Comp Laude? 2019 - Surprise! It's in the books...

In case you missed it, last week was the 2019 Comp Laude? Awards & Gala in Huntington Beach, CA. I have been involved with this event since 2014 when WorkCompCentral's founder David DePaolo asked me to help him turn his annual local event into one that drew national attention. I think even he would be surprised to see what it has become. Kristen Chavez, WorkCompCentral president and CEO, and friend, should be proud.

For those of you who didn't know him, he passed away in 2016. Yet, we push forward, continuing to strive to achieve his vision of everyone in the industry coming together, even if just for a day, to connect with one another, learn together, get to know each other better, and set our logos aside to recognize all the things that are good and right in our industry. And conversely, push our sleeves up and take a really hard look at what we can do better.

There were many notable things about this year's event, but one I'd like to share is very personal. One session that has become a real memory-making session is called the People's Choice Award Session. It is a TedX-style talk where folks are asked to submit their idea for how they would use six minutes to share a personal story with the Comp Laude? audience. We ask that stories be designed to move or inspire the audience. I submitted my idea earlier this year. I was selected to present my story along with H. George Kagan, Diann Cohen, Nina Boski, Doug Clark, Amy Holcomb, Laura Thomas and Paul Gold. So honored to share the stage with each and every one of my co-presenters. It takes great courage to get up and share a deeply personal story on stage in front of your peers.

My story is called "A Ft. Lauderdale Summer" and I shared details of a summer trip in 1973 when I visited my father who lived in Ft. Lauderdale. My mom and dad divorced when I was four and I grew up in a really small town in the heart of the Texas Hill Country -- Bandera, Texas. The story is how I recalled a few very specific things that happened during my summer trip with my dad and how I dreaded returning home to an abusive stepfather who verbally and sexually abused me. While I do not recall anyone explaining to me how or what to do to cope with the abuse, I learned to use visualization and I recalled the memories of that summer trip with my dad. I closed out my talk by asking the audience to work harder to support each other and to be champions of resilience training. I said, "I believe resilience is the most important soft skill for dealing with hard times."

The winner is selected by a live audience vote where they text to identify their preferred storyteller / presenter. I was very surprised and honored to hear my name called during the awards ceremony as the winner. I was further overwhelmed and surprised when I turned to face the audience and realized I was receiving a standing ovation.

Thank you so much to Greg McKenna of Gallagher Bassett -- he has been the emcee of the session and has sponsored it for three years now. He has already agreed to sponsor / emcee the session again in 2020. Thank you Greg and GB!!

Shown here are the Comp Laude? finalists. I know many of them personally and all are worthy of the award. Here is the press release with the entire list of Comp Laude? winners.

I'm happy to report that Florida had a major sweep! Michele Adams of Walt Disney World took home the David J. DePaolo / Summa Comp Laude? Award, Rafael Gonzalez of Optum, the Magna Comp Laude? Award, H. George Kagan won the Comp Laude? Award for defense attorney and Robert Wilson of workerscompensation.com received the Comp Laude? Award for Industry Leader. I received the Comp Laude? People's Choice Award.

Take a few moments to congratulate ALL the winners. They deserve MANY kudos. A really amazing feature of the Comp Laude? Awards is that the awards are decided largely by an audience of peers -- the advisory board who make up the various committees for vetting, etc. are made up of industry professionals -- various industry stakeholders.

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners. The event really was amazing and I've heard from many folks how inspiring many of the sessions were. Mark your calendars for next year's event! We'll be back in Huntington Beach November 2-3!

#complaudegala #changethenarrative #workerscomp #floridasweep