Steven Schickler comes to WorkWell with 32 years of leadership experience in a variety of medium and large size companies as well as entrepreneurial settings. He has a track record of transforming companies into leaders in their respective sectors. Prior to joining WorkWell he was President and CEO of Kinetix Living, a company that provides coaching for nutrition, fitness and health to employees of client companies throughout the country. In 2010 he led the company’s divestiture. Schickler was also President of Seattle Coffee Company (SCC) owner of Seattle’s Best Coffee, and was later a senior executive at Starbucks Coffee following Starbucks’ purchase of SCC.

He was a senior executive at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream as the company grew from a largely regional company to the largest in its national industry space. Schickler was Chief Executive Officer of a start-up company in the area of Internet Health Care Communications. He began his career in consumer marketing at H.J. Heinz where he led two of the company’s largest business units. Schickler won the NASDAQ/Ernst and Young Entrepreneur-of-the-Year Award for his leadership and turn-around of a company in Chicago. His experience spans health and fitness, consumer goods, retail, and SaaS (sales as a service), and he has helped transform young companies into national leaders. Schickler holds an MBA from New York University and a JD From Brooklyn Law School.

Bob Urban is President of WorkWell Systems, Inc. and has over 25 years of executive experience. He has held positions as a Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Engineering, R&D and IT and has owned and operated a northwest-based consulting firm. Mr. Urban’s operational experience is extensive in program and project management, process reengineering, systems integration, and mechanical and test engineering. In addition, his breadth of experience encompasses human resources, finance, benefits administration, time and absence management, payroll and labor relations.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Business Administration from Gonzaga University, attended Stanford University’s Masters in Engineering Management program and received his Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Washington.

Deneene LeBlanc brings over 20 years of accounting and finance experience within retail, consumer services and distribution industries. She has broad experience within small to mid-sized private equity, privately held, franchisee, franchisor, wholesale and nationally based companies. Most recently, she was Senior Vice President of Finance for Driveline Holdings, Inc., a $100M premier provider of merchandising services. Ms. LeBlanc has a proven record in developing business processes, information systems and personnel to support a company's growth, both organic and acquisition based, as well as extensive experience with planning, forecasting, financial modeling, system conversions, cost reduction and cash-flow improvement.

At WorkWell Systems Ms. LeBlanc is responsible for all financial management functions, including accounting, reporting, treasury, audit, tax, budgeting, forecasting, acquisition analysis and compliance. As a member of the senior management team, she drives positive financial metrics relative to business goals and objectives. Ms. LeBlanc obtained a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN, and has an active CPA license from the State of Georgia.

Kevin Schmidt has served as the Senior Vice President for Enterprise Solutions at WorkWell Systems since 2007 and has been with WorkWell since 2001. He leads WorkWell’s consulting practice and Innovation Laboratory. Kevin brings 26 years of business-to-business operational management experience. He has worked in the high tech and manufacturing, industries and gained experience with many other industries as a Consulting Manager with Accenture’s business strategy practice. Most recently he was a partner in a consulting firm that specialized in providing change management and psychological consulting to Fortune 500 organizations. He has an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

Margot Miller, PT, holds the position of Vice President for WorkWell’s Provider Business. She oversees general operations and directs national and international program sales and training. Her role includes overseeing functional testing, PreWork screening and onsite service delivery nationwide. Ms. Miller has authored numerous articles pertinent to the field of occupational health and has contributed to several texts related to work injury management and prevention, with an emphasis on functional capacity evaluations, Pre-Work screening and repetitive strain injuries.

Ms. Miller currently serves as President of the Occupational Health Special Interest Group of the Orthopedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and serves as the Assistant Managing Editorial Board of IMPACT, Journal of the Private Practice Section, APTA. Ms. Miller is an appointed member of the Finance Committee for the Private Practice Section and was recently selected as a media spokesperson for the APTA. She frequently speaks on issues related to repetitive strain/repetitive stress injuries, overuse syndromes and technology and physical therapy.

Ms. Miller graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota, School of Physical Therapy. She has practiced in a variety of settings with an emphasis on neurologic disorders, orthopedics and occupational health physical therapy, where she has specialized for over 30 years.

Jennifer Christian, MD, MPH is a thought leader in the arena of healthcare outcomes improvement as well as employees’ compensation and disability benefits systems. She is a board-certified occupational medicine physician. She is also President of Webility Corporation, award-winning founder and chair of the non-profit 60 Summits Project, moderator of the multi-disciplinary Work Fitness & Disability Roundtable, and Chair of the Work Fitness & Disability Section of the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

Gary Serdar brings over 25 years of executive experience in sales, marketing, and operations to WorkWell Systems. Mr. Serdar has extensive skill through his leadership positions in workers’ compensation, spatial mapping technology, transportation and motivational industries. Most recently Mr. Serdar was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the TLC companies, which specializes in workers’ compensation solutions for transportation companies. In 2000 and 2001 he was appointed to the American Trucking Association's Technology & Engineering Policy Committee. Mr. Serdar’s success in the transportation industry has garnered him an outstanding reputation in the industry where he has been recognized with numerous awards including "Terminal Manager of the Year" twice for Roadway. In addition he is a two-time recipient of the prestigious "Galen Award," for his outstanding role at RPS (now FedEx Ground). Mr. Serdar holds a Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University.

Ms. Vincent is a seasoned leader with extensive experience in the HealthCare industry, bringing over 18 years of relevant industry experience, including management roles at Regence Blue Shield, UnitedHealth Group and Definity Health.   Prior to joining WorkWell, Ms. Vincent served as Regional Vice President where she helped lead the explosive growth around consumer-driven healthcare (CDH) for United Health Group. Ms.Vincent joined United via the Definity Health acquisition in 2005 where she served in both management and various account executive roles.  She has been instrumental in guiding some of the earliest total replacement consumer-driven healthcare efforts on behalf of several Fortune 500 employers.  Prior to Definity Health, Ms. Vincent began her career with CIGNA Healthcare in Northern California from 1994-2003.  

Ms. Vincent currently serves as an active Board Member for Employee Benefits Planning Association (EBPA) as second term treasurer and holds a B.S in Human Resources/Business Administration from San Jose State University.

Mr. Bulls is SVP Sales & Business Development for WorkWell Systems.  Jamie has responsibility for identifying, developing and implementing revenue growth initiatives for WorkWell Systems.  He also has accountability for new business development, revenue enhancing sales programs, and establishing the overall sales strategy for the organization. His career spans over 24 years of sales experience.  He has extensive account management and consulting experience targeting Fortune 1000 companies, brokers/consultants, unions, municipalities, MCOs and employer coalition groups.  He has a solid understanding of the overall healthcare market and a strong specialty product background including medical, managed pharmacy, dental, life, and disability programs.

Prior to joining WorkWell, Jamie was a Vice President, National Accounts for The Burchfield Group.  At Burchfield, he had business development responsibilities in the national employer segment. Prior to Burchfield, Jamie was a National Business Executive for Humana, with sales responsibility for 26 states.  At Humana, Jamie received “Top National Sales Executive” honors, and focused selling to large, national account employers. Prior to Humana, James was the President/Owner of Rxcellence, Inc., a pharmacy consulting service focused on pharmacy program auditing services.  Jamie was also recognized with various sales excellence and account management achievement awards while employed with Schering-Plough Corporation, Caremark Prescription Service, and North Texas Healthcare Network.

Jamie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Finance from Texas Tech University and he holds a Texas Group 1 Insurance License.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Benefits Association, a regional non-profit association designed to foster relationships and support the educational growth of professionals in employee benefits.

Mr. Ross brings over 25 years of experience in all aspects of Employee Benefits and Human Resources and has been responsible for managing employer and client relationships for several of the country’s largest health plans.  His clients have included industrial and manufacturing, public education, health care, food and beverage manufacturing, municipalities, textiles and financial services.  Jim understands many of the challenges facing employers and their workforce today and is passionate about helping keep their employees healthy and productive.

Jim Ross is responsible for ensuring that WorkWell’s clients are satisfied with the services they receive. He is accountable for resolution of any issue a client might experience, and is committed to ensuring they are aware of and leveraging the full range of WorkWell Systems services available to them.  

Mr. Ross graduated with Honors from Utica College of Syracuse University, and holds a Masters degree in Psychology from the University of North Carolina – Greensboro.

Lori Heinecke brings over 20 years of progressive project and program management experience to WorkWell. She is responsible for leading, developing, and managing all project phases, as well as, coordinating and supporting numerous systems. Lori is well versed in systems development life cycles for mission critical applications, and has extensive experience in a variety of industries including health care, pharmaceuticals, software development, insurance, manufacturing, new business development and financial systems.

Ms. Heinecke graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems.

Dee Daley serves as a physical therapist and faculty member for WorkWell, focusing on injury prevention, rehabilitation program development, implementation and program training. Ms. Daley’s 25+ year of experience brings together clinical and onsite orthopedics, a focus on adult learning and evidence based medicine. In addition to working with employers across the United States, she has trained physical and occupational therapists in Canada, Ireland and South Africa.

Ms. Daley currently serves as Vice President of the New Hampshire American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and has been active in several previous board positions in the North Carolina Physical Therapy Association (NCPTA) and the Occupational Health Special Interest Group of the Orthopedic Section of the APTA. In addition, she lectures on work rehabilitation, adult learning and continued competency for physical therapists and multidisciplinary groups.

Prior to joining WorkWell, Ms. Daley developed occupational health modules and training for a national rehabilitation company.  In this capacity she worked as part of a primary care health on-site team and contracted to an Army medical center. After receiving her professional degree from Quinnipiac, Ms. Daley earned a Master’s of Science in Health Professions Education from North Carolina State University incorporating interests in adult learning, “training and development” and program evaluation.  She later received her clinical doctorate in physical therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Barb Herke-Smith is a physical therapist who’s role as Director of Sales and Occupational Health Specialist is to provide sales, marketing and consultation to therapists and other allied health professionals. Her extensive knowledge of and experience with the full suite of WorkWell programs allows her to assist therapists in matching WorkWell’s quality services with their facility. A 1984 graduate of Northwestern University’s Physical Therapy Program, Chicago, IL, Ms. Herke-Smith has specialized in work injury/illness prevention and management since 1987, when she began performing Functional Capacity Evaluations and preventative education programs for employers. Since that time she gained extensive experience in providing the full continuum of WorkWell programs, FCE, FJA, PWS, WR and ergonomic consultations. Ms. Herke-Smith is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Orthopedic Section and Occupational Health Special Interest Group (OHSIG).

As the Director of Quality Assurance for WorkWell, Ms. Johnson provides clinical support, consultation and documentation feedback to the provider network. She also markets WorkWell Quality Providers and their services to payors, employers and other referrers, and educates them about WorkWell's Work Injury Prevention and Management Programs. Ms. Johnson has extensive, first-hand knowledge and experience in implementing WorkWell’s FCE, FJA, PWS and WR programs. As an WorkWell faculty member, she has taught the protocols and principles of these programs to many other therapists. Ms.Johnson also has authored numerous articles and contributed chapters on work injury/illness management to two textbooks. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Orthopedic Section and Industrial Rehabilitation Special Interest Group (SIG).

As Director of Onsite Services, Ms. Krefft manages the WorkWell Onsite Services Division and the providers who perform Onsite Services for WorkWell’s employer customers, National Fortune 500 and 1000 companies.   Ms. Krefft is involved in all phases of Onsite Services from sales, implementation, provider training, customer and provider relations to ongoing metrics reporting.  She brings over 20 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist working onsite with employers in varied industries including large municipalities, food service, technology, manufacturing and package delivery.   

Through innovation and a team approach, WorkWell’s Onsite Services Division has expanded to over a dozen Onsite Clinics in the United States and enjoys continued targeted growth.  WorkWell Onsite Services deliver superior stay-at-work/return-to-work outcomes with an average return on investment of 5:1.

Ms. Krefft graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois, School of Occupational Therapy and is a career member of the American and Illinois Occupational Therapy Associations. She has practiced in a variety of settings from non-profit to independent consulting with an emphasis on injury prevention, ergonomics, industrial rehabilitation, onsite therapy and return to work.

John Lowe comes to WorkWell with numerous years of experience in the fields of occupational and physical therapy. He is skilled in functional capacity evaluations, ergonomics, job site analysis, post-offer testing and clinical management. He has performed program development, patient care, functional testing and rehabilitation of injured employees, developed regional employees’ compensation product lines. Mr. Lowe has emphasized employee’ compensation and occupational health in his practice for the last 15 years and is a member of the APTA Occupational Health Special Interest Group. John’s has been the National Director of Workers’ Compensation-Clinical Services for a large outpatient physical therapy provider. He has taught continuing education to Physical Therapists on topics that include functional capacity evaluation, ergonomics, injury/illness prevention and early intervention, and basic clinical assessment and treatment of injured employees. John is also published in the fields of physical and occupational medicine.

John holds a bachelor’s degree from Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GA and a master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University’s Medical school, Chicago, IL.

Patrick McConnell‘s has numerous years of experience as an Occupational Therapist specializing in work injury/illness management. His expertise includes post injury/illness therapy, functional capacity evaluation, work conditioning and injury/illness prevention services. Additionally, he has been the Clinical Educator for Rehabilitation Services and Community Education departments. Mr. McConnell has presented on the subject of Work Injury Management to Health Care Educational Programs, Business and Industry. He continues to teach comfort touch massage to hospital personnel and helps with recreational programs at adult residential care facilities.

Mr. McConnell is a graduate of the University of Illinois in Occupational Therapy and is certified in Lymphedema and Massage Therapy. He is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Work and Industrial Special Interest Section.

Steve McKenney’s has over 30 years of clinical and onsite physical therapy and injury/illness prevention experience.  Combined with his background as a Certified Athletic Trainer he brings together a wealth of knowledge in injury/illness prevention principles, rehabilitation practices, and return to work/other activities philosophies that enhance employee, employer, and WorkWell provider capabilities in the area of occupational health and injury/illness management.  Steve provides expert clinical support to providers of WorkWell services in the areas of Functional Capacity Evaluation, Functional Job Analysis, PreWork Screening, Work Rehab, and Ergonomics. Mr. McKenney has also held the position of Implementation Specialist for WorkWell’s Enterprise Solutions business and was responsible for implementing WorkWell injury/illness prevention and management programs at various employer locations throughout the United States. 

Mr. McKenney has been a speaker at annual conferences of the APTA, combined APTA/Canadian Physiotherapy Association, and the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety.  Prior to joining WorkWell, he worked as the director of private and hospital based physical therapy practices.  He also was an instructor at the University of North Dakota, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy.

Mr. McKenney graduated from the University of North Dakota, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy.  He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Science Education and a master’s degree in Physical Education, both from the University of South Dakota.