The Michigan Self-Insurers' Association

Board of Managers

The MSIA is governed by a 17 member Board of Managers. The Board reflects the diversity of our organization. Manufacturing, education, government, energy, communication, sales, food, construction, and health care are typically represented on the Board at any given time. We have ongoing liaisons with group self-insurance companies, the Michigan Manufacturers Association and the Employers Unemployment Compensation Commission. Third-party administrators of self-insureds also participate in the MSIA’s activities, as well as employers who are technically “insured” but retain high deductibles.

Large or small self-insured, public or private, profit or non-profit, the MSIA welcomes all and continues to serve as a watchdog to safeguard workers’ compensation in Michigan and continue to ensure a viable self-insurance market.

In Memoriam
Thomas (Tom) Chuhran passed away on February 11, 2008, after battling a long illness. Tom was the longest serving Executive Secretary of the Michigan Self-Insurers’ Association [MSIA]. He was a vigorous spokesman for the MSIA and concurrently practiced law with the law firm, Conklin, Benham, Ducey, Listman & Chuhran, P.C.

Tom’s tenure as MSIA’s Executive Secretary extended into this century, but his most exciting MSIA times were in the 1980s. At that time, long overdue reforms in the Michigan workers’ compensation system were in full force. Tom was called upon to educate public officials on workers’ compensation issues and played an instrumental role in the 1980’s reforms.

Tom combined a sense of humor (who could forget the jokes with which he began every MSIA speech?) with a fiery passion for his work. His contributions in elevating the MSIA to what it is today were immeasurable. He will be missed.

	Executive Secretary - Gerald M. Marcinkoski 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.
	TRINITY HEALTH – Susan Cyrulnik, Chairperson Director of Workers’ Compensation, Trinity Health Trinity Health is a multi-state health care provider. It employs 25,000 staff in Michigan and a total of 57,000 nationwide. Trinity Health was formed by merging Mercy Health and Holy Cross Health System in May, 2000. WC Experience: 32 years, primarily as a claims, and or sales professional for TPA’s. MSIA Board: Appointed to the board in 2002. Served as the co-chair Fall Conference 2003/2004. Participant on the Membership Committee.
	ALTICOR, INC. – Steve Ohman, 1st Vice Chairperson Manager, Human Resources Steve joined Alticor’s Human Resources Division in 1985, providing management responsibility for the company’s employee benefits programs and services, including group health, retirement, worker’s compensation, and disability management. Steve also oversees Alticor’s onsite medical clinic, which provides occupational health, wellness, case management, and travel medicine services for Alticor’s 6,000+ U.S. employees. Prior to joining Alticor, Steve served as a Paralegal for 2 Grand Rapids area law firms, specializing in worker’s compensation defense. Steve joined the MSIA board in 2000, and was recently appointed to the Integrated Benefits Institute's Board of Directors in 2004. Steve received his Bachelors degree in Public Administration from the University of Michigan.
	CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS – Sheila Mahan, Treasurer Sheila Mahan is a 25+ year employee with the City of Grand Rapids. She has administered the City’s workers’ compensation program since 1989, and more recently is responsible for overseeing the City’s Risk Management Office – workers’ compensation, safety and insurance programs. Sheila received her ARM designation in 1992 and is currently working towards her CIC designation. She has been a MSIA Board member for 10+ years and serves as the Treasurer of Association. She is the City’s representative for the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority and a member of Michigan PRIMA.
	VARNUM CONSULTING – Libby Child Libby has been involved with workers' compensation, mainly in claims management and integraged benefits for 25+ years, working first for Steelcase Inc. and now Varnum Consulting. She was inducted into the Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame in 1999, has served on the Health Care Rules committee, and is currently a Funds Trustee for the Workers' Compensation Funds Administration of Michigan and a member of the Workers' Compensation Qualifications Advisory 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.
	FORD MOTOR COMPANY - Jonathan Parker 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.
	LITTLE CAESAR ENTERPRISES, INC. – C. Michael Healy Mike is the Senior Director of Risk Management for Little Caesar Enterprises and its affiliated companies and is responsible for the insurance and claims management programs for these entities. He has 30 years experience in insurance and workers compensation claims administration. He is also a former Chairperson of MSIA and a past President of the Detroit Chapter of the Risk & Insurance Management Society.
	AT&T Michigan – Albert Calille General Attorney for AT&T Michigan. Responsible for all AT&T related litigation in Michigan. Involved in workers' compensation and member of the MSIA Board of Managers for approximately 23 years. Chair of the MSIA Amicus Curiae and Audit Committees, and member of the Nomination Committee. From 1986 to 1990, Trustee for the Michigan Workers' Compensation Funds. Selected to Michigan Workers' Compensation Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1999, appointed by Director of Workers' Compensation Bureau to Chair the Funds Review Committee
	CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY - Doug Wright 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).
	DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION - Neil D. Levins
	GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION – Susan Azar 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.
	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
	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.
	SHERRIFF-GOSLIN COMPANY — William S. Ticknor Bill Ticknor serves as Chairman for Sherriff-Goslin Company and has directed the company’s workers’ compensation program for most of his 40+ years with the company. Sherriff-Goslin, a multi-state roofing contractor with 25 branch offices, has been self-insured in Michigan since 1982 and is also self-insured in Indiana and Ohio. Bill is a past president of the National Roofing Contractor Legal Resource Center and currently president of Citizens Insurance Group Advisory Panel.
	WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY — Leigh Stepaniak Risk Management Executive 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.
	THE PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP – David Sedlock
	DTE - Douglas A. Green
Advisory Group to the Board of Managers
	Danielle F. Susser is an attorney in the Ann Arbor office of Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge where she practices workers' compensation law. 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.
	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 (MMA) - David S. Zurvalec Vice President of Industrial Relations David Zurvalec has served as vice president of industrial relations for the MMA since 1992. He is responsible for the areas of employment training, equal employment opportunity, health care benefits, labor relations, occupational safety and health, unemployment insurance, wage and hour and workers’ compensation. In addition, David coordinates the MMA Lawyers Committee and their amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs. Before joining MMA in 1979, he was a legal researcher in labor relations for the Michigan Supreme Court. He is a member of several governmental, professional, business and service groups, including the Board of Health and Safety Compliance Appeals, Michigan Safety Conference, Employers’ Unemployment Compensation Council and the Labor and Employment Relations Association Top