The Workers' Compensation Institute's 69th annual Workers'Compensation Educational Conference (WCEC) kicked off the morningof Aug. 18 with the general session at the Orlando World CenterMarriott in Orlando, Fla.

WCI General Chair James N. McConnaughhay welcomed the crowd andintroduced Steven A. Rissman, WCI program chair. After a fewopening remarks, scholarships were awarded to students whose familymembers were involved in the workers' comp industry or were injuredon the job. Gerald A. Rosenthal, a member of the WCI board ofdirectors, presented awards on behalf of FWCI, and HonorableW. James Condry presented the awards on behalf of the Friendsof 440.

Michael A. Wasylik, M.D., president of the Florida OrthopaedicSociety, presented the society's 4th Annual Injured WorkersInspiration (IWI) Awards to injured workers and their doctors whowere a reminder of why workers' comp professionals do what theydo.

NU-PC Editor-in-Chief Shawn Moynihan (right)presented the National Underwriter Award forExcellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management to this year's three winners: Jeffrey C. Hammons, vicepresident of risk management for Philadelphia-based crane rentalprovider AmQuip; Tommy Mayet, risk manager forLouisiana-based Danos& Curole Marine Contractors LLC (Danos); and GeoffreySmith, vice president of risk management for Boston-based recordsmanagement company Iron Mountain.

Debbie Michel, president of Helmsman Management Services, whichsponsored the award, was on hand to present the winners with theirawards.

Jeffrey Hammons of AmQuip receiving his Excellence in Workers'Compensation Risk Management award from Debbie Michel.

Tommy Mayet of Danos receiving his award from Debbie Michel.

Geoffrey Smith of Iron Mountainreceives his award from Debbie Michel.

Click next to read about thekeynotes from Gallagher Bassett's Scott Hudson and NFL Hall of Famequarterback Jim Kelly.

Scott Hudson, president and CEO of GallagherBassett Services, presented the first keynote at Monday's WCECgeneral session. Hudson spoke about how the workers' comp industrycould use some rebranding from the negative workers' comp headlinesin the news today to his preferred headline: “'Next Generation' TopTalent Opting for Work Comp Industry Over Technology, Consultingand Banking.”

To achieve that goal, Hudson said thefocus on workers' comp should shift from talking about themechanics of the industry, such as handling claims, to the carethat workers' comp provides to injured workers.

The morning's inspirational secondkeynote came from former NFL quarterback Jim Kelly.

Steven A. Rissman interviewsKeynote Speaker Jim Kelly.

Kelly discussed growing up “Kellytough” with his five brothers, having his dreams of playing for JoePaterno at Penn State squashed, and how he went from being afifth-string backup to starting quarterback at the University ofMiami. Kelly also confessed how he did not want to bedrafted by the Buffalo Bills, but said his successful 11-yearcareer with the team ended up being one of the best things thatever happened in his life. Leading his team to four back-to-backSuper Bowl appearances may have had something to do with that,despite the devastation of never being able to bring the Lombarditrophy back to Buffalo.

Kelly also touched upon the hardshipsin his life, including his only son Hunter's diagnosiswith globoid-cell leukodystrophy, a form of musculardystrophy, and his death from the disease at the age of eight.Kelly said his son changed his life, and spoke of the Hunter's HopeFoundation that he and his wife founded in Hunter's honor.

A topic on most attendees' minds wasKelly's own health after having been diagnosed with squamouscell carcinoma in his upper jaw for a second time this past spring.While Kelly admitted that going through the diagnosis, surgeries,and chemotherapy treatments were a struggle, he always rememberedto stay “Kelly tough” and to use these hardships to help others whoare suffering.

At the end of his keynote, Kelly tossedautographed footballs to a few lucky members of theaudience–depending on whether or not they correctly answered sometrivia questions. Those who answered incorrectly had to donate $100to Hunter's Hope. Call it the “Jim Kelly Challenge.”

Click next for more highlightsfrom the WCEC 2014 general session.

Jeff Atwater, CFO of the FloridaDepartment of Financial Services, addressed attendees at thegeneral session. He spoke about how his office plans to continuerooting out complaints of false or misleading claims.

Honorable W. James Condry helps present the Friends of 440Scholarship awards to this year's two winners.

Scott Hudson and Diana J.McCluskey, chair of WCI Volunteer Activities and Service Day,present a donation to Pamela Landwirth and Mayor Clayton of GiveKids the World, a “storybook” resort in central Florida wherechildren with life-threatening illnesses and their families canhave a weeklong, cost-free vacation.