David is the President of Crawford Evaluation Group. His experience includes thirteen years with Medical Evaluations Inc and fifteen years at Crawford Evaluation Group. David oversees a team of 24 associates who take a lot of pride in the service that is provided in the worker’s compensation industry. He is very proud of the ongoing development and management of unique expert physician partnerships within their medical network.

David is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Radio, TV, Film Degree. He has served on the board of the Milwaukee Insurance Adjusters Association for three terms. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation, serving that foundation for approximately eighteen years. He is currently the President on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum and has been serving this foundation for over a decade.

David is an amateur athlete playing on competitive baseball and tennis teams. He has been married to his beautiful wife Julie for more than twenty years. Together they serve as volunteers for canine rescues and currently have a 16 year old bichon named Agnes Pearl.

Kendra Kail is a National Account Manager for Integrity Medicolegal, a Medlogix Company. She is a seasoned IME professional with over 20 years of industry experience. She has the unique ability of understanding the subtle differences between her clients and putting that understanding to work providing customized solutions for every level of her customer base. Kendra takes pride in the relationships she has built over the last two decades and holds herself accountable for the service she provides. She is proud to be a part of the WI WC Forum Board as she is passionate about giving back to the industry.

Tiffany McGuffin is an Athletic Training Division Manager with Pivot Onsite Innovations. She has been a practicing athletic trainer for 20 years, specializing in musculoskeletal injury care and prevention. She supports a large staff of athletic trainers across the state of Texas and works in the industrial setting in Dallas.

Alicia is the owner and founder of REM. She is a 2005 graduate of Duquesne University’s physician assistant studies program in Pittsburgh, PA. She started her career in emergency medicine, and then worked in family practice at one of Milwaukee’s Federally Qualified Health Centers, working with the medically underserved patient population. In 2013 Alicia started working in occupational health. She has worked extensively with over 40 different types of companies, from manufacturing facilities, foundries, to food/agriculture industries. In 2016 she was published in Property Casualty 360 Magazine, and then in 2017 she was nominated for Wisconsin’s PA of the Year, and placed in the top 5 in the state. Alicia’s dedication to health and wellness is evident at home as she is an avid sports/exercise enthusiast and takes great pride in educating her patients on the best ways to help them be their healthiest both at home and on the job.

Gary S. Stanislawski is a shareholder of Zilske Law Firm S.C. Mr. Stanislawski’s practice is focused on defending worker’s compensation claims on both a trial and appellate basis and advising clients on related insurance issues. He received both his B.A. and J.D. degrees from Marquette University. Mr. Stanislawski is listed in Best Lawyers in America and lectures publicly on worker’s compensation law. He is co-author of the worker’s compensation chapter in Law of Damages, and the Attorney’s Desk Reference, both respected State Bar of Wisconsin reference publications. Mr. Stanislawski is member of the Defense Research Institute and The State Bar of Wisconsin. He currently serves as treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum, a non-profit corporation providing educational programming to the workers compensation community in Wisconsin.

Joe Castronovo, PT, DPT, MTC, a Chicagoland native and graduate of Northwestern School of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, has been in the field of orthopedic rehabilitation and Illinois workers’ compensation for twenty years. Dr. Castronovo was exposed to the care of injured workers at the beginning of his career as a physical therapist. This experience created a life-long passion to improve functional outcomes and contribute to a higher percentage of return-to-work capability within this population.

Dr. Castronovo spent nineteen years at Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, and he is the founder of their Industrial Rehabilitation programs. During his years as the Industrial Rehabilitation Manager, he performed well over one thousand Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE’s) on a system he helped form and develop. Dr. Castronovo not only provided FCEs but trained every future FCE provider within the company. In addition to serving as an established FCE provider, he developed IBJI’s work conditioning program and additional service lines to include ergonomic assessments, job analyses, and fitness for duty testing. In addition to implementing these programs, Dr. Castronovo was a vital part of the marketing and business development of the workers compensation program over the years. In regard to FCEs, Dr. Castronovo is known as an expert as he provides classes, education, lectures, and critiques on the topic. Moreover, he has been called on to serve as an expert witness in regard to the quality of FCE testing and protocol numerous times over the past ten years.

Also, during his years as a health care provider and program leader, he has developed injury prevention programs for multiple municipalities. Dr. Castronovo helped decrease injury rates for multiple fire, police, and public works departments as a result of the utilization of his education and injury prevention programs. These programs are based on the specific job duties of the trades. Dr. Castronovo has rehabilitated countless trade professionals through his career. As a result, he has an extensive understanding of the specific requirements of their professional job demands. Dr. Castronovo also regularly performs utilization reviews and medical record reviews for general casualty, workers’ compensation, and auto accident cases.

Mandy Krueger is a vocational expert and the owner of Krueger Vocational Consulting, S.C . Mandy’s current practice is primarily focused to workers compensation, preparing loss of earning capacity analysis and vocational expert testimony. She also assesses educational potential and employment capabilities for individuals with disabilities and assists with return to work planning.

Mandy is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor; License Professional Counselor and holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

She is a member of the Wisconsin Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation, and International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP), and a member of the Kids’ chance of Wisconsin board. Mandy is also currently the Secretary of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum Board.

Dr. Dennis Brown is a board-certified physiatrist based at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His journey in medicine began at The Medical College of Wisconsin, where he completed his medical degree. Following this, Dr. Brown interned at St. Luke’s Medical Center, and obtained his medical license in Wisconsin.

Driven by a passion for both medicine and law, Dr. Brown pursued further education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, attending law school while concurrently working as an emergency department physician in Milwaukee on weekends. This dual interest laid the foundation for his unique career path.

After completing his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Brown sought additional expertise in disability assessment and ergonomics, reflecting his commitment to comprehensive patient education and care. His professional career led him back to The Medical College of Wisconsin, where he served as an assistant professor, imparting knowledge to medical residents and students.

Dr. Brown has held several medical director roles, contributing significantly to healthcare administration and policy implementation. He transitioned into private practice while continuing his educational endeavors, actively participating in teaching activities, and volunteering at indigent medical clinics.

Dr. Brown’s expertise extends beyond clinical practice to include consulting, medical record reviews, and independent medical examinations across various locations in Wisconsin. His impartial approach is evidenced by his work with clients from diverse backgrounds and affiliations, providing expert opinions and guidance.

In summary, Dr. Dennis Brown’s career exemplifies a steadfast dedication to medicine, law, and education.

David is the President of Crawford Evaluation Group. His experience includes thirteen years with Medical Evaluations Inc and fifteen years at Crawford Evaluation Group. David oversees a team of 24 associates who take a lot of pride in the service that is provided in the worker’s compensation industry. He is very proud of the ongoing development and management of unique expert physician partnerships within their medical network.

David is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Radio, TV, Film Degree. He has served on the board of the Milwaukee Insurance Adjusters Association for three terms. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Bryon Riesch Paralysis Foundation, serving that foundation for approximately eighteen years. He is currently the President on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum and has been serving this foundation for over a decade.

David is an amateur athlete playing on competitive baseball and tennis teams. He has been married to his beautiful wife Julie for more than twenty years. Together they serve as volunteers for canine rescues and currently have a 16 year old bichon named Agnes Pearl.

Carrie Zarate is currently the Executive Director of Customer Relations for Stubbe Case Management (SCM). SCM is a leader in Worker’s Compensation Nurse Case Management throughout Wisconsin and headquartered in Minnesota.

Carrie’s background previous to SCM was in Claims Management where she worked as an Adjuster, Claims Supervisor and National Claims Manager in her claims career.

In her free time, she loves spending time with family and friends. As a previous exchange student she loves to speak Spanish and travel as much as possible.

Maritza Gamboa joined Triune Health Group as a Senior Sales Executive in 2015. She had been in the healthcare sector of the sales industry for over 9 years with experience in diagnostic imaging, IMEs and is familiar with many Chicago land physicians. Maritza received her Biomedical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. After working in her field of study for a year, she decided to move in a completely different direction and attended culinary school. Maritza enjoyed cooking but decided interacting and helping people was her true passion. She entered the WC industry and has never been happier. Maritza enjoys OTF, traveling and spending time with her family.

Chintan Sampat, MD, is a board-certified spinal surgeon with training in both orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery. 

Dr. Sampat obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University.  From there, he went on to earn his Medical Degree from Finch University/The Chicago Medical School in 2003, followed by his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was elected Chief Resident. He completed a one year fellowship training in Neurosurgical and Orthopedic Spinal Surgery at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, MA.

Dr. Sampat has taught several courses on surgical techniques, post-operative care of spine patients and neurological physical examination skills to students at the University of Illinois Medical Center and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Sampat is currently licensed and doing IMEs in IL and WI.

Allison A. Scardino, MBA is a Senior Vice President of Sales for Allied Universal Insurance Claims Solutions, headquartered in Raleigh, NC. In this role she oversees the revenue growth, profitability, and overall sales & marketing initiatives for the suite of insurance services Allied Universal offers the P&C industry. With 25 years of hands-on experience, and possessing a powerful desire for knowledge, finding
solutions for her clients, and professional & personal growth, Allison genuinely enjoys interacting with the industry and creating positive change.

Previously, Allison has held various executive positions within both the sales & marketing and claims based sectors, with her areas of expertise including managed care proficiency, dynamic sales team training & mentoring, high exposure claims consulting, experience modification factor analysis & reduction, cost mitigation initiatives, developing & implementing progressive client-based solutions, and public speaking/educational lecturing at professional conferences & seminars throughout the country.

Recognizing those who have mentored her throughout her career, Allison is passionate about giving back to the P&C industry. She is a strong advocate of elevating and mentoring women through her work on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation, where she oversees the national Alliance Ambassadors. Further, Allison has been appointed to the Kids’ Chance of America Board (KCOA) of Directors, as well as elected to the role of the Chair of the Council of State Organizations for KCOA. Furthermore, she is the President and a founding Officer of Kids’ Chance of Wisconsin. Close to home, Allison routinely volunteers at Badgerette Pom Pon, Inc., the YMCA of Metro Milwaukee, and Marquette University

Catherine Van Emon (“Cathy V.”) is a southern California native with a history of commitment to innovation and strategy within the commercial lines insurance, PPO networks and managed care communities. As a 20+ year veteran of the property & casualty insurance industry she a background in clinical oversight, bill review/utilization review/case management operations, network development, client service, business process improvement and project management. Ms. Van Emon specializes in outcome-focused, knowledge-intensive offerings and subject-matter expertise to develop, implement and improve managed care business operations. As the Vice President of the Business Operations Team at CorVel Corporation, she supports software development, design and prioritization, as well as the creation of advanced training tools and business rules. She specializes in areas such as artificial intelligence, competitive market research, customer service excellence and business process improvement. Catherine is a graduate of Ashford University and holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Economics. She is also a graduate of California State University, Fullerton and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration- Management and Information Systems. She is a lifetime member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and the Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society. She is the past president of the Orange-Irvine chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), and she is a Certified Professional Biller (CPB) and Certified Risk Coder (CRC). She holds a Professional Scrum Product Owner certification (PSPO).

With over 17 years of experience as a Workers’ Compensation Claims Representative, Jen Weiterman currently serves as a Senior Workers’ Compensation Claims Representative at Acuity Insurance where she has worked since 2015.

A proud alumna of Carthage College, Jen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, along with Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in Services (AIS) designations. Jen’s notable achievements include her role as the President of the KMIP, a local chapter of the International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP), and her recognition as the IAIP Claims Professional of the Year. She is also serving as a member of the Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Forum Board planning committee for the second time.

Outside of her professional life, Jen is embracing her journey as an empty nester. With her daughter embarking on her college journey in New Hampshire and her son thriving in the Twin Cities, Jen is discovering new hobbies such as book clubs, pickleball, and travel.

Chelsie D. Springstead is a shareholder of Lindner & Marsack, S.C. Ms. Springstead’s current legal practice is focused on defending worker’s compensation claims for then insurance industry and self-insured employers, along with handling subrogation and Medicare issues. Prior to joining Lindner & Marsack S.C., Ms. Springstead was an associate at Cermele & Associates, S.C. where she represented law enforcement officers in worker’s compensation claims, grievance appeals, citizen complaints, First Amendment issues and claims under the FMLA and FLSA.

Ms. Springstead received her law degree from Marquette University Law School where she also earned a Certificate in Dispute Resolution and her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois where she double majored in English and Speech Communication. While in law school, Ms. Springstead worked as an intern for the Waukesha County Public Defender’s Office and the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

Ms. Springstead is a frequent speaker and lecturer on worker’s compensation, labor and employment law, and Medicare-related topics and also provides training to employers and insurance carriers in these areas. She is a member of the Lindner & Marsack worker’s compensation defense team which received a ‘first tier’ ranking by U.S. News and World Reports. Ms. Springstead is licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

She is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association, the Wisconsin Association of Worker’s Compensation Attorneys (WAWCA), the Milwaukee Insurance Adjusters Association (MIAA), and a member of the Kids’ Chance of Wisconsin board. She is also currently a member of the
Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Forum Board, a founding member of the Wisconsin Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation, and Treasurer of the National Worker’s Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN)

Cindi’s primary focus is the defense of workers’ compensation and liability claims. She travels throughout the beautiful state of Wisconsin defending employers and insurers on workers’ compensation matters as well as liability cases. She became interested in insurance defense when working as a claim representative and supervisor for State Farm Insurance. Her favorite part of practicing law is meeting with clients and witnesses to put together the pieces of the case to provide a defense. Every case has it’s own twists and turns which makes each one unique. She also enjoys giving seminars to insurance clients; given her past experience working in the claims business, Cindi finds that she really connects with claims staff when training on Wisconsin workers’ compensation law. Cindi is a member of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Claims Xchange, Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation, and Wisconsin Association of Workers’ Compensation Attorneys. She was sworn in as a member of the United States Supreme Court in May 2015. She is member of the Rotary Club of Rice Lake and serves on the Liturgy Board of her church. She proudly supports the Rice Lake Warriors, her high school alma mater and that of husband and children. She enjoys watching soccer games and anything theatre or music related. Cindi and her husband have two adult children.

David Harris is a nationally touring, regionally Emmy Award-winning comedian, actor, and host who has entertained audiences for over 20 years. With 2000+ live performances, Harris regularly appears at top clubs, colleges, corporate events, theaters, alternative rooms and other elite venues across the U.S. and Canada. Most notably, Harris has performed at the New York Comedy Club in New York, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh, and at the Hollywood Improv Lab in Los Angeles. Harris has also worked with the legendary Louie Anderson, Bobby Slayton, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Amir K., Ben Bailey, and Judy Gold, to name a few. David’s comedy special “Recalculating” is available on Dry Bar Comedy – one of the world’s top clean comedy sites. 

Dr. Sanjay Patari is a board-certified orthopedic physician in sports medicine and hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder surgery. He is an active member of American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) Dr Patari’s focus is on all injuries and disorders of the upper extremity including shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand conditions. He is trained in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques including, but not limited to, shoulder, elbow, wrist arthroscopy, and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Dr. Patari performs joint replacement of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers.
Dr Patari trained with the Inventor of the collagenase enzyme for the non-surgical office based treatment of Dupuytren’s Contracture. Dr. Patari treats workplace injuries too. He has a keen interest returning patients safely back to work with the fewest lost workdays and he puts you on a path to recovery.
Dr. Patari is board certified in both Orthopaedic Surgery (2005) and Hand Surgery (2009). He is licensed to practice medicine in Illinois and Wisconsin. He is also certified by the American Board of Independent of Medical Examiners (2013). Dr Patari has expertise in performing Independent Medical Examinations and Impairment rating evaluations.
He is also on the hospital staff of:
• St. Alexius Medical Center, Hoffman Estates, IL
• Glen Oaks Medical Center, Bloomingdale, IL
• Alexian Brothers Medical Center, Elk Grove Village, IL

Dr. Patari graduated from the accelerated combined program of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin. He graduated with his M.D. degree in 1995, and with Honors in Biological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He then completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School in 2000. He continued his training by completing a 1 year fellowship in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery at SUNY – Stony Brook, NY. He has been in practice since 2001.

Bio coming soon.

Mark has been an Administrative Law Judge with the Division of Hearings and Appeals – Office of Workers Compensation Hearings since March 2019. Before becoming an ALJ, he was a partner at Bartells, Parman, and Pease in Wausau, WI for 12 years. During this time, he represented applicants in worker’s compensation claims and claimants in Social Security Disability claims. Before that, he was a trial attorney for an insurance company in Wausau, WI for 21 years representing insureds in civil cases and worker’s compensation claims. Mark received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater in 1982. He graduated summa cum laude as a Political Science major with a minor in History. He received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL in 1985 and passed the WI Bar Exam that same year. He resides in Madison with his wife Kathleen and their goldendoodle, Murphy. They have two adult sons, Andrew and Michael. In his free time, Mark enjoys following the Brewers, Packers, Bucks and Badgers, riding the bike trails around Madison.

Jessica Almazar has been an administrative law judge with the Office of Worker’s Compensation Hearings since October 2022. She has presented on a variety of Wisconsin worker’s compensation topics, including occupational hearing loss and ethics. Prior to that, Ms. Almazar served as Field Counsel for the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group for over 18 years where she practiced primarily worker’s compensation defense, as well as defended against personal injury and property damage and handled subrogation issues. While employed by the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, she served as dedicated counsel for many clients, was a contributing member of the National Workers’ Compensation Practice Group and Professional Partnering Initiative, and performed legal audits of worker’s compensation and civil litigation files in Florida, California, and Illinois. In 2013, Ms. Almazar was a guest faculty member for the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Lawyering Skills Course. She is a double Badger, graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2000 with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history and in 2003 from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

William R. Sachse, Jr., born Dec. 5, 1956, in Sheboygan, is a mediator of litigated worker’s compensation matters, based in Sheboygan Falls. He graduated from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., in 1979 with a journalism degree, and he obtained his law degree in 1982 from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. From 1982 to 2017, Sachse defended employers and insurers in worker’s compensation matters for private law firms in Milwaukee. He has worked as a private mediator since 2018. Sachse is a member of the Wisconsin Bar Association and the Wisconsin Association of Worker’s Compensation Attorneys.