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New York State Insurance Fund Chairman Terence L. Morris and the Board of Commissioners today announced they have named Workers’ Compensation Board Chairman David P. Wehner as Executive Director of the State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), effective January 1, 2006. Mr. Wehner’s appointment was made official on December 7, 2005, at the NYSIF Board meeting in New York City.
“Chairman Wehner’s broad experience in workers’ compensation, as well as labor and business issues, makes him an excellent choice to manage the operations of the State Insurance Fund,” Chairman Morris said.
Mr. Wehner fills the vacancy left by the departure of Ken Ross as Executive Director earlier this year. Since that time, Christopher Barclay, Secretary to the Board of Commissioners, and Douglas Hayden, General Attorney, have been sharing director duties.
“I also want to commend Acting Co-Directors Chris Barclay and Doug Hayden for the steady job they did while the search was underway for a new Executive Director,” Chairman Morris stated.
Mr. Wehner, nominated by Governor George E. Pataki, was sworn in as Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Board on March 9, 2004. Under his leadership, the WCB continued to expand its mission and accomplishments in serving its customers, New York’s injured workers and their employers.
“I am honored to have been chosen by the Board to be Executive Director of the State Insurance Fund,” Chairman Wehner said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Board, and look forward to using my knowledge to continue the State Insurance Fund’s success. I thank Governor Pataki for his support and confidence in me.”
NYSIF is a non-profit agency of the State of New York that was created as part of the Workers’ Compensation Law of 1914. By law, NYSIF is a competitive insurance carrier that sells workers’ compensation and disability benefits insurance to any employer doing business in New York State. Approximately 186,000 employers hold NYSIF workers' compensation insurance policies, constituting about 37 percent of the market.
During his tenure at the Workers’ Compensation Board, Mr. Wehner launched a series of regional educational conferences presented by board staff around the state. The seminars promoted the board’s improved processes and advances to e-case, health management and claims adjudication. More than 500 individuals have attended these conferences, with overwhelming positive feedback.
The Workers’ Compensation Board administers benefit programs that protect the rights of injured workers. The state workers' compensation system guarantees workers injured on the job both medical care and weekly cash benefits, usually until they return to work. Under Mr. Wehner’s direction, the Board resolved all pending issues for 312,902 new and pre-existing claims in 2004, marking the fourth consecutive year of 300,000 or more resolutions. In addition, in September 2005, Mr. Wehner initiated a review of the Board’s outdated Medical Guidelines, bringing together 15 health providers to make recommendations that refine, clarify and update the department’s uniform medical guidelines.
Mr. Wehner was recently named to the Board of Directors for the American Society of Workers’ Compensation Professionals (AMCOMP). In May 2005, Mr. Wehner was recognized by the Society of New York Workers’ Compensation Bar Association for invaluable service rendered by the Workers’ Compensation Board.
Mr. Wehner served previously as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Labor for more than three years. Prior to being named Executive Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Wehner served more than three-and-a-half years as Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Public Affairs. He also served as Chief Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Labor and Director of Communications.
A former member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), Mr. Wehner is also a past President of the National Association of Government Labor Officials (NAGLO). He previously served as State Media Director for United States Senator Alfonse M. D’Amato where he worked for 10 years in both his Washington, D.C. and Albany offices.
A native of Rochester, New York, Mr. Wehner holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Communications from the State University of New York at Albany. Active in youth sports, he and his wife, Diane, have three children.