IAIABC NextGen Awards launched in 2017 as a way to recognize talented individuals under the age of 40 who are having a substantial and positive impact on workers' compensation, making a significant difference within their organizations, and leading the industry into the future.
2025 NextGen Nominations
IAIABC NextGen Award nominations will be open February 12 - March 12, 2025.
Nominate an Individual for an IAIABC NextGen Award
Selection Criteria
- The individual has a substantial, positive impact on their organization and/or the workers’ compensation/occupational accident insurance industry.
- The individual sets themselves apart from others through their work.
Nominators are asked to provide as much detailed and specific information as possible about the nominee's achievements and accomplishments and why they are deserving of an IAIABC NextGen Award. Nominees cannot self nominate.
Nomination Requirements
- Nominees must be age 39 or under as of December 31, 2025.
- Nominations must be received by March 12, 2024 for consideration for a 2025 IAIABC NextGen Award.
- Nominees do not need to work for an IAIABC Member organization.
- Nominee has not already received an IAIABC NextGen Award. They may have been previously nominated.
Note to Nominators
The nomination submitted is the sole basis used to determine who will receive NextGen Awards. Please be thoughtful in articulating what makes the individual a worthy candidate.- Nominators are asked to provide as much detailed information as possible about why the nominee is deserving of an IAIABC NextGen Award, including both objective metrics and examples and subjective rationale.
Recognition
IAIABC NextGen Award winners will be:
- Invited to participate in a NextGen session during the IAIABC 111h Convention in the fall of 2025 (complimentary registration).
- Featured in a special edition of Perspectives, the IAIABC digital publication.
- Featured on the IAIABC website on the home page, NextGen Award webpage, IAIABC social media and press campaigns.
Timeline
- Nominations open on February 12 and close on March 12, 2024.
- Statement of Support submissions for finalists open on April 23 and close on May 7, 2024.
- Notifications will be sent by June 2nd, 2025.
More Information
Please share this Information Sheet with those who may be interested in nominating someone for an IAIABC NextGen Award. To view a sample nomination submission, please click here.
Nominate an Individual for an IAIABC NextGen Award
IAIABC NextGen Awards launched in 2017 as a way to recognize talented individuals under the age of 40 who are having a substantial and positive impact on workers' compensation, making a significant difference within their organizations, and leading the industry into the future.
2024 NextGen Award Recipients
The IAIABC congratulates the recipients of the 2024 NextGen Awards.
Matthew Cole, WCP
Lead Data Analyst, Medical Operations, NCCI
Melissa Coleman
Senior Vice President of Marketing, Ametros
Charles Cordova
Economist, New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration
Nazanin Esmaili
Manager, Advanced Analytics, Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario
Paul Hendrick
Director and Actuary, NCCI
Jeff Nelson
Commissioner of Workers' Compensation, Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation
The Award recipients will be celebrated at the IAIABC 110th Convention and in a 2024 issue of IAIABC Perspectives magazine.
2024 Finalist Nominees
The following individuals were finalist NextGen Award nominees.
Audrey Dorsey, Chief Administrative Officer, Insurance Services, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
Alexis Hildebrand, Admin Officer 2, Alaska Workers' Compensation Division
Johnny Meyer, VP, Strategic Partnerships, Ametros
Monica Thunem, Director, Strategy and Planning, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario
2024 Honorable Mention Nominees
The following individuals were honorable mention NextGen Award nominees.
Ashley Butcher, Underwriting Technical Specialist, SFM Mutual Insurance Co.
Virginia Cortijo, Special Assistant to the Chair, Workers' Compensation Board of New York
Reshaun Godfrey, Injury Management Supervisor, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Verolinda Granados, Quality and Support Manager, Utah Labor Commission
Britanie Hall, Program Specialist, Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation
Andrew Matheison, Research Analyst, Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Michelle Matthews, VP Operations, Aerie EDI Group
Aaron McGraw, Senior Director of Data Analytics, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Sheila Oliver, RN Case Manager, NurseWorks Northwest
Adedapo Orederu, Chief Diversity Officer, Workers' Compensation Board of New York
Jose Ramirez, Vice President, Account Manager, ProCare
Katie Sutherland, Claims System Analyst, Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Agency
Kaytlin Yorks, Customer Service Manager, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Selection Committee Members
A committee of eleven industry professionals selected the IAIABC NextGen Award recipients from among the nominations. It is important to note that any selection committee member who works for the same organization as a nominee did not provide input on that nominee, and that selections were based solely on information received on the nomination form.
Stephanie Arkelian, Healthesystems (2018 NextGen Recipient)
Vincent Bell, The Black Car Fund (2021 NextGen Recipient)
Erin Bishop, Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (2020 NextGen Recipient)
Shayne Garner, Ebix
Ceil Jung, SFM
Amy Kingston, Colorado Division of Workera' Compensation (2020 NextGen Recipient)
Heather Lore, IAIABC
Neil McSheim, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario (2017 NextGen Recipient)
Jennifer Norleen-Beitel, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board (2018 NextGen Recipient)
Mark Pew, The RxProfessor LLC
Jordan Russell, Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission