Industrial Commission General Information
Executive Bios
Three Governor-appointed Commissioners lead the IC. Each Commissioner must have at least six years experience in workers' compensation and at least one member must be licensed to practice law in Ohio.
By reason of previous vocation, employment, or affiliation, one member must represent employees, one must represent employers, and one must represent the public.
Each Commissioner serves a six-year term.
The Chairperson is the head of all administrative functions at the Industrial Commission and the Executive Director manages the agency’s day to day operations.
Gary M. DiCeglio, Chairperson
Employee Member
Dates of Service: July 2007 - June 2013
Through a lifelong dedication to worker safety issues, Gary brings a wealth of workers' compensation experience to his role as Chairperson of the Industrial Commission of Ohio.
Originally from Akron, Ohio, Gary earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Akron in 1988. In 1992, he received his law degree after graduating cum laude from the University of Akron School of Law.
After law school, Gary began a private law practice, focusing on workers’ compensation matters.
As an employee of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Gary became a Division Chairman with the United Rubber Workers, a labor union for workers employed by rubber manufacturers. When the United Rubber Workers merged with the United Steelworkers in the 1990s, Gary worked to improve its members' wages and benefits as a lobbyist in Washington D.C.
In 1998, Gary joined the Ohio AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the United States, as the Director of Compensation and Safety. In this position, Gary focused on worker safety issues, establishing Ohio’s prescription drug discount card program and raising the state minimum wage. Gary also played an important role in crafting Senate Bill 7, which made numerous changes to workers' compensation laws in Ohio.
Gary is a member of the Ohio Bar Association and resides in Blacklick, Ohio.
Kevin R. Abrams
Public Member
Dates of Service: August 2005 - June 2011
Kevin brings a wealth of workers’ compensation experience to his role as Industrial Commissioner, including service as a staff attorney and Assistant Law Director for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. He has extensive experience with self-insuring employers, which will serve him well as the Chairman of the Self-Insuring Employers Evaluation Board, included in his responsibilities as the public member of the Industrial Commission.
Originally from Williamsburg, Ohio, Kevin earned a B.A. in Psychology from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1978. In 1982, he received his law degree from the Ohio State University College of Law. While in law school, Kevin was a member of the Ohio State Law Journal.
As Assistant Law Director for BWC since 1988, Kevin provided legal advice to BWC in virtually all areas of workers’ compensation. His primary areas of responsibility included oversight of administrative and court settlements of BWC claims, self-insurance legal issues, bankruptcy and collection matters, and special projects involving claims issues. Additionally, Kevin served as Chairperson of the Self-Insured Review Panel (SIRP), liaison to Attorney General and Special Counsel for court cases, and as a frequent contact with the IC regarding interagency issues. Kevin addressed complicated claims issues in various areas such as permanent total disability, Disabled Workers’ Relief Fund, and violations of specific safety requirements. Kevin is also a frequent lecturer on workers’ compensation issues.
In addition to his public service, Kevin was also in private practice, focusing on workers’ compensation matters.
Jodie M. Taylor
Employer Member
Dates of Service: July 2009 - June 2015
Her first day on the job was a homecoming for the newest Industrial Commissioner. Years before she was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland as the employer member of the Commission, Jodie M. Taylor worked at the IC as an assistant.
From 1997 to 2000, Jodie served as an assistant to an IC Commissioner. In this role, she performed legal and legislative research, assisted during hearings, and gained an extensive understanding of the agency.
After leaving the IC, Jodie served as an attorney for two Columbus law firms, where she represented state-fund and self-insured employers at all levels of IC hearings and in court actions throughout Ohio. She is also a frequent lecturer on workers’ compensation issues with extensive legal knowledge in both the private and public sectors.
Jodie earned her bachelor’s degree in diplomacy and foreign affairs from Miami University in 1991. While at Miami, Jodie studied overseas in Luxembourg. In 1995, she received her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law. She is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and Columbus Bar Association. She is also an Ohio State Bar Association board-certified specialist in workers’ compensation. She began her legal career as an attorney with an Akron law firm, where she represented injured workers.
Jodie lives in Columbus with her husband, Michael. In October 2009, they welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, Evan and Elizabeth.
Christa D. Deegan
Executive Director
Executive Director Christa Deegan is passionate about making a difference at the Industrial Commission. She hit the ground running on her first day in July 2008, and has spearheaded many positive changes in agency operations. With over 20 years experience in legal leadership, ethics, EEOC, civil rights cases, workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation issues, Christa is a perfect fit for our evolving agency.
“The Commission has realized some very significant and positive changes during the past eighteen (18) months,” said Christa. “We continue to implement new processes and improvements as we work together to move the Commission forward.”
Mrs. Deegan has worked as an Assistant US Attorney for the United States Department of Justice, an Assistant County Prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, Ohio and for the United States Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). As Supervisory General Counsel at the TSA, she managed subordinate attorneys, paralegals and clerical staff. During the course of her career, she has received numerous law enforcement commendations and awards of extraordinary performance. She graduated from the Ohio State University and Capital University’s School of Law.
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