The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has recently appointed Matt West as the permanent administrator of the Workers’ Compensation Division (WCD), a role he has been filling on an interim basis since January 2024. With a tenure spanning more than 19 years within the workers' compensation industry, West brings a wealth of experience to the helm, having dedicated 18 of those years to the division itself.
According to a press release by the Department of Consumer and Business Services, West's journey with the WCD commenced in 2003 as a benefit consultant. Climbing through the ranks, West has held various supervisory positions, including employment services manager, interim operations manager, and resolution manager, before stepping into the role of deputy administrator in January 2022.
“From the time he started at WCD helping injured workers return to work, Matt has supported workers and employers in Oregon,” Andrew Stolfi, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, stated in the same press release. Stolfi's confidence in West's leadership is evident, as he emphasized that this appointment will strengthen the support for all participants in the state's workers’ compensation system.
For his part, West expressed both honor and enthusiasm for his new role. "I am honored to be selected to serve as the administrator of the Workers’ Compensation Division," West told the Department of Consumer and Business Services. "This is an incredible opportunity to continue to serve and support both workers and employers in Oregon. I look forward to working closely with our dedicated team at WCD and external stakeholders to build on the progress we’ve made over the past year and drive positive change to keep Oregon among the top workers’ compensation systems in the nation." His dedication to the community is evident through his service on several boards related to workers’ compensation and workplace safety.
West, who also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science and Sociology from Portland State University, is an active board member on several prominent industry-related boards. He lends his expertise to the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions, serves as vice president of the Western Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards, and sits on the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences Advisory Board. These roles reflect his deep engagement with the intersection of workers’ rights and compensation issues.
