Workers’ Compensation Section

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES by order of presentation

Gary M. Cannon SC Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Gary M. Cannon was appointed executive director of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission in March 2009. He reports to the seven Commissioners and is responsible for the administration and operation of the Commission’s five functional departments. Mr. Cannon previously served as Director of Fund and Membership Development for the International City/County Management Association, the Director of Intergovernmental Relations for the Municipal Association of South Carolina and he also served in management positions in city and county government in North and South Carolina. He currently serves on the International Industrial Accidents Boards and Commissions Board of Directors and the United Way of South Carolina He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned Bachelor of Political Science and Master of Public Administration degrees and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute of the University of Virginia, the South Carolina Executive Institute and Leadership South Carolina.

Representative Nancy R. Mace Daniel Island, SC

State Representative Nancy Mace grew up in Goose Creek, S.C. and eventually graduated from Stratford High School, but not before working at the Waffle House on College Park Road in Ladson. She graduated magna cum laude from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where she was the school’s first female to graduate from its Corps of Cadets in 1999. She later earned a masters degree in Mass Communication from The University of Georgia. She is the author of In The Company of Men: A Woman at The Citadel (Simon & Schuster, 2001). Her business experience stems from corporate technology consulting to starting her own company as well as commercial real estate. Mace also served as a Coalitions Director and Field Director for Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.; she worked in seven different states during the 2016 presidential primaries and played a pivotal role in the Lowcountry’s First Congressional District during the South Carolina primary. She is the mom of two children aged 10 and 12.

Allison C. Nussbaum McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC Mt. Pleasant, SC

Allison Nussbaum is a Member of MGC in the Charleston office. Since 2005, Allison has focused her practice on workers’ compensation defense, representing employers, self-insureds and insurance carriers before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and in state courts. Allison is an active member in national, state and local professional organizations devoted to workers’ compensation issues. She regularly lectures before various organizations on issues related to workers’ compensation. Allison is a former law clerk to the Honorable Diane S. Goodstein, Judge of the First Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. Outside of work, Allison enjoys volunteering, playing tennis and spending time on the water with her dogs and family.

Allison P. Sullivan Bluestein Thompson Sullivan LLC Columbia, SC

Allison Sullivan is a partner in the Columbia firm of Bluestein Attorneys, where her practice is concentrated in the areas of workers' compensation and civil litigation. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Furman University in 2001 and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2005. Ms. Sullivan is a member of the South Carolina Association for Justice, the John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court, and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. She is a past-president of the South Carolina Injured Workers Advocates. Ms. Sullivan is a recipient of the SC Lawyers Weekly Leadership in the Law award, University of South Carolina School of Law Compleat Lawyer Silver Medallion, and was recognized as the 2014 SC Bar Young Lawyer of the Year. Ms. Sullivan is a co-author of the Law of Workers’ Compensation Insurance in South Carolina (7th Edition) and is a frequent CLE speaker on workers’ compensation issues.

Commissioner T. Scott Beck Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Commissioner Beck was appointed to the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission on June 30, 2008 by Governor Mark Sanford. In 2010, he was elected by the Commission as Interim Chairman and subsequently nominated by Governor Nikki Haley for reappointment in 2012, 2014, and 2016 as Chairman. In 2018, he was re-appointed as Chairman by Governor Henry McMaster. He graduated with a BS Degree from Penn State University in 1981 and from the University of South Carolina School Of Law in 1999. Prior to joining the Commission, he served in various positions in law enforcement from 1979- 1996 and most recently as an Assistant Attorney General from 2000-2008 prosecuting healthcare fraud cases. Commissioner Beck served as a City Councilman in North Augusta, South Carolina from 1993- 1996, and was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, serving from 1996-2000. Commissioner Beck currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Workers' Compensation Judiciary and President of the Southern Association of Workers' Compensation Administrators.

Commissioner Susan S. Barden Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Susan S. Barden was appointed by Governor Sanford in May 2004 to serve a six-year term ending June 2010, and reappointed in 2010 to serve another six-year term ending June 2016. She was reappointed by Governor Haley to serve another six-year term ending 2022.

Commissioner R. Michael Campbell II Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

R. Michael Campbell, II (Mike) was appointed by Governor Nikki Haley as a Commissioner to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission in July 2014. Prior to being appointed to the commission, Mr. Campbell was a candidate for Lt. Governor of South Carolina and in June of 2014, advanced for the second time in eight years to a two-way Republican runoff for the office. He has an extensive background as a small business man, having owned and operated businesses with varying interest in the state, national and international markets. These include businesses involved with business development, the technology and energy sectors, the stone industry, the hospitality industry, reconstruction efforts in Iraq, as well as, a fast-food chain of 19 Wendy’s restaurants located throughout South Carolina. In addition, Mr. Campbell has served on various corporate, charitable and community- oriented boards, including PositiveID Corp., IBSS Inc., RDS Solutions Inc., The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Committee, the Boy Scouts of America–Indian Waters Chapter and the South Carolina Alzheimer’s Association.

Governor Mark Sanford appointed Mr. Campbell in 2003 as Vice-Chairman of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Board (DNR) where he served for eight years. During his eight year tenure at DNR, he also served as Chairman of the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, where he headed the department’s law enforcement division on behalf of the board. He continues to serve as a Deputy Law Enforcement Officer for the department.

Mr. Campbell is an avid hunter and lifelong Gamecock fan. He attended the University of South Carolina, is married with two children and resides in Columbia. His term on the Workers’ Compensation Commission expires in 2018.

Commissioner Melody L. James Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Commissioner James was appointed to the SC Worker’s Compensation Commission on April 26, 2012. Before serving on the Commission, Commissioner James was a partner in the law firm Mozingo & James, practicing primarily workers’ compensation defense. Commissioner James is a 1984 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Accounting, and a 1987 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. In addition to practicing law, Commissioner James served as municipal judge for the City of Cayce from 1988 until her appointment to the Commission.

Commissioner Gene McCaskill Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Commissioner Gene McCaskill was appointed for a term beginning on January 3, 2012. Prior to his appointment, he served for nine years as the Senior Executive Assistant in the SC Attorney General’s Office under Attorney General Henry McMaster and Alan Wilson. Mr. McCaskill previously served as Director of Admissions for Camden Military Academy and worked for more than 20 years in his family’s grocery business. Commissioner McCaskill has an extensive record of public service. Mr. McCaskill serviced on the SC Consumer Affairs Commission for over 9 years as a member and as the vice-chair. Mr. McCaskill has also served on the SC ETV Commission and as a member of Kershaw County Council. Commissioner McCaskill is a graduate of Pfeiffer University and holds membership in Phi Alpha Theta international history honor society. He has also served on numerous church and civic boards. Mr. McCaskill has been awarded life membership in Kiwanis International by his local club and he received Key Club International’s highest honor – the Key of Honor – at the Key Club International Convention in 2009.

Commissioner Aisha Taylor Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Commissioner Taylor was appointed to the SC Workers’ Compensation Commission on January 31, 2013. Before serving on the Commission, Commissioner Taylor was a shareholder at Collins & Lacy, P.C., practicing primarily in workers’ compensation defense and employment law.

Commissioner Taylor graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2002 where she was a team captain of the 2002 Women’s Track & Field National Championship Team and a four-year SEC Scholar Athlete. Commissioner Taylor went on to graduate from the USC School of Law in 2006. Following graduation from law school, Commissioner Taylor clerked for the Honorable Brooks P. Goldsmith of South Carolina’s Sixth Judicial Circuit.

Commissioner Taylor currently lives in Blythewood, South Carolina with her husband and two daughters.

Commissioner Avery B. Wilkerson, Jr. Workers’ Compensation Commission Columbia, SC

Commissioner Wilkerson was appointed to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission in June 2008. He served most recently as the Vice President of Countybanc Insurance, Inc. and as the Mayor of the City of Cayce, SC since 1990. He is a graduate of Newberry College and has held numerous positions on various professional and civic boards.