January 2024
## Texas Government Relations Update
### Matthew Posey Joins Texas DWC as Deputy Commissioner
**Read ARAWC Government Relations Advisor Ryan Brannan's update below:**[caption id=“attachment_90511” align=“alignleft” width=“209”] Source: Texas Department of Insurance[/caption]In case you missed it, Texas Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Jeff Nelson recently hired Matthew Posey to be his Deputy Commissioner for Operations and External Relations. This is a great hire by Commissioner Nelson. Matt Posey has over a decade of experience in the Texas Capitol as the Chief of Staff to two different legislators. During that time he gained a reputation as a hard worker, trusted colleague, and importantly for his new role, as someone who had a lot of insider knowledge about the inner-workings of the Capitol.
Notably, he not only comes with a great reputation at the Capitol, he also has workers’ compensation experience. Posey worked for years under now-retired State Representative Bill Zedler. Rep. Zedler was one of the handful of legislators that was very interested in the Texas workers’ compensation system and frequently asked me to come to his office to discuss when I was the Texas Commissioner. Posey gained a lot of knowledge in the workings of the system during that time.
He has also more recently worked for a trade association, learning to “herd the cats” of various interests and stakeholders. Division operations should be a breeze to manage after that experience. One of the things I like best about him is that he is very proud of training staff underneath him and helping them advance their careers. At least four of his former staffers are current chiefs of staff in the legislature.
On a personal note, I have known Matthew Posey since I arrived in Texas politics over 15 years ago. Over the years we developed a friendship that extends beyond the political world. During long legislative session nights at the Capitol, you could consistently find me hanging out in his office while waiting for legislation I was working on to come up in hearing, on the floor, etc. He is not only smart with extensive knowledge and experience in how Texas politics works, but he has a dry wit that is fun to be around. I am very excited to work with him again in this new capacity.