HJ272: Celebrating the life of Sue-Sheila Strong Keener.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 272
Offered January 23, 2008
Celebrating the life of Sue-Sheila Strong Keener.
Patron-- McClellan

WHEREAS, Sue-Sheila Strong Keener, former director of the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management State Employees Workers’ Compensation Program, died on October 9, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Sue Keener was born on May 18, 1952, grew up in Queens, New York, and earned a bachelor of science degree summa cum laude from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business; she served the citizens of Virginia for over 20 years as an exemplary state employee; and

WHEREAS, an outstanding administrator, Sue Keener initiated and directed the State Employees Workers’ Compensation Program, saving Virginia taxpayers nearly $114 million since 1999; and

WHEREAS, because of Sue Keener’s excellent leadership, the State Employees Workers’ Compensation Program was awarded one of eight national Innovation in State Government awards from the Council of State Governments in 2002; and

WHEREAS, Sue Keener was an outstanding recipient of the Governor’s Award for Innovation for her resourceful and imaginative approach to managing the State Employees Workers’ Compensation Program as a money-saving public-private partnership; and

WHEREAS, through her vision of "work as therapy," Sue Keener provided advice and guidance to other states that expressed interest in implementing similar programs; and

WHEREAS, Sue Keener was a sought-after speaker at numerous national conferences on workers’ compensation and return-to-work programs; and

WHEREAS, a dedicated public servant, Sue Keener will be remembered as an inspirational and visionary leader for her many innovative solutions to workers’ compensation; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, that the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Sue-Sheila Strong Keener, former Director of the Virginia Department of Human Resource Management State Employees Workers’ Compensation Program; and be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Sue-Sheila Strong Keener as an expression of the esteem in which her memory and service are held by the members of the General Assembly.