Gov. Rauner reappoints 11 Arbitrators to Illinois Workers Compensation Commission

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner reappointed 11 arbitrators to the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission (IWCC), today.

During their three-year term, the arbitrators will conduct judicial hearings, make decisions about workers compensation claims, render awards and approve settlement contracts when there are work-related injury disputes between employees and employers across the state.

"It's important that we have experienced arbitrators on the team," Rauner said. "I'm confident that this group of men and women will continue to navigate the complexities of the cases that come before them and issue rulings that are fair to hardworking employees, employers, and the taxpayers of Illinois."

"I would like to thank Governor Rauner for reappointing our arbitrators," IWCC Chairman Joann Fratianni said. "Each arbitrator is responsible for thousands of cases and serves a critical role in our workers' comp system."

The reappointed arbitrators are:

Maria Bocanegra
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Maria S. Bocanegra as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Ms. Bocanegra has served as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission since 2014. Bocanegra previously was an attorney practicing before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission for the firm of Katz, Friedman, Eagle, Einstein, Johnson & Bareck.  Bocanegra is a graduate of Quincy University and received her law degree from DePaul University College of Law.
 
Paul V. Cellini
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Paul V. Cellini as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Mr. Cellini has served as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission since 2015. Mr. Cellini previously served as a staff attorney for various Commissioners as well as a practitioner before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Cellini is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  Cellini received his law degree from the John Marshall Law School.
 
Stephen J. Friedman
Gov.  Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Stephen J. Friedman as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Mr. Friedman has served as an Arbitrator since 2014. Friedman previously practiced before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as a managing partner with the law firm of Rusin, Maciorowski and Friedman, Ltd. Friedman received both his law degree and undergraduate degrees from the University of Illinois.
 
Gerald A. Granada
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Gerald A. Granada as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Mr. Granada has served as an Arbitrator since 2011. Granada previously practiced before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission for various law firms.  Granada received both his undergraduate and law degrees from DePaul University.
 
Jessica A. Hegarty
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Jessica A. Hegarty as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Ms. Hegarty has served as an Arbitrator since 2014. Hegarty previously was a partner with the law firm of Hegarty & Hegarty.  Hegarty graduated from Loyola University of Chicago and received her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology.
 
Jeffrey B. Huebsch
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Jeffrey B. Huebsch as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Mr. Huebsch has been an Arbitrator since 2013. Mr. Huebsch previously practiced before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission with the law firm of Power & Cronin, Ltd. Huebsch is a graduate of North Central College and received his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology.
 
Nancy H. Lindsay
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Nancy H. Lindsay as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Ms. Lindsay has served as an Arbitrator since 2011. Lindsay has previously served as a Commissioner of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission from 2006 to 2011.  Lindsay is a graduate of Illinois College. She also holds a M.A. from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a law degree from Saint Louis University.
 
Christine Marie Ory
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Christine Marie Ory as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Ms. Ory has served as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission since 2015.  Ms. Ory previously was a practicing attorney before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as a principal in the Law Offices of Christine M. Ory, P.C.  Ory is a graduate of North Central College and received her law degree from the John Marshall Law School.
 
Maureen H. Pulia
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Maureen H. Pulia as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Ms. Pulia has served as an Arbitrator since 2003. Ms. Pulia previously served as a staff attorney at the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission from 1997 to 2003.  Pulia received both her undergraduate and law degrees from DePaul University.
 
Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Melinda M. Rowe-Sullivan as an Arbitrator of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Ms. Rowe-Sullivan has served as an Arbitrator with the Illinois Workers' Compensation since 2015. Ms. Rowe-Sullivan previously practiced with various law firms before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.  Rowe-Sullivan received both her under graduate and law degrees from Northern Illinois University. She also received her M.B.A. from Lewis University.
 
Douglas S. Steffenson
Gov. Bruce Rauner has re-appointed Douglas S. Steffenson as an Arbitrator with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. Mr. Steffenson has served as an Arbitrator since 2015. Mr. Steffenson previously practiced before the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission as a partner with the firm of Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C.  Steffenson graduated from Iowa State University. He received his law degree from DePaul University College of Law.