WorkCompCentral is a specialty media company providing professional news, education and data content to the workers’ compensation industry. We are trusted by the industry because we are independent and unafraid of the truth. We believe that workers' compensation plays an important social and economic role; it is our job to inform, educate and expose the good and the bad. We value our customers and potential customers, and demonstrate that value with customer service that goes well beyond their expectations. We must make enough profit to generate a fair return for our investors and to finance continued growth and development of the company and our employees. Who We Are
About Us
Board of Directors
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| Rick Kissen | Lief Feil | Anne DePaolo |
| CEO/CFO | Managing Director | Corporate Secretary |
"As founding board members, we encourage the team at WorkCompCentral to continue to pursue the vision of WorkCompCentral’s founder, David DePaolo, by delivering the highest quality industry news, education and tools with a dedication to providing superior customer service to our users."
Leadership
Jim Sams
Director of News Operations
Leading the WorkCompCentral news team since 2005, Jim Sams is responsible for directing, building and final editing of WorkCompCentral's news. Prior to joining WorkCompCentral, Sams worked at various daily print news media papers across the country. He was both Acting Business Editor and Senior Project Writer for the Desert Sun and was a County Government Reporter for the Sarasota Tribune and a Capitol Bureau Chief at the Stockton Record. Sams holds a B.A. from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a Major in Mass Communications.
Kristen Chavez
Director of Operations and Business Development
Kristen has been with WorkCompCentral since 2004. Having worked in every department within the company, she brings to the table a very thorough understanding of the company's inner workings and role in the community. As Director Of Operations and Business Development, Kristen plans on continuing to lead WorkCompCentral in providing exceptional service and resources to the work comp community at large.
Jacob Parres
Education Manager
Jake Parres has been with WorkCompCentral since the summer of 2007 and is currently serving as Manager of the Education Department. He provides technical and customer support, designs live seminar curriculum, and works with the entire spectrum of the work comp community to create customized training packages. Jake engages in real-time problem solving through team-building, networking and specialized education opportunities. Jake is a Ventura County native and enjoys cycling, literature, local cuisine and boxing.
Christina Childers
Director of Branding & Advertising
Christina has been with WorkCompCentral since 2008. She brings a wealth of marketing knowledge and experience to the WCC team and community. As director of Branding & Advertising, she uses her expertise to assist the work comp community in achieving their individual marketing and branding goals. Christina understands that each client is unique, and specializes in creating customized marketing plans to address her client's individual needs. She enjoys the friendship she shares with her clients, and is committed to ensuring an experience that exceeds their expectations.
Yvonne Guibert
Director of Marketing
Yvonne has over 28 years experience marketing in the work comp industry with a focus on live event marketing. She joined the WorkCompCentral team in May of 2014 and currently contributes to the shaping of and managing all communications in regards to the Comp Laude Awards® and Gala, our annual signature event, and other company communications as well as working on business development in Florida. Yvonne grew up near San Antonio, Texas and graduated from University of South Florida in Tampa with a B.A. in International Studies. Yvonne lives in Tampa, Florida.
Ron Haaland
Program Manager, IT
Ron has been working at WorkCompCentral since 2006. After graduating from Brooks Institute of Photography in 1989 with a degree in Illustration/Advertising, Ron discovered an innate ability for developing web sites. A self taught coder and server administrator, he considers himself a problem solver. Ron now manages a team of developers who are all committed to finding solutions that provide WorkCompCentral clients a user friendly interface.
Cindy Cooper
Bookkeeper
Cindy is a long time veteran of WorkCompCentral. Joining the team in 2006, she has been devoted to providing the best service to her clients. Aside from coordinating and managing accounts receivable and payable for WorkCompCentral, Cindy takes pride in taking preventative measures and being dependable for the general welfare of WCC and its clients.
Valeria Garcia
Event Manager
Valeria has four years of hospitality experience with a special interest in revenue management. At WorkCompCentral she manages the logistics and many facets of live events as well as educational seminars. Valeria is committed to executing dynamic and impactful events that will generate substantial leads and return on investment for clients of WorkCompCentral.
Vicki Meraz
Operations Manager
While obtaining her degree in Business Administration from CSUCI, Vicki developed an appreciation for business operations and seeing how all departments come together to create success. Vicki enjoys working with clients and developing business relations. In her current role at WorkCompCentral, Vicki is crucial to client service and retention. She oversees the training and management of the account representative team to ensure WorkCompCentral provides excellent customer service to users.
WCC Crew
Kayla Peralta
Digital Media and Marketing Specialist
Kayla has been WorkCompCentral's Digital Media and Marketing Specialist since 2014. While studying at California Lutheran University, she directed a student film called "Honor Society" that won first place at the CLU Film Festival in 2013. In 2014 Kayla graduate from CLU with a degree in Communications as well as a second degree of Multimedia.
Kieran Farrar
Back-End Web Developer
New to the WorkCompCentral team, Kieran has been developing web applications since 2012. He graduated from UCSC in 2012 with a degree in Pure Mathematics. Kieran incorporates the tenets of math into programming architecture in order to create solutions to complex issues.
Brandon Serret
Client Relations
Brandon has been an online customer service representative for WorkCompCentral since 2013, and really enjoys interacting with people in the industry. He is passionate about making a difference and helping people find solutions that meet their specific needs. Brandon says he is very proud to call WorkCompCentral a second home and is honored to be a part of an outstanding team.
Delores Pinedo
Account Representative
As an account representative for WorkCompCentral, Delores thrives on providing excellent customer service to our users. With over 20 years experience in customer service, she is most passionate about being part of a team that provides services and top notch resources to industry professionals so they are able to operate at their very best.
Gabriela Orozco
Education Administrator
Gaby joined WorkCompCentral in 2016 as an account representative. Bringing over 15 years experience in customer service she really enjoys interacting with customers. As an account representative she enjoys assisting our clients in navigating their membership subscriptions and educating users about additional services. She looks forward serving in the education department and working with customers to meet their education needs and goals.
Jade Weber
Administrative Coordinator
After helping with Comp Laude Awards® and Gala for the past two years, Jade is now a full time WorkCompCentral team member. She is excited to learn and grow with the company. Her positive attitude, amiable character and diligent work effort plays a large role in her enjoyment of helping people reach a successful outcome.
News Reporters
Greg Jones
Deputy Editor, Reporter
Greg joined WorkCompCentral in 2010 as a reporter. He currently covers workers compensation legislation, litigation and regulation covering the Western states including: California, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
He has worked in print media as a writer, editor and photographer. He started as a general assignment reporter in New Mexico and quickly moved up to state/business editor and sports editor. Greg graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. Degree in Political Science. He currently lives in Sacramento, California.
Sherri Okamoto
Legal Reporter
Sherri Okamoto graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles with departmental honors for English and Comparative Literature. She went on to Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, obtaining her Juris Doctorate in 2006. Okamoto worked for the Daily Journal and Metropolitan News-Enterprise before joining the WorkCompCentral news staff in January 2012. She resides in Ventura, Calif.
J. Todd Foster
Reporter
J. Todd Foster joined WorkCompCentral in May 2016 as a senior reporter after decades of reporting and editing for newspapers and magazines from Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C. In 2010, he was the editor of the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. He was the executive editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press and formerly an investigative reporter for newspapers in Spokane, Washington and Pensacola, Florida.
Emily Brill
Reporter
Emily Brill has been with WorkCompCentral since 2015. Prior to that, she was a copy editor at The Press of Atlantic City and a reporter at The Times of Trenton. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with a journalism degree in 2013.
Elaine Goodman
Reporter
Elaine Goodman is a long-time reporter and editor who has covered business, crime, and politics for publications including the Reno Gazette-Journal and Palo Alto Daily News. She joined WorkCompCentral in 2015 as medical/business reporter. Elaine has a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Copy Editor
Erik has nearly 30 years of journalism experience as a reporter, editor and layout designer, but editing copy is what he loves best. He is a graduate of California State University Fresno and a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.