Oakland, CA – Eric M. Hansen, Senior Vice President – Underwriting at Preferred Employers, was elected as Chair of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) Board of Directors (CWCI) for 2024 at CWCI’s 60^th annual meeting this week.  Mr. Hansen was first elected to CWCI’s Board in 2014 and has been a member of the Institute’s Executive Committee since 2021.

Joining Mr. Hansen on CWCI’s 2024 Executive Committee will be Eric S. Belk, Travelers; Michael Cunningham, Zenith Insurance Company; Amanda Granger, ICW Group Insurance Companies; Kris Mathis, CopperPoint Insurance Companies; Vernon Steiner, State Compensation Insurance Fund; and Matthew Zender, AmTrust North America.

Also elected to serve on CWCI’s 2024 Board of Directors were David A. McGowan, AF Group/CompWest; Adnan Pathan, AIG;  Paul E. Ziegler, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty; Andrew Linkhart, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies; Jeff Rush, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (an associate member); Mary Beth Pittinger, CHUBB; Christopher M. Thurman, CNA Insurance; Michael Gill, EMPLOYERS; Tim Roberts, Everest Insurance; Carmen Sharp, The Hanover Insurance Group; Kevin Wagenknecht, The Hartford; Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, Liberty Mutual Insurance; Justin Smith, North American Casualty Company; Jim Hurley, Republic Indemnity Company of America; Brooks Rice, Schools Insurance Authority (an associate member); Scott D. Lange, Sentry Insurance; Michele Halstenrud, WCF Insurance; and Neil Deblock, Zürich North America.

The Institute, established in 1964, is a private, nonprofit association working to improve California workers’ compensation through research, information, education, and representation.  CWCI members include 25 insurer groups (comprised of nearly 200 underwriting companies that write and service 76 percent of California statewide workers’ compensation premium), as well as 30 of the largest public and private self-insured employers in the state.