Our Leadership

Catherine Benavidez-Anderson is the founder and President & CEO of Injury Management Organization, Inc. (IMO), which she established in 1991. Driven by a deep commitment to advocating for the injured worker, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that workers receive timely, effective medical care while helping employers manage the cost of workplace injury. She is a licensed Occupational Therapist, Certified Case Manager (CCM), and holds a Workers’ Recovery Professional (WRP) Certification through WorkCompCollege.com, bringing a rare combination of clinical expertise and managed care leadership to the industry. With more than 30 years of workers’ compensation, work-related injury, and clinical experience, she is a recognized authority in managed care. Catherine is also a co-founder in the development of Lighthouse Resource Group and TouchPoint Pathways servicing all lines, including Group Health and Business Solutions Consulting.

Catherine is an active member of the Texas Occupational Therapy Association and shares her expertise by speaking nationally to various industries and health-related groups. She has also published articles on healthcare management techniques for medical providers. Her leadership, along with that of her team, is the driving force behind IMO’s steady growth and strong reputation across the cost containment – managed care industry.

Her service extends well beyond IMO. Governor Rick Perry appointed her to the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners in 2009, and she was among 25 distinguished honorees recognized by the Dallas Business Journal’s Women in Business awards. She has served as a past board member of the DFW Hispanic 100 and currently serves as President of Kids’ Chance of Texas, an organization dedicated to supporting children of workers injured on the job. In 2022, she was nominated as a finalist for WorkCompCentral’s Comp Laude Award.

Hiawatha Franks is the claims officer for Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Risk Management Services. He is responsible for providing strategic and operational oversight of claims operations for auto, liability, property, workers’ compensation, and other programs. He joined TASB in 1998 and served as the workers’ compensation claims manager until 2005. After working for large insurance carriers for 12 years, he returned to TASB in 2017 as the workers’ compensation claims division director and has served as the claims officer since March 2022.

He has served as the claims director for The Hartford’s small business insurance program as well as in roles of increasing responsibility at companies such as Texas Mutual and American International Group, Inc. Hiawatha holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas State University and a Master of Business Administration from Walden University. He also earned the Charter Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) professional designations.

With over a decade of leadership experience in the workers’ compensation insurance industry at Texas Mutual, TJ is an accomplished leader dedicated to building strong relationships, delivering exceptional service, and driving organizational excellence. His career highlights include:

• Receiving the Total Customer Care Award from former CEO Rich Gergasko.

• Earning the 2020 Shining Star Award for the Dallas Regional Office.

• Attaining the Associates in Claims (AIC) designation.

• Leading key enterprise initiatives, such as implementing a new claims system and coordinating the organization’s pandemic response for Claims.

• Being a 2022 nominee for the Comp Laude Award. This award recognizes various professionals, including attorneys, medical providers, risk experts, and injured workers, for their positive impact on the workers’ compensation industry.

Beyond professional achievements, TJ is deeply committed to community service and industry engagement, including:

• Volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

• Participating as a member of Texas Mutual’s MS-150 cycling team to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis research and awareness.

• Serving as a guest lecturer at the University of North Texas.

TJ remains grateful for the opportunities and relationships forged throughout his career, which continue to fuel growth, empathy, and purposeful leadership in the insurance field.

Jim Anderson is a Partner in Austin, Texas, with Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC, a North Carolina-based law firm. Cattie & Gonzalez has a national law practice focused on Medicare Secondary Payer issues, aiding plaintiff and defense lawyers, insurers, and employers in navigating the intricacies of the Medicare Secondary Payer Law. Jim is a member of the Texas and Mississippi Bars, and he has had a distinguished career in the workers’ compensation field which began in the 1970s. He was the Senior Founding Member at Anderson, Crawley & Burke, PLLC, in the Jackson, Mississippi, area before joining Cattie & Gonzalez.

Jim is an honors graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and a cum laude graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law. He served as Chairman of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference for 12 years and is the author and Senior Editor of the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Claims Guide. In 2012, he was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by the Mississippi College School of Law for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in the Legal Community. He is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers and served on its Board of Governors from 2014 through 2024, including service as Treasurer and Vice President. Jim served as the first President of Kids’ Chance of Mississippi, Inc., and currently serves as a Director and Secretary for the Board of Directors of Kids’ Chance of Texas, Inc. He has carried Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) since 1990 and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1995.

Riki Lee Burhans is the assistant communications director for the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). She oversees all agency communications, including the website, social media, media relations, and both print and digital media. She brings nearly a decade of experience in Texas state government and the insurance industry, beginning in property and casualty, then moving to workers’ compensation. Before joining DWC in 2023, she served at the Office of Public Insurance Counsel as a communications specialist.

Riki holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Baylor University and a master’s degree in media, culture, and communication from New York University. Before joining the Kids’ Chance of Texas board, she served as an ambassador, supporting social media marketing and event promotion.

Jennifer Hurless is President of PartnerSource, a consulting and insurance brokerage firm specializing in alternative forms of workers’ compensation coverage, like Texas non-subscription. Jennifer directs the best team in the industry on design, implementation and ongoing administration of Texas injury benefit plans, and other alternative forms of coverage. As a former employee benefits attorney and over 25 years’ experience, Jennifer continues to advise clients on successful claims resolution strategies, unique insurance placements and ERISA compliance matters. Jennifer received her BBA in accounting and a minor in political philosophy from Mercer University and her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Jeff Nelson has served as the Texas Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation since August of 2022. Prior to that he had been with the Division of Workers’ Compensation since 2016.  

Commissioner Nelson has more than 17 years of public service experience. He previously served as senior campaign consultant for Congressman Kevin Brady, executive aide to Governor Rick Perry, and as legislative aide to State Senator Tommy Williams, where he worked on issues concerning workers’ compensation and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and U.S. Politics from The University of Texas at Austin. 

In 2024, he received the NextGen Award from the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions for his professional and personal achievements, dedication, contributions, and impact on the industry. He is a board member of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators.  

Jeff and his wife Kelsey welcomed their first child to their family in 2023. 

Karl’s law practice focuses heavily on defending companies in personal injury, business and employment litigation. Before launching his own law firm, Karl worked as a litigation partner at Winstead PC, one of the largest law firms in Texas. He was mentored by some of the top litigators in the state, including former appellate judges and veteran trial lawyers. After spending almost ten years at Winstead, Karl launched his own firm with co-founder Trek Doyle.

Karl was trained to be a skilled courtroom advocate at South Texas College of Law in Houston. While attending law school, he served on the law review and successfully competed as one of the top advocates in South Texas’ award-winning trial and appellate advocacy program.

Prior to law school, Karl attended college at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. While attending SFA, he served as president of the Student Foundation Association, vice president of the Student Government Association and an officer in his fraternity, Sigma Tau Gamma. He was honored to be named “Mr. SFA” his senior year. Most importantly, he met his wife, Adrienne, at SFA.

He is active in Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (ARAWC) and is currently a member of the Executive Committee and Communications Chair.

Karl lives in Dripping Springs, Texas with his wife, Adrienne, and daughters, Annabelle and Millie.

Michelle Villarreal, AIC, AINS is the owner and CEO of Occupational Accident Risk, Inc. She has been in the TPA business for over 19 years. A highly accomplished and respected professional with proven success and experience in insurance and reinsurance company auditing, operational development, and claim management. Articulate and pragmatic in dealing with all levels of insurance company management. Background includes catastrophic claims handling, ERISA, policy interpretation, ROR, carrier claims handling, bad faith and subrogation. Ms. Villarreal has expertise in several lines of insurance from Texas Non-Subscription to worker’s compensation to excess lines. Formal training AIC, (Associate in Claims) and AINS (Associate in Insurance). She is an approved continuing education ethics provider for the Texas Department Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Mike holds a Finance degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and as well as an MBA from SMU. Mike and his wife Melanie, live in Dallas, TX and have two children, Brendan and Kylie.

In this position, Stephanie oversaw all facets of risk management. Her responsibilities included procurement and administration of the company’s global insurance and surety programs; claims administration, risk financing, and the crisis management program. Prior to joining Quanta, Stephanie worked in the insurance field for two large commercial carriers holding a variety of claim and management roles in California and Texas.

She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Baylor University in 1989. She received a Master in Legal Studies from Pepperdine School of Law and a Master in Dispute Resolution from The Strauss Institute at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2020. She holds the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation, the Certified Risk Manager designation (CRM) and is a Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designee. She holds the designation of Risk Fellow (RF) and is an inaugural RIMS-CRMP designee. She served as the initial Chair for the Client Leadership Council of USLaw Network, Inc. She currently serves on the National Client Advisory Council for a large carrier and a Third Party Administrator.

Stephanie volunteered with Boy Scouts of America and her children’s schools. She currently serves as the Chair of the Insurance Committee at her church and is on the Board of the Houston RIMS chapter.

Tom is responsible for AIG’s relationship with the legislatures and Departments of Insurance in several southern states. Tom also serves as the Workers’ Compensation Subject Matter Expert for the Government Affairs Team. In that role since 2007, Tom is active in many Workers’ Compensation Organizations. He has provided input and language to numerous legislators on legislation impacting Workers’ Compensation Laws. He is a member of the IAIABC Associate Member Council, the IAIABC Regulations and Legislation Committee, the SAWCA Executive Committee, The Claims Committee for the Insurance Council of Texas, The NCCI Appeals Panel for the State of Texas, and also serves as a member of several American Insurance Association Workers’ Compensation Committees.

Tom is a graduate of the University of Texas. He is a licensed adjuster and holds the CPCU Designation. Tom has been with AIG since 1980, starting as a field WC adjuster, and has held many senior management positions during his career.

Tom is also active in the CPCU Society, The Arthritis Foundation, Kids’ Chance of Texas and other local charities.

As a Senior Manager of workers’ compensation for Walmart Risk Management, Tim is responsible for the operation of the Texas office that manages all Walmart associate injury claims in Texas and multi-state jurisdictions. Tim joined Walmart Risk Management in 2015, and previously worked in leadership positions at industry leading third-party administrators and insurance carriers.

A graduate of the Stonecipher School of Business at East Central University, Tim is a licensed insurance adjuster and holds the CPCU and AIC designations. He and his wife, Jeanine, reside in the Dallas area and have three sons.

Prior to joining the board of directors of Kids’ Chance of Texas, Tim spent ten years as a volunteer working with middle school and high school teens as part of his church’s religious education programs. Tim is an active member of the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (ARAWC).

He has multiple law and insurance licenses and holds degrees from Abilene Christian University (BBA-Finance), Pepperdine University School of Law (JD), and Southern Methodist University School of Law (Master of Laws-Taxation).

He has extensive experience with workers’ compensation, corporate, tax, healthcare, labor & employment, estate planning and probate law; alternative dispute resolution; union and non-union, private sector and large governmental medical, disability, retirement, executive compensation and unemployment programs, as well as their property & casualty programs; and pioneered injury benefit plan design and related state and federal compliance, employee communication and claims management processes and insurance products.

He has written extensively for national publications and been a featured presenter at annual meetings of the major insurance and workers’ compensation industry conferences. Bill has been active in many civic, trade, and charitable organizations, including roles with Abilene Christian University (Board of Trustees and Audit Committee), Kids’ Chance of Texas (Board of Directors and Secretary), Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers’ Compensation (Board of Directors and Secretary), New Friends New Life – restoring and empowering formerly trafficked girls and sexually exploited women and children – Men’s Advocacy Group (Board of Directors), Comp Laude Awards – celebrating what is good in workers’ compensation (Advisory Board and Judge), and City of University Park (Finance Advisory Committee).