WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

Earn your OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry certification while gaining practical knowledge to recognize, avoid, and prevent some of the construction industry’s most common workplace hazards. This three-day program covers OSHA fundamentals, the Focus Four hazards — Falls, Electrocution, Struck-By, and Caught-In/Between — personal protective equipment, excavation safety, and fire prevention.

Attendees participating in a PMI breakout session

Participants will learn how to identify risks, strengthen safety awareness, and apply proven practices to protect workers on the jobsite. The program concludes with a forward-looking session on designing safer systems and proactively managing the injury lifecycle, providing valuable insights for safety professionals, employers, and workers alike.

Featured Sessions

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Sessions

Monday, August 24

3 Featured Sessions
Introduction to OSHA
Focus Four Hazard: Falls
Focus Four Hazards: Falls + Stairways and Ladders

Tuesday, August 25

6 Featured Sessions
Focus Four Hazards: Electrocution
Focus Four Hazards: Struck By
Focus Four Hazards: Caught-In/Between
Personal Protective Equipment and Health Hazards in Construction
Excavation
Fire Protection and Prevention

Wednesday, August 26

1 Featured Session
Designing Safer Systems: A Proactive Blueprint for Managing the Injury Lifecycle

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

The Return-to-Work Breakout will examine how mindset, communication, leadership, and proactive strategies are driving better outcomes for injured workers. Industry experts will share practical approaches to improving engagement, building trust, and removing barriers to recovery.

Attendees will learn how effective communication, workplace culture, and innovative rehabilitation practices can support successful return-to-work programs. The session will provide actionable insights to help employers reduce claim severity, enhance transitional duty success, and improve outcomes for both employees and organizations.

Featured Sessions

Return-to-Work Breakout Sessions

Tuesday, August 25

3 Featured Sessions
The Return-to-Work Reset: Mindset, Communication, and the Future of Recovery
Engaging the Injured Worker for Better Return-to-Work Outcomes
From Reactive to Proactive: Reengineering the RTW Process

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

The Workplace Safety and Health Breakout delivers a forward-looking exploration of the strategies, technologies, and cultural practices shaping safer workplaces and better workers’ compensation outcomes. Sessions examine critical risk areas, including injury investigations, heat illness prevention, workplace violence, slip/trip/fall exposures, motor vehicle safety, and employee reporting behaviors—while highlighting proactive solutions to reduce incidents and claims. Attendees will also gain insight into the growing role of artificial intelligence in risk reduction, workforce transformation, and safety management.

The program emphasizes prevention at every stage of the injury lifecycle, from pre-employment fitness-for-duty assessments and onsite healthcare programs to effective return-to-work strategies and system design. By combining regulatory updates, emerging research, and practical best practices, this breakout equips participants to build more resilient, healthy, and high-performing organizations.

Featured Sessions

Workplace Safety & Health Breakout Sessions

Monday, August 24

3 Featured Sessions
Challenges and Opportunities in Employee Injury Investigations
Calculated Confidence: How AI is Revolutionizing Risk Reduction
Strategies to Prevent Heat-Related Claims and Reduce Costs Before Enforcement Hits: Turn Compliance into Cost Control: Master OSHA’s New Heat Rule. Are You Ready?

Tuesday, August 25

6 Featured Sessions
Proactive Measures: Workplace Violence Prevention and Response
How AI Is Reshaping the Workforce and Redefining Safety
Slip/Trip/Falls – A leading loss driver of claims
From Risk to Resilience: Preventing Fatalities and Auto Related Workers’ Compensation Exposure
Using Pre-Employment-Fitness for Duty and Return-to-Work: Proactive Approach in Managing Workers’ Compensation
OSHA Update and Research Project-Why Employees do not Report Unsafe Acts and Practices

Wednesday, August 26

3 Featured Sessions
Purpose, Mindset, and Workers’ Compensation Outcomes: Applying PERMA to Safety, Health, and Recovery
Designing Safer Systems: A Proactive Blueprint for Managing the Injury Lifecycle
Setting Onsite Healthcare Up for Success

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

Open to all attendees, the Professional Mediation Conference offers a practical, engaging look at the strategies, skills, and emerging issues shaping successful mediation. Guided by sessions on motion practice, ethics and rules, settlement writing, mock mediation, diversity, AI and technology, complex legal and medical challenges, communication, Medicare/MSA strategies, and collaboration among adjusters and attorneys, this conference delivers real-world tools to help participants navigate difficult conversations, overcome obstacles, and achieve better outcomes at mediation.

Attendees participating in a PMI breakout session
Featured Sessions

Professional Mediation Conference Sessions

Sunday, August 23

8 Featured Sessions
Games People Play – An Insight into What Actually Occurs During a Motion to Enforce Hearing
Rules, Rules, Rules – Set in Stone?
Writing Workshop: Creative Writing to Save a Settlement
Mock Mediation
Help Me Help You! The Diversity Check List
AI and Technology Update
Complex Legal/Medical Minefields That Mediators Tread to Avoid Overstepping the Role of the Attorneys
What Would Dale Carnegie Do? Achieving Success at Mediation

Monday, August 24

3 Featured Sessions
How Adjusters and Attorneys Can Optimize Mediation Outcomes
Don’t Sugar Coat It! Tell Us What You Really Think
Practical Medicare/MSA Claims Strategies – What to Know to Keep Your Clients Compliant, Reduce Costs, and Settle Claims

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

New this year, the Liability Breakout delivers timely, practical insight into one of the most pressing challenges facing employers, insurers, adjusters, attorneys, and risk professionals: the rapid rise in liability claims, litigation complexity, fraud exposure, and claim costs.

Across three focused sessions, industry leaders will examine strategies for managing litigation in a changing environment, preventing catastrophic liability losses, and using analytics, AI, and collaboration to detect and reduce fraud. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas, emerging trends, and real-world guidance to strengthen outcomes in today’s evolving liability landscape.

Featured Sessions

Liability Breakout Sessions

Tuesday, August 25

3 Featured Sessions
Managing Liability Litigation in a Changing Environment
Preventing the “Big Loss” in Liability Litigation
Unmasking Liability Fraud: Analytics, AI and Action for Smarter Prevention

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

Step inside the Attorney Breakout for a fast-moving, highly relevant look at the legal issues shaping workers’ compensation practice today. Across three dynamic sessions, attendees will hear from judges, leading litigators, and appellate attorneys while examining how cybersecurity and privacy risks are reshaping the practice of law.

From courtroom strategy to emerging legal trends and data protection responsibilities, this breakout delivers practical takeaways, lively discussion, and must-know guidance for attorneys and claims professionals navigating today’s evolving legal environment.

Featured Sessions

Attorney Breakout Sessions

Tuesday, August 25

3 Featured Sessions
What Do the Judges Want??? Filings? Evidence? Motions?
Hot Topics for Attorneys
Cyber Security and Privacy Law

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

Public entities operate in one of the most complex and highly scrutinized environments in workers’ compensation, where legal, medical, and operational challenges often intersect. This dedicated breakout is designed to address those realities head-on, equipping professionals who serve local and state agencies with the knowledge and strategies needed to effectively manage risk and deliver better outcomes.

Panelists presenting during a WCI Public Entities breakout session

The Public Entities Breakout brings together leading voices in law, risk management, and public safety to provide focused, practical insights tailored to the unique demands of the public sector. Through in-depth discussions and expert analysis, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of evolving regulations, emerging claims trends, and specialized approaches for supporting public workforces—particularly first responders and other high-risk populations. Whether you manage, advise, or support a public entity, this breakout offers critical guidance, proven techniques, and forward-looking perspectives to help you navigate today’s most pressing challenges with confidence.

Featured Sessions

Public Entities Breakout Sessions

Tuesday, August 25

3 Featured Sessions
What’s New with Presumptions in Florida?
Medical-Legal Issues in First Responder Trauma: Cultural Competency, PTSD, Cardiovascular Injury, and Florida Law
Best Practices for Managing Cancer and Heart/Lung Claims

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

Adjuster education remains a foundational pillar of the conference, delivering practical, real-world insights that today’s claims professionals can immediately apply. In an environment where expectations continue to evolve, adjusters must combine technical expertise with strong communication skills, sound judgment, and adaptability to drive effective outcomes. Through a diverse mix of thought-provoking discussions, live demonstrations, and interactive sessions, attendees will gain valuable strategies to enhance decision-making, strengthen client interactions, and navigate increasingly complex claims scenarios with confidence.

Attendees participating in a WCI Adjusters breakout session
Featured Sessions

Adjusters Breakout Sessions

Monday, August 24

3 Featured Sessions
Adjuster of the Future
Actors Only Use Scripts – Beyond Templates
Empathy vs. Enabling: Setting Expectations

Tuesday, August 25

6 Featured Sessions
Live Surgical Showcase: Inside the Operating Room
This is Not Health Insurance
Live Oral Argument – Presided Over by the Florida First District Court of Appeal
The Connected Claims Ecosystem
Sneak Peek: Multi-State Workers’ Compensation Laws
Not Just Mediation: Identifying and Creating Windows of Opportunity

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

WCI 2026 Sneak Peek

In today’s rapidly evolving risk landscape, effective risk management demands more than vigilance—it requires agility, foresight, and strategic alignment with organizational objectives. As the insurance and workers’ compensation environment grows increasingly complex, Risk Managers play a pivotal role in identifying emerging threats, leveraging data-driven insights, and guiding their organizations through uncertainty.

Attendees participating in a WCI Risk Managers breakout session

The Risk Managers Breakout brings together senior leaders and industry experts for a dynamic exchange of ideas, practical strategies, and forward-thinking perspectives. Through candid discussions and interactive sessions, attendees will gain actionable insights into today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities—equipping them to navigate risk with confidence and drive meaningful results within their organizations.

Featured Sessions

Risk Managers Breakout Sessions

Monday, August 24

2 Featured Sessions
AI in Risk and Claims Decision-Making
Risk Perspectives from Chief Claims Officers

Tuesday, August 25

5 Featured Sessions
Voices of Workers’ Compensation Leadership: Challenges, Optimism, and Proven Successes
Choose Your Risk Management Adventure
Turning Claim Data into Action: Targeted Closure Strategies
Behind the Spotlight: Risk Management and Workers’ Compensation in Sports & Entertainment
Workplace Violence

Explore the Full WCI 2026 Program

View the full agenda, browse additional breakout tracks, and continue planning your WCI 2026 experience.

The WCI® 2026 conference agenda is now live! You can explore session descriptions, learn more about our distinguished speakers, and view our growing roster of exhibitors and sponsors.

Our breakout and session organizers have once again delivered an exceptional program. I’m incredibly grateful for the time and effort they’ve invested in identifying relevant topics our attendees truly value and securing industry experts to lead these discussions.

Andrew Sabolic, WCI Executive Director

This year’s educational program reflects the breadth and complexity of today’s workers’ compensation, safety, and health landscape. I’m particularly excited about the addition of our new Liability Claims breakout. We’re also excited to welcome back Mark Walls and Kimberly George as moderators of our Industry Keynote Panel: The Next Decade of Risk – Are You Built to Survive It?

Education is the primary reason attendees return to WCI year after year, and we remain committed to delivering a best-in-class experience.

Steve Rissman, WCI Program Chair

From emerging trends and innovative topics to essential refreshers and continuing education opportunities, the WCI conference continues to provide an unmatched learning experience. By combining longtime attendee favorites with expert-driven proposals and valuable feedback, we ensure our content remains timely, relevant, and engaging.

Take a moment to explore the agenda and start building your personalized schedule today. And be sure to watch for upcoming editions of WCI Spotlight, where we’ll highlight featured sessions and key conference activities.

Registered attendees will receive email instructions on how to download the official 2026 conference app – Whova. The app allows you to customize your agenda, connect with fellow attendees, interact with exhibitors and sponsors, communicate directly with speakers, and elevate your overall conference experience. Hard copy programs will be mailed to attendees in early July.

WCI’s Board of Advisors play a significant role in the educational conference’s success. The Board provides strategic guidance, fundraising support, expertise contributions, and program review and feedback.

WCI is thrilled to announce Irina Simpson has joined the Board of Advisors. Irina is Executive Vice President, Workers’ Compensation for Gallagher Bassett. A seasoned executive, she has led national, multi-line claims and client service operations and most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Claims Officer. Known for her strategic leadership and operational excellence, Irina is passionate about developing talent, streamlining processes, and fostering a culture of engagement, innovation, and continuous improvement.

It is an honor to be welcomed to this impressive Board of Advisors with such a distinguished group of industry leaders. WCI has long been known as an exceptional forum for collaboration, thought leadership, and bringing together diverse and innovative perspectives for our industry. I am grateful for the opportunity to join, contribute to the progress that has already been made, and to support the important mission of this organization.

Irina Simpson

WCI is proud to continue its meaningful philanthropic partnership with Give Kids The World (GKTW), reaffirming a longstanding commitment to giving back to families in need. In 2025 alone, the WCI community raised more than $165,000 for Give Kids The World Village, bringing WCI’s 12-year cumulative total to more than $1.36 million. This remarkable achievement reflects the generosity and compassion of WCI members, sponsors, and conference attendees, whose support continues to grow year after year.

As we launch the 2026 campaign, we are incredibly proud of the impact our community has made through this partnership. The support shown year after year demonstrates the heart of WCI. Together, we are not only raising funds but also creating moments of joy and hope for families who truly deserve it. We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026.

Andrew Sabolic, Executive Director, WCI

WCI’s commitment to Give Kids The World is led by the Spirit to Serve Committee, which plays a vital role in organizing fundraising initiatives, service opportunities, and special events throughout the year.

It is a privilege to continue serving as Chair of the Spirit to Serve Committee. Our volunteers and sponsors bring incredible energy and passion to this cause, and their dedication is what makes these efforts so impactful. The 2026 events are shaping up to be truly special, and we’re excited to invite our community to be part of it.

Doug Clark, Chair of WCI’s Spirit to Serve Committee

One of the highlights of the campaign will be the WCI 2026 Give Back Gala & Silent Auction: Putting On The Ritz, taking place on Saturday, August 22 at Orlando World Center Marriott. Attendees can look forward to an evening of celebration, entertainment, and philanthropy, all in support of Give Kids The World.

Get Involved

Purchase tickets to the Give Back Gala
Explore sponsorship opportunities
Donate items to the Silent Auction
Learn how to participate in Service Day projects at the Village or through Make Memories at the Marriott
Reserve a room at the Marriott for Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22

Kids’ Chance of America (KCOA), in partnership with the Workers Compensation Institute (WCI®), is launching Kids’ Chance WORKS, a new initiative designed to prepare students affected by workplace injury or death for life after high school. Building on KCOA’s legacy of awarding more than 11,000 scholarships since 1988, WORKS expands the organization’s impact beyond financial aid to include career exploration, workforce readiness, and long-term planning.

WORKS will serve students in KCOA’s Planning for the Future pipeline and scholarship recipients by providing tools, guidance, and connections to pursue a wide range of post-secondary pathways—college, apprenticeships, skills training, military service, or direct entry into the workforce. Special emphasis will be placed on careers in, across, and adjacent to the workers’ compensation industry, leveraging students’ lived experiences and interest in shaping its future.

Guided by three core principles—Student First, Community Centered, and Workforce Centered—the program will offer individualized support, create an alumni advisory council, and build a national network of career and mentorship opportunities.

To launch and grow the initiative, KCOA is receiving a minimum $100,000 investment over five years from WCI®. This partnership will enable program development, national collaboration, and long-term innovation, helping ensure that every Kids’ Chance student graduates high school with both a plan and the support needed to succeed.

“Kids’ Chance has always focused on removing financial barriers to education, but students also need direction, exposure and connection as they plan their futures. Through WCI’s partnership, Kids’ Chance WORKS will give our students the tools to discover their passions, explore real career options and graduate high school with confidence and purpose. This investment will shape the next generation of leaders while strengthening the entire Kids’ Chance movement.”

— Chris Letsos, CEO of Kids’ Chance of America

“WCI is proud to partner with Kids’ Chance to launch a program that aligns opportunity with impact. Kids’ Chance WORKS will empower students impacted by a parent’s work-related injury or death to build fulfilling careers while strengthening the pipeline of talent connected to the workers’ compensation community. We believe this initiative will create lasting benefits for students, families and our industry.”

— Andrew Sabolic, WCI Executive Director

“The Workers’ Compensation Institute has a rich history of making significant contributions to the education and advancement of the Workers’ Compensation industry,” said Mike Hessling. “I am also proud that our conference provides financial support for many incredible nonprofit organizations.”

“Our commitment to Kids’ Chance WORKS brings these two passions together, providing meaningful workplace readiness and mentorship opportunities for students whose families have been impacted by workplace injuries. This is truly a tremendous partnership for WCI, KCOA and our industry.”

— Mike Hessling, President of Cottingham & Butler and Member of the WCI Board of Advisors

The Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) is pleased to announce that Daymond John — Founder & CEO of FUBU, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, CEO of The Shark Group, and best‑selling author — will headline the Opening Session of the 2026 Workers’ Compensation Educational, Safety, and Health Conference on Monday, August 24.

We are honored to welcome Daymond John as our 2026 Keynote Speaker. His story of resilience, creativity, and determination embodies the spirit of innovation we strive to champion within the workers’ compensation community. Our attendees will benefit tremendously from his perspective on leadership, strategy, and building opportunities in any environment. He is a true reflection of our Bold Ideas and Big Impact conference theme.

Andrew Sabolic, Executive Director, WCI

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, John’s journey began when he took out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s home to launch his business from their basement. From those humble beginnings, he built FUBU into a global lifestyle brand with more than $6 billion in product sales. Over his career he has earned more than 35 major awards, including Brandweek’s Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age’s Marketing 1000 Award, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year, and a top‑five placement on LinkedIn’s Top 20 Voices list.

John is also the CEO of The Shark Group, a consulting firm that helps companies shape powerful marketing strategies, connect with celebrity partnerships, and engage consumers in innovative ways. He is the author of multiple best‑selling books including The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). His sixth book, Powershift, explores his proven approach to negotiating, transforming challenges, and achieving breakthrough outcomes.

Celebrating his 11th season on the Emmy‑winning business show Shark Tank, John continues to inspire millions of weekly viewers with his entrepreneurial insight and marketing expertise.

The Workers’ Compensation Educational, Safety, and Health Conference is one of the nation’s largest gatherings dedicated to advancing education, safety, health, and professional excellence within the workers’ compensation industry. Thousands of professionals from across the country attend each year to learn, collaborate, and engage with leading voices in the field.

Each year, WCI unveils a conference theme that reflects a key element of the workers’ compensation community. The theme connects to our Keynote Speaker, shapes the experience of our Monday Night Reception, and inspires exhibitors as they bring creativity and excitement to the Exhibit Hall.

We are proud to share our 2026 Conference theme: WCI Goes Glam – Bold Ideas & Big Impact

“WCI is thrilled to announce this year’s conference theme: WCI Goes Glam – Bold Ideas & Big Impact. The conference brings together all segments of the workers’ compensation industry. Each year, cutting-edge ideas are born here. New services and products are showcased. The workers’ compensation industry is very competitive and filled with many talented leaders, and the theme is a testament to the people who generate solutions to make the industry grow and thrive.”

Andrew Sabolic, Executive Director, WCI