CONFERENCE AGENDA

BEAU RIVAGE HOTEL AND CASINO
BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Exhibitors’ Set Up 


11:00 AM – 6:30 PM General Registration


12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Workers’ Compensation Round Robin  

In a small group setting, teams of experienced workers’ compensation professionals answer questions covering Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana Law from attendees on topics such as statutes of limitation, coming and going rule, third party claims, found dead rule, deviation defense and intentional injury defense. The panel is comprised of Jennie Eichelberger, Eichelberger Law Firm, PLLC, Matthew Hetzel, Wells Marble & Hurst, PLLC, Donald Moore, Galloway, Johnson, Thompkins, Burr & Smith, Doris Bobadilla, Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith, Michael Fish, Fish Nelson & Holden LLC, Natalie White, Amerisafe, Inc., Wendy Lindsey, CCMSI, Amy Hardin, Eastern Alliance, Tina Roberston, Rehab Review Inc., and Lindsey Brennan, Genex Services.


2:00 PM – 2:20 PM Break


2:20 PM – 3:30 PM Proposed Fee Schedule Amendments

Moderated by Anthony Schmidt, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, Connie Mills, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, Roxanne Coulter, Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission, and Pauline Williams, Fair Health, provide a detailed synopsis of the upcoming changes to the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Fee Schedule. 


3:30 PM – 3:45 PM Break


3:45 PM – 5:00 PM Functional Capacity Evaluation:  What takes place in the FCE?

Lindsey Oakley, Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center and Andrew Dugger, TherapySouth, discuss what goes into FCEs, how to read a FCE report and conduct a mock FCE. 



5:30 PM – 7:00 PM Reception 

In Exhibit Hall   



7:00 PM   Dinner on your own 

Thursday, April 10, 2025

7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Registration & Information Desks Open




7:30 AM – 7:45 AM Faith Based Claims Association Breakfast 

Go through the buffet and join the session


7:45 AM – 8:15 AM Faith Based Program 

Rev. C. J. Meaders of St. Columb’s Episcopal Church, Ridgeland, Mississippi, provides an inspirational message to start the second day of the conference. 


7:45 AM – 5:15 PM Exhibit Hall Open 

Exhibit Hall open all day and through lunch

 

7:45 AM – 8:15 AM Continental Breakfast

Served in the Exhibit Hall 


8:15 AM – 8:30 AM Welcome and Introductions  

Chairman Mark Formby, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, welcomes all to the Conference.


8:30 AM – 9:30 AM Keynote Presentation: Molly May, Adapting to Life’s Adversity 

Author of “My Crowning Achievement: Beating Cancer,” Molly May of Jackson, Mississippi, provides our Keynote Address with her personal story of overcoming adversity. Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 19, Molly tells her inspirational story of how she adapted to cope with the diagnosis and treatment. Molly did not allow cancer to derail her life. She adapted to and overcame life’s adversity to beat cancer! 


9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Break     


9:45 AM – 10:00 AM Presentation of the Sam Cox Spirit and Kenney G. Perry Professionalism Awards


10:00 AM – 11:30 AM What if there was no Workers’ Comp?

Steve Funderburg, Funderburg, Sessums & Peterson, PLLC, Gary Jones, Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A., and Alan Goodman, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, discuss the benefits of workers’ compensation laws and the difficulties we would face if “there was no Workers’ Comp.” 


11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Vendor Lunch served in Exhibit Hall

Vendors are invited to attend the Conference Lunch with other attendees if preferred.


11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Conference Lunch

Enjoy a satisfying lunch and networking opportunity right outside the Exhibit Hall and classrooms with other attendees. Musical entertainment provided by Zack Fellman.


1:00 PM – 2:10 PM Pain Management and Long-term Treatment 

Moderated by Dr. David Gandy, MedLegal Consultations, Dr. Phillip Blount, Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Dr. Jeffery Summers, NewSouth Neurospine and Dr. Matthew Holcomb, Jefferson Behavioral Group, discuss pain management and long-term care treatment modalities. 


2:20 PM – 3:40 PM Break Out Sessions

  • Mississippi Case Law Update 
    Facilitated by T.G. Bolen, Markow Walker, P.A., Mississippi Court of Appeals Judges Virginia Carlton, David McCarty, and Deborah McDonald discuss recent decisions impacting Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Law.   

  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence 
    Dr. John Estes    , Belhaven University, and Mikhaila Diekmann, a representative of Westlaw, discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting the workers’ compensation arena. 

  • Home and Vehicle Modification
    Moderated by Heather Maloney, Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Corey Staver, The David Corey Company, Ellen Lee, Legacy Vans, and   Allison Harris, Mississippi Methodist Rehabilitation Center, provide insight and ideas into home and vehicle modifications for injured workers. 


3:40 PM – 3:50 PM Break        


3:50 PM – 4:50 PM Break Out Sessions 

  • Employer Spotlight – Poultry Industry
    Moderated by Chris Fontan, Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, Jim Myers, Sanderson Farms, Waylon Blakeney, Peco Foods, Inc., Pepper Cossar, Markow Walker, P.A., and Ryan Mitchell, Burson Entrekin Orr Mitchell & Lacey, PA, provide a discussion regarding workers’ compensation as seen from the perspective of the poultry industry.  

  • Alabama and Louisiana Case Law Update 
    Lauren C. Farrington,     Sanders & Williams, LLC, and Rob Lunsford, Lunsford, Baskin, & Priebe, PLLC, provide an update on Alabama and Louisiana workers’ compensation case law. 

  • Mediation Refresher Workshop 
    Moderated by Judge Denise Lott, retired Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission administrative law judge, Eugene Harlow, Hortman, Harlow, Bassi, Robinson & McDaniel, PLLC, Gary Jones, Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P. A., and Willie Abston, Abston Law Firm discuss the advantages of mediating a claim.


5:30 PM – 6:45 PM Reception Honoring MS Court of Appeals Judges 


6:45 PM Dinner on your own

Friday, April 11, 2025

7:30 AM – 10:15 AM Exhibit Hall Open 


7:30 AM – 8:00 AM Continental Breakfast 


8:00 AM – 11:30 AM Registration & Information Desks Open 


8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Ethics for All:   The Workplace Altercation 

Moderated by Judge Megan Garrott, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, Judge Stewart Lee, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, Hunter Horne, Wells Marble & Hurst, PLLC, and Christine Wu, Morgan & Morgan, PLLC, debate the ethical considerations of claims arising from workplace altercations. 


9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Burn Claims 

Dr. Ashley Williams, Assistant Professor of Surgery at USA Health, and Nurse Practitioner Kelley Jo Farner, Mississippi Burn, Hand & Reconstruction Centers, P. C., provide a discussion regarding burn injuries including the types of burns, treatment modalities and recovery outlook. 


10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Break

Obtain continuing education forms and check out of rooms.


10:30 AM – 10:45 AM Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Update 

Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Board President Wendy Powell, Mississippi Association of Self-Insureds, provides the 2025 Kids’ Chance of Mississippi update. 


10:45 AM – 11:00 AM Presentation of the Mississippi Outstanding Employer Award 


11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Medical and Legal Considerations of the Functional Capacity Evaluation

Moderated by Michael Traylor, Richard Schwartz & Associates, P. A., a medical and legal panel consisting of Dave Peterson, Funderburg, Sessums & Peterson, PLLC, Peter Corson, Upshaw, Williams, Biggers & Becham, LLP, Judge Robert J. Arnold, Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, and Dr. Christopher Patton, Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, discuss the implications of the functional capacity evaluation upon medical opinions, treatment, and the claim. 




12:00 PM Door prizes 

Must be present to win