The Workers' Compensation Institute's (WCI) 69th annual Workers' Compensation Educational Conference (WCEC), held Aug. 17 to 20 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Florida, once again saw record attendance numbers. The event officially opened Aug. 18 with its general session, during which WCI General Chair Jim McConnaughhay welcomed the crowd and Steven A. Rissman, WCI's program chair, made opening remarks.

Rissman interviewed the conference's keynote speaker, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, about the hardships of his life and his perseverance in overcoming them. At the end of the interview, a few lucky attendees had the opportunity to play wide receiver to Kelly's quarterback and catch autographed footballs from the NFL Hall of Famer.

Scholarships were awarded to students whose families were affected by work-related injuries, and National Underwriter honored its Excellence in Workers' Compensation Risk Management winners for their stellar accomplishments. Debbie Michel, president of the award's sponsor, Helmsman Management Services, was on hand to present the winners—AmQuip, Danos and Iron Mountain—with their award statuettes.