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Sunday, December 7, 2025

Kids' Chance 2025

I attended a recent meeting of the Board of Kids' Chance of Florida. This is a 501 charity that provides scholarships for the children of injured workers. There are multiple such corporations across the country, of various names, which are all affiliates of Kids Chance of America (some call them chapters as if there is some top-down restraint or control; there is not). The Kids' Chance movement should not be news to frequent readers, I have discussed it here before:


In Just Another Week? (November 2024), I noted my departure from the Board of Kids' Chance of Florida (KCFL). That transition has been challenging for me. You do not invest ten years of your life in something and walk away without some sentiment. In that post, I also acknowledged the founding board and their contributions. Most of them served ten years and built an amazing foundation.

In December 2025, attending the annual Board meeting as an "emeritus," I watched two more of the early Board members transition to emeritus status: Jim McConnaughhay and Kimberly H. Staats. It was an odd moment for me, and the reflection was poignant. 

Everyone knows the legend that is Jim. He has been in this community since passing the bar exam in 1913 (kidding, it was 1969). He has touched education, litigation, regulation, and legislation. He has been integral, a man who "needs no introduction." I would go on, but he will likely be perturbed that I said this much. Jim can be a bit unassuming. 

Ms. Staats works for the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). She came to KCFL as a volunteer and served as treasurer for several years. She was integral in our evolution of scholarship application processes and leadership. She spearheaded the KCFL annual care package program. An amazing idea that communicates commitment, support, and enthusiasm to these students as they pursue their futures. She is a 2007 graduate of the University of Central Florida and earned her MBA in 2018 from Lynn University. She has been at NCCI for 18 years in various roles and is currently Director of Strategy and Risk Management.  

During the recent meeting, I caught myself thinking, "Where will Kids' Chance be without these two?" What a vacuum! And as I pondered that, I began to write this post (mea culpa for typing while listening, but I have no role during meetings at this point other than sitting in the meeting, nodding periodically, and beaming with pride).

The first thing that struck me was my limiting question: "these two." I stopped and admonished myself. Kids' Chance has been blessed with engaged, enthusiastic, and effective Board members and leaders. Certainly, Kimberly Staats' transition from the presidency is somewhat jarring. 

But as I reflected, I found in my memories that I felt the same twinge of angst when Ray Neff concluded his term, then Bob Wilson, Linda Vendette, William Rogner, and Stacy Hosman. These are the community giants on whose shoulders Kids' Chance launched, grew, and soared. I would go on, but they will each likely be perturbed that I said this much. Like Jim, they can each be a bit unassuming.

With each leader, KCFL grew, evolved, and built. Each time, KCFL transitioned to new leadership with some sense of loss, but truthfully, KCFL never faltered. The purpose and the mission only strengthened, and the imperative only grew: find more kids, and award more scholarships.

With the new emeritus status of Jim and Kimberly, the Board gains two new members. 

Sean O'Connor is a defense attorney in Florida workers' compensation claims. He defends carriers, self-insureds, and municipalities. He has been with the McConnaughhay firm since 1999. He manages their Central Florida offices and is a regular speaker at educational seminars on a wide variety of workers' compensation issues. 

Julie McKenzie serves as the Corporate Accounting and Tax Manager at NCCI, bringing in over six years of experience with the company. She ensures compliance with accounting standards and tax regulations while making improvements in the organization’s accounting and tax processes. She earned a bachelor's from Notre Dame and a master's from FAU, and she is a Florida CPA.

They join the existing Board:

Tammy Boyd, President
TRISTAR Insurance Group

Jenna Sutton, Vice President
Medical Management and Re-Employment

David Cruz, Treasurer
Paradigm

Basilios Manousogiannakis, Secretary
Amerisafe

Barbara Case
State of Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims

Liz Corona
The Zenith Insurance Company

Brian Ricotta, Esq.
HR Law, P.A.

Andrew Sabolic
Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI)

Kristy Sands
Gallagher Bassett

Josh Schuette
Brooks Rehabilitation

Marissa Shearer
Commercial Risk Management, Inc.

Janel Stephens
Bichler & Longo, PLLC

Olivia Wilms
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Change. It happens. It is inevitable. There is some emotion every time I see KCFL in action. I have not been on the Board for a year now, and I still attend their meetings. I am motivated, perhaps inspired, by the energy, enthusiasm, and esprit de corps of this incredible group of community leaders. They are changing the world one deserving student at a time, and I admire them all. 

If you know a student who could benefit, make an anonymous referral.

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