It is that time of year again. Fall brings some great things: the end of hurricane season, Halloween (chocolate), college football, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Workers' Compensation Seminar, and the annual Comp Laude. That may be a bit too much of a view into what drives me? I like calm weather, chocolate, and talking about workers' compensation.
Each spring there is the opportunity to nominate people for Comp Laude awards. Spring 2020 was definitely different as the world adjusted, re-calibrated, and strove to remain on course. It was a spring when Comp Laude nominations might have been difficult to generate, the furthest from one's mind. Despite all we were going through personally, professionally, and as a community, there was a vast volume of nominations. Over 140 were nominated.
Each of those is a compliment. I am flattered to have been nominated again in 2020. I am hopeful that the judges recognize a couple of things: first, I was already honored; second, there is a vast number of really spectacular people on this list and it makes much more sense to honor them than to revisit me. It is humbling and gratifying to be nominated. I stress that year after year. You do not have to win to be deeply honored. When you nominate someone, you are delivering a compliment. It is simply "I noticed you"; "your effort matters"; "I appreciate you being in our community."
In 2018, I nominated many (15). In 2019, many more (32). This year, I nominated 23. I know how it feels when someone takes the time to nominate you, and it is a great honor. Overall, I have made about 70 nominations over the years. For the nomination, you need someone's name, phone number, email address and a brief statement about "why" this deserves recognition, about how this emulates or demonstrates the spirit of community. It is easy to forget about the nominations as spring then turns to summer, everyday responsibilities drive you, and this year with the challenges of a pandemic interwoven into your world.
Then the "second level" emails started to arrive from WorkCompCentral in mid-August. Those emails are to let you know that your nomination has made it through the initial vetting, and will be considered by the judges. For that, you need to kick it up a bit: a reference person, a narrative of up to 500 words, a biography, and a picture. That may seem fairly perfunctory, but accumulating it all can be a chore. When that email arrives, it is also sent to the nominee. Some of them take a few minutes and email you all you need to finish the job. That is appreciated.
So, last week I dictated 21 narratives. That sounds like work, but just picture yourself describing why you admire someone in our workers' compensation community. It is really easy to write or dictate something about someone you admire. The biographies tend to be out there on the Internet, but a few I had to piece together from a nominee's LinkedIn profile. Amazingly, finding a professional picture of some can be a real challenge. Some folks are just camera-shy. The easiest, by far, is the references. Nominate great people and the references are plentiful, gracious, and eager to volunteer.
I get the chance in this process to speak with many nominees. They are gracious and grateful (usually). I once had a nominee confide in me that it was not the first nomination received. This nominee actually complained that s/he had not been picked as the winner on a previous nomination and was downright dismissive of the person that did win that year ("can't image why they picked ____ over me"). I frankly found that attitude crass and insensitive. I was disappointed in the missing spirit of celebration. Certainly, it is an honor to win, but it is a massive compliment to be nominated. When you review the list of nominees, it should be apparent that many stellar individuals cannot win because everyone on the list is exceptional.
I am proud to have nominated 21 that have now reached the second level (listed below). I am proud of their achievement that led to the nomination, but also of their professionalism, humility, and community spirit. I am confident that each of them is flattered and honored by the nomination; I am most proud, however, that they are part of our workers' compensation community:
- Michael Alvey, Kentucky (Public Servant)
- James Anderson, Mississippi (Defense Attorney)
- Marjorie Eskay-Auerbach, MD, JD (Physician)
- Tammy Boyd, Florida (Vendor)
- Stacy Hosman, Florida (Industry Leader)
- JM Family, Florida (Employer)
- Laurie Lamy, Georgia, (Industry Leader)
- Hon. Deneise Lott, Mississippi (Public Servant)
- Mark Melhorn, MD, Kansas (Physician)
- William Rogner, Florida (Defense Attorney)
- Stephen Rosen (Florida (Public Servant)
- Marc Salm, Florida (Risk Manager)
- Jacob Schickel, Florida (Claimant Attorney)
- Christopher Smith, Florida (Claimant Attorney)
- Hon. Jacqueline Steele, Florida (Philanthropy - Zehmer Moot Court)
- David Stills, Arkansas (Risk Manager)
- Hon. Kenneth Switzer, Tennessee (Public Servant)
- Richard Thompson, Florida (Defense Attorney)
- Hon. David B. Torrey, Pennsylvania (Public Servant)
- Linda Vendette, Florida (Claims Professional)
- Workers' Compensation Claims Professionals (WCCP), Florida (Philanthropy - Teddy Bear Roundup).
It may occur to the reader that 5 of these are public servants, and there will be one winner. I nominated 2 philanthropies, 2 claimant's attorneys, 2 industry leaders, 3 defense attorneys, 2 risk managers. Some might question why I nominated more than one in any category? They cannot all win. I believe in each of them. The real point is that the nomination itself is a compliment and recognition. To me, the Comp Laude is not about winning, plaques, or photos. It is about the compliment.
Comp Laude has gone virtual this year. Free educational programming will be presented remotely on 4 days: October 22, 29, November 5, and 12. The big day will be November 12 with the People's Choice presentation, which started out similar to TED talks and has evolved (now brief presentations accompanied by visual aids or power points), the injured worker panel, and the presentation of Comp Laude awards. There will be much to see, plenty to learn, and opportunities for interaction with our community.
David DePaolo believed that there is good in our community of workers' compensation. He knew that good came from people who strive each day to make the various processes work for the beneficiaries of this system: employees and employers. I am proud to have been involved, and to have been honored. But, I am more proud to have been a nominator, and to have shared with you the many outstanding people I have been honored to share. If you know anyone that impresses you, you owe it to them to nominate them in 2021.
