Each year we accept nominations for awards to individuals who have had a profound impact on the Unemployment Insurance system as researchers, policy leaders and contributors to the integrity of the program. UWC announces the awards at the annual National Unemployment Insurance Issues conference. The conference is hosted by the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation and will be held this year May 27-29, 2020 at the JW Marriott Downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana. Click here for hotel reservations.

Nominations may be made by letter identifying the nominator and the nominee with narrative explaining why the individual is deserving of recognition. A description of each of our national awards and the list of past award recipients is provided below for reference. Please take a moment to think about those who have contributed significantly and send your nomination. We are accepting nominations through March 2nd.

Send nominations to:

Douglas J. Holmes
President
UWC – Strategic Services on Unemployment & Workers’ Compensation
121 Saint Julien Street
Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-805-2208
holmesd@uwcstrategy.org

UI Recognition Awards include:

  • The UWC Outstanding Contribution Award: This award is given to a UWC member or researcher for outstanding contributions to UWC or the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation.
  • The J. Eldred Hill, Jr., Award: This award is named after J. Eldred Hill, Jr., former president of UWC (then UBA), and is given to an individual for excellence in the public policy arena in service to the employer community.
  • The UI Integrity Award: This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated commitment to preserving the integrity of the unemployment system.
  • The Father Becker Award: This award is named for the late Father Joseph Becker, a pioneer and scholar in the development of the Unemployment Insurance system. The award is given to an individual who has made major contributions to unemployment insurance research.
Past award recipients include many national leaders in the UI system, including those from recent years listed below:

Father Becker Award

  • 2019 Joe Vitale (ITSC Director, New Jersey IT Director)
  • 2016 Dr. James Van Erden
  • 2007 Ron Wilus (USDOL Supervisor of Actuarial and Financial Services)
  • 2005 Wayne Vroman (The Urban Institute)

UWC Outstanding Contribution Award

  • 2013 John Sharkey (SIDES Director and US DOL Official)
  • 2012 Chuck Howarth,(Retired VP, California Association of Hospitals & Health Systems)
  • 2008 Hal Meyer (UI Manager, Georgia Pacific and ADP)
  • 2008 Larry Temple (Executive Director, Texas Workforce Commission)
  • 2007 Oregon Employer Council
  • 2004 Norm Raffaell (UI Manager, Weyerhaeuser)
  • 2003 George Bradford and John Davidson (VP of USX and UI Manager/Legal Counsel for Chrysler)
  1. Eldred Hill, Jr., Award
  • 2019 Larry Temple, Executive Director, Texas Workforce Commission
  • 2018 Gay Gilbert (Administrator, US DOL Office of Unemployment Insurance)
  • 2018 William T. (Tommy) Simmons (Texas Workforce Commission)
  • 2017 Matt Harvill, (Kelly Services)
  • 2016 Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts
  • 2016 Indiana State Representative Dan Leonard
  • 2014 Dr. Richard A. Hobbie (NASWA, US DOL, House of Representatives)
  • 2011 Cheryl Atkinson (US DOL and NASWA)
  • 2010 Chuck Yarbrough (HR Manager, Tyson)
  • 2009 Dale Tuvey (Executive Director, Washington State Hospital UI)
  • 2009 Michael Thurmond (Director, Georgia Employment Security Agency)
  • 2008 Lori Roberts (TALX)
  • 2007 Ray Gonzalez (HR Manager, Boeing)
  • 2006 Pete Isberg (ADP)
  • 2006 Edward O. Roberts (Indiana Manufacturers Association)

UI Integrity Award

  • 2019 Tom Byerly (SIDES and Oregon UI Director)
  • 2018 Joseph Mueller (Illinois Department of Employment Security)
  • 2017 Dale Ziegler (On Point Technology)
  • 2017 Linda Townzen, (Wal-Mart)
  • 2017 The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions Improper Payment Prevention Initiative (IPPI) Team
  • 2016 Michael Lorsbach (On Point Technology)
  • 2015 Brett Flachsbarth (Kansas Department of Labor)
  • 2015 Bradford Ward (Texas Workforce Commission)
  • 2014 Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey
  • 2013 Julia Hearthway (Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry)
  • 2013 North Carolina State Representative Julia Howard
  • 2013 North Carolina State Senator Bob Rucho
  • 2012 Matt Weidinger, (House Ways and Means, Human Resources Subcommittee Staff Director)
  • 2012 Steve Arwood, (Michigan UI Director)
  • 2011 Kristen Cox (Director, Utah Workforce Agency)
  • 2011 Mark Perlberg (Oasis Outplacement)
  • 2010 Larry Temple (Texas Workforce Commission)
  • 2009 Governor Haley Barbour (Governor of Mississippi)
  • 2009 Jerry Hildebrand (USDOL staff who Supervised UI legislative Reviews)
  • 2008 Matt Harvill & Carl Camden (UWC Chair and VP for UI for Kelly Services; CEO of Kelly Services)
  • 2007 Phyllis Kennedy, James Webb, & Steve Horton (Alabama Director and Senior Deputies of Alabama Workforce Agency)
  • 2006 Kathryn A. Moore (Chief of Integrity for State of Washington UI agency)