Welcome to WorkCompAcademy online training and education for the California Workers' Compensation industry. We offer a professional curriculum for attorneys, medical and claim professionals taught by industry leaders. Please contact lschlakat@workcompacademy.com for enrollment information.
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Student and Administrative Support
Our goal is to meet and exceed your expectations for an outstanding learning experience. We pledge to support your complete satisfaction with WorkCompAcademy. If at any time you are in need of support concerning your WorkCompAcademy experience, please contact Lee Schlakat at lschlakat@workcompacademy.com or call 805 341-2296.
Our Faculty
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Rene Thomas Folse, J.D., Ph.D. received his Juris Doctor in 1974, Masters in Clinical Psychology in 1984 and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1987. He is licensed as both an attorney at law and psychologist in California. He was the senior partner of one of Southern California’s most reputable law firms, Miller & Folse, in 1974. Mr. Folse has focused his attention on the management of workers’ compensation psychatric claims. Mr. Folse has acted as a Judge Pro Tem with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and has been a Qualified Medical Evaluator, and he holds a Self Insured Administrators Certificate. He has been appointed to numerous faculty and teaching positions and has co-authored a leading treaty discussing psychological injury claims. In addition to his many other accomplishments, Mr. Folse is a highly sought after speaker.
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David W. O'Brien, a member of the California and New Hampshire bars, received his Bachelor of Education from Plymouth State University in 1950 and the degree of Doctor of Law from the University of San Francisco in 1960. He is admitted to the U.S. District Courts, Districts of New Hampshire and California. He is also a member of the American Bar Association. He is a Retired Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCALJ) and has been an Administrative Law Judge with the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and a Deputy Commissioner of Corporations for the State of California. He has served as a Senior Counsel for the State Compensation Insurance Fund and also devoted many years to the private practice of law as both a defense and plaintiff attorney. He serves as an expert witness in civil cases and is a Certified Administrator for Self-Insurance Plans.
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John B. Floyd is the Senior Partner of Floyd, Skeren and Kelly, and he is a Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation. He has devoted many years in the workers’ compensation field representing insurance companies, self-insureds, municipalities and employers in 132a claims and serious and willful actions. He has served as an Arbitrator, Mediator, and Judge Pro Tem, as well as being an expert witness in bad faith claims and is a Certified Self Insured Administrator. Mr. Floyd is involved in numerous committees, including California Chamber of Commerce Amicus Committee, State Bar Workers’ Compensation Executive Committee and the Employers’ Fraud Task Force. Mr. Floyd helped publish Retired Judge David W. O’Brien’s treaties on California Workers’ Compensation Claims and Benefits, California Unemployment and Disability Compensation Programs and the pamphlet entitled California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Employee Rights and Responsibilities.
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Thomas M. Skeren, Jr. is presently the Managing Partner of the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP having joined the organization shortly after the firm was founded in 1987. Mr. Skeren, a graduate of the University of Buffalo, began his career in human resources and labor relations with Dresser Industries. After completion of his legal studies at Western State University of Law, he left his post as Vice President of Human Resources and joined the Law Offices of John B. Floyd and commenced his legal career. He has represented a variety of insured and uninsured clients defending regular aspects of the claims as well as handling discrimination and serious & willful misconduct claims before the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB) throughout California. He has assisted in overall management and growth of our firm since its inception.
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Todd T. Kelly is a partner with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP. He represents employers, insurance carriers and third party administrators in all aspects of workers’ compensation claims. He is a State Bar Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation who has authored articles and spoken on behalf of both the Council on Education in Management and the Employer’s Advisory Council. Mr. Kelly has acted as a Judge Pro Tem with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) and serves as a guest speaker for various employers, insurance companies and administrators. He is licensed to practice before all State and Federal Courts in California and is a member of all applicable Bar Associations. Recognized as a lifetime member by Cambridge Who's Who, Mr. Kelly was chosen to 2009 Southern California Super Lawyers. Similarly, he is a Gold Congressional Awardee, is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, and is a Paul Harris Fellow with Rotary International.
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Amanda A. Manukian has been with the Law Office of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP since 2003. She is currently the Managing Attorney of the Pasadena Office and the Managing Attorney of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). She also served as the Fraud Liaison with State Compensation in 2002 and part of 2003. Prior to her time with State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF), she worked with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2002. She started as a law clerk in the Appeals and Writs Division, SIU working on numerous Appellate Briefs before California Appellate Courts. Subsequent to that, she was a certified senior law clerk conducting preliminary Hearings and co-chairing misdemeanor Trails at Central Trial in Downtown Los Angeles. Over the last two years of her tenure with the District Attorney’s Office, she co-chaired in death penalty evidentiary Hearings and assisted with appellate work defending various fraud convictions.
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Suzanne Honor-Vangerov began her workers’ compensation career as a claims adjuster for the State Compensation Insurance Fund and then transitioned into a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. In 1994 Ms. Honor-Vangerov moved into the position of Information and Assistance Officer for the Van Nuys District Office of the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). She held various positions of increasing responsibility within the DWC culminating in becoming the Manager of the DWC Medical Unit. As the Medical Unit Manager she oversaw the Qualified Medical Evaluator, Spinal Surgery Second Opinion, Medical Provider Network, and Utilization Review programs. She is considered to be an expert in medical billing and fee schedule issues. Ms. Honor-Vangerov brings an extensive amount of experience to the workers’ compensation community.
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Robert C. Nichols is an associate and senior trial attorney with the Law Offices of Floyd, Skeren & Kelly, LLP in the firms’ Thousand Oaks office. He is a graduate of Cal State University Northridge with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and was awarded a Juris Doctor Degree, Cum Laude, from the San Fernando Valley College of Law. For over thirty years, Mr. Nichols has specialized in the defense of all aspects of Workers’ Compensation matters including all standard issues, discrimination claims filed under Labor Code §132(a) and Serious and Willful Claims, at both the trial and the appellate levels.
Mr. Nichols has been a lecturer at the California Self-Insurers Association, California Manufacturers Association and numerous claims organizations. He has also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board and the Los Angeles Superior Courts.
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