Workers’ Comp Seminar

Susana Schowen is Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, appointed by Governor Jeff Landry in January of 2024. Before joining LWC, she spent two years as the Vice President of Education at the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, and more than ten years at LED FastStart, the workforce development division of Louisiana Economic Development. In all these roles, Susie has focused on building coalitions to align education and workforce development efforts with the needs of employers and the economy, increasing the prosperity of our people and our communities. Her innovative, employer-responsive approach focuses on restructuring systems to lift individuals out of poverty while driving economic growth. She also works across agencies and with regional partners to identify system inefficiencies and align the delivery of social services with workforce development efforts. Susie has degrees in chemistry from Wellesley College and Columbia University. https://www.laworks.net/PublicRelations/PR_ExecutiveLeadership.asp

Mark Formby is the Chairman of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission, a role he has held since his appointment by Governor Phil Bryant in 2017.  Chairman Formby served twenty-four years in the Mississippi House of Representatives, serving as Chairman of the Insurance, Rules, and Revenue and Expenditure Committees. He was recognized as one of the top five “pro-economic development” legislators 24 years in a row, and was ranked by liberty.org as the top supporter of individual rights in the Mississippi legislature. Reappointed by Governor Tate Reeves in 2023, Mark continues to serve the citizens of Mississippi on multiple boards and commissions, and as the Vice-President of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA). https://www.mwcc.ms.gov/#/ourCommissioners

Jeff Nelson is the Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation for the State of Texas. Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2022, Commissioner Nelson oversees the Division of Workers’ Compensation, ensuring that injured employees in the Lone Star State receive necessary benefits to quickly return to work, and keeping workers’ compensation costs at a reasonable level for Texas employers. Jeff has been with the DWC since March of 2016, and previously served as the Director of External Relations. He has over 15 years of public service experience, including working as an executive aide to former Governor Rick Perry. He is a board member for the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators, and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/dwc/commissioner.html

Brian Blackwood is an Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Director of the Office of Workers Compensation Administration in March of 2024. He previously served the State as an Assistant Attorney General and Workers’ Compensation Section Chief for the Litigation Division of the Louisiana Department of Justice. Since being admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in 2001, Brian has practiced almost exclusively in the area of workers’ compensation law, representing both employers and employees. He is a frequent speaker at workers’ compensation events across the state. Originally from Alexandria, Brian received a bachelor’s degree in history from Southeastern Louisiana University and earned his Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center.