October 2, 2006

CONTACT: Eric Oxfeld 202-637-3463

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2, 2006 – UWC-Strategic Services on Unemployment & Workers' Compensation (UWC) today announced that Douglas Holmes has been selected to head UWC and its National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation & Workers’ Compensation. UWC is the national “voice of business” on unemployment compensation and workers’ compensation. Holmes will succeed Eric Oxfeld, who will be stepping down at the end of November to become Executive Director of the International Workers’ Compensation Foundation.

"We looked long and hard to find the best person for this critically important leadership position,” stated Matt Harvill, Vice President – Unemployment Compensation for Kelly Services and UWC Board Chairman. “Today, it is gratifying to announce that our search has yielded a truly outstanding result. Doug Holmes has exceptional leadership qualities and is an impressive, extremely capable executive. He is a nationally recognized expert within the business community and among federal and state officials. He is intimately familiar with, and has enjoyed many successes in, public policy making. We are very pleased that he will be joining us at UWC to take over from our esteemed and long-time leader, Eric Oxfeld."

“It is a true testament to the reputation and respect for UWC as an organization that we have been able to attract candidates of such excellent credentials – particularly Doug Holmes,” noted Oxfeld. “I have been fortunate to work with UWC’s active members and talented staff for 10 years. This is an outstanding organization, and I am delighted and honored that Doug Holmes will be taking over the helm.”

“The unemployment and workers’ compensation systems provide essential economic security for individuals and businesses across America,” Holmes said. “During my time as a public servant, I have seen first-hand, and admired, the substantial contributions of the business community to ensuring that an effective safety net is in place to protect workers, our communities and state economies in case of unemployment or injury or illness on the job. UWC is widely regarded as “the voice of business” on unemployment and workers' compensation. I am looking forward to beginning this next chapter of my career, and immersing myself in the challenges that must continue to be addressed, such as extension of the national terrorism insurance program, reforming workers' compensation Medicare set-aside procedures, and administrative financing reform of the unemployment program.”

UWC is the only national association exclusively devoted to providing representation for the business community on national unemployment and workers’ compensation public policy.

Holmes joins UWC after a public sector career that includes service as Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as well as Legal Counsel and Unemployment Compensation Director. Holmes is a graduate of The Ohio State University and The University of Toledo College of Law.

Holmes’s nomination will be formally ratified by the full UWC Board of Directors and National Foundation Board of Trustees at their November meeting. Oxfeld will provide transitional consulting services during 2007 with a special emphasis on workers' compensation, including Medicare setaside reform.

-UWC-