Oakland, CA – Eric M. Hansen, Senior Vice President – Underwriting at Preferred Employers, has been re-elected as Chair of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) Board of Directors (CWCI) for 2025.  Mr. Hansen was first elected to CWCI’s Board in 2014, has been a member of the Institute’s Executive Committee since 2021, and was first elected to chair the Board in March 2024.

Joining Mr. Hansen on CWCI’s 2025 Executive Committee will be Kris Mathis, CopperPoint Insurance Companies, who will serve as Vice Chair; Michael Cunningham, Zenith Insurance Company; Amanda Granger, ICW Group Insurance Companies; Carmen Sharp, The Hanover Insurance Group; Vernon L. Steiner, State Compensation Insurance Fund; and Matthew Zender, AmTrust North America.

Also elected to serve on CWCI’s 2025 Board of Directors were David A. McGowan, AF Group/CompWest; Ricardo Nan, AIG; 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; Chris Champlin, EMPLOYERS; Tim Roberts, Everest Insurance; Julie Riddle, The Hartford; Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, Liberty Mutual Insurance; Justin Smith, North American Casualty Company; Paul Gladden, Pie Insurance; Gene Simpson, Republic Indemnity Company of America; Brooks Rice, Schools Insurance Authority (an associate member); Scott D. Lange, Sentry Insurance; Joanne Moynihan, Travelers; 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 26 insurer groups (comprised of nearly 200 underwriting companies that write and service 76 percent of California statewide workers’ compensation premium), as well as 31 of the largest public and private self-insured employers in the state.