Matthew Zender of AmTrust North America has been elected Chairman of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) Board of Directors for 2020.  Mr. Zender, who served as the Vice-Chair of the Board in 2019, replaces Rose Barrett of North American Casualty Company, who will continue to serve on the Institute’s Board and Executive Committee this year.

Joining Mr. Zender and Ms. Barrett on CWCI’s 2020 Executive Committee will be Martin Brady of Schools Insurance Authority, an associate member; Kris Mathis, CopperPoint Insurance Companies; David Mitchell, Republic Indemnity Company of America; Vernon Steiner, State Compensation Insurance Fund; and Sharon Thaler, AIG.

Also elected to serve on CWCI’s 2020 Board of Directors were Paul Ziegler, Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty; Russ Selinger, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies; Justin Boardman, CHUBB; Dwight Robertson, M.D., Employers Insurance Group; Joseph Wells, Everest Insurance; Robert L. Hughes, The Hartford Insurance Companies; Amanda Granger, ICW Group; John Dickey, Liberty Mutual Insurance; Eric Hansen, Preferred Employers Insurance; Scott Lange, Sentry; Eric Belk, Travelers; Neil DeBlock, Zurich North America; and Kevin Confetti, University of California, an associate member.

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 24 insurer groups (comprised of nearly 200 underwriting companies that write and service 81 percent of California statewide workers’ compensation premium), as well as 34 of the largest public and private self-insured employers in the state.