2024 Award Recipients
J. Eldred Hill, Jr. Award Recipient 2024
Stephen W. Carter
Steve Carter dedicated much of his professional life to the Unemployment Insurance Industry. He was a national expert on federal and state unemployment tax issues and became the “go to guy” for many employers across the country. His advice over the years enabled employers to fully understand their UI tax obligations and to avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary taxes.
Steve initiated and maintained director level connections with state and federal unemployment agencies for over 20 years as the Senior Director of Government Relations at Equifax Workforce Solutions.
The partnerships that Steve developed resulted in collaborative discussions and the resolution of difficult problems that otherwise would have gone unresolved. Steve had a knack in cutting to the basic issues and assisting taxpayers and UI administrators to come to agreement. His expertise was broadly recognized in the UI Industry, and he was regularly called upon to conduct presentations at national employer conferences, including the annual National UI Issues conference.
Steve worked directly with many state agencies to develop state unemployment trust fund financing
approaches, including legislation. He was always willing to share his experience and expertise for the betterment of the UI system and would coach colleagues and business partners and take on additional projects when necessary.
Steve’s 40+ years of experience included work for two of the major accounting firms, KPMG, and Arthur Andersen LLC, serving as a member of the Michigan Employment Security Appeals Board, teaching as an instructor at the Michigan State University School of Labor Relations, and serving as a member of the Missouri Unemployment Advisory Council.
Steve recently made the decision to retire, but sadly passed away on March 22, 2024, before he was able to enjoy his retirement years. It is our honor to recognize Stephen W. Carter posthumously with the J. Eldred Hill Jr. award for his lifetime of service to the UI industry.
J. Eldred Hill, Jr. Award Recipient 2024
Bruce R. Madson
For over 28 years in Ohio and nationally, Bruce Madson has been a leader in policy, legislation and the administration of workforce development and unemployment insurance programs. Beginning with his work as Executive Director for the Central Ohio Rural Consortium to his service as Senior Assistant Director and Deputy Director positions at the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services, Bruce has distinguished himself as a thought leader in shaping responses to traumatic economic recessions and workforce programs to meet the needs of employers. In fact, Bruce’s commitment to improving these programs continues in his current role as a Specialist Executive at Deloitte Consulting in the Labor and Workforce Practice. His advice has been relied upon by state and federal officials from both major political parties. Bruce’s contributions range well beyond a listing of his extensive positions including:
In recognition of his contributions to development of national policy and legislation, we are honored to recognize Bruce R. Madson with the J. Eldred Hill Jr. Award.
UI Integrity Award 2024
Representative Sean Tarwater
Representative Tarwater has been a key sponsor of critical Unemployment Insurance legislation throughout his time in the Kansas legislature and has chaired the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development committee since 2019. Beginning in 2020, Rep. Tarwater has been instrumental in supporting and passing critical UI legislation to include a complete system and program modernization in Kansas.
Representative Tarwater made UI fraud and identity theft the #1 issue in his House Commerce committee. He identified HB 2196 the priority bill of the session, which offered common sense and evidence-based UI reforms to better serve all Kansans and Kansas employers in the short- as well as the long-term.
The reforms he initially championed included:
Rep. Tarwater was hands down THE legislative champion for the critical and necessary reforms to protect the integrity and solvency of the Kansas UI Trust Fund. Without his leadership and commitment to finding real solutions, more than 59,000 Kansas RATED employers would have experienced UI tax rate increases ranging from 32% to 700% beginning in 2023. Conversely, Kansas employers experienced a 20% decrease in their UI tax rates resulting in $150M in savings for 2023-2024.
In 2022, Rep. Tarwater successfully championed HB 2703 addressing provisions to the My Reemployment Plan program and enacting the Kansas targeted employment act to facilitate employment of persons with developmental disabilities through a tax credit incentive for employers. In 2024, HB 2570 – The Kansas Unemployment Insurance State Trust Fund Solvency, System Integrity, and Tax Credit Preservation Act of 2024 was passed and signed into law, which provides additional tax savings, correlates and indexes the taxable wage base along with indexed benefits, strengthens “temporary unemployment” provisions, and addresses interview ghosting.
He has consistently supported key Unemployment Insurance legislation during his eight years of service on behalf of Kansans and Kansas employers. Rep. Tarwater distinguished himself throughout the 2021-2024 legislative sessions by championing three critical and considerable employment security reform bills that will have positive and lasting implications for the Kansas business community.
We are honored to recognize Rep. Sean Tarwater with the UI Integrity Award for his leadership and commitment to integrity regarding Unemployment Insurance in Kansas.
UWC Outstanding Contribution Award 2024
Neil A. Mac Vicar
Neil MacVicar has served as an effective advocate and as an Attorney representing the Michigan Health and Hospital Services for more than 30 years.
Throughout his career, Neil has been a proponent for developing public policy and maintaining the integrity of the unemployment insurance system both within Michigan and in the Federal arena. He has been a relentless advocate for the employer community and particularly for protecting the interests of reimbursing employers.
Mr. Mac Vicar was an active UWC member. He has served as a presenter at the annual National UI Issues conference convened by the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation. He also served as a Board member for UWC and the National Foundation.
Neil has also been a leader among hospital association unemployment programs, coordinating national meetings to address common unemployment insurance issues arising for hospitals. Neil recently retired from his position as Vice President and Attorney with the MHA Unemployment Compensation Program.
We are honored to present Neil A. Mac Vicar with the UWC Outstanding Contribution Award.
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