Blissenbach previously worked at Education Minnesota, where she was an attorney in the legal department for nearly 10 years. Prior to working for Education Minnesota, she worked at a private law firm where she practiced labor law. The Diversity Law Institute (DLI) is an international non-profit association of lawyers and law firms dedicated to diversity in all aspects of the legal profession and judicial systems in the United States and Canada. Its purpose and task is to promote the interests of women and minorities in this profession and to assist in the administration of justice to the extent possible. The current membership exceeds 3,700 lawyers, judges, in-house lawyers and established jurists. Members come from all states and provinces of the United States of Canada and also include representatives from Europe and Asia. For more information about IDD, see www.diversitylawinstitute.org. Prior to LD, Swanson was a project manager for the Computer System of the Early Learning Scholarship Program at the Department of Education. Previously, she was Executive Director of Budget at Minnesota Management and Budget, where she focused on education funding and project management of enterprise-wide budget system development. Larry D. Smith (Fellow Emeritus) Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell, P.A. Orlando, Florida The concept of the DLI was developed in 2008 by G. Steven Henry, Executive Director and General Counsel of Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), Dottie M.

Henry, Chief Operating Officer of LCA, and Charles E. Griffin, Sr. (MS) and Justice Rickey J. McKinney (AL). The late Jock M. Smith (AL) of Cochran Firm partnered in 2009 with Jack M. Jack M., then president of the LCA. Williams (GA) of Jones Day, whose former Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, sponsored DLI`s first diversity summit in Atlanta, is involved in the concept. Since then, all LCA Presidents, including Sharla J. Frost (TX), late J. Ric Gass (1943 – 2019), Peter Perlman (KY), late William E.

Wegner (1950 – 2021), Justice Karen F. Green (MA), Rusty Hardin (TX), Marguerite S. Willis (SC), Kenneth J. DeMoura (MA) and Thomas A. Mesereau, Jr. (CA), have helped expand the potential elements and influence of the IDD, increasing the number of members among minority-owned law firms in the United States. The DLI as a separate association took place in 2011, and taking into account the efforts of other organizations involved in diversity-focused initiatives, the Institute then focused on targeted initiatives that were considered targeted for growth and continuity, with the development of additional diversity goals. Linda A. Klein Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Atlanta, Georgia Diane L. Polscer Gordon & Polscer, L.L.C. Portland, Oregon IDD membership is open to all North American lawyers and law firms in all areas of practice, while being associated with the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) and Lawyers Society of America (CLSA) Construction Scholarships. Law firm memberships, sponsorships and support are welcome.

Ernest Calderón Calderón Law Offices PLC Phoenix, Arizona John Burritt McArthur Law Firm John Burritt McArthur Berkeley, California The DLI is also coordinating with the Trial Law Institute (TLI) to create an archive of jury demographics in jurisdictions across North America through membership fees. For more information on the archives, please contact G. Steven Henry at Steve.Henry@nulllitcounsel.org. Manny D. Pokotilow Caesar Rivise, PC Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Commissioner`s Office 443 Lafayette Road N. St. Paul, MN 55155 Heather S. Heidelbaugh Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl LLC Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Prior to assuming the role of temporary commissioner, Blissenbach was Deputy Commissioner of IDD and led the work of labor standards, Minnesota OSHA Compliance, Minnesota OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation, Office of the Advocate General, Research and Statistics and Projects and Planning. She joined the DLI in June 2019 as Deputy Commissioner of the DLI for Enforcement and Compliance Strategies and Partnerships. For more information on IDD membership or sponsorship, please contact Avery Henry at Avery.Henry@nulldiversitylawinstitute.org.

Swanson has led DLI`s financial services since 2016 and has helped lead DLI initiatives such as Work Comp Campus, building renovation projects, and agency sustainability efforts. Andrew Berger Leichtman Law PLLC New York, New York Kristy Swanson is Assistant Commissioner of idD. In addition to her role as Director of Financial Services, she oversees DLI`s projects and planning, facilities management and business continuity plan, and acts as the link between DLI and Minnesota IT Services. Daly`s experience in private practice has been devoted to defending workers` compensation. She has advised employers and insurers and has litigated, negotiated and litigated cases before DLI, the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) and the Workers` Compensation Court of Appeal (WCCA). Daly joined the public sector when she joined the Hennepin County Attorney`s Office, where she led the Hennepin County and Hennepin County Medical Center workers` compensation teams. She has advised and advised on liability decisions and lawsuits before DLI, OAH and WCCA. Thomas A. Mesereau, Jr., Co-Chair of the Mesereau Law Group, APC Los Angeles, California The Honourable Helen C. Adams U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa Davenport, Iowa Perushek earned a Master`s degree in Public Policy and Social Work from the University of Chicago.

Kate Daly is an Assistant Commissioner in the Workers` Compensation Division of the IDD. Daly comes from the Attorney General`s Office in St. Paul City has DLI and has nearly two decades of experience in workers` compensation in both the private and public sectors. Blissenbach is a labor law specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and received her law degree from the University of Minnesota. She is married, has two children and lives in Minneapolis. Since 2019, she has been working as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the DLI. Prior to joining DLI, Perushek served as Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Mark Dayton in 2017 and 2018 regarding initiatives for DLI and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Prior to that, she served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for nine years, including as the President`s Legislative Director, where she helped develop and pass the Women`s Economic Security Act in 2014, an effort that first led her to DLI`s work.

Steven W. Ouzts (Fellow emeritus) Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A. Columbia, South Carolina Benny Agosto, Jr. Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner Houston, Texas Michael HuYoung Barnes & Diehl, P.C. Richmond, Virginia Daly received his bachelor`s degree from the University of St. Thomas and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. Swanson holds a master`s degree in public policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Hector J. Lombana Lombana Hoelle Trial Law Coral Gables, Florida Kate Perushek is acting Assistant Commissioner of IDD. Since February 2021, she has been Deputy Commissioner of the DLI for the Building Codes and Permits Division (CCDC), Government Relations and Workforce Development Program.