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Judge Carolyn Hall Retires as Chair of Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation
Author: | Sunday September 27, 2009
It was an emotional time at the annual Georgia Work Comp Conference as friends and colleagues said goodbye to Judge Hall, including Doug McCoy, a long time friend and Kids Chance of Georgia President.
Judge Carolyn Hall Retires
as Chair of the Georgia State Board
of Workers' Compensation
It was a job Carolyn Hall once thought she would never want, but you get the feeling she would not trade the decade of experiences she has had as Chairman of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation.
Judge Hall retired from state service on September 30, 2009, twenty-two years almost to the day she was employed by the State Board of Workers' Compensation as Administrative Law Judge. During her 10-year tenure as Chairman, the Board has firmly established the role of the Advisory Council, developed a strong team approach, promoted the cause of the Kids' Chance Scholarship program and moved the Board into the technology age.
"One of the biggest things we have done is to keep the Advisory Council going. This is a group of volunteers, and we could not be where we are today without them. There is great leadership on the council." Judge Hall emphasized.
Perhaps the biggest challenge in recent years was the development of the Integrated Claims Management System (ICMS) which brought about online filing and electronic data interchange. Put simply, no more paper.
"This was where the ability of the staff to work together as a team really came together to meet the challenge," Judge Hall said. "I always said the experience was like building an airplane while you are flying it. Now the challenge is going to be to keep up with developing technology and plan to improve as we move forward."
Judge Hall not only supported Kids' Chance but served on the board and is actively involved in the scholarship program which provides educational opportunities for children of parents who are killed or injured on the job. Whether it was sitting in a dunking booth at a Family Fun Day fundraiser or presenting scholarships, Judge Hall was firmly and personally behind the program.
"Kids' Chance started the year after I joined the board so I have had the pleasure of watching it grow. It started in Georgia and now it is a nationwide program." Kids' Chance epitomizes Judge Hall's inclusive approach to leadership. "The whole community gives to the program. Competing interests work together for the good of the young people who benefit from their support," she noted.
Judge Hall's immediate plans are to spend time with family and take some time off, but don't expect her to disappear from the scene. "I hope to find ways to continue to be involved in this industry," she promised.
"I am very grateful to have had a chance to be at the Board and I have been helped by a lot of people who taught me and supported me through the years."
Changes at Board Include Appointment of Rick Thompson
It is amazing how fast four years can go by. The news in 2005 that Gov. Sonny Perdue was reappointing Judge Carolyn Hall as Chairman of the Georgia State Board and Viola Drew as Director meant another four years under their leadership. The third Director is Judge Warren Massey.
With the end of their current terms changes have been made. The Governor announced that Richard S. (Rick) Thompson will become a director of the board, replacing Judge Drew, who will remain as a judge with the board. At the same time, Judge Hall has announced her plans to retire.
Thompson, of Brunswick, GA, brings extensive experience to his appointed position. According to information from www.lawyers.com, Thompson was admitted to the bar in 1982 and practices in the areas of mediation and workers' compensation defense. He is a State Bar of Georgia member in the Workers' Compensation Section.
He was formerly with McNatt, Greene & Thompson; Andrew, Threlkeld & Thompson. and was a partner with Drew Eckl & Farnham LLP at the time of his appointment. Thompson was U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Georgia (2001-2004), and Administrative Law Judge, Georgia Board of Workers' Compensation, 2005-2007.
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