NYS Workers’ Compensation Board 2026 Conference

Freida D. Foster
Chair, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Freida D. Foster, of New York County, is the Chair of the NYS Workers' Compensation Board and a member of New York Governor Kathy Hochul's Executive Cabinet. A Board member since 2009 and Vice Chair from 2016 until July 2025, Ms. Foster has dedicated most of her career to public service and has decades of professional experience in education, government/civic service, and public relations.

In her time at the Board, Ms. Foster has reviewed tens of thousands of workers' compensation appeals and helped the agency's efforts to modernize its systems and processes. She also contributed to the implementation of NYS Paid Family Leave and assisted the previous Chair with overall day-to-day oversight and management of the agency and the Full Board.

Prior to joining the Workers' Compensation Board, Ms. Foster was a Public Relations Specialist at Burson-Marsteller, where she managed the firm's largest account, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). In this role, she organized the city-wide education campaign for New York City's transition from manual to electronic voting machines. She also founded and helped organize many state level initiatives, including New York State's comprehensive celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Fiercely dedicated to helping others and giving back to the community, Ms. Foster has held membership on several boards, all with a focus on community and civic service as well as student leadership. She served as a CUNY trustee for 10 years (2006-2016), helping oversee campus management as Vice Chair for the Student Affairs Committee and Chair for the University's Standing Committee on Facilities. She also served as a Trustee for the NYC Employee Retirement System (2010-2012), Trustee for the Teachers' Retirement System (2011-2012), Member of the NYC Department of Education's Panel for Educational Policy (2010-2012), and Board Member for the CORO Leadership Council (2015-2016).

In addition to leading the Workers' Compensation Board, Ms. Foster also currently serves as Chair of the Harlem Community Development Corporation Board of Directors and Chair of the CUNY School of Public Health Advisory Board. She is also a Member of the Community Advisory Board for Channel Thirteen/WLIW.

A lifelong Harlem resident, Ms. Foster holds an M.S. in Corporate Communications from the University of Wisconsin and a B.A. in Communications from Hofstra University.

Steven M. Scotti
Executive Director, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Steven Scotti has served as Executive Director of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board since September 2022. He was a practicing workers' compensation attorney for over 30 years, working exclusively in-house for New York self-insured employers, and dedicated to ensuring that injured co-workers promptly received all benefits to which they were legally entitled.

Steven began his legal career in the public sector at the U.S. Department of Labor, followed by over 15 years of service with the New York City Law Department, where he served as Chief of the Workers' Compensation Division for the last seven years. He joined Con Edison in 2002, where he managed the workers' compensation practice in its Law Department for over 16 years. Starting in 2013, Steven served for five years as Associate General Counsel for Labor, Employment, and Benefits, overseeing all labor and employment matters for the company. In 2019, he joined the Workers' Compensation Division of the New York City Transit Authority, serving as Deputy Executive Assistant General Counsel until leaving to join the Board.

In 2016, Steven was inducted as a Fellow into The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers, a nationwide organization recognizing outstanding attorneys who have distinguished themselves for 20 years or more in the workers' compensation field.

Steven was Co-Editor in Chief and contributing author of the 2011 NYS Bar Association's Workers' Compensation Law and Practice in New York and is a frequent speaker on workers' compensation issues. He served on two Governor's workers' compensation task forces (Governor Spitzer's 2007 Rocket Docket Committee and Governor Paterson's 2010 Task Force on Group Self-Insurance), as well as an FBI task force on workers' compensation fraud. Steven was a member of the Executive Committee of the Special Funds Conservation Committee, a former Chair and Special Counsel of the New York Self-Insurers Association (NYSIA) and a former President of the New York Claim Association (NYCA), receiving the distinguished Greg Saxum award from NYSIA and a lifetime achievement award from NYCA. In 2001, he received the New York State Workers' Compensation Board Chair's Award for Excellence.

Steven brings his years of study of the New York Workers' Compensation Law and expertise managing claims and legal operations at three of the state's largest self-insured employer programs to his current position. He strives to guide and improve the system for all stakeholders in furtherance of the Board's critical mission to serve injured workers and employers.

Steven earned a BA in Political Science cum laude from Stony Brook University and a JD with honors from New York Law School. He lives in Queens with his wife of 39 years, Patricia, and is the proud father of Mark and Paul.

Renee L. Delgado
Vice Chair, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Renee L. Delgado from Albany County is Vice Chair of the Workers' Compensation Board. Ms. Delgado has been serving on the WCB since 2022 and has devoted much of her career to advocating for workers' rights. An experienced attorney, Vice Chair Delgado worked for 14 years at the New York State Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO (PEF) before joining the Board, holding various titles including Associate Counsel, Director of Contract Administration, and General Counsel. Ms. Delgado has also worked as a Special Assistant in the Counsel's Office at the New York State Department of Labor, as Assistant Director of Legal Services at the SUNY Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, as Assistant District Attorney in Queens County and Albany County, and as a legislative aide in the New York State Assembly.

Ms. Delgado holds a juris doctorate from the CUNY School of Law at Queens College, a master's degree from John Jay College in Manhattan, and a bachelor's degree from SUNY Albany.

Joe Cavalcante
Ombudsman/Advocate for Injured Workers, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Joe Cavalcante is an ombudsman and Advocate for Injured Workers at the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. He has worked at the Board for 20 years, first as a technical writer, then as a Board spokesman. His first assignment was writing a report on World Trade Center claims.

Before joining the Board, Joe served at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He was a college instructor, a journalist, and also worked in the software and health insurance industries. He's also written professionally for decades, including many Board publications. He holds an MA in English from the University at Albany and sits on the advisory board at the Albany occupational health clinic.

Teri Cooper
Director of Compliance, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Teri Cooper is the Director of Compliance at the Workers' Compensation Board, where she oversees Employer Compliance and Payer Compliance. Teri first joined the Board in 1999 as an Investigator in the Enforcement unit. She has since held several managerial positions in the Bureau of Compliance, such as Chief Investigator and Program Manager 2, before being named to her current position in 2017. Teri has worked on a wide range of legislative and Governor-led initiatives, including the Exploited Worker Task Force, the implementation of New York Business Express, and Paid Family Leave (PFL).

Audrey Maiello Cunningham
Deputy Director of the Medical Director's Office, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Audrey Maiello Cunningham currently serves as Deputy Director of the Medical Director's Office (MDO) for the NYS Workers' Compensation Board. In this role, Ms. Cunningham is responsible for the operation of the MDO, providing leadership and oversight of all functions within the MDO.

Ms. Cunningham previously served as Deputy Inspector General for Workers' Compensation Fraud, Office of the New York State Inspector General. She managed legal operations and investigations relative to Workers' Compensation fraud, including matters involving benefit fraud, provider/physician fraud, employer misclassification and compliance issues statewide. Ms. Cunningham oversaw staff in offices across the State, including, New York City, Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse. She managed proactive initiatives to combat abuse and mitigate risk within the State's Workers' Compensation system.

Previously, Ms. Cunningham was a prosecutor in the New York State Office of the Attorney General's Criminal Prosecutions Bureau, working as an Assistant Attorney General in the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit. Ms. Cunningham began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, where she supervised thirty attorneys in the Criminal Court Bureau, and also oversaw all aspects of felony prosecutions in a trial bureau. Ms. Cunningham also worked as an associate attorney for two prominent civil litigation firms located in New York City.

Prior to entering the legal arena, Ms.Cunningham worked in healthcare public relations in New York City, where she specialized in managing and developing public relations strategies for pharmaceutical companies.

Ms. Cunningham received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science from Boston University. Ms.Cunningham also completed coursework at Moscow State University School of Law in Moscow, Russia and Eötvös Loránd University School of Law in Budapest, Hungary. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Virginia. Ms.Cunningham lives in Loudonville, New York with her husband and two children.

Kerry Cunningham
Social Work Supervisor, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Kerry Cunningham is a Social Work Supervisor for the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. Joining the Board in 2022, Kerry has over 25 years of experience working as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She transitioned to the Board after serving eight years as a Social Worker at Brookwood Secure Center - Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). She also has had extensive training in Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

Kerry has assisted many individuals throughout her career in various social work settings and helped them to navigate difficult systems and issues while providing counseling and support. She has also worked with stakeholders in the community to assist injured workers in navigating the claims processes, as she is a strong advocate for the claimants she works with.

Kerry received her BA in Psychology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and holds an MSW from the State University of New York at Albany. Kerry received a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the State University of New York at Albany and has also received her New York State Provisional Teaching Certification. In addition, Kerry worked for five years as a Clinical Care Manager for a 24/7 clinical referral line managing New York State mental health and substance abuse benefits.

Jaclyn Desautels
Investigator - Workers' Compensation Fraud, Offices of the New York State Inspector General

Jaclyn Desautels, an Investigator with the Offices of the New York State Inspector General, brings decades of experience in insurance fraud investigations to her work uncovering workers' compensation fraud. Desautels is also part of a statewide team that helps coordinate and prioritize incoming complaints and cases. She regularly collaborates with partner agencies through task forces and speaking engagements across New York State, helping to identify fraudulent activity, support effective investigations, and strengthen fraud prevention efforts. Prior to joining the Office in 2016, Desautels served as an investigator with the New York State Insurance Frauds Bureau (now part of the New York State Department of Financial Services). She began her career in the insurance industry in 1999, working on claims. Desautels' experience is vital to WCFIG's work protecting the integrity of New York State's workers' compensation system.

Janet Draina
Language Access Coordinator, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Janet Draina serves as the Workers' Compensation Board's Language Access Coordinator where she is responsible for day-to-day inquiries and requests for interpretation and translation. As Internal Control Officer, she is also responsible for reviewing and monitoring the Board's internal control system and administering annual risk assessments that identify areas of practice, responsibility, and procedural review.

During Janet's tenure, she has been instrumental in helping the Board advance many key programs and projects, including our language access initiatives, internal risk assessment and management program, the Board-wide procedure review project, Project Sunlight, and more.

Taniqua Hunter
Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Taniqua Hunter is the Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. Joining the Board in 2022, she has over 20 years of experience in vocational rehabilitation.

Taniqua transitioned to the Board after serving 17 years as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Business Relations Representative at Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR). Taniqua has helped thousands of individuals with disabilities attain and maintain employment, along with serving the business community regarding hiring, reasonable accommodations, disability etiquette, and worker retention services of individuals with disabilities.

Taniqua is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and holds a BA in Psychology and an MS Ed in Rehabilitation Counseling from Hofstra University. Since 2016, Taniqua has been a member of the ADA Trainer Network via Cornell University and the Northeast ADA Center.

Michael J. Hutter
Professor of Law, Albany Law School

Michael J. Hutter is the senior member of the Albany Law School faculty. Professor Michael J. Hutter's pro bono work led to a legal precedent - Matter of Hazen (120 AD3d 82 [3rd Dept.2014]) - for hundreds of volunteers to access benefits and care to treat ailments and illnesses related to exposure to toxic materials while performing rescue & recovery as well as clean-up work at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attack.

Deena Jones
Director of Claims Operations, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Deena Jones is the Director of Claims Operations at the Workers' Compensation Board where she provides strategic direction and leadership in the management of workers' compensation, disability benefits, Paid Family Leave and discrimination claims. Deena first joined the Board in 2006 as a consultant and held several leadership positions in the areas of quality improvement, project management and business analysis before being named to her current position in 2018. She has worked on a wide range of legislative and Governor initiatives, including the implementation of Paid Family Leave.

Prior to joining the Board, Deena spent nine years in the healthcare insurance industry and last worked for Kaiser Permanente, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans. Deena holds an MPA from Marist College, a BA in Communication from SUNY Plattsburgh, and a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) designation through the International Institute of Business Analysis.

Keith Longden
Deputy General Counsel, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Keith Longden is the Deputy General Counsel for the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. He has been in the Board's Office of General Counsel (OGC) since 1998.

Prior to working at the Board, Keith began his legal career at the New York State Insurance Fund. He received his BA from the State University of New York College at Oneonta and his JD from Albany Law School.

Jacqueline M. Moline, MD, MSc, FACP, FACOEM
Professor of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention and Internal Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Jacqueline M. Moline, M.D., M.Sc. is an Occupational Medicine specialist and Professor of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology and Prevention and Internal Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Since 2001, many of Dr. Moline's endeavors have been centered on the medical evaluation and treatment of World Trade Center (WTC) responders. Dr. Moline is the Director of the NYS-funded Occupational and Environmental Medicine of Long Island's clinical centers. Dr. Moline continues to maintain a clinical practice, focusing on patients with occupational exposures with a particular focus on individuals who have been exposed to asbestos.

Anthony E. Munroe, Ed.D.
President, Borough of Manhattan Community College

Since assuming the presidency of Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) in September 2020, President Anthony E. Munroe has spearheaded dynamic growth and innovation, focusing on building equity and inclusion, addressing student basic needs, and expanding academic and career opportunities for its diverse student body. His leadership has been marked by a firm commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering environment where all students can thrive. One of President Munroe's first actions was establishing the Race, Equity and Inclusion (REI) Steering Committee opens external website, an advisory body tasked with examining and addressing systemic barriers hindering student success. In addition, President Munroe launched the President's Fund for Excellence and Innovation opens external website, which is designed to fuel student engagement and promote open dialogue—vital to the core mission of BMCC.

Under President Munroe's leadership, BMCC has seen positive trends in student retention and graduation rates, achieved through targeted support programs, enhanced advising services, and a focus on student well-being. He has also prioritized fundraising and grant acquisition, resulting in increased funding for student scholarships, upgraded facilities, and expanded academic programs. Notably, the College was one of only four nationally recognized institutions of higher education to receive a $1 million matching grant from CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), bolstering its global learning and internship opportunities for students to study abroad in locations like Seville, Spain; Kyoto, Japan; Paris, France; London, England; and Cape Town, South Africa.

Further highlighting his dedication to advancing higher education on a national and international scale, President Munroe serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Community Colleges for International Development and is a member of the Board of Directors of Hispanic Educational Technology Services. He also serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and on the Steering Committee of the Presidents' Alliance for Higher Education and Immigration.

President Munroe's advocacy has garnered numerous accolades, including recognition as a Power Player in Education by PoliticsNY, inclusion in City & State's Higher Education Power 100 and Manhattan Power 100 lists, recognition in amNY Metro and Politics' Black Power Players list and Power Players in Education list, participation in the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Presidents Fellowship, and receipt of the New York Regional Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives Education Leadership Award, the Jamaica Independence Award for Educational Leadership from the Consulate General of Jamaica, New York, a Caribbean Impact Award from Schneps Media, a Crain's New York Business Notable Black Leaders recognition, a Heritage Award from the Consulate General of Jamaica, New York, and a Paragon Award for New Presidents from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

To enhance opportunities for BMCC graduates, President Munroe has cultivated strategic partnerships with Morehouse College, Columbia University School of General Studies, Baruch College, CUNY, University at Albany, SUNY, Aspen Transfer Scholars Network, and many other institutions. These partnerships streamline the transfer process and provide BMCC students with clear pathways to pursuing bachelor's degrees.

As an international expert on disparities in health care, President Munroe has actively participated in events such as the 2022 International Conference of the Health, Wellness & Society at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, further enriching the College's scholarly environment.

President Munroe brought a wealth of experience to BMCC, having previously served as president of Essex County College, New Jersey, and Malcolm X College of the City Colleges of Chicago system. His prior executive leadership roles within large healthcare systems, including as president of three hospitals and as executive director of organizations like Family Health Services in the NYC Department of Health, provided him with a unique perspective on the social determinants of health and the importance of community-based solutions.

Named one of the top 25 minority health care executives in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare Magazine, President Munroe's journey is deeply rooted in the communities he serves. As a first-generation U.S. citizen raised in the Bronx and educated in NYC public schools, he understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing BMCC students. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, and both a Master of Public Health and a Doctorate in Education with a concentration in health education from Columbia University, Teachers College.

Thomas Neiles
Project Manager 5, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Tom Neiles is the OnBoard Program Manager at the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. In this role, he oversees the coordination of activities performed by project teams to modernize Board systems as a part of the Board's Office of Innovation (OOI).

Tom joined the Board in 2019 and has over 20 years of experience supporting New York State IT systems in various roles, including Project Manager and Web Developer/Analyst.

Tom received a BA from the University at Albany, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Administration/IT Strategy from Rockefeller College.

Michael Papa
Deputy Counsel for Compliance and Litigation, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Michael Papa is Deputy Counsel at the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. Mike has held numerous roles with the Board, including heading up the Board's compliance efforts to ensure that the state's roughly 500,000 employers maintain workers' compensation, disability, and Paid Family Leave coverage, while simultaneously ensuring that the state's approximately 1,300 payers of workers' compensation benefits comply with the Workers' Compensation Law regarding the delivery of benefits to injured workers. Mike has also spearheaded the defense of a multitude of legal challenges to Board determinations and engaged in collection efforts against entities that owe the Board funds.

Mike has been with the Board for over two decades, initially within the Administrative Review Division, assisting Board Members in writing Memorandum of Decisions on appealed workers' compensation claims, then transitioning to various roles within the Board's Office of General Counsel (OGC). Prior to joining the Board, Mike served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Labor's Unemployment Insurance Division.

Thomas Parisi
Associate Attorney, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Thomas Parisi is an Associate Attorney at the New York State Worker's Compensation Board as part of the Health Provider Discipline unit. His unit works closely with the Medical Director to ensure the quality of health care providers authorized to treat and independently examine injured workers across New York State. He joined the Board in 2022.

Thomas earned his BA from the University of Miami, and graduated from Albany Law School in 1996. Since then, Thomas has acquired a wide array of experience as an Assistant District Attorney in Richmond County, a civil litigation attorney and sole practitioner in South Florida, an Assistant Counsel in the Administrative Appeals unit of the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, and a Senior Attorney with the New York State Department of Transportation.

In his current role, Thomas calls upon his experience as an insurance defense litigator, in which he deposed numerous health care providers to defend against claims involving medical fraud, upcoding, and overutilization.

Juanita Perez
Director of Integrated Services and Return to Work, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Juanita Perez, Esq. is the Director of Integrated Services and Regulatory Affairs at the Workers' Compensation Board. Juanita has been with the Board since 2018 and has over 20 years' experience with New York State. While at the Board, Juanita has prioritized Return to Work efforts ensuring a proactive approach to supporting injured workers challenged with barriers to employment and a positive quality of life. Previously, Juanita was a Regional Commissioner for the NYS Department of Labor supporting local workforce initiatives and employer-employee relations. Juanita has served as Central New York's Governor's Representative and Intergovernmental Counsel for the NYS Attorney General. Juanita attended the University of California, San Diego and California Western School of Law.

Quinn Rapp-Ellis
General Counsel, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Quinn Rapp-Ellis is the Board's General Counsel, overseeing all legal operations of the Board, including management of the Office of General Counsel (OGC). Quinn previously worked within OGC for over six years, before joining the New York State Executive Chamber in 2022 as Assistant Secretary for Labor and Workforce. At the Chamber, Quinn helped oversee a portfolio of agencies, including the Board, and played a critical role in key initiatives, including legislative changes to improve injured workers' access to care.

Quinn first joined the Board through the Governor's Excelsior Service Fellowship program. During her initial tenure at the Board, Quinn served as a Senior Attorney within OGC, working on a wide range of legislative and other initiatives, before serving as the Board's Director of NYS Paid Family Leave, helping the agency successfully implement and administer the program through its four-year phase-in in close coordination with more than 15 other New York State agencies.

Quinn holds a Juris Doctor from New York Law School, a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and Law from John Jay College, and a Bachelor of Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Bryan D. Richmond, Esq.
Attorney-In-Charge - Workers' Compensation Fraud, Offices of the New York State Inspector General

Bryan Richmond, the Attorney-in-Charge for Workers' Compensation Fraud matters, is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in workers' compensation. In this role as WCFIG's Attorney-in-Charge, he oversees all aspects of the Office's statewide investigations, from complaint intake to prosecution. Richmond also leads WCFIG's specialized training efforts, fraud prevention initiatives, and coordination with interagency task forces and prosecutorial partners throughout the state. Prior to joining the Office in 2015, Richmond spent more than a decade in private practice, where he represented municipalities, insurers, and their insureds in workers' compensation matters and other areas of civil litigation. Richmond is a former tax accountant and began his legal career as a clerk for the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Fourth Department. Richmond's expertise is instrumental to WCFIG's work safeguarding New York State's workers' compensation system and holding accountable those who seek to defraud it.

Todd C. Roberts, Esq.
Supervising Attorney, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Todd C. Roberts, Esq., is a Supervising Attorney who oversees three units at the Board: (i) the Litigation Division; (ii) the Penalty Collections Unit; and (iii) the Legal Hearings Unit. As the supervisor of these units, Todd is involved with various litigation matters which involve the Board in both State and federal court, including the litigation surrounding the insolvent group self-insurance trusts; the collection of statutory penalties and judgments which have been entered against certain employers in the workers' compensation system; and ensuring that the Uninsured Employer's Fund is properly represented in workers' compensation claims cases, respectively. Todd has overseen and been involved in numerous GSIT cases in particular which have yielded significant recoveries to the Board. Prior to joining the Board, Todd served as staff/trial counsel for Selective Insurance Co. of American, Inc., where he was involved in numerous litigation matters. Todd is a graduate of Boston University School of Law.

James A. Tacci, MD, JD, MPH (FACOEM, FACPM)
Medical Director, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

James A. Tacci, MD, JD, MPH (FACOEM, FACPM), is the Medical Director of the NYS Workers' Compensation Board. His focus is ensuring timely, appropriate and high-quality care for injured workers, to optimize their clinical and functional outcomes.

Prior to joining the Board, Dr. Tacci was a medical director and residency program director at the University of Rochester, where he still holds part-time clinical (non-workers' compensation) and teaching appointments. Previously, he directed occupational medicine programs or served as a senior medical consultant in such industries as healthcare, technology, automotive, defense, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. He also worked extensively with municipalities, school districts, utilities, and local police and fire departments. Dr. Tacci earned his BS in Biology from Cornell University, MD (with distinction) from the University of Rochester, MPH from SUNY Albany, and JD (magna cum laude) from Syracuse University. He completed residencies in General Preventive Medicine & Public Health (NYS Department of Health) and Occupational Medicine (Harvard).

Anthony Tomaselli
Ombudsman/Advocate for Business, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

As the Workers' Compensation Board's Advocate for Business, Anthony leads the office that serves as the liaison between New York's business community and the Board, providing helpful assistance to employers on issues related to workers' compensation, disability benefits, and Paid Family Leave.

Anthony joined the Board after more than 8 years at the NYS Office of General Services, where he helped build the successful NYS Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) program. He also served at the Empire State Development Corporation, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, as a social studies teacher in the Brentwood, Seaford, and New Lebanon school districts, and as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Allison Lee Turkel
Special Master, September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

On March 10, 2023, Allison Lee Turkel became Special Master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”). Allison brings extensive and broad experience in the field of justice and victim issues. She has served the Department of Justice for over 14 years, most recently in the Office for Victims of Crime (“OVC”), where she focused on implementation of a claims system for victims of trafficking in child pornography. Prior to this role, Allison oversaw all grant functions for the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (“SMART”). Previously at the SMART office, she had oversight over the team working with American Indian tribes to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. For their efforts, she and her team received the Assistant Attorney General Award for Exceptional Service.

Allison previously served as the Deputy Director of the Federal, International, and Tribal Division at OVC. She oversaw the Antiterrorism Emergency Assistance Program, including the International Terrorism Victim Expense Reimbursement Program, National Mass Violence Victimization Center, and OVC's Mass Violence victim support program. As Deputy Director, she also provided guidance and resources for Federal partners' victim services programs. In addition, she led the tribal victims' services program, including the creation of innovative and efficient processes to help the Department effectuate a massive increase in funding for the first ever Tribal Victim Services Set Aside Program, and the creation of the Tribal Financial Management Center.

Before her Federal service, Allison was the Director of the National District Attorneys Association's (“NDAA”) National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse (“NCPCA”), where she managed program activities and staff; and trained and provided technical assistance nationwide on child abuse, maltreatment, sexual exploitation, computer facilitated crimes against children, and domestic violence. She has also authored numerous articles on these topics. Prior to her position at NDAA, Allison was a prosecutor for over 11 years, serving in New York and Illinois. She was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office for more than nine years, where she tried a wide variety of felony cases.

Allison was born and raised in New York City, and although living in the Washington D.C. area for the past 20 years, considers herself a lifetime New Yorker. Before beginning her legal career, Allison was a police officer and lieutenant for eight years in the Philadelphia area. She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Temple University School of Law.

Courtney Vallee
Associate Attorney, NYS Workers' Compensation Board

Courtney Vallee is an Associate Attorney at the New York State Workers' Compensation Board, where she has been with the Office of General Counsel (OGC) since 2016. She drafts regulatory proposals and files all rulemaking activities for the Board. She also drafts bills and monitors proposed legislation for potential Board impact. Courtney also assisted with the launch and implementation of Paid Family Leave in 2018 and currently directs and manages the day-to-day operations of the Paid Family Leave program.

Before joining the Board, Courtney worked at the New York State Liquor Authority as a prosecutor. She graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School in 2014 and received her BA (magna cum laude) from Binghamton University in 2010.