FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2014
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WSIA welcomes Kris Tefft as new Executive Director
OLYMPIA – The Washington Self-Insurers’ Association, the statewide business organization representing the workplace safety and workers’ compensation interests of major Washington employers, today announced the hiring of Kris Tefft as its next executive director.
Tefft joins WSIA after 10 years at the Association of Washington Business, where he served as general counsel and government affairs director. He succeeds longtime chief executive Dave Kaplan, who is leaving to become the executive director of the National Council of Self-Insurers.
“We are thrilled to have a leader of Kris’s skill and experience,” said Donna Egeland, director of employee medical relations at Alaska Airlines and president of the WSIA Board of Directors. “Kris brings a unique mix of legal and public policy experience and a strong reputation building and managing coalitions on issues important to the WSIA membership.”
At AWB, Tefft was responsible for directing legal and legislative advocacy on labor and workplace issues. He represented the state’s employer community as a member of the Department of Labor & Industries’ Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee, and played a key role in the legislative campaign that won landmark cost-saving reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation system in 2011, creating Washington’s first-ever statewide medical provider network and introducing settlement agreements as an option for resolving claims.
“Kris takes the helm at an exciting time for WSIA,” said Egeland. “We are looking forward to seeing him elevate the visibility of WSIA and the important work it does for Washington employers and workers.”
Washington law requires all employers secure industrial insurance to provide medical and disability-related benefits of work-related injuries and illnesses. Washington is one of only four states in which most employers must insure through a state-run program, administered by Labor & Industries. However, employers with a sufficient financial and safety track record have the right to self-insure and pay workers’ comp benefits directly.
There are currently about 400 public and private sector employers that self-insure their risk of workplace accidents and illnesses. Collectively, they employ over one-third of the state’s workforce, and post an annual bond in excess of $1.33 billion to secure the payment of benefits.
Founded in 1972, WSIA represents the interests of these employers, as well as the professionals and allied associations that also serve them. The organization advocates for policies that improve the state’s business climate by helping members provide services that increase safety, prevent accidents, and get injured workers back to work. WSIA speaks for all employers in respect to the cost workers’ compensation in Washington.
“We’ve seen over the last several years that workers’ compensation issues can be one of the most important, and most politically charged, issues facing the business community and the Legislature,” said Tefft. “I very much look forward to this new opportunity to collaborate with some of our state’s best employers, with L&I, the Legislature, and others, on these key workplace issues.”
Tefft is a graduate of Seattle University, and received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He lives in Olympia with his wife Marriann and their four children.
About the Washington Self-Insurers Association
The Washington Self-Insurers Association was founded in 1972 to educate and advocate on statewide issues related to workplace safety and workers’ compensation. Approximately one in three Washington employees is covered by a self-insured workers’ compensation program, and WSIA’s mission is to help members successfully implement and operate self-insurance programs, to keep Washington employees safe, healthy, and working. WSIA members include major public and private sector employers, such as cities, counties, hospitals, public and private schools, non-profit charities, and many of our state’s most visible and iconic companies and brands. For more information, visit www.wsiassn.org.
Tefft joins WSIA after 10 years at the Association of Washington Business, where he served as general counsel and government affairs director. He succeeds longtime chief executive Dave Kaplan, who is leaving to become the executive director of the National Council of Self-Insurers.
“We are thrilled to have a leader of Kris’s skill and experience,” said Donna Egeland, director of employee medical relations at Alaska Airlines and president of the WSIA Board of Directors. “Kris brings a unique mix of legal and public policy experience and a strong reputation building and managing coalitions on issues important to the WSIA membership.”
At AWB, Tefft was responsible for directing legal and legislative advocacy on labor and workplace issues. He represented the state’s employer community as a member of the Department of Labor & Industries’ Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee, and played a key role in the legislative campaign that won landmark cost-saving reforms to the state’s workers’ compensation system in 2011, creating Washington’s first-ever statewide medical provider network and introducing settlement agreements as an option for resolving claims.
“Kris takes the helm at an exciting time for WSIA,” said Egeland. “We are looking forward to seeing him elevate the visibility of WSIA and the important work it does for Washington employers and workers.”
Washington law requires all employers secure industrial insurance to provide medical and disability-related benefits of work-related injuries and illnesses. Washington is one of only four states in which most employers must insure through a state-run program, administered by Labor & Industries. However, employers with a sufficient financial and safety track record have the right to self-insure and pay workers’ comp benefits directly.
There are currently about 400 public and private sector employers that self-insure their risk of workplace accidents and illnesses. Collectively, they employ over one-third of the state’s workforce, and post an annual bond in excess of $1.33 billion to secure the payment of benefits.
Founded in 1972, WSIA represents the interests of these employers, as well as the professionals and allied associations that also serve them. The organization advocates for policies that improve the state’s business climate by helping members provide services that increase safety, prevent accidents, and get injured workers back to work. WSIA speaks for all employers in respect to the cost workers’ compensation in Washington.
“We’ve seen over the last several years that workers’ compensation issues can be one of the most important, and most politically charged, issues facing the business community and the Legislature,” said Tefft. “I very much look forward to this new opportunity to collaborate with some of our state’s best employers, with L&I, the Legislature, and others, on these key workplace issues.”
Tefft is a graduate of Seattle University, and received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame. He lives in Olympia with his wife Marriann and their four children.
About the Washington Self-Insurers Association
The Washington Self-Insurers Association was founded in 1972 to educate and advocate on statewide issues related to workplace safety and workers’ compensation. Approximately one in three Washington employees is covered by a self-insured workers’ compensation program, and WSIA’s mission is to help members successfully implement and operate self-insurance programs, to keep Washington employees safe, healthy, and working. WSIA members include major public and private sector employers, such as cities, counties, hospitals, public and private schools, non-profit charities, and many of our state’s most visible and iconic companies and brands. For more information, visit www.wsiassn.org.
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