Hummel appointed to board

James Hummel of Dover has been named to Ohio’s new Bureau of Workers’ Compensation board of directors.

Hummel, vice president of human resources for Lauren International, will represent employers with more than 100 employees on the 11-member board, which Gov. Ted Strickland announced Tuesday.

The New Philadelphia-based company manufactures gaskets, packing and sealing devices and has more than 500 employees, about 200 salaried and 300 hourly workers. There are three plants in New Philadelphia and two in Cambridge.

According to the Ohio Department of Development, Hummel, who is a graduate of Malone College, supervised the creation of a wellness program that has reduced health and workers’ compensation-related expenses among employees at the company.

The BWC board of directors will oversee bureau funds and be held accountable for the bureau’s operations.

The board is the result of House Bill 100, which was signed into law June 11 and is intended to create a more accountable board in the aftermath of scandals that rocked the bureau during the administration of former Gov. Bob Taft. Those scandals, tied to investments the bureau had in rare coins, led to the convictions of Taft, members of his staff, employees of the bureau and others on various charges.

“It was an honor just to be nominated let alone actually being appointed,” Hummel said.

He applied for the post after the company Lauren uses for workers’ compensation claims asked if he’d be interested.

Hummel, who started at Lauren in 1989 and began working in human resources in 1993, said he thinks his background at Lauren and what Lauren’s accomplished were responsible for his selection.

“We have a very aggressive program at Lauren to control health care costs, identify risks and help employees maintain their health,” said Hummel, who was promoted to vice president of human resources in 1998.

Hummel said the appointment takes effect immediately, and members are in the process of scheduling their first meeting.