCAPM
Supervisor of Technical Operations, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
DOWC Tech Updates: Voice of CoComp
Amy Kingston, Esq.
Manager of Compensation Services, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Amy is the Manager of Claims and Employer Programs for the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. She received her J.D. and B.A. in English summa cum laude from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has been working in workers’ compensation, in one form or another since high school when she worked for a temporary nursing agency. Amy is passionate about workers’ compensation because the field is endless fascinating, and she has the opportunity at the Division to make a difference in the lives of Coloradoans.
Claims/Legal – Where the Rules Meet the Road: a Working Session for Rules 1, 5, 6, 7
Katherine Lee
Katherine was born and raised right outside of D.C. in McLean, Virginia, and attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia and Wake Forest Law School in North Carolina before moving to Colorado in 2023 to begin her legal career. Katherine was a founding board member of Wake Forest Law School’s Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and was additionally a Wake Forest Moot Court board member. She has been an attorney with Pollart Miller since July of 2024, and currently lives in Castle Rock with her husband and three dogs – a beagle, a collie-mix, and a St. Bernard.
Trailblazer
Nevine Laughlin
Return to Work Director, Pinnacol Assurance
Nevine Laughlin joined Pinnacol Assurance in 2020 as the director of the Return to Work program, where she leads a team that helps injured workers safely return to their jobs after workplace injuries. This role represents a return to her roots in vocational rehabilitation, where she worked to connect people with disabilities with meaningful employment opportunities.
Return to Work: Getting Them Back in the Game (Safely!)
Dr. Gabriel Lockhart
Senior Medical Director, Pinnacol
Dr. Lockhart brings a wealth of experience in clinical leadership, quality improvement, utilization management, and strategic innovation. He is a board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician with an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He started his medical career at National Jewish Health with an impressive background that includes serving as Medical Director of the ICU and Quality Improvement Chair at Saint Joseph Hospital, where he significantly improved mortality rates and reduced hospital-acquired infections. Dr. Lockhart’s expertise also extends to peer review, sepsis management, and resource utilization, and he was elected President of the Medical Staff at National Jewish Health. In 2025, Dr. Lockhart was named a Top Doctor for 5280 Magazine. Beyond his hospital-based work, Dr. Lockhart is deeply committed to public health. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Uptown Community Health Center, focusing on equitable care for underserved populations, and previously served on a medical advisory group for the Governor of Colorado on pandemic strategies and vaccine equity.
Medical – The Doctors Are In: Medical Directors’ Roundtable
Honorable Wesley G. Marshall
Wesley G. Marshall is Chairman of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. He was first appointed as a Commissioner by the Virginia General Assembly in 2012 after a private law practice for 23 years, primarily representing plaintiffs in workers’ compensation, employment and other civil litigation. He graduated from the University of Virginia with his B.A. with distinction in 1985 and his J.D. in 1988.
Regulators’ Roundtable
Talia Marquez
Talia M. Marquez is an attorney in Burg Simpson’s Workers’ Compensation Department. Ms. Marquez obtained her JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2023. She is the current Board of Governors Representative for the CBA Workers’ Compensation Section Executive Council and Active member of the Workers’ Compensation Education Association. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Marquez obtained her BA in Journalism from the University of Kansas.
Honorable Frank McKay
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. Judge McKay is a Fellow in the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers (CWCL). He is a Past-President of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) and served as a Dean of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 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).
Trailblazer & Regulators’ Roundtable
X. J. Ethan Moses, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Medical Director, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation | Chief Medical Officer, Peak Form Medical Center | Colorado School of Public Health Faculty | University of Colorado School of Medicine Faculty
Dr. Xavier James Ethan “Mojo” Moses is the Medical Director for the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation. He is a Fellow of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine where he serves as a member of their Council on Occupational and Environmental Medicine Science. Dr. Moses continues to serve patients as the Chief Medical Officer at Peak Form Medical Center, and he holds faculty appointments at both the Colorado School of Public Health and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He has previously served in several executive leadership positions, including Chief of the Division of Occupational Medicine at Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Chief Resident at the University of Colorado’s Occupational and Environmental Medicine Residency, and Chief of Aerospace Medicine at Buckley Air Force Base where he served as an active-duty flight surgeon.
Medical – The Doctors Are In: Medical Directors’ Roundtable; From Controversy to Care: Innovations in Medical Cannabis Reimbursement
Wes Parham
As the vice president of public affairs, Wes doesn’t just lead — he drives transformative conversations. Wes leads Pinnacol’s legislative, community relations and public outreach initiatives. He is an accomplished public affairs executive with decades of experience in civic leadership.
During his tenure at Pinnacol, the company has been widely recognized for its civic, employee and community engagement, as well as its leadership to support workforce development. In 2024, Pinnacol was named a national finalist for Best Corporate Steward in the large business category by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Industry Spotlight
Dr. Adrean Riba
Medical Director, MBI
Dr. Adrean Riba, MD, MPH, serves as the Colorado Regional Medical Director for MBI Industrial Medicine. She is a board-certified physician with over a decade of medical practice experience, focusing her expertise on Occupational Medicine in Colorado.
Dr. Riba graduated from Mercer University School of Medicine in 2015 and currently practices in Longmont, Colorado. She has a passion for treating injured workers, who are the bedrock of Colorado communities.
Medical – The Doctors Are In: Medical Directors’ Roundtable
Dr. Bogdan Savych
Senior Policy Analyst, Workers Compensation Research Institute
Dr. Bogdan Savych analyzes issues related to labor and health economics, dispute resolution, and the design of income benefit systems. He currently conducts research that examines self-reported outcomes of injured workers and adequacy and efficacy of workers’ compensation benefits. His research also explores the role of provider choice policies in worker outcomes and compares payments for ambulatory surgery centers across states. In addition, he examines the performance of the workers’ compensation system in Virginia as part of the CompScope™ benchmarking studies. Dr. Savych received his Ph.D. from Pardee RAND Graduate School.
Medical – Good Bones: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Medicine/Treatment
Jeni Shaw
Claims Director
Jeni Shaw brings more than 19 years of experience in proactive claims management to her role as Claims Director at Pinnacol Assurance. She leads a high-performance team of claim experts and is responsible for developing, communicating, and implementing Pinnacol’s claims strategy, ensuring consistency and best-in-class customer experience. She ensures claims handling activities and decisions are consistent with business standards and prides herself on leading by example. Known for her approach of viewing change as an opportunity, Shaw develops and implements industry-leading claims practices based upon continuous learning and improvement. Shaw’s passion for recognizing talent and developing others has helped to build the incredible team of claims professionals at Pinnacol, who continuously set new records for customer satisfaction. Her expertise is often called on for assistance with strategically managing and establishing financial outcome goals on complex claims. She is praised for her leadership and ability to help others navigate tough situations. Her drive for excellence in compassionate and conscientious claims management comes through in all of her work.
Trailblazer
Coe Sherrard
Managing Director, CapTech
Coe Sherrard is a technology consulting leader with extensive experience working with state workers’ compensation organizations. Coe’s work focuses on applying artificial intelligence and modern technology solutions to improve operational efficiency, decision-making, and outcomes in complex workers’ compensation environments.
Tech Ops. – DOWC Tech Updates: Voices of CoComp; Workers’ Computation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Workers’ Compensation System
Dan Sung, Esq.
Manager of Medical Policy, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Tech Ops. – Workers’ Computation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Workers’ Compensation System
Paul Tauriello
Director of the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Paul Tauriello has been the Director of the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation since 2010. While working at the Division over the past twenty-three years, he also held the roles of Associate Director and Deputy Director in which he oversaw all of its programs including claims management, coverage enforcement, medical policy and cost containment. His areas of focus have included risk management, insurance and employer programs, aligning with his prior career as an executive for an airline with regional operations across North America. In addition to his work as Director, he can also be credited with contributions to national and international organizations. These efforts have promoted collaboration and improvements for workers’ compensation and risk management.
Welcome & Opening Remarks; State of the System Address; Closing Remarks
Evan Trowbridge
Manager of Stakeholder Engagement & Education, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Evan Trowbridge serves as the Manager of Stakeholder Engagement and Education at the Division of Workers’ Compensation, overseeing the Premium Cost Containment and Education & Outreach teams. Prior to his current role, he worked within the Education & Outreach team for nearly seven years. Before coming to Colorado, Evan worked on political campaigns and in the New York State Senate. Evan holds a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law and a B.A. from Fairfield University.
Robert "Bob" Wilson
President & CEO
Bob Wilson is President of WorkCompCollege.com. Previously he served as President & CEO of WorkersCompensation.com, a position he held for 23 years. He is an experienced presenter for the workers’ compensation industry and is the author of “From Bob’s Cluttered Desk”, a blog repeatedly named as a top workers’ compensation blog by LexisNexis. He has been named one of the “50 Most Influential People in Workers’ Comp” by the SEAK National Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference. In 2025 he received the “Changemaker Culture Shaper Award,” and in 2019 he received the Industry Leader award from CompLaude. Known for an exceptional sense of humor, his presentations reflect both entertaining and practical advice for both people managing claims as well as the people “picking up the tab”. Bob serves on the Board of Directors for Kids’ Chance of America, Inc., and was a founding board member and past president of Kids Chance of Florida, Inc.
Trailblazer & Regulators’ Roundtable
Kien Vuu, MD
Founder, VuuMD Performance and Longevity | Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, UCLA
Kien Vuu, MD— popularly known as Doctor V—is an assistant professor of Health Sciences at UCLA, speaker, media expert, founder of VuuMD Performance and Longevity, and best-selling author of Thrive State: Your Blueprint for Optimal Health, Longevity, and Peak Performance. Dr. V has been practicing medicine for over 14 years and combines his knowledge as a doctor with his personal experiences overcoming chronic disease.