Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
Kentucky workers' comp official elected vice president of southern association

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 28, 2006) - William P. Emrick, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Workers’ Claims, is vice president-elect of the Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators. Emrick’s election came at the organization’s recent annual meeting in Baltimore.

"I am proud to have the opportunity to place our commonwealth in a leadership role on workers’ compensation, an issue of great importance to employers and their employees," Emrick said.

The Southern association was formed in 1949 to lend support and resources to its members in the administration of workers’ compensation laws. Kentucky is among 18 member jurisdictions. Others are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Emrick, a graduate of the University of Kentucky and its College of Law, practiced law in Ashland before joining Governor Ernie Fletcher’s administration in January 2004.

Governor Fletcher appointed him as executive director of the Office of Workers’ Claims, an agency of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC), in August 2004. He was confirmed by the Kentucky Senate in February 2005.

Emrick also has served as executive director of the EPPC Office of Legal Services, acting commissioner of the Department of Labor, acting executive director of the Office of Financial Institutions and general counsel of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.