Taft names Tina Kielmeyer BWC Interim Administrator Print E-mail
NEWS RELEASE - Governor Bob Taft

Friday, June 3, 2005

Governor creates management review team to assist transition and help manage review of investment portfolio

Governor Bob Taft today announced the appointment of Tina Kielmeyer as the interim administrator of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). Kielmeyer, a 23-year veteran of the BWC, has been serving as the Bureau’s assistant administrator and chief operating officer (COO) since April 2004.

Prior to being named assistant administrator and COO, Kielmeyer served as chief of the BWC’s Injury Management Services Division and was instrumental in developing and implementing the BWC’s managed care Health Partnership Program.

Kielmeyer is a graduate of the Ohio State University’s College of Business with a specialized major area of study in insurance and risk management. She has dedicated her career at BWC in the operational functions of workers’ compensation insurance and is a recognized industry expert in the areas of claims processing, injury management and risk management.

“I want to thank Tina for her willingness to step into this leadership role at BWC. As an architect of BWC’s nationally recognized system of care, I have confidence in her abilities to keep BWC focused on its primary functions of providing quality service to the injured workers and employers of Ohio,” said Governor Taft. “It is important to ensure a steady hand will keep the Bureau focused on its successes and, at the same time, assist the management team in their review of the BWC’s investment portfolio.”

Management Review Team
Governor Taft also announced the creation of a management review team to assist interim administrator Kielmeyer with transition issues and to help manage a thorough review of the BWC’s investment portfolio. Governor Taft charged Kielmeyer and the team to do the following and make an initial report to him within 45 days:

1. Complete a systematic review of the BWC investment portfolio, including a review of internal audit and control systems.
2. Contract, if necessary, with independent evaluators to assist with the investment review.
3. Assess BWC investment management and audit staffing.
4. Consult on these matters with the BWC Oversight Commission.
5. Cooperate fully with all ongoing investigations and audits.

Named to the team were:

Tom Hayes: Hayes is director of the Ohio Lottery Commission and will serve as the team leader. Hayes has been Lottery director since January 2005 and previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) from September 2001 through December 2004. Hayes is credited with making substantial management improvements during his tenure at ODJFS. Hayes is also a former Cuyahoga County administrator, holding that post from 1995 to 1997, and again from January 1999 through August 2001. He holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in public administration from Cleveland State University.

Laurie Fiori Hacking: Since January 2000 Hacking has served as executive director of the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS). OPERS manages approximately $65 billion in retirement assets, making it the tenth largest statewide public retirement system in the country and 16th largest in the world. She previously served as director of the statewide Minnesota Public Employees Retirement System.

James Nichols: Nichols has been treasurer of The Ohio State University (OSU) since 1981. He has also served OSU as interim chief executive officer of University Hospitals and as acting vice president for Business and Administration. Nichols oversees an investment portfolio of the university that exceeds $2.4 billion and includes endowment, trusts, employee benefit accounts, debt reserves, cash investments and real estate. He has a B.A. in finance from The Ohio State University.

“I thank these leaders in public investment and agency management for bringing their decades of experience to this very important task,” said Governor Taft. “I know that they will be of great assistance to the interim administrator and provide valuable guidance.”

Governor Taft has asked Director Hayes to also assist in the review of candidates for the permanent BWC administrator position.

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Media Contact: Mark Rickel, Governor’s Press Secretary, at (614) 644-0957.