Aaron Fellman is a policy analyst with the Workers’ Compensation Division, specializing in coverage, employer compliance, and assessment issues. They began working for the division in 2018 after seven years with the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. Aaron has a master’s degree in public administration from San Francisco State University.
Alison Kleeb, appellate review specialists, Appellate Review Unit, WCD
Alison Kleeb has worked in the Oregon workers’ compensation system for 10 years, the last two of which have been with the Workers’ Compensation Division’s Appellate Review Unit. Alison was born and raised in Oregon and has a bachelor’s degree in social science from Portland State University. She lives with her two rescue cats in Salem and loves to go to concerts in her spare time. She is currently planning her next vacation to New York City.
Andy Rohner has 10 years of experience serving a wide variety of industries and operations. He partners with organizations to help transform their operations across a broad scope of safety and health programs, procedures, and culture. His goal is to reduce injuries and improve organizational safety, supporting SAIF’s mission to make Oregon the safest and healthiest state.
Barbra Anderson, ombuds for Oregon Workers, Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers
Barbra Anderson was appointed ombuds for Oregon workers in January 2023. Before this role, she worked for the Workers’ Compensation Division as the Employment Services Team manager. She has worked in the workers’ compensation industry since February 1999, serving in a variety of roles. What Barbra enjoys most about her work is helping people and leading a team that shares that commitment. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, including their four dogs, and taking part in many activities throughout the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Brenda Dodd, benefit consultant, Benefit Consultation Unit, WCD
Brenda Dodd is a benefit consultant with the Employment Services Team in the Resolution Section of the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD). She provides information to workers and other stakeholders about their rights and benefits under workers’ compensation and has been in this role for just over a year. Brenda joined WCD in 2022. She began as an office specialist with the Employment Services Team before moving into her current role as a benefit consultant.
Caitlin Breitbach, Office of the Small Business Ombudsman
Caitlin Breitbach has served as the small business ombudsman for workers’ compensation since March 1, 2024. Before this role, she was the assistant small business ombudsman and a re-employment specialist on the Workers’ Compensation Division’s Employment Services Team, a position she has held since 2019.
Before joining the Employment Services Team, Caitlin worked at the Building Codes Division for two years as a policy analyst and training coordinator. She also spent three years at the Department of Administrative Services as a policy analyst, specializing in performance metrics.
Caitlin began her career in state government after managing a small, family-owned restaurant for eight years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in human resources and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.
Christy Johnson, Reemployment Specialist, Preferred Worker Program, WCD
Christy Johnson is a re-employment specialist with the Employment Services Team in the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD). She provides technical assistance to Oregon’s injured workers and their employers. She spends much of her day answering questions by phone and determining worker eligibility for program and process contracts.
Christy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in liberal studies from Eastern Oregon University. She has extensive knowledge of WCD. She began her career in the mailroom and was quickly promoted to the support unit of the Appellate Review Unit. After a short time, she became a benefit consultant, where she earned certification as a claims examiner. After a year and a half, she was promoted to the Preferred Worker Program, where she plans to remain.
Craig Hamelund, Education Specialist, Oregon OSHA
Craig Hamelund graduated in 1993 from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, with a bachelor’s degree in industrial and environmental health management. Before moving to Oregon, Craig performed industrial hygiene work for a Michigan consulting firm and was a safety compliance officer with South Carolina OSHA.
He began his career with Oregon OSHA in 1995 as a safety compliance officer in Medford. In 1998, Craig joined Oregon OSHA’s Public Education Section, conducting safety and health workshops and training sessions for Oregon’s employers and workers. Craig became Oregon OSHA’s internal training specialist in 2006, providing safety and health training to all Oregon OSHA staff.
Dan Schmelling, Claims Supervisor, SAIF Corporation
Dan Schmelling is a program manager in the Claims Division at SAIF Corporation. He has been in his current position for 13 years. Dan has spent more than 35 years in the workers’ compensation industry, working for a variety of employers.
David Barcroft, worksite modification consultant, PWP, WCD
Jason Hopkins began working at the Workers’ Compensation Division in April 2022, where he serves as a field investigator in the Employer Compliance Unit. Jason previously worked as a sheriff’s deputy, detective, and patrol sergeant with the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office, and as an adult abuse investigator with the Tillamook Family Counseling Center.
Jason also serves his community by conducting child forensic interviews for the Tillamook County Child Advocacy Center and as chair of the Tillamook County Emergency Communications District (911) board of directors.
Jaylee Hlad-Mosgrove, Chief Assistant Ombuds, Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers
Jaylee Hlad-Mosgrove is the chief assistant ombuds for the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers. She serves as an advocate for workers and has been with the office since 2005. Hlad-Mosgrove first started with the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) in 1990, before it became part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) in 1993. She has served as an office specialist, medical reviewer, and benefit consultant. Before coming to WCD and DCBS, she was a legal assistant for the special trial counsel at the Department of Justice.
Jonathan M. Kirsch, PT, DPT, CMPT, ATI Physical Therapy
Jonathan Kirsch, DPT, MBA, has more than a decade of experience as a physical therapist, with much of his career dedicated to serving the workers’ compensation population. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, a Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences, and a doctorate in physical therapy – all from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2024, he also earned his MBA from Penn State University.
Jonathan oversees outpatient physical therapy operations for ATI Physical Therapy across Oregon and Southwest Washington. He also serves as a director on the board for the Oregon chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, and as a member of the advisory board for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Mt. Hood Community College.
Julie Stratton, Office of the Small Business Ombudsman
Julie Stratton is a small business ombudsman for workers’ compensation with the Department of Consumer and Business Services. She helps employers understand workers’ compensation requirements, premium audits, classification codes, and independent contractor rules. Julie provides outreach and one on one guidance across Oregon to make the system easier for small businesses. She values clear communication and meeting people where they are.
Outside of work, Julie explores Oregon and hosts a monthly craft night to build a supportive women’s network, keeping her connected to the communities she serves.
Kate Suisman, Attorney, Northwest Workers' Justice Project
Kate Suisman is an attorney at the Northwest Workers’ Justice Project in Portland where she represents workers in employment cases with a focus on injured worker retaliation. She also engages in state legislative and administrative advocacy to bring workers’ voices into policy conversations. Kate coordinates two policy groups – the Oregon Worker Power Table and Safe Jobs Oregon – both of which focus on worker safety.
Before joining NWJP, Kate worked to fight wage theft in the day labor community at the Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project in Portland. She has served as a law clerk in a trial court in Manhattan and as chief of staff to a New York City Council member.
Kate has a BA in Spanish literature from Reed College and a JD from the City University of New York’s Public Interest Law School.
Katia Costa-Black, PhD, Senior Manager for Education and Partnerships, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences
Katia Costa Black, PhD, PT, is the senior manager for education and partnerships at the Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University. She also co leads the outreach activities of the Oregon Healthy Workforce Center, a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Total Worker Health center of excellence. In these roles, she has developed and delivered a variety of training programs and workplace solutions, championing integrated strategies to enhance worker well being, safety, and organizational resilience. She is currently co leading the Respectful Workplace Initiative – a collaborative effort to improve jobsite culture across Oregon’s construction industry.
Keith Semple, Attorney, Johnson, Johnson, Lucas, & Middleton
Keith Semple is an attorney with Johnson, Johnson, Lucas and Middleton, P.C., in Eugene and has represented injured workers since 2003. Keith received the Douglas Swanson Outstanding Workers’ Compensation Attorney Award from the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association in 2020, and the Professionalism Award from the Oregon State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section in 2021. He frequently advocates for injured workers in legislative and administrative rulemaking proceedings and is a regular speaker at continuing legal education events.
Kim Ritts, auditor, Audit Unit, WCD
Kim Ritts joined the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) in 2015 and has held several positions. In her more than 10 years with the division, she has been a claims coder, claims trainer, and appellate service representative. She is currently an auditor and has been part of the annual audit team since 2022. With her multiple roles, Kim has had the opportunity to gain a broad range of knowledge about WCD and how it serves Oregonians.
Kim lives near Crater Lake National Park with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys foraging and exploring nature.
Lauren Eldridge, managing attorney, Workers' Compensation Board
Lauren Eldridge was appointed interim managing attorney with the Workers’ Compensation Board in August 2023. She joined the board as a staff attorney in 2016 and served as a senior staff attorney from 2018 to 2023. Before joining the board, Lauren worked as a law clerk to the Honorable Jack L. Landau at the Oregon Supreme Court. Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Portland State University and her juris doctorate from the University of Oregon, where she graduated Order of the Coif.
Lin Allen, sanctions representative, Sanctions, WCD
Lin Allen has been with the Workers’ Compensation Division for 14 years. She has been a sanctions representative for eight of those years and previously served as a self insurance auditor. Lin has been involved in the workers’ compensation industry for 30 years. She enjoys the variety her job provides, reviewing a wide range of issues related to workers’ compensation laws and rules.
Outside of work, Lin enjoys gardening, cooking, and volunteering at her church.
Lucas Marcoe, reimbursement specialist, SIRR Unit, WCD
Lucas Marcoe began his career with the Department of Consumer and Business Services at the Workers’ Compensation Board in 2016, where he held several positions, served as the lead worker, and trained employees in the Administrative Services Division. In January 2023, Lucas joined the Workers’ Compensation Division as a reimbursement assistant on the Self Insurance, Registration, and Reimbursements (SIRR) team. In July 2025, Lucas was promoted to reimbursement program specialist, where he reviews requests for reimbursement from the Workers’ Benefit Fund.
Matt West, administrator, WCD
Matt West was appointed administrator of the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) in February 2025, after serving as interim administrator since January 2024. His appointment reflects more than two decades of dedicated public service and leadership within the division.
Matt began his career with WCD in 2003 as a bilingual benefit consultant, providing direct support to injured workers across Oregon. His commitment to service and equity propelled him through a variety of roles within the Employment Services Team, including unit manager. He later led the Resolution Section and served as deputy administrator, where he played a key role in shaping policy and operational strategy.
Before joining WCD, Matt spent five years in Mexico teaching English – an experience that strengthened his cross cultural communication skills and deepened his commitment to inclusive service. He holds a degree in social science from Portland State University.
Molly Van Houten, benefit consultant, Benefit Consultation Unit, WCD
Molly Van Houten joined the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) in 2021 as support to the Preferred Worker and Vocational Assistance programs. She has been a member of the Benefit Consultation Unit since 2022. Before coming to WCD, Molly worked as a certified nursing assistant and an administrative specialist.
Nicholas Ring, Medical Reviewer, Medical Resolution, WCD
Nicholas Ring has been at the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) for 12 years and is a medical reviewer with the Medical Resolution Team (MRT). Before coming to DCBS, he was a practicing chiropractic physician for six years in multidiscipline pain clinics, holding a Doctor of Chiropractic. Nicholas is father to two children and married to his wife, Colette. He enjoys working in MRT because it allows him to assist with all types of disputes, including administrative orders and negotiations or mediations. Outside of work, Nicholas enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer, exercising, and being outdoors.
Rachel Cancino, Benefit Consultant, Benefit Consultation Unit, WCD
Rachel Cancino has been with the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD) for three years and is a benefit consultant with the Employment Services team. Before starting with WCD, Rachel was an outreach coordinator for the Salem-Keizer School District for more than 24 years. Rachel’s favorite part of her job is providing answers and information to those inquiring about the workers’ compensation process. In her free time, she enjoys working in her garden and preserving and canning her homemade salsa and jams.
Dr. Robert Arias, licensed clinical psychologist
Dr. Robert Arias earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He completed a specialized neuropsychology fellowship at West Virginia University and has been practicing clinical psychology and neuropsychology in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 2000. He is also licensed in Iowa, Kansas, and South Dakota. He provides psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for clients of any age and independent medical exam or forensic evaluations. He has been the neuropsychologist with the Bryan Hospital Level 1 trauma team and inpatient rehabilitation unit for more than 20 years. He also specializes in neuropsychological chronic pain evaluation and management. Dr. Arias is a member of the International Neuropsychological Society and the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
Robert Pardington, administrative law judge, Workers’ Compensation Board
Robert Pardington is an administrative law judge and former managing attorney at the Workers’ Compensation Board. Robert is a graduate of Stanford University. He obtained his JD from Lewis & Clark Law School. Robert’s nearly 30 years of experience in Oregon workers’ compensation law started when he was a student law clerk in 1993 at a Portland law firm and continued through his associate attorney years there, until December 1999, when he began his employment at the board as a staff attorney. In 2003, he was appointed to be a WCB administrative law judge, a position he held for 18 years until August 2021, when he accepted a rotation as acting managing attorney, Board Review. Robert has been an adjunct professor of law at Lewis & Clark Law School.
Sara Kessler, Auditor, Audit Unit, WCD
Sara Kessler began working as an auditor with the Workers’ Compensation Division in June 2018. Sara has been with the Department of Consumer and Business Services since July 2006, where she also worked for the Workers’ Compensation Board and as a safety and risk specialist with the agency’s Employee Services team. Sara has a bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University.
Sarah Jones, senior field investigator, Employer Compliance Unit, WCD
Sarah Jones has worked in regulation and compliance for 15 years. She is currently the senior field investigator in the Workers’ Compensation Division, Employer Compliance Unit. Sarah lives on the Oregon coast and enjoys traveling with her husband, who is also a Department of Consumer and Business Services employee. They recently adopted a dog from a rescue organization in Mexico. The three of them love to take trips in their adventure van in their free time.
Scott Gunderson, occupational safety consultant, Oregon OSHA
Scott Gunderson, CSP, ARM, is an occupational safety consultant with Oregon OSHA in Portland. His safety experience includes work in the semiconductor industry, vehicle manufacturing, and military optics manufacturing. He holds an M.A. and an M.Eng. from Portland State University, a certificate in climate resilience from Antioch University, and a certificate in climate change and health from the Yale School of Public Health. Scott has presented regularly since 2013 at the Oregon Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Conference and has written more than a dozen articles for publications, including Professional Safety, Systems Engineering, and Journal of Emergency Medical Services.
Sophie Serlin, medical reviewer, Medical Resolution, WCD
Sophie Serlin has been a medical reviewer with the Workers’ Compensation Division since 2013. The role of medical reviewer includes resolving medical disputes and providing consultation, guidance, and training to all stakeholders, including insurers; medical and legal professionals; and staff members regarding the medical, legal, and technical aspects of medical disputes and the dispute resolution process. Before joining the division, she practiced as a chiropractor in the Portland area for 13 years after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in human biology and a doctorate in chiropractic from Western States Chiropractic College. She combines her knowledge and real-life experience in resolving medical disputes and in educating all parties involved on how to navigate workers’ compensation, whether they are the injured worker or providing services to an injured worker.
Teri Watson, MLAC Administrator
Teri Watson is the senior policy analyst and legislative coordinator for the Workers’ Compensation Division, a role she’s held since June 2023. She also serves as the Management-Labor Advisory Committee (MLAC) administrator. Teri has a master’s degree in public business administration from Portland State University Hatfield School of Government and a master’s degree in administrative law from Willamette University College of Law. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous positions with Oregon OSHA, the Building Codes Division, and as a managed care specialist in WCD. Before returning to DCBS, Teri worked as the political and special projects coordinator at the Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council.
Todd Johnson, senior state relations executive, National Council on Compensation Insurance
As a senior state relations executive, Todd Johnson is responsible for the National Council on Compensation Insurance’s (NCCI) regulatory and legislative affairs, including rate filings, legislative impact analyses, and residual market issues. He supports the Pacific Northwest states of Montana, Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Washington, Wyoming, and Oregon. Before joining NCCI in 2017, he served as the director of workers’ compensation for a national third-party administrator specializing in public entities. He was also the managing director for all residual market servicing carrier operations with a national workers’ compensation carrier. Additionally, he led the claim operation for a workers’ compensation reinsurance company, providing oversight of all licensed carriers, public entities, and self-insured companies. He received his Bachelor of Arts in law, criminology, and deviant behavior from the University of Minnesota. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and has more than 35 years of workers’ compensation experience.
Zoe Tacadena, Reemployment Specialist, Preferred Worker Program, WCD
Zoe Tacadena has worked for the Workers’ Compensation Division since 2019, where she has held a few different positions. Zoe has worked as a benefit consultant, acting as a liaison between the public and the agency, corporations, businesses, and other entities to clarify issues and resolve disputes. She also educated injured workers on their right to file a workers’ compensation claim and answered other questions that might arise during the claims process. Zoe now works for the Preferred Worker Program as a re-employment specialist, where she helps administer program benefits to remove barriers to employment for Oregon workers.