The Colorado Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference returns to an in-person venue next week, after a two-year pandemic driven hiatus. It is produced by the Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation, headed by Director Paul Tauriello. The event, held at the venerable Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, draws hundreds of attendees from a variety of mostly western states. Every year the program includes a “Regulator’s Roundtable,” where Directors and Commissioners from multiple state workers’ compensation agencies give updates and discuss elements of the workers’ comp industry. This year, however, they are doing something a little different.

First, they have invited me to moderate the Roundtable. I find this a bit ironic, as it is probably the only time you will find the word “moderate” associated with me. Nonetheless, I have assured conference organizers that I will be “firm but fair” in my guidance during this session. You can never let these regulators stary too far, you know.

But the biggest difference this year is the decision to include other agencies that have impact on the daily lives of employers and businesses in the state. They have included deputy directors from both Colorado’s Department of Insurance and Department of Unemployment Insurance. It is a broader, and dare I say, more diverse approach to providing agency and regulator updates that impact risk managers and other key personnel. 

Joining me on the dais will be Colorado’s Tauriello, Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission Chairman Karl Aumann, Virginia Commissioner Wes Marshall, Mississippi Commissioner Beth Harkins, Executive Deputy Director of New Mexico’s WCA Leigh Martinez, Colorado Deputy Commissioner of Insurance Peg Brown, and Deputy Director of Colorado’s Unemployment Insurance, Kierston Howard. The latter two will give this Roundtable a much broader appeal from an employment risk perspective. 

And, of course, I’ll just moderate the hell out of this. We are committed to making this session both informative and entertaining. And I’m bringing my karaoke machine, just in case it is needed. 

If you are interested in learning more, you can visit the conference website here. I look forward to seeing some of you next week in Colorado Springs.