Category: The Diary of a Retiree Dropout

If your organization feels a little stretched lately, you're not imagining it. Across the workers' compensation system, experienced professionals are retiring at a pace that is beginning to reshape the industry. Claims professionals, nurse case managers, risk managers, safety professionals, attorneys, regulators, medical providers, and administrators are leaving behind careers built on decades of experience, judgment, and institutional knowledge. When we talk about workforce shortages, we often focus on the…

Read More

Professional brand is not a LinkedIn summary. It is what people say about your work when you are not in the room.  In workers’ compensation, that conversation may determine who gets trusted with the industry’s future. A white paper published by Risk & Insurance and Optum Workers' Compensation in May 2026 highlights that the workers’ compensation industry is confronting a growing talent crisis as a significant portion of its experienced…

Read More

Originally Published 4/6/26. Those of you who have seen me present on stage know that I always find a way to incorporate my horses into the mix.  In my mind, the horsemanship lessons are directly parallel to what we as leaders, managers, and teammates encounter daily.  My hope is this approach helps the message stick. Today is not a good day as I’m preparing to say goodbye to my biggest…

Read More

Originally Published 11/4/25. Wow, it’s been six months since my last update on my continued failure at retirement! Spoiler alert: time doesn’t slow down just because you hit that milestone. I’ll let you decide if I truly qualify as “retired.” As I write this update, exactly one year ago today, I was on a plane to Hawaii with family and my dearest friends to celebrate my retirement. I can still…

Read More

Originally Published 4/23/25. I have to say, returning to work again after retirement feels different. Maybe it’s the four-month breather I gave myself, or maybe it’s the simple truth that this time, I’m working because I want to, not because I must. That probably sounds a little harsh, so let me back up. I truly loved my time working at the University of Texas System. It felt safe, meaningful, and…

Read More

Originally Published 3/19/25. Yep, that’s me! I retired in September 2024, and less than six months later, I was back at work. Whoops? Like many, I had long imagined stepping away from the daily grind, the stress, the deadlines, and that little voice in my head always asking, Am I doing enough? I was fortunate to have a career I loved; one I had set my sights on early. Leading…

Read More