Executive Secretary - Gerald M. Marcinkoski
Gerald (Jerry) Marcinkoski acts as the Executive Secretary of the Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association. He is a partner in the law firm Lacey & Jones, located in Birmingham, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is the chief appellate attorney at the firm. He is a member of the council of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar. He also acts as an associate editor of the State Bar’s periodical distributed to all members of the Workers’ Compensations Section of the State Bar. That periodical updates attorneys on developments in workers’ compensation law as they occur. He is a Special Assistant Attorney General. He has been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America.” He had succeeded Ed Welch as editor of “Michigan Workers’ Comp Reporter,” a monthly newsletter of articles and interviews relating to workers’ compensation in Michigan and around the country. He has won a distinguished brief award from Cooley Law School for a Supreme Court brief.

Jerry has represented defendants in a number of major workers’ compensation cases in recent years. He has lectured for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education on workers’ compensation subjects. He is a frequent speaker on workers’ compensation issues.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION – Susan Azar, Chairperson
Worker's Compensation Manager for General Motors Corporation
Michigan Funds Administration Board of Trustees | MI Healthcare Advisory Committee | MI Workers' Compensation Agency Advisory Committee | Member of MSIA Board, since June 2004 | Chair of MSIA Healthcare Committee

Susan has held various positions in the insurance industry over the past 25 years, starting as a commercial underwriter for Nationwide Insurance. She joined Chrysler Insurance in 1989 and General Motors in 1991. While at GM she has held insurance related positions at Motors Insurance Corporation, General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Corporate Risk Management and Global Employee Benefits. Susan's education includes a Bachelor's Degree from Juniata College in Huntington, PA, and a Master's Degree from Walsh College, as well as the CPCU and ARM Designations from the Insurance Institute.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY - Jonathan Parker, 1st Vice-Chair
Jon is the Reporting and Systems Manager at Ford Motor Company. In the past 18 years, he has held a variety of Workers' Compensation positions at Ford including claims administration, accounting, and management. His current duties include claims system management, financial and claims analysis, surety bond management, and records retention. He is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a degree in Industrial Supervision and Management. Jon was appointed to the MSIA Board in 2005.

CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY - Doug Wright, 2nd Vice-Chair
Consumers Energy is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy and has over 100 years of experience producing and distributing electrical and gas services. Doug has served on the board since 2005 and is recognized as a Certified Workers' Compensation Professional (CWCP).

AMWAY - Lorraine K. Climer
Medical Disability Specialist

Lorraine K. Climer joined Amway in 2002. She currently works in the Human Resources Medical and Disability Department where she works with all aspects of leave, including Workers Compensation, Family Leave, Short and Long Term Disability, Military Leaves and the ADAAA. Before joining Amway, Lorraine acquired more than 20 years of experience in the Health Insurance industry as a Claims Manager and Director of Customer Service and Quality Assurance programs. She also holds Certifications from MSU in Human Resource Management and as a Workers Compensation Professional. She is a participant of the MSIA Board of Managers and the West Michigan Alumni Certified Workers Compensation Program Board of Directors. Ms. Climer is an active member of SHRM, and a graduate from the Leadership Programs of Dale Carnegie and The Disney School of Leadership. Lorraine graduated from Spring Arbor College with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management, including a minor in Advertisement and Marketing.

DTE - Douglas A. Green
Doug is the Manager of Benefits Administration for DTE Energy Company and has responsibility for administering all company health & welfare benefit plans, qualified benefit plans, wellness, disability management, medical services and workers compensation. He was appointed to the Board of Managers in 2007 and serves on the Membership and Audit Committees.

FINCOR SOLUTIONS – Janet Kransz
Claims Director, Integrated Disability Management Services

Janet joined the organization in 1992. She is responsible for ensuring internal claims operations, quality standards, and consistent client services for the areas of workers’ compensation, short-term disability, medical only claims, and cost containment. Janet has over 23 years of experience in disability management claims and 17 years in management. Janet holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Administration from Central Michigan University. Ms. Kransz has also received her national Workers’ Compensation Professional certification (CWCP) and Michigan Adjustor’s license for Fire and Workers’ Compensation.

MSIA Board: Appointed to the board in 2004. Served on the MSIA Spring and Fall Conference Committee 2003-present

KELLY SERVICES, INC - Lesley Zielinski
Lesley Zielinski is the Manager of HQ Workers' Comp. Operations and Senior Claim Consultant for Kelly Services. She was appointed to the MSIA Board of Managers in 2008. Lesley has over 18 years of workers compensation industry experience, and has her Michigan Adjustor’s license, Workers’ Compensation Professional Certification (CWCP), and is currently pursuing a Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriting Certification (CPCU) from the Insurance Institute.

MARATHON OIL COMPANY – Bobbi Parker
Bobbi is the Supervisor of Absence Management for Marathon and is responsible for coordination of the Absence Management Advisory Team (consisting of representatives from Health Services, Legal, Human Resources, Benefits Administration and Absence Management), the multi-state workers’ compensation insurance program for Marathon Oil Corporation, Marathon Oil Company, Marathon Petroleum Company LLC and Speedway SuperAmerica LLC, workers’ compensation claims management for Marathon Oil Corporation, Marathon Oil Company and Marathon Petroleum Company LLC and long term disability claims management for Marathon Oil and Marathon Petroleum Company LLC. Bobbi previously served in various other positions within the Human Resources and Treasury Departments.

Bobbi served on the Board of Directors of the Toledo Chapter RIMS and was appointed to the MSIA Board in 2003.  She served on the membership committee and several conference committees. Bobbi also serves as a member of the Board of the Kentucky Individual Self-Insurers Guaranty Fund and Chairperson of the KYSIGF.

Leigh Stepaniak is the Director of Risk Management for the Wayne County Airport Authority, Detroit Metropolitan Airport since 2003.

Her experience in the insurance industry began at the Aetna Casualty & Surety, a major property and casualty insurance company where she specialized in claims and litigation which included general liability, automobile, workers’ compensation, malpractice and other lines of insurance. Her next stop was working for the County of Wayne as the Claim Manager for 9 years. She moved to Denver and worked for the Broe Companies, a private employer as their Claim Manager in the diversified field of railroad, assisted living and high end real estate. There, she assisted in creating and served as Vice President of a Captive in the Cayman Islands.

Leigh has obtained her ARM and AIC IIA designations. She is continuing her education in insurance and risk management through annual conferences in these related fields. In addition, she is on the Board of MIPRIMA, a non profit organization that provides education to public entities. She also serves on the Conference Committee.

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY – Pamela Galloway
Assistant General Counsel

Wayne State University is an urban research university located in the heart of Detroit’s University Cultural Center. WSU’s 11 schools and colleges offer more than 350 major subject areas to its 33,000 graduate and undergraduate students.

Pamela currently serves as in-house counsel for Wayne State University Her responsibilities are diverse ranging from drafting University policies, drafting and reviewing real estate, research and affiliation agreements and reviewing purchasing agreements and probate documents. She oversees the workers compensation litigation and handles some workers compensation litigation and general civil litigation.

Pamela serves on several University committees, including the University Loss Prevention Committee, Human Investigation Committee and Human Investigation Steering Committee. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan Membership Services Committee and State Bar of Michigan Committee on Justice Initiatives. She is also a member of the Wolverine Bar Association where she serves on the WBA and Damon J. Keith Scholarship Committee. She has been an MSIA Board Member since 1998.

Danielle has practiced workers' compensation law for over 25 years. By focusing on workers' compensation she has developed extensive knowledge and experience of the employers’ perspective on workers' compensation issues. She exclusively defends and advises employers, insurance companies and third party administrators in all areas of workers' compensation law and claims handling. She views workers' compensation as an integral part of an organization's cost containment policy, not simply as a costly nuisance. Her years in the field allow her to understand the issues that are important to employers and to resolve those issues quickly and cost effectively.

CHRYSLER CORPORATION - Neil D. Levins

Michigan Chamber of Commerce - Wendy Block
Director, Health Policy and Human Resources

Wendy joined the Michigan Chamber of Commerce in 2004 as Director of Health Policy and Human Resources. She is responsible for working directly with the state legislature and state agencies to lobby on legislative proposals related to health care benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, labor relations, and lawsuit abuse. Prior to joining the Chamber, Wendy was a policy advisor for the Michigan House of Representatives covering health insurance, financial services and education issues. Wendy holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science and Communications from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois.

MICHIGAN MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION - Michael D. Johnston
Vice President of Government Affairs

In September of 2008, Mike Johnston was appointed Vice President of Government Affairs for the Michigan Manufactures Association (MMA). He had served as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for MMA since 1999. Mike began his government service in 1984, in the Michigan Department of Commerce working as an environmental ombudsman in the Office of the Michigan Business Ombudsman. In 1991, he moved to the legislature, serving on the House Republican Programs and Research staff as a policy advisor to the Business and Finance Committee and the Environmental Affairs Committee. In 1995, he was appointed to serve as Director of Republican Policy Office in the Michigan House of Representatives under two Republican leaders, Speaker Paul Hillegonds and Republican Leader Ken Sikkema. Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Michigan.

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