ARAWC Connect: Occupational Injury Conference 2025

James Benham is the creator and co-host of The InsurTech Geek Podcast, a top-rated show featuring leaders from some of the most recognized companies in the world, including McKinsey and Microsoft. With over 165 episodes produced, the show has become a go-to resource for anyone shaping the future of insurance and technology.

Michael Bradford is the Director of Risk Management at BrightSpring Health Services, with nearly 30 years of experience in risk management and claims handling. At BrightSpring, he oversees occupational injury claims across multiple states, with a particular focus on the company's Texas QCARE Option program, which he has managed since its implementation more than 22 years ago.

BrightSpring Health Services became a member ARAWC in 2017, and since 2019, Michael has served in numerous leadership roles within the Association. He was honored with the Excellence in Advocacy Award in 2022 and currently serves as President of ARAWC. In this role, he actively supports the organization's mission to preserve employers' rights to choose their occupational injury coverage, while exploring opportunities to expand the Option in other jurisdictions.

Ranked in the top three agency leader lobbyists by the Texas Lobby Power Rankings, Ryan Brannan is the founder and principal of the Brannan Firm, a results-oriented government affairs firm, and serves as counsel to the law firm of Glast, Phillips & Murray. Ryan has extensive knowledge and experience in Texas' legislative and regulatory arenas.

Prior to founding the Brannan Firm, Ryan served in the executive branch of state government. A three-time gubernatorial appointee, Brannan has been appointed by both Governor Greg Abbott and Governor Rick Perry to serve as the Commissioner of Workers' Compensation, leading a state agency with over 600 employees and a biannual budget of more than $100 million. Prior to his appointments, he served as an advisor to Governor Rick Perry in the Office of Budget, Planning and Policy working on a broad range of policy issues.

Before "going inside" state government, Ryan advocated in and around the capitol for private and public organizations. He began his public policy career in the D.C. offices of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Ryan's cumulative experience on budget and policy issues includes appropriations and procurement, insurance, public health, tort reform, consumer finance, transportation and infrastructure, water rights, land use, eminent domain, gaming, racing, electricity, and telecommunications. His work has been published or mentioned in at least 16 periodicals, including the Wall Street Journal, the Texas Bar Journal, Texas Lawyer, the Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, and the Austin-American Statesman.

Ryan has also worked as a practicing attorney and as a business owner. He has represented clients on all aspects of commercial and insurance litigation in private practice and served as a co-founder and director of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. He has served on numerous boards and committees.

He received a B.A. and M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is a current member of the Texas State Bar and Austin Bar Association. Ryan currently lives in Austin with his wife and three children.

Steve is currently the National Director of WorkStrategies, Injury Prevention Services for Select Medical. Originally from Houston, TX, he graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Texas Tech University in Lubbock. Joining Select Medical in 1995, Steve has worked in the inpatient and outpatient settings treating neurological, spinal cord, orthopedic, hand and industrial patients. He has completed specialized training in Functional Capacity Evaluations, ergonomics, job analysis, post offer employment testing and developed a specialization in industrial prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Steve works with a wide range of employers on location assisting in the development of injury prevention and return to work programs. Steve's goal is to assist employers with effective strategies to keep workers safe and prevent injuries.

Mr. Estrada is a shareholder at his Firm. His practice is primarily focused on representing and defending nonsubscriber and general-liability lawsuits. To a less extent, Mr. Estrada also represents employers and local government entities in labor and employment law matters, including defense of wrongful discharge and discrimination claims, managing employee relations, representing employers before state and federal agencies and related employment law matters.

Kris Hammock brings over two decades of experience in claims management, with a strong focus on client service and operational excellence. Her career has been in operations and client servicing, dedicating much of her time to training, mentoring, and guiding teams to ensure consistent results. Her leadership is rooted in a hands-on approach, ensuring that client needs are met with precision and care.

In her current capacity as Client Services Manager, Kris provides dedicated support to a national retail company by facilitating strategic collaboration between Sedgwick's claims operations team and the client's risk management leadership. She exercises comprehensive oversight of program implementation and performance, ensuring that all initiatives are aligned with client objectives and executed to deliver consistent, measurable outcomes.

Since joining Sedgwick in 2008 as a Claims Representative, Kris has steadily advanced through leadership roles. She was promoted to Claims Team Lead in 2009, where she supervised both Texas Option and multi-jurisdictional workers' compensation claims. Her continued commitment to client satisfaction and operational efficiency led to her promotion to Manager of Claims in 2011 and Director of Claims in 2014.

Current practice consists of 95% ADR as a neutral and 5% miscellaneous legal matters, such as trademarks and incorporations. No longer offering services as an advocate.

Education: Texas A&M University (BA, Mathematics, summa cum laude-1973; BA, Philosophy, summa cum laude-1973), Harvard Law School (JD-1976)

Over 30 years of experience in private practice balanced among litigation, administrative proceedings, employment law counseling, and expert witness. Since 1989, chair or panelist in over 1100 arbitrations. Member, National Academy of Arbitrators 2018 to date.

Jennifer Hurless is President of PartnerSource. She is responsible for the strategic direction and daily operations. Jennifer directs the best team in the industry on design, implementation and ongoing administration of Texas injury benefit plans and other alternative forms of workers compensation coverage. As a former employee benefits attorney and over 25 years' experience, Jennifer continues to advise clients on successful claims resolution strategies, unique insurance placements and ERISA compliance matters. Jennifer received her BBA in accounting and a minor in political philosophy from Mercer University and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Chris McDade is a driven entrepreneur with a proven track record of building and leading innovative, high-performing teams in the social media reporting and investigations space. He has played a pivotal role in transforming emerging business concepts into industry-leading solutions, achieving significant market penetration across multiple verticals. Combining exceptional relationship-building skills with deep technical expertise, Chris has developed complex processes that consistently deliver outstanding results and exceed client expectations.

A recognized thought leader in investigations, social media, and emerging technologies like AI and deepfakes, Chris regularly contributes to industry publications, including IASIU, SIU Today, and Claims Magazine. His passion lies at the intersection of technology and investigative practices, where he is dedicated to advancing the industry's capabilities and shaping its future.

In his personal life, Chris enjoys kayaking, dogsled rollerblading, and perfecting his award-winning barbecue recipes. He is an active community leader as a Freemason and founder of #CLEpeach, a service organization with over 2,000 members focused on public space cleanup and fostering community engagement through fun and meaningful activities.

Bill Minick has a 40-year career as an attorney, risk manager and healthcare advisor based in Dallas. Pioneered competitive alternatives to traditional workers' compensation and alternative dispute resolution for employment-related claims. Has led the highest performing legal, insurance and medical teams delivering better medical outcomes to millions of injured workers and billions of dollars in economic development.

Donna Peavler is a seasoned trial lawyer who began focusing on nonsubscription over 25 years ago. She has tried over 30 cases to verdict in dozens of Texas state and federal courts, and she has substantial experience arbitrating nonsubscriber cases across Texas. In addition, utilizing the experience she gained while interning for Chief Justice Thomas Phillips of the Texas Supreme Court, Donna has successfully appealed four cases to Texas's highest court, including Austin v. Kroger Texas, L.P., which established new law that employers owe no duty to warn or protect employees against obvious or known premises hazards.

Donna's firm, Peavler|Briscoe, is proud to represent nonsubscribers in all parts of Texas, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Midland, Lubbock, El Paso, Amarillo, and the Valley. In the past decade, Donna and her firm have collected numerous accolades from clients, judges, and other lawyers, including recognition as a Texas Super Lawyer; being rated as "AV" (the highest in ethics and ability) by judges and by peers; and being named "Kroger's Winningest Defense Firm in the Nation" five years in a row.

Mr. Zopolsky represents clients in civil litigation and business-related matters in Texas and across the country. Mr. Zopolsky is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is a designation awarded to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for legal expertise and ethical standards by their peers.

Mr. Zopolsky's areas of concentration include business law, commercial litigation, construction defects, labor and employment, environmental, insurance defense, intellectual property, mediation, medical malpractice, outsourced general counsel, personal injury, probate litigation, professional liability, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, as well as trucking and transportation litigation.

Mr. Zopolsky has also been recognized over the course of his career by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, and Corporate Counsel as a "Top Rated Lawyer," The Texas Lawyer as a "Top Attorney of Texas," The American Registry as "America's Most Honored Lawyers 1%," by Thompson Reuters and Texas Monthly Magazine as a "Texas Super Lar Lawyer," by Attorney Intel as a "Top 50 Attorneys of Dallas" (ranked fourth), as well as a "Lawyer of Distinction," as referenced in The New York Times and USA Today.

Mr. Zopolslry is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. He is also admitted to practice in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.