Back to Claims School
Stephanie Neuenfeldt, MBA, CPCU, ACP, SCLA, AINS, AIC, has spent 20 years building a career around the people and processes that shape workers’ compensation outcomes. She serves as Regional Workers’ Compensation Claims Director for EMC Insurance Companies and has held claims leadership and operational roles focused on developing talent, improving performance, and strengthening the customer experience. Her work combines operational discipline with a genuine interest in how people learn, adapt, and grow. She approaches complex claims challenges with curiosity and looks for practical ways to make strong ideas easier to understand and use. That combination has made education, mentorship, and continuous improvement central parts of her leadership.
Stephanie also brings creativity into a field where professionals are often working within highly structured systems. She believes learning becomes more valuable when people can connect technical information to the decisions they make every day. Her leadership reflects a willingness to examine existing processes, ask whether they still serve the desired outcome, and create better ways to support teams when improvement is needed. As a member of the Executive Council for the CLM Claims College School of Workers’ Compensation, she brings the perspective of a claims leader who understands both the operational demands of the work and the importance of developing the people responsible for doing it. Her goal is to help professionals leave Claims College with ideas they can actually put to work.
What originally drew you to workers’ compensation?
I was drawn to workers’ compensation because it combines the analytical side of claims management with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
Every claim represents a person facing an unexpected challenge. I have always appreciated the opportunity to help injured workers navigate recovery while also balancing the needs of employers and other stakeholders.
The combination of analysis, problem-solving, and human impact continues to make the work meaningful to me.
What perspective do you bring to the School of Workers’ Compensation?
I bring the perspective of a claims leader who is passionate about developing people, improving processes, and creating exceptional outcomes for injured workers.
One of my strengths is finding creative ways to make learning engaging and memorable. I enjoy helping claims professionals connect technical knowledge with practical application because information becomes much more useful when people understand how to apply it in their daily work.
Complex concepts do not need to feel inaccessible. Good education should help people understand the material and feel confident using it.
Why is that expertise important for today’s claims professionals?
Claims professionals are working in an environment with increasing complexity, evolving regulations, and rising expectations from customers.
Technical knowledge remains essential and professionals also need critical thinking, adaptability, strong communication skills, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Claims rarely develop exactly as expected and professionals need the confidence to adjust when new information changes the direction of the file.
Continued learning helps people strengthen both their expertise and their ability to respond thoughtfully when the work becomes complicated.
What has professional experience taught you that a textbook never could?
Every claim has a human story behind it.
Processes and procedures provide important structure while trust, listening, and an understanding of individual circumstances often influence how effectively the claim moves forward. Experience has also taught me the value of creativity because some of the strongest solutions begin when someone is willing to look at the problem differently.
Professional growth happens when we remain open to better ways of thinking and working.
What do you hope students gain from learning with you at Claims College?
I want students to leave feeling more confident, curious, and empowered in the way they approach claims.
My goal is to help them strengthen their technical knowledge while keeping a people-first mindset present in their decisions. I also want them to leave with practical information they can use immediately when they return to work.
Learning becomes especially valuable when it changes what someone feels capable of doing next.
Complete this sentence: “Excellent claims professionals understand that…”
Every decision they make impacts someone’s life, and the best outcomes come from balancing expertise, empathy, and accountability.
Claims professionals carry tremendous responsibility because their decisions influence recovery, communication, employment, and the overall experience of the claim. Expertise provides the foundation while empathy helps professionals understand the people affected by the process.
Accountability keeps decisions grounded in the responsibilities of the system. Strong claim handling requires all three.
What might Claims College students enjoy knowing about you?
Long before I began leading claims teams, I spent a lot of my time riding horses and competing in horse shows.
I grew up on a family farm and developed a love for animals along with a strong appreciation for hard work. These days, one of my favorite roles is being a proud horse show mom and cheering on my children as they compete.
Horses taught me quite a bit about perseverance and patience. Those lessons continue to influence how I lead people today.
Ready to Head Back to Claims School?
The strongest claims professionals never stop learning. Join the workers’ compensation community in Baltimore from September 9–11, 2026, for the CLM Claims College and three days of practical education, meaningful discussion, and professional connection. The School of Workers’ Compensation gives students the opportunity to strengthen technical knowledge, sharpen professional judgment, and learn directly from experienced industry leaders. Each class is designed to help professionals return to their organizations with greater confidence and new ideas they can apply to their work. Explore the School of Workers’ Compensation and reserve your seat at Claims College today.
The CLM Claims College School of Workers’ Compensation is powered by Paradigm. WorkersCompensation.com proudly sponsors the School’s study halls.
