Bureau Seeks Nominations for next Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence in Workers’ Compensation

Tuesday, February 04, 2025 | 09:00am
Five stars above the text "Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence in Workers' Compensation" with a photo of her underneath.

The Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation is accepting nominations year-round for the Sue Ann Head Award for Excellence in Workers' Compensation. The bureau encourages nominations of individuals who have or are currently making a lasting, positive impact on Tennessee's workers' compensation system.

Nominees must have been involved in the Tennessee workers' compensation system for at least five years in one of the following categories: employer or employer's representative, employee representative, service provider, claims professional, medical provider, or legal profession.

Nominations will be judged on the nominee's overall service based on the quality and impact on Tennessee's workers' compensation system. That impact may have resulted from a single action that had a notable effect or from a sustained record of positive contributions over the nominee's career. The work should reflect the bureau's mission of minimizing the impact of work-related injuries through processes that are fair, efficient, and accessible to all participants in the Tennessee workers' compensation system. Nominations will be evaluated by a panel of industry professionals independent of the bureau.

Don’t miss out on nominating a deserving individual. The number of nominations will be reviewed by March 1, 2025. If there are insufficient nominations for qualified candidates by that date, the applications may be rolled over to the following year.

Past recipients of this award include:

  • Kitty Boyte, partner, Peterson White, LLP 
  • Bob Pitts, senior policy adviser, Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee
  • Jody Barnes, field case manager, Sedgwick 
  • Shirley Vincent, owner, Guardian Medical Consulting, LLC
  • Terry Hill, partner, Manier & Herod

About Sue Ann Head

Sue Ann Head, former Administrator of the Tennessee Division of Workers' Compensation, dedicated her career to improving the lives of injured workers. She served for more than 45 years, leading the division through significant reforms and implementing crucial programs. Her leadership extended beyond Tennessee, as she served on national boards and committees. As former assistant administrator Jeff Francis describes her, “She was the epitome of grace.”