The Workers' Compensation Institute's (WCI) 70th annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference (WCEC), held Aug. 23 to 26 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida, once again saw record attendance numbers. The event officially opened Aug. 24 with its general session, during which WCI General Chair Jim McConnaughhay welcomed the crowd and Steven A. Rissman, WCI's program chair, made opening remarks.

Scholarships were awarded to students whose families were affected by work-related injuries, and National Underwriter honored its Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management winners for their stellar accomplishments. David North, president and CEO of the award sponsor Sedgwick, and Mark Walls, vice president of communications and strategic analysis of award sponsor Safety National, were on hand to present the winners—Southwest Airlines, Cedar Fair Entertainment and Broward County, Fla.—with their award statuettes.

Diana J. McCluskey, chair of WCI Volunteer Activities and Service Day, presented a donation to Mayor Clayton of Give Kids the World, a “storybook” resort in central Florida for seriously ill children. Look out for NU-PC360 editor-in-chief Shawn Moynihan's story about volunteering at WCI's Service Day at Give Kids the World in the September issue of National Underwriter Property & Casualty.

Click through for pictures from the General Session, and check back tomorrow for pictures from WCEC 2015's 1980s-themed showroom floor.

WCI General Chair Jim McConnaughhay gives his opening remarks at the WCEC General Session, which included thanking the many volunteers who help make the conference the amazing experience that it is.

Diana J. McCluskey, chair of WCI Volunteer Activities and Service Day, announced that $50,000 was raised for Give Kids the World through its gala dinner held on August 22, 2015. McCluskey presented a check of donations to Neal McCrod, vice president of project management, and Mayor Clayton and of Give Kids the World, a “storybook” resort in central Florida for seriously ill children.

NU-PC360's Shawn Moynihan announced the winners of the National Underwriter Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management, and delivered a moving account of his experience at WCI's Service Day at Give Kids the World.

Jeff O'Connor of Broward County, Fla. accepts his award from Mark Walls of Safety National and David North of Sedgwick.

Kathy Hawkinson of Cedar Fair Entertainment accepts her award.

Patti Colwell of Southwest Airlines accepts her award.

Steven A. Rissman, WCI's program chair, contributed to the conference's opening remarks and introduced keynote speakers Debbie Michel, president of Helmsman Management Services, and Herschel Walker, of college football and NFL fame.

Debbie Michel, president of Helmsman Management Services, delivered the first keynote speech on current trends in Workers' Compensation.

Former NFL player and College Football Hall of Famer Herschel Walker delivered the closing keynote at the WCEC 2015 General Session. Walker was an exceptional college football player for the University of Georgia, winning the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He started his pro football career with the New Jersey Generals, part of the now-defunct United States Football League. He then moved on to the NFL, playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.

Special Reports /

Scenes from the WCEC 2015 General Session

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