NextGen Awards
IAIABC NextGen Awards launched in 2017 as a way to recognize talented individuals under the age of 40 who are having a substantial and positive impact on workers' compensation, making a significant difference within their organizations, and leading the industry into the future.
2026 NextGen Award Recipients
The IAIABC congratulates the recipients of the 2026 NextGen Awards.
Caitlin Breitbach
Small Business Ombudsman for Workers' Compensation, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
Ashley Butcher
Team Business Leader, SFM Mutual Insurance Company
Cole Garrett
Deputy General Counsel, Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
Aubree Herrin
Training Development Analyst, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Blair Ilsley
Supervisor of Provider Education, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Harsh Patel
Data Architect, Business Intelligence, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board
Brock Perkes
Senior Director, Client Success , Enlyte
The Award recipients will be celebrated at the IAIABC 112th Convention and in a 2026 issue of IAIABC Perspectives magazine.
2026 Finalist Nominees
The following individuals were finalist NextGen Award nominees.
Thomas Travaglia, Verisk
Jaycee Verbeem, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board
2026 Honorable Mention Nominees
The following individuals were honorable mention NextGen Award nominees.
Nicole Davidson, The Black Car Fund
Josie Flores, NCCI
Maison Horton, Enlyte
Derek Jackson, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario
Caitlyn Jekel, Washington State Department of Labor and Industry
Claire Korte, Kansas Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division
Alex Reynolds, Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation
Justin Schwark, Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board
Michael Solheid, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industries
Selection Committee Members
A committee of eleven industry professionals selected the IAIABC NextGen Award recipients from among the nominations. It is important to note that any selection committee member who works for the same organization as a nominee did not provide input on that nominee, and that selections were based solely on information received on the nomination form.
Stephanie Arkelian, Healthesystems (2018 NextGen Recipient)
Vincent Bell, The Black Car Fund (2021 NextGen Recipient)
Erin Bishop, Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission (2020 NextGen Recipient)
Melissa Coleman, Ametros (2024 NextGen Recipient)
Adam Fowler, MyMatrixx
Amy Kingston, Colorado Division of Workera' Compensation (2020 NextGen Recipient)
Heather Lore, IAIABC
Neil McSheim, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario (2017 NextGen Recipient)
Steve Peters, Enlyte
Jordan Russell, Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission
Matt West, Oregon Workers' Compensation Division