National Comp Roundup

… Optimized Outcome putting injured worker recovery front and center

Author: Optimized Outcome

Dec. 9, 2025

This year, Optimized Outcome took the national stage at the 2025 National Comp Conference in Nashville, participating as a primary sponsor and presenting across multiple keynotes, panels, and education-focused sessions.

As a company committed to reshaping the recovery experience for injured workers, Optimized used its presence to highlight the transformational impact of its four-pillar approach — mindset, nutrition, rest, and physical activity — while showcasing founders, educators, and thought leaders who are redefining what recovery can and should look like.

Educators Nathan Quarry and Shannon Bahrke—two high-performance athletes turned recovery advocates—joined the Optimized team for panels, networking events, and book signings, offering personal insights into resilience, preparation, and whole-person healing.

Olympian Shannon Bahrke Opens National Comp

Dream. Believe. Achieve: Fuel Recovery with a Winning Mindset

Optimized educator and Olympic medalist Shannon Bahrke electrified the audience as the conference keynote speaker.

Introduced by Optimized co-founder Brian Allen, Shannon shared her remarkable journey — overcoming two major knee surgeries, a shattered jaw, and years of rehabilitation — to return to competition as a three-time Olympian and World Cup champion.

Her address centered on the power of mindset:

• “Envision the end goal and figure out what you need to do to bring it to life.”

• “Planning and preparation are key.”

• “Everything you need to execute great things is already [in your mind].”

Shannon’s contagious optimism and hard-earned grit mirror the principles behind Optimized’s coaching model. Her lived experience is why she serves as one of Optimized Outcome’s most impactful educators — a real-world example of how recovery accelerates when mindset leads the way.

Surviving to Thriving

Transforming Recovery through Education and Empowerment

Optimized Outcome co-founders Brian Allen and Harvey Warren served as panelists along with Shannon Bahrke and Dr. Melissa Tonn, Chief Medical Officer with Opus Medical delivered actionable insight into a widespread issue: injured workers overwhelmingly want to get better — they simply don’t know how. A five-year study revealed that even the best medical intervention can fail if patients don’t understand their role in their own healing.

The panel explored how structured education and engagement around the four pillars of recovery—mindset, nutrition, physical activity, and rest—turn injured workers from passive recipients into active, confident participants.

When individuals are empowered with the right knowledge, outcomes improve and claim costs decrease. The takeaway: recovery works best when it’s shared between the provider, the employer, and the patient.

60 Tips in 60 Minutes

Perspectives on Putting Injured Workers in the Driver Seat

In one of the conference’s most fast-paced and dynamic sessions, Optimized co-founder Harvey Warren joined a panel of industry experts answering rapid-fire questions about solutions, strategies, and best practices for elevating the injured worker experience.

Harvey emphasized a fundamental truth at the heart of Optimized’s mission:

• “Injured workers want to get better — they just don’t know how.”

• And his opening line resonated across the room: “How are you?” — a reminder that recovery begins with human connection.

Harvey’s contributions underscored the role of clear communication, empathy, and education in reducing friction and accelerating return-to-work timelines.

Networking, Partnerships & Industry Buzz

Beyond presentations, Optimized Outcome took full advantage of the expo floor to connect with key stakeholders: insurers, TPAs, managed-care vendors, employer risk managers, and medical providers. The company’s reps joined conversations about how to integrate recovery coaching, patient education, and holistic care into broader comp strategies.

Given that National Comp draws senior-level decision makers and influencers (claims directors, risk managers, employer safety leads, carrier executives), Optimized Outcome positioned itself to expand its footprint and influence within the workers’ comp ecosystem.

About Optimized Outcome 

Optimized Outcome delivers education-and-coaching-based recovery programs for injured workers and post-surgical patients. Built around four pillars — mindset, nutrition, physical activity, and rest — its peer-guided recovery model helps individuals recover more effectively and return to health. www.optimizedoutcome

About National Comp

National Comp is the nation’s largest annual workers’ compensation and disability management conference & tradeshow, bringing together thousands of industry professionals, decision-makers, and thought leaders. First convened over three decades ago, it remains the premier gathering for education, innovation, and networking in the WC space. www.workerscompenstion.com

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For more information, visit www.optimizedoutcome.com.