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Deconstructing Comp

Deconstructing Comp

By: Yvonne Guibert & Rafael Gonzalez
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Now in Season 6! We are still breaking down complex workers' compensation issues into bite-sized nuggets, one conversation at a time, with one slight twist. We are finally doing what we set out to do when we started: discuss the nuances of our fascinating system in "Cliff Notes" style summaries.


Yvonne Guibert and Rafael Gonzalez approach workers' comp conversations from different backgrounds. Still, they share many things in common, such as their love for family and friends, a passion for Latin culture, and good old-fashioned belly laughs. Join them as they chat with industry friends and colleagues, learn more about their roles, laugh, and have fun along the way. You might learn something along the way! See you soon! ¡Hasta pronto!

© 2026 Deconstructing Comp Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • Brian Arnold: CCWC - The Happiest Conference on Earth!

    Brian Arnold: CCWC - The Happiest Conference on Earth!
    Jun 15 2026
    Send us Fan Mail🎙️ Brian Arnold from World Insurance Brokers is here to talk about the California Coalition on Workers' Compensation (CCWC) Annual Conference, and more importantly, why showing up at conferences matters for your career.Networking Built His CareerBrian's been in workers' comp for 25 years. He started as a claims assistant at a boutique TPA and worked his way up through different carriers and TPAs. But here's what really moved the needle: "It was mainly through networking that really helped me advance in my own personal career."He talks about how he built solid relationships through nonprofit boards, made meaningful connections in the Sacramento Valley, and how those connections are still carrying him forward today, now on the broker side at World Insurance Brokers, where he helps adjusters shine.Why CCWC MattersBrian deeply values the symbiotic relationship between brokers and adjusters: we need each other. That's the energy you'll find at CCWC: professionals actively working to make things better for injured workers and employers across California.The conference is California's premier educational forum for understanding the state's unique workers' comp system. It's where legislation, policy, and practice collide, and where you'll find the brightest minds in the industry.Things to Know About CCWCThe Location: Disneyland. Yes, really. "Disney is a longtime supporter," Brian says. "The magic's everywhere. And it makes the conference a bit lighter once the heavy intellectual dump is done." There's even an in-park event Thursday night (limited free tickets available).The Sessions: Over 100 applications were submitted. A committee of seasoned professionals narrowed it down to 15 of the best sessions. You're getting rigorously curated sessions, not filler. Who Should Attend? Any workers' compensation professional who seeks to better understand the nuances of the California workers' compensation system. The Must-Sees:Legislative Updates: Paul Yoder and Jason Schmelzer report back on the real efforts. Best in the country.Bloggers Panel: A panel discussion that's always fun and informative! This year includes a 10th-anniversary tribute honoring the late David DePaulo.Trauma Trifecta: Defending TBI, PTSD, and Cumulative Trauma Claims in an Evolving Legal Landscape. Rare claims that can run away from you if you're not paying attention. This panel features: Yvonne Guibert (moderator), Anthony Carlton with Arthur J Gallagher, Mark Maragay with the NFL Los Angeles Chargers, Kate Lozano with Laughlin, Falbo, Levy and Moresi, and Dr. Garland Tang, Board-certified Neurologist with Institutes of Health. AI & Best Practices: Best Practices: Californians Can Learn From Other States to Find Solutions for Cost Containment, AI Adaptation and MoreHow AI is reshaping reserving and claims management. This panel features: Stuart Colburn, Bill Zachry, Gerald Hogue from FedEx, and Mike Simmons from WKS Restaurant Group. CAT Claims: Blueprint for Handling CAT Claims featuring Tyrone Spears with City of Los Angeles, Jeff Rush with CA JPIA, and Stephen Peacock with Safety National on handling catastrophic claims. Managing Change: Managing Change, Culture, and Success During Transformation is all about advocacy, networking, and managing change during transformation and featuring Sheri Lawrence with SoCalGas, Barry Bloom with BDB Group, Angel Guerra-Chagolla with Arrowhead Evaluation Services, and Matthew Howard with City of Pasadena. Why It's Different: CCWC answers the "why" behind how the California workers' comp system works. It pairs networking with legislative backing so you understand not just what's happening, but where the industry is heading—especially with a new administration coming in.Check out CCWC's full agenda: https://ccwcworkcomp.org/Events/Annual-Conference-AgendaRegister: https://ccwcworkcomp.org/Events/Annual-ConferenceWhat's on the Radar: Post-employment cumulative trauma claims are surging (now 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 claims). Permanent disability increases are overdue. The Fix California Workers' Comp initiative (fixcaworkerscomp.com) is advancing real reform efforts to restore balance to the CA workers' compensation system https://fixcaworkerscomp.com/The Secret to Real ConnectionWhen Brian talks about presence, he nails it: "Be aware of where you are and give that your full attention." That's the real magic of attending a conference: when you show up mentally, not just physically, and allow yourself to be open and "fully present" for connections. That's when career-changing conversations actually happen.Make the Conscious ChoiceBrian's parting wisdom: attend. Make a conscious choice to invest in your career, your community, and your growth. We said it at the start of this season: try to attend at least one to two conferences per year. This is one not to miss!¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find ...
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    37 mins
  • Dave Chmiel: Brokers Cover The Gap

    Dave Chmiel: Brokers Cover The Gap
    Jun 5 2026

    Send us Fan Mail

    Yvonne and Rafael sit down with Dave Chmiel, Chief Claims Officer at Hub International. Together, they engage in a great conversation about the broker's perspective on workers' compensation.

    Episode Highlights

    ☕ The Core Message: Listening Changes Everything (00:02:38)

    From day one in the brokerage world, Dave was taught to listen, to understand what economic buyers (CEOs, CFOs) actually care about. That skill transcends the boardroom. When you truly listen, you access perspectives you'd otherwise miss. In workers' comp, where we're managing human situations, that's everything.

    🎯 A 35-Year Career Built on Perspective-Shifting (00:02:40)

    Dave intentionally positioned himself to see the full ecosystem:

    • Liberty Mutual (10 years): Claims management with major accounts; mastered total cost to risk
    • Brokerage side (12 years): Kept managing claims while gaining the 30,000-foot view of client needs
    • Hub International (14 years): Chief Claims Officer, bridging claims and sales

    He didn't climb a ladder; he expanded his lens. That's the difference.

    🤝 The Three-Partner Model: What Brokers Actually Do (00:11:00)

    When asked what brokers can do that people don't realize, Dave explains the architecture: There are three partners in this equation: the client, the carrier, and the broker. The broker's job is to advocate for the client while maintaining a healthy relationship with the carrier. It's not zero-sum. It's about understanding all three positions and helping them work in alignment. That nuance matters.

    🏢 From Middle-Market to Boutique at Scale (00:22:00)

    Hub was originally positioned as a middle-market broker, but has evolved into an "upmarket and complex risk broker." What's their differentiator? Boutique-style service, the kind of personalized attention and deep expertise you'd expect from a small firm, delivered at the scale of the sixth largest broker in the world. That's the sweet spot David and his team operate in.

    📈 The Broker That Grows With You (00:28:07)

    "The best kind of broker is the one that's going to grow with you as an organization." A company that had two locations five years ago and now has forty is fundamentally different. The broker has to evolve too, more productive, more creative, more empathetic. That means understanding the distinctions: construction claims look nothing like transportation or sports and entertainment. And it means building trust-based alignment with carriers and TPAs, not just golf course friendships as we did 20 years ago. As Dave says, like a baseball manager whose team fights for you when they trust the vision.

    🏒 Off the Ice: Goalie, Coach, Dad (00:40:30)

    Dave still plays hockey as a goalie, sharing how much he loves the sport and the camaraderie between players. He gets the biggest kick, though, out of coaching his daughters: a 13-year-old softball pitcher and a 10-year-old who plays basketball and soccer. He didn't have sports in his own middle school years, so he's living through their growth and development. "That's where I relax now," he says. It's where the same listening, mentoring, and protective instincts that define his broker role show up in his life outside work.

    ✨ Rare Energy in a Mature Field (00:41:15)

    "In the claims world, you don't often see the amount of energy that I think we collectively as a group have." When someone with 35 years still gets genuinely stoked about the work and the Elevate Work Comp conference community, it's not nostalgia, it's real.

    The Nugget Worth Holding

    How are you creating space to truly listen to what your stakeholders need? What assumption might you be missing about what matters to them?

    Connect with David: He means it when he says reach out. Whether you have questions about the broker perspective, career advice, or just want to continue the conversation, find him on LinkedIn: Dave Chmiel. He's serious about helping and mentoring anyone who's open to it.

    ¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find Yvonne and Rafael on Linked In or follow us on Twitter @deconstructcomp

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    49 mins
  • Sandy Avina: Riskfetti is Here!

    Sandy Avina: Riskfetti is Here!
    May 22 2026
    Send us Fan MailYvonne and Rafael are so excited (and you can tell!). Yvonne declares she's Sandy's biggest fan! And honestly? After listening to this conversation, you'll understand why. Sandy Avina has figured out something our industry has been struggling with for over 100 years: how to make workers' compensation accessible, engaging, and even fun.Sandy Avina, MBA, is a Claim Services Manager with California Schools JPA, a self-insured public risk pool that serves K-12 school districts, community colleges, and regional occupational programs throughout San Bernardino County, California.What we get into:📱 An Industry Image Problem — Workers' comp has been around for over a century, but most people don't understand it. Why? We talk about it amongst ourselves, but not so much outside the industry. Meanwhile, the plaintiff's bar, applicant attorneys, and others are actively shaping the narrative on social media, podcasts, and elsewhere. We're not telling our own story — so someone else is telling it for us. The result? High litigation rates and misaligned employee expectations. 🎬 Creativity Is the Default — Sandy unpacks the "curse of knowledge" — the more you become an expert in something, the harder it is to teach beginners. But here's the thing: creativity is our human default. Kids are naturally creative. We train it out of ourselves. Sandy decided to flip that and use humor, trending music, and creative storytelling to make insurance approachable. Videos like her "Bon Jovi unit of measurement" (halfway there!) explain complex claims concepts in a fun and memorable way. 🏫 JPAs and Public Risk Management — Working with school districts across San Bernardino County (the largest county geographically in the US), Sandy manages the complexity of serving districts from the mountains to the desert. Every district has different challenges, no budget for risk management, and someone wearing a "hat on top of a hat" trying to figure it all out. This is the real-world landscape most of our industry works in.💡 The Real Disconnect — Insurance is marketed as a commodity ("buy our insurance because we're cheap!") when it's actually a contractual promise. We don't teach kids about insurance in school. We don't train managers on the basics. We don't talk about it until a claim is filed. And then we wonder why our image suffers. The fix? Start education earlier, communicate more clearly, and invest in your people.💼 What We Could Be Doing Better — Two big opportunities: (1) Train your managers. Over one hundred years in, people still struggle with the concept of a no-fault system. Managers are the first point of contact for injured workers — they need to understand the basics and know that there's no retaliation. (2) Look beyond statutory benefits. A person's life is impacted in many ways outside workers' comp. For example, Sandy says TPAs and carriers could easily provide links to helpful resources, such as posting videos that explain to injured workers how to perform functional tasks with modifications, and adaptive living tips, as well as resources like the Kind Souls Foundation for people who are struggling and need a warm line for support. These are small actions to show we actually care about patient outcomes. And it often costs nothing.📚 Riskfetti Is Here — Sandy (with Angel Guerra) has just released a book called Riskfetti: Risk Management for the Rest of Us. Sandy said, it's intentionally not the War and Peace of risk management — it's the "Go Dog Go" version. Aimed at people in small to mid-sized organizations who have risk responsibilities but no background in insurance. No jargon. No overwhelm. Just what you need to know.Sandy's closing wisdom: > "Creativity is the default for everyone. We just need to remember that."Off the clock: Sandy runs what her husband calls "Birdtown USA" (she's the mayor!) in her backyard — complete with feeders, cameras, and app alerts. She's currently trying to befriend the crows in her neighborhood. Did you know crows are very intelligent and have a structured schedule? When she retires, Sandy says, she's going to be a birder. 🐦Resources Sandy mentioned:Pollack Peacebuilding Systems (a consulting practice)A book called Peaceful Leadership (Available on Amazon) Find Sandy:LinkedIn: Sandy Avina, MBATikTok: @riskinfluencerWebsite: riskinfluencer.orgBook: Riskfetti: Risk Management for the Rest of Us (Available on Amazon)¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you for listening. We would appreciate you sharing our podcast with your friends on social media. Find Yvonne and Rafael on Linked In or follow us on Twitter @deconstructcomp
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    57 mins
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