I am pleased to announce that Kathryn Kimbel has joined the WR team as the Director of Claims Management for the Retail Services Association Inc. subsidiary. Kimbel is a strategic hire for the association as we continue to align our staffing needs with the expansion of our member service programs.

Kathryn brings over 30 years of diverse experience in management, health and safety, workers compensation, and client relations. Earlier in her career, she directed a team of 120 employees and provided services to 165k employers statewide as the Employer Services Program Manager at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). She later served as the Executive Director of the SMART Association and then Safety and Health Manager of the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

Through her newly defined role, Kathryn will oversee claims management and analysis, return to work maximation, and risk management education.

“With Kimbel’s proven empowering leadership history with L&I’s Retro and Risk Management programs, she will energize the sharing of best practices among our experienced claims analysts—furthering the utilization of claims cost reduction tools,” said Rose Gundersen, the VP of Operations and Retail Services.

Kathryn’s position will further coordinate with the Director of Safety and Education, Rick Means, to deliver innovative online platforms designed to improve safety and compliance, returning employees back to work safely and efficiently.