About Us
Success doesn’t just happen. Our roots take us back 30 years to 1985. Ours is a story of perseverance and innovation.
We faced a dilemma that could have put us out of business for good. Faced with adversity from every direction, we had to get creative. Our creativity enabled us to find a solution that allowed us to keep our doors open. Over the years, this solution forged our path to success.
We continue to draw upon our experience to share our success with everyone we insure. Read our story here.
Agents
Your clients are the lifeline of your business. You’ve worked hard to find them, and if you allow our success to become your success, you won’t need to work hard to retain them.
Here’s where you’ll find the foundation of our success. Our models are designed to select the very best risks and make them even better so you look good and they save money on their premiums. You’ll find our underwriting guidelines, claims information, and everything you may need to submit your application.
We created this area to serve you. This enables you to serve them.
Contact Us
We want to hear from you, so we make it easy. When you call us, your call won’t be answered by a computer and placed on hold while you wait in line because we give you our direct lines.
We don’t hide behind gatekeepers or call centers. We’re right there with you, every step of the way.
Tell us who you are, and we’ll get back with you. We promise. Contact us today.
Staffing Payroll Dollars Insured
We Are Work First
- jamiem@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 541.883.9310
Jamie began his career in the staffing industry in 1994. He took the reins of the family company and became President of Hire Calling, Inc., a staffing company with ten locations. Jamie understands the workers' compensation needs of the staffing industry very well. His education in this area began early in life when his father mortgaged the family home in order to have the funds to deposit with the State of Oregon to enable Hire Calling to become a self-insured employer. Growing up, a successful workers' compensation program literally determined whether or not the family had a roof over its head. That early indoctrination led to an intimate understanding of the elements critical to a successful staffing industry workers' compensation program. Through acquisition and organic growth, the company grew to over 130 offices doing nearly $400 million in sales and covering twenty-five western states. Jamie was the driving force behind the formation of Work First Casualty Company in 2005. Beginning in September 2008, he began serving as the President of Work First Casualty Company. He brought his staffing knowledge into his work with Work First to create the most successful insurance company exclusively serving the staffing industry. Mr. Madden attended Oregon State University and graduated in 1995 with Summa Cum Laude honors earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He resides in Salt Lake City with his wife Alma and two sons, Curran and Christopher. When he is not working, or with his family, he can usually be found on his mountain bike or on the ski slopes.
- bwinterrowd@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 630-416-7954
Bruce joined Work First Casualty Company as Vice President of Underwriting and Marketing in March 2009. Bruce is a graduate of McKendree University where he majored in Mathematics and Psychology. His underwriting and marketing expertise spans 26 years with Travelers Insurance Company encompassing a wide range of leadership positions. He has a strong technical underpinning in both casualty and property insurance with a particular focus on Workers' Compensation. Throughout his insurance career, Bruce has consistently managed both marketing and underwriting positions. He has developed in-depth knowledge of the guaranteed cost environment as well as a variety of loss sensitive, deductible and alternative market solutions. He has held numerous management and leadership positions in the Midwest and Southeast. He was one of five Regional Underwriting and Marketing Directors responsible for the oversight of all accounts generating revenue up to $10,000,000 for most of the 1990's. His particular focus was in the middle market arena ranging in account sizes from $50,000 to $2,500,000 in annual revenue. Bruce also was a Regional Manager for Traveler's TPA, Constitution State Services, which provided him further insight into the management of Workers' Compensation claims and the attendant key performance indicators that are instrumental in the profitable underwriting of this line of coverage. Bruce is located in our Klamath Falls, Oregon office.
- bmoon@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 541-248-5182
Blaine has been involved in the staffing industry since 2004 and associated with Work First Casualty Company since its first policy in 2006. Formally named as Treasurer in February, 2009 and CFO in 2010, Blaine has been involved in the insurance industry since 1997 in distribution, program management, carrier, claims processing, and risk management. Prior to his involvement in the staffing industry, Blaine worked for a Fortune 500 BPO where he consistently experienced jobs being outsourced to low cost countries. A strong belief that work is good and a determination that all who desire a job should be able to do so helps embolden his passion for the staffing industry. Mr. Moon attended Weber State University where he obtained his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Accounting with an emphasis in information systems. Civic achievements include past service for a chapter of ISM as Treasurer, Board Advisor for Eagle Gate College, and service for a non- profit entity as Treasurer whose mission is to enrich the lives in Ghana, Africa through development, education, and healthcare. Blaine has a wonderful and supportive wife, Mindy and four children that keep him focused on the important and fun things in life.
- dnowak@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 541-882-1090
Debbie is the Vice President of Claims and Loss Control for Work First Casualty. Debbie joined Work First in August, 2008. Debbie brings over 20 years of diverse insurance experience to Work First including loss control and claims management on the agency side of the business. Her claims management experience includes the development of claims processes and procedures, oversight and management of third party administrators and evaluation of adjudication procedures. In addition, Debbie worked to identify training needs based on loss data and worked closely with Loss Control Managers regarding return-to-work programs. She also has years of experience in the risk management area. Debbie leads the claims department for the company, coordinating pro-active loss control recommendations and responsible claims management. Debbie's knowledge and expertise in this area are invaluable to our brokers because she understands that losses affect premium and, in return, the bottom line for our insureds. The claims department works closely with our insureds, adjusters and attorneys to determine action plans for closure. As part of Work First's requirements for a return-to-work program, Debbie works diligently with the insured, medical provider and adjuster to have employees released to work as soon as possible.
- skorab@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 302-477-1710
Stephanie joined Work First in July, 2006. She brings with her over 20 years of broad insurance experience with a concentration on compliance. Her career placed her with one of the nation's largest regulatory compliance consulting firms where her clients consisted of multi-line insurance carriers of all sizes as well as with a multi-billion dollar international insurance holding company. During her career, Stephanie has gained a wide range of experience in corporate tax, corporate legal and regulatory compliance. Stephanie heads up the compliance department of the company, promoting a compliance mindset company wide. She keeps abreast of all regulatory changes and trends and works closely with all departments in the company to assure a healthy regulatory environment for the company. Stephanie attended Bishop Neumann College, majoring in Business Management. She is currently pursuing her CPCU designation. Stephanie lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her two children Stephen and Caleigh. When she's not busy working or running to sporting events, she enjoys reading and working on home improvement projects.
- marmijo@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 541-241-9737
Michael Armijo was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. The oldest of 4 children and a 17th generation New Mexican, he was the first in his entire family to attend college. From a young age he showed an interest in technology and science along with the research and troubleshooting involved. Pursuing this interest through his formal education, Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Diego in Computer Science. He began working for the University computer help desk department and quickly moved up as a System Administrator and System Architect before leaving in 2006 to start his family in Klamath Falls, OR. He took a job with the window and door manufacturing company, JELD-WEN, Inc. as a System Administrator and continued to advance his career to move more to the leadership and business side with a position of Business Transformation Manager in 2009. Continuing the path of leadership and growth, Michael started with Work First Casualty in July of 2019 as their Vice President of Information Services. The real draw in this latest move was primarily driven by the culture and core values that Work First embodies over Michael’s previous employers. Throughout his professional career, Michael has managed and collaborated with many vendors, developers, computer and network systems, along with creating training, testing, and developing procedures and policies to improve efficiency and satisfaction for his peers and users. His amazing family in Klamath has grown to include his wife and 3 children. Always striving to learn and live life to the fullest, some of Michael’s other passions are bow hunting, basketball, barbering, woodworking, playing guitar, exercise, and collecting vinyl.
- bbyrket@workfirstcasualty.com
- Tel: 302.438.4596
Blair L. Byrket joined Work First Casualty Company in December 2020. She will be focused on establishing, growing and maintaining relationships with agents and brokers while ensuring ease of doing business. Blair’s concentration will be new business growth. Blair has 14 years of experience in the workers’ compensation insurance industry. She started her underwriting career as a lead underwriter for Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc. Blair concentrated on the retail and construction industries. She then joined United Heartland as a business development consultant. Her experience grew in the healthcare, municipality, manufacturing and non-profit sectors. In 2016, Blair joined Brickstreet Insurance as a regional production underwriter. Brickstreet Insurance then affiliated with Motorist Mutual Insurance Group and became Encova Insurance. During her tenure, Blair gained knowledge and experience in higher hazard workers compensation risks and had an open risk appetite. Blair has a demonstrated track record of displaying underwriting discipline that has resulted in long-term book profitability. Blair has a vast knowledge of various underwriting products including guaranteed cost and various loss sensitive products. Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management from Samford University in Birmingham, AL. She resides in Danville, IL. Blair is a dog enthusiast and an avid foodie.
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But that’s only half the battle.
We want to hear from you, so we make it easy. When you call us, your call won’t be answered by a computer only to be placed on hold while you wait in line. These are our direct lines.
WE ANSWER EVERY EMAIL RESPOND TO EVERY PHONE CALL EVERY TIME
We don’t hide behind gatekeepers or call centers. We’re right there with you, every step of the way.