Advisory Committees

Public Representative

Chair

Kenneth Peterson

Ken is a public representative on the WCRA Board. Now semi-retired, he served for eleven years as Commissioner of Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry and as Deputy Commissioner for two years.  In addition to private law practice, Ken has served as Minnesota’s Deputy Attorney General, St. Paul’s Deputy Mayor, and directed the city’s Planning and Economic Development department.

Ken also serves on the Board of Directors of the History Theatre and is the mayor of St. Paul’s appointee on the Board of St. Paul District Energy.

Committees: Investment, Actuarial

Vice President Actuarial

WCRA Staff Liason

Alison Khan

Alison is responsible for managing the actuarial functions of the WCRA. This includes establishing the premium rates charged to members and estimating the amount of funds the WCRA must hold in reserve to meet future claim payments. She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.

Committee Liaisons: Actuarial

Vice Chair, Insurer Representative

Chair

Sheila Brown

The Traveler Companies, Inc.

Ms. Brown has over 35 years of experience in the insurance industry in a variety of financial roles. She is currently Vice President, Enterprise Risk Management at Travelers. Over her 25-year career at Travelers, she has held a variety of finance positions, including Assistant Corporate Controller and Assistant Corporate Treasurer. Prior to joining Travelers, Ms. Brown had extensive experience in finance functions in the insurance and reinsurance industries, including serving insurance clients for KPMG.

Ms. Brown has considerable experience serving on non-profit boards. She has served on the boards of JA of the Upper Midwest, The St. Paul Public Schools Foundation, and, most recently, Como Friends, which provides financial support to Como Zoo and Conservatory (2012-current).

Ms. Brown serves as an insurer representative on the WCRA Board.

Committees:  Audit and Financial Compliance; IT Advisory

Vice President and CFO

WCRA Staff Liason

David McKee

Dave is responsible for managing the financial and investment functions of the WCRA including overseeing the financial operations and ensuring the investment program and objectives are adhered to and met.

Prior to joining the WCRA in 2015, Dave served in a variety of financial capacities, including Vice President and business unit controller at a regional bank; managing investment accounting for an $80 billion investment portfolio consisting of hedge funds, derivatives, CDO, and fixed income and equity securities; and leading productivity best practice initiatives for a premier national financial services company.  Dave holds a BA in accounting from the University of St. Thomas and a MBA in finance from the University of Minnesota.

Committee Liaisons: Audit and Financial Compliance; Investment

Employer Representative

Chair

Allison Waggoner

DCI, Inc.

Allison serves as an employer representative on the WCRA Board and is the human resources and communications manager for DCI, Inc. in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In her position she is responsible for safety, workers’ compensation, benefits, employee relations, labor relations, and all other aspects of human resources functions. Prior to joining DCI, Allison was self-employed as a human resources consultant and speaker on various topics relating to human resources and employment law.

Committee: Personnel

Vice President Operations and Secretary

WCRA Staff Liason

Cynthia Smith

Cyndi is responsible for managing member premium services including data reporting, auditing, billing, and general membership. The premium staff’s goal is to assure that membership records are up to date, that data submitted by members for calculating premiums is accurate and complete, and that membership billings are appropriate and paid on time. Cyndi is also responsible for the WCRA’s general operations, and in that role she performs the traditional human resources functions from compensation to training, is responsible for the corporate insurance program, and oversees all aspects of the Association’s day-to-day administrative operations.  She holds a bachelor’s degree from North American University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Committee Liaison:  Personnel

State Board of Investment

Chair

Jill Schurtz

Minnesota State Board of Investment

Schurtz began her term as the Executive Director and CIO at the MN State Board of Investment in October 2022. Schurtz joins the Minnesota SBI from the St. Paul Teachers’ Retirement Fund Association, where she was CIO and executive director beginning in 2014 and managed the fund’s $1.2 billion investment program and $120 million of annual pension benefits. Prior to St. Paul, Schurtz was CEO of New York-based asset management firm Robeco-Sage, having been promoted from chief operating officer. Before that, she was a director at Knight Equity Markets, and prior to that was an attorney at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

She was also vice president, investment banking at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, and before embarking on a financial career was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for seven years, where she rose to the rank of captain. Schurtz is currently a member of construction engineering firm M.A. Mortenson’s board of directors and chair of its investment committee and is a member of Alerus’ board of directors. She is also on financial planner Okabena Investment Services’ investment advisory committee.

Schurtz is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, and received her law degree from Columbia Law School.

Committee: Investment

Vice President and CFO

WCRA Staff Liason

David McKee

Dave is responsible for managing the financial and investment functions of the WCRA including overseeing the financial operations and ensuring the investment program and objectives are adhered to and met.

Prior to joining the WCRA in 2015, Dave served in a variety of financial capacities, including Vice President and business unit controller at a regional bank; managing investment accounting for an $80 billion investment portfolio consisting of hedge funds, derivatives, CDO, and fixed income and equity securities; and leading productivity best practice initiatives for a premier national financial services company.  Dave holds a BA in accounting from the University of St. Thomas and a MBA in finance from the University of Minnesota.

Committee Liaisons: Audit and Financial Compliance; Investment

Insurer Representative

Chair

Richard Long

Western National

Mr. Long is President and CEO of Western National Insurance Group. He serves on their board and the board of their affiliate and subsidiary companies as well as several industry boards, including the WCRA.

Prior to joining Western National in 2010, Mr. Long worked at Farm Family Casualty Insurance Company in Albany, New York. Mr. Long obtined his BS from the School of Management at the State University of New York at Binghamton and achieved his AIC, CPCU, and ARe from the Insurance Institute of America early in his career.

Committees: Member Advisory

Director of Claims and Legal Counsel

WCRA Staff Liason

Evan Cordes

Evan Cordes is the Director of Claims and Legal Counsel at the Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association (WCRA), where he leads the claims department in collaborating with insurers, self-insured entities, and third-party administrators to reimburse and develop strategic approaches for managing large-loss and catastrophic workers’ compensation claims that have reached—or may reach—the reinsurance threshold. Before joining the WCRA in 2024, Evan practiced employment law and workers’ compensation defense, appearing in both trial and appellate courts.

A frequent speaker on claims strategy and litigation trends, Evan is known for his practical insights into navigating complex workers’ compensation disputes. He holds a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin and serves as a volunteer Conciliation Court Referee in Dakota County. Outside of work, he enjoys travel, outdoor activities, and spending time with his family.

Employer Representative

Chair

Jean Machart

DigitalDX

Jean Machart is a Healthcare Transformation Executive.  Currently, Executive in Residence at DigitalDX, a Silicon Valley Venture Fund of startups that apply AI for early diagnosis.  Previously, Jean was Chief Operating Officer at the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and Vice President of Enterprise Digital and AI at UnitedHealth Group. She is NACD Directorship certified, and a Board member for Asbury Communities, in addition to WCRA.

Prior to UnitedHealth Group, Jean held Officer roles at Ameriprise Financial within Client Experience directly reporting to the CIO, and General Manager positions within banking, brokerage, and wealth management, and at American Express Financial Advisors.

Machart holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master’s degree in business administration in information technology and operations from the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management.

Committee: IT Advisory Committee

Vice President Information Technology and Security Officer

WCRA Staff Liason

Daniel Lovhaug

Dan is responsible for managing the information technology functions of the WCRA, including the design, development, implementation, security, and maintenance of organizational information systems, software applications, and infrastructure systems as well as managing successful delivery of IT service desk operations. He also serves as the WCRA’s security officer overseeing information security, cybersecurity, and IT risk management programs, including business continuity and disaster recovery.

Dan joined the organization in 2012 and has served in a variety of roles in data and technology management where he has led the organization’s strategic technology transformations. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Concordia University, St. Paul.

Committee Liaisons: IT Advisory Committee