by Jennifer M. Smith, Esq.

Governor Deal has appointed attorney Frank R. McKay as the new Chairman of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. He will fill the vacancy left by outgoing Chairman Richard Thompson, who is returning to private practice. McKay’s post will take effect on March 1, 2013. McKay previously worked as a special assistant attorney representing the State of Georgia in workers’ compensation claims. More recently, he was a partner at the Gainesville firm of Stewart, Melvin and Frost where he specialized in prosecuting and defending civil litigation cases in business, construction, insurance and contract disputes. He has also served on the licensure and self-insurance committee in the State Board of Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council since 2011.