IBI/Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum

07:30 AM - 08:00 AM CT

Continental Breakfast

08:00 AM - 08:15 AM CT

Welcome & Opening Remarks

08:15 AM - 08:35 AM CT

Unpaid Caregiving and Health and Productivity at Work: The Good, the Bad, and the OPPORTUNITY

43% of us are serving as unpaid caregivers. 70% of us have at least one mental health impact. How we support this population could make the difference between an engaged, loyal, and productive workforce, and a mad dash to the door. We live and work in a care economy. That care is having a direct impact on our top and bottom line – in good, and not-so-good ways.

Alexandra Drane, Co-founder and CEO, ARCHANGELS

08:35 AM - 09:15 AM CT

How MGM’s World of Well-being Drove 70% Population-Wide Engagement and an AI-Enhanced Future

Discover how MGM Resorts International has transformed employee well-being and fostered a more engaged workplace. Learn specific strategies to support the overall well-being of a multigenerational workforce and learn how an AI-enhanced future can elevate the employee experience.

Lorna Borenstein, CEO & Founder, Grokker

Patrice Johnson, Director, Wellbeing Benefits, MGM Resorts International

09:35 AM - 10:15 AM CT

What Really Drives Employee Experience on Leave and Disability Programs and Brings the Most Value?

In this session, employers will learn about strategies to improve employee experience by utilizing data, creating delivery solutions, and measuring the results of the efforts. Meta has designed approaches to provide white glove service for their employees taking leave while partnering with their outsourced vendors. Data is key when making decisions on how to create program improvement, assess vendor integration points, and drive employee satisfaction. The panel will share how they started their journey, bumps along the way, and where they are today.

Ryan Green, Benefits Manager - Time Away & Leaves, Meta Platforms Inc.

Grace Hunt, National Account Executive, Lincoln Financial Group

Simon Camaj, LAD and Voluntary Benefits Practice Leader, Senior Partner, Mercer

Lauren MacNeil, AVP, Claims Management, Lincoln Financial Group

09:35 AM - 10:15 AM CT

Asleep At the Wheel or Under Control? Benefits Leaders Share Surprising Truths About Your GLP-1 Strategy

The surge in GLP-1 popularity and utilization is translating into surging Rx costs for employers. The industry is buzzing with new strategies, studies and claims as they work to contain costs while providing appropriate access. But there are 3 big things we AREN’T talking about with GLP-1s. Join senior benefit leaders for a frank discussion on the hidden pitfalls of various utilization management strategies, the health equity impact of GLP-1s and why you need a partner focused on deprescription to drive measurable and sustainable change.

Brooke Banet, Health and Well-being Manager, Trilogy Health Services

Riley Thornton, Benefits Consultant, Corning Incorporated

Frank Dumont, MD, FACP, Senior Medical Director, Virta Health

09:35 AM - 10:15 AM CT

Increasing Access and Decreasing Costs: A Layered Approach to Employee Mental Health

Hear a large employer unveil the story of how recognizing key workforce attitudes plays a pivotal role in empowering leaders to prioritize mental health within their teams and organizations. Through the lens of their journey, this session delves into practical strategies to elevate your leadership approach, provide the appropriate level of mental health care to your organization, and ultimately sow the seeds of wellbeing throughout the organization.

Shanda Brown, Sr. Director of Total Rewards and HR Operations, Sikich LLC

Michael Branca, EVP and Head of Total Rewards, Regions Bank

David Wright, VP, Growth Solutions, Headspace

09:35 AM - 10:15 AM CT

Menopause as a Leadership Opportunity: Enhancing Workplace Productivity and Driving Health Equity

This session tackles the often-overlooked challenge of menopause in the workplace, exploring its significant impact on women’s careers and the broader economic implications. With the US economy facing a $26.6 billion hit due to menopause-related issues, the need for organizations to offer tailored support has become mission-critical. This discussion aims to break the silence on menopause, presenting actionable strategies for leadership to create a more supportive and inclusive environment. By addressing menopause openly, businesses can drive better outcomes for their employees and, in turn, enhance overall workplace productivity and business performance.

April Bettencourt, VP, Global Employee Benefits, VSP Vision

Mary Tinebra, Officer, Inflection

Vikki Walton, MBA, Senior Principal, and Health Equity Leader, Mercer

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM CT

Refreshment Break

Hosted by: MetLife

10:45 AM - 11:25 AM CT

Unified Benefits: How Sikich Consolidated their Spending Accounts (LSA, FSA, HSA) and Internet/Work From Home Reimbursements onto One Platform

Explore Sikich's innovative approach to consolidating Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), internet reimbursement, workspace accommodation stipend, and smartphone reimbursement on a single platform. This session will highlight the strategic advantages of integrating these benefits, including but not limited to addressing diverse employee needs, improving the employee experience, optimizing benefits administration, and saving time and money. Learn from Sikich’s journey, including the challenges they overcame, the solutions they implemented, and the positive outcomes achieved.

Shanda Brown, Sr. Director of Total Rewards and HR Operations, Sikich LLC

Megan Burns, Lead Benefits Solutions Consultant, Benepass

10:45 AM - 11:25 AM CT

The Habit of Health Care: Where’s the Motivation?

Making (and keeping) your employees healthy is a matter of action and habit. But despite your best efforts as an employer, wellbeing has a critical flaw: it isn’t engaging. Until now. Attend this session and dive into the critical aspects of behavior change in health care and why consumer-grade applications from outside of health care can drive differentiated results for your employees.

Michael Branca, EVP and Head of Total Rewards, Regions Bank

Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist,, Author, The Power of Habit

Lindsay Hunter, FSA, MAAA, VP, Consultant Partnerships, Well

10:45 AM - 11:25 AM CT

Making Effective Workforce Decisions with Comprehensive Data Integration

Making Effective Workforce Decisions with Comprehensive Data Integration In this engaging session, Workpartners and Whirlpool will illustrate how an integrated data platform reveals connections between seemingly separate functions, suggests innovative interventions, and allows more comprehensive evaluation of their impact. Whirlpool has used its integrated platform to design unique workforce solutions and implement tailored programs for specific locations. Examples include:

• How incentive programs have a different impact on employee subpopulations.
• How health coverage can be designed to best serve the most vulnerable employees.
• How to use integrated information to optimize injury prevention.

Jennie Wheeler, MBA, AVP, Integrated Analytics, Workpartners

Tonya Finley-Gaskill, Sr. Manager, Global Benefits, Whirlpool

Dr. Ben Hoffman MD, MPH , Chief Medical Officer, Whirlpool

10:45 AM - 11:25 AM CT

How to Choose a Fertility Benefit: Personalized Plans for Every Employee and Every Journey

Fertility benefits have become increasingly popular. They should provide comprehensive support and access to care for maternity through menopause — and pre-pregnancy through parenting. Employers should seek out products that cover all journeys and that also offer personalized care plans developed by vetted medical experts. Finally, employers will also want to prioritize inclusive solutions that provide culturally competent care. During this fireside chat, you will learn more about choosing a benefit and how it will help with recruiting and retention.

Josh Endler, Sr. Director, Customer Success, Carrot Fertility

Linda Lim, Senior Manager, People Operations, Greenhouse

11:40 AM - 12:20 PM CT

Mental Health: Taking a Look Back in Order to Create a Better Program Today

As behavioral health claims continue to increase, employers need to be adaptive in their benefit plan designs as it relates to mental health claims. In partnership with NOAH (Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health), we will provide recommendations for employers to consider as they begin to design their benefit plans looking at potential changes to MHPAEA (Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act), continued increase in states that provide Paid Family Medical Leave programs, and how employers will work with their disability, medical and pharmacy carriers to create a program that can balance the changing landscape.

Samantha Esquivias PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, MSN, MBA, Behavioral Health Clinical Director, NOAH

David Setzkorn, SVP Workforce Disability and Absence Practice Leader, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.

11:40 AM - 12:20 PM CT

Protecting Hearts and Budgets: GLP-1s and Cardiovascular Disease

Research has demonstrated that GLP-1s reduce risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death, as well as a top contributor to absenteeism and lost productivity. But medication alone is not the cure-all. In many head-to-head comparisons, outcomes like blood pressure reduction, weight loss, and cholesterol reduction are greater in those following a behavioral intervention vs. taking medication alone. Providing members with the tools to change their behaviors is vital for long-lasting results. During this session you’ll learn how a simple, cost-effective digital heart health solution – alongside effective medication management – improved clinical outcomes and drove cost savings.

Jessica Strause, Vice President, Total Rewards, Penske Truck Leasing

Victoria Andrews, FNP, Sr. Director, Solution Consulting, Hello Heart

11:40 AM - 12:20 PM CT

The ROI of Better Care: Building Comprehensive Women’s and Family Health Benefits

Traditional health care doesn’t adequately support women’s and family health. Employers have expanded their benefits to fill these gaps in care, but employees often struggle to navigate between disjointed solutions. A lack of comprehensive benefits impacts both employees’ wellbeing and your company’s success. In this session, discover how streamlined women's and family health benefits can empower employees along their reproductive health journey and improve productivity in the workplace.

Susan Carino, Manager, Health & Welfare Programs, The Hartford

Samantha Flores, Senior Director, Client Success, Maven

11:40 AM - 12:20 PM CT

Team Koch: Engaging Data and Design Thinking Drive Employee Wellbeing

Koch Companies, a transportation organization, covers 1,700 members with their self-insured plan. More than 70% of the 1,000 employees drive a truck so work away from home several weeks at a time. After an initial review, clinicians uncovered much higher-than-expected rates of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, sleep apnea, lung disease, depression, and musculoskeletal disease amongst drivers. Koch will share insights and strategy to address rising medical/pharmacy trends and the related productivity impacts.

Dr. Heidi Orstad DNP, RN, PHN, CCM, Clinical Consultant, Marsh & McLennan Agency

12:20 PM - 01:40 PM CT

Luncheon

01:40 PM - 02:20 PM CT

How The Coca Cola Company Is Helping Their Employees Around the Globe Build Families

If you think creating a family forming benefit in the US is complicated, imagine trying to create an equitable approach across 90 countries. In this session, The Coca Cola Company (TCCC) will share their journey to create a family forming strategy focused on global equity of benefits. Learn the keys to a successful approach including benchmarking of existing family forming policies, programs, and benefits across multiple countries, completing a gap analysis against best practices, conducting an RFP and exploring fronting partners to optimize financing. The plan is to expand resources beyond family forming to maternity management, parenting and pediatric support, and menopause and low-T support, all of which may improve absence and productivity.

Melissa Tucker, Senior Vice President, Health Transformation, Aon

Charna Martini, Assistant Vice President, Health Transformation, Aon

Richard McDonald, Head of Global Benefits, The Coca Cola Company (TCCC)

02:40 PM - 03:20 PM CT

How Employers Are Using Next Generation Technology to Maximize the Impact of Benefit Budgets

As the workforce diversifies, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to anticipate and address varying needs. Each year seems to bring a new priority for companies to address with dwindling budgets: wellbeing, inclusion, employee engagement, mental health, etc. Benefits leaders are inundated with pricey point solutions that become stale within a year. Hear from a large employer about how they leveraged next generation technology to flip the dated benefits point solution model upside down, maximizing their benefits budget while increasing program usage and employee satisfaction.

Amanda Jordan, Head of US Benefits Strategy, John Hancock

Amit Parikh, COO, Level

02:40 PM - 03:20 PM CT

Strategies for Addressing Low Cancer Screening Adherence

Despite the crucial role of cancer screenings in early detection and treatment, low adherence rates pose significant challenges. In addition, only four single-cancer screenings are currently recommended by the US Preventative Task Force, leaving the population vulnerable to cancers that go unscreened, which results in ~70% of cancer deaths. The financial implications of late-stage cancer further underscore the urgency of improving screening adherence. Metastatic cancer accounts for over half of employers' total direct cancer spend, averaging over $90,000 per impacted employee per year. This starkly contrasts with the significantly lower costs of treating cancers caught at stage 1, highlighting the importance of early detection. In this session, you’ll learn about successful strategies employers are using to enhance screening adherence, actionable approaches to drive early detection, mitigate financial risks, and optimize outcomes for employees and employers.

Ailene Bui, Senior Director and Head of Employer and Labor Partnerships, GRAIL

Noora Garnett, Vice President, Global Benefits, Hasbro, Inc.

02:40 PM - 03:20 PM CT

Navigating Health Care Benefits: First Horizon's Strategy for a Geographically Diverse Workforce

Discover how First Horizon Corporation is transforming health care benefits to keep employees happy and healthy while controlling costs. With 420 branches across 12 states, First Horizon elevates engagement and satisfaction through customized benefits and effective health care navigation. Learn how they improved benefits understanding, promoted preventive care, and boosted workforce productivity. Explore strategies that blend technology and human support to tackle the unique challenges of a distributed workforce.

Dave Luby, SVP Client Experience, Quantum Health

Courtney Meckes, VP, Benefits & Wellbeing Strategy Leader, First Horizon

02:40 PM - 03:20 PM CT

Case Study: Unveiling the Key Financial and Clinical Outcomes of Collaborative Alliances

Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. (Alliant) has enjoyed a 10-year partnership with Sedgwick Claims Management, Inc. (Sedgwick) in their benefits and health and wellbeing consulting. Sedgwick’s benefits goals and objectives have focused on critically evaluating and monitoring their health plan and determining where there are continued opportunities in addressing certain health behaviors or condition categories. As such, over the years they have introduced multiple point solution programs to improve lagging health indicators and clinical care quality metrics observed within the Alliant Analytics platform across their workforce. This session will present the methodology of this case study and showcase how Sedgwick was able to measure and monitor their Teladoc Health benefit to support diabetes management.

Holly Bentley, Health Data Analyst, Alliant Insurance Services

Katey Bey, Global Head of Total Rewards, Sedgwick

Zarmeen Patil, Health Data Analyst, Alliant Insurance Services

Christopher Pelosi, VP, Lead Health & Productivity Consultant, Alliant Insurance Services

03:20 PM - 03:50 PM CT

Refreshment Break

Hosted by: MetLife

03:50 PM - 05:00 PM CT

Vendor Showcase

Join us for a fun and lively interaction with 8 innovative vendors. Each will have 3 minutes to pitch their product or service with Q&A, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking following the pitches.

Jim Huffman, MSHCT, President & CEO, Integrated Benefits Institute

Matt Ponicall, Vice President, Global Benefits, Honeywell

Alex Henry, Global Benefits Leader, WTW

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM CT

Cocktail Reception

07:45 AM - 08:15 AM CT

Continental Breakfast

08:15 AM - 09:10 AM CT

Leveraging the Impact of Innovative Technology in Diabetes Management

You’ll learn how employers can support the adoption of technology that enables employees to manage their diabetes more effectively. The program is presented by a benefits director that has demonstrated the value of pursuing an aggressive, multi-layered approach to diabetes prevention and management for his population. The session will cover the decision factors, implementation and outcomes, including clinical data and financials that demonstrate the value of the strategy.

David Hines, Executive Director of Employee Benefits, Metro Nashville Public Schools

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Sleep: The Often Overlooked but Critical Intervention Strategy for Mental Health

Did you know 16% of your employees with a mental health disorder also have a sleep disorder? Poor sleep exacerbates mental health issues and vice versa. With the profound impact sleep and mental health have on whole person health, it's time to wake up to sleep as an incredibly powerful intervention strategy. Learn how a coordinated sleep care management plan drives superior health outcomes, cost savings and workplace productivity while decreasing absenteeism.

Katie Kirkland, FSA, Director of Benefits and Wellbeing, Southern Company

Frances Thorndike, PhD, VP of Medical and Scientific Affairs, Nox Health

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

From Awareness to Actionable Strategies: Making Cancer Prevention a Workforce Health Priority

Cancer impacts individual and organizational health. It is one of the most common and costly workforce health challenges and is the top driver of health care cost for employers. Nearly a quarter of organizations’ total health care costs go toward cancer treatment, yet 42% of cancers are preventable. Employers are looking to implement strategies and partnerships to support employee well-being, address the rising cost and increasing prevalence of diseases such as cancer, and get upstream by focusing on awareness and prevention. Join our session to learn how firefighter leadership has taken a unique approach to tackling cancer head-on, including targeted awareness campaigns, strategic engagements with health plans and providers, and a special focus on labor-management partnership. Strategies implemented for the high-risk firefighter population can be applied to any organization.

Christina Bernard, Senior Director, Workforce Health Consulting, Kaiser Permanente

Adam House, Department Chief, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire

Brian K. Rice, President, California Professional Firefighters

Misha McKinney, MHA, RN, OCN, Vice President of Cancer Care Services, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Hospitals

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

The Benefits of Investing in our Diabetics and Pre-diabetics, Including Drug Affordability

Molson Coors Beverage Company places a strong emphasis on their employees, with one of their five core values being Putting People First. They have faced both internal and external challenges, including an on-campus shooting, changing attitudes towards the beer industry, and the potential impact of GLP-1 popularity on overall beverage sales. Even with these pressures, Molson Coors has achieved growth and maintained financial stability. Part of this success can be attributed to their evolving inclusive benefits across medical, pharmacy, and wellbeing for their active population. This presentation will focus on these post-COVID decisions and changes within the pharmacy benefit.

Monica Ko, Director, WTW

Harmony Lussier, Sr Director of Benefits & Wellbeing, Molson Coors Beverage Company

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Treatment Resistant Mental Health Conditions and Workforce Health & Productivity Impact

10:20 AM - 11:00 AM CT

IBI Research: Powering Informed HR Decisions

Join IBI's research team for an insightful session that explores the meticulous process behind our research initiatives and agenda setting. Driven by direct input from our Supplier and Employer members, we prioritize and tackle the most pressing issues in the benefits landscape, including health and well-being programs, effective measurement and management, successful return-to-work strategies, and disability management. This session will also highlight key findings from a recently completed project, showcasing our evidence-based approach and the actionable insights we provide. Our research is designed to deliver practical, implementable solutions that enable organizations to enhance employee health and workplace productivity with confidence.

Carole Bonner, MET, MSAS, Researcher, IBI

Sera-Leigh Ghouralal PhD., Researcher, IBI

Christin Kuretich, Vice President of Supplemental Products, Voya Financial

10:20 AM - 11:00 AM CT

Rethinking Wellbeing Benefits: Using Plan Design to Democratize Vision Care

Vision care isn't always the first thing people think about when you talk to them about benefits, but as we have increased our screen time as a society, vision care has quickly become an essential element to ensuring wellbeing and productivity. Learn how a large employer took a creative approach to their 2023 vision care offerings to better meet the needs of their employees and help employees significantly reduce out of pocket costs while increasing overall satisfaction with this benefit.

Antonio Moraes, CEO and Co-Founder, XP Health

Dan Pikelny, VP, Compensation, Benefits & HR Analytics, ADT

10:20 AM - 11:00 AM CT

GI Disease Is the Next Epidemic

One in four Americans suffer from digestive health issues that are accompanied by uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms. These issues cost a jaw-dropping $136 billion each year, which is more than heart disease, mental health, and trauma. The cost for employers is massive, too. Employees with GI issues are estimated to lose 14 hours of productivity per week and miss 13 workdays yearly. Join this session and learn how you can reduce claims and absenteeism related to GI issues, plan effectively to address this top driver of illness-related lost productivity and better understand the impact of absence due to GI issues on your business.

Jennifer Dietrich, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Benefits and Wellness, Fiserv, Inc.

Bill Snyder, Founder and CEO, Cylinder

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM CT

Refreshment Break

Hosted by: MetLife

11:35 AM - 12:05 PM CT

Hiding in Plain Sight: Addressing the Second Leading Cause of Disability - Migraines in the Workplace

In this session we’ll reveal how to address the hidden cost of migraines in the workplace with evidence-based solutions and resources. Migraines affect 1 in 6 employees, and 1 in 4 middle aged women. Despite its prevalence, migraines remain highly stigmatized in workplace settings. In this session, employers will learn how they can better support employees living and working with migraines through more informed conversations with employees, encouraging a doctor visit or cost-effective accommodations.

Olivia Begasse de Dhaem, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Connecticut, Institute for Headache and Brain Health

Carl Cincinnato, Executive Director, Migraine At Work

11:35 AM - 12:05 PM CT

Employer Panel: Navigating Fiduciary Turmoil, Covering High-Cost Drugs & What Keeps Employers Up at Night

Providing high-quality health care and benefits to employees and families is not only important for their health and wellbeing, but also for retention and recruitment, and it’s the law. According to the DOL, employers as plan sponsors and fiduciaries, are required to offer the best benefits at the best price – the duty of loyalty and the duty of prudence. This has reignited employer efforts to pay attention to their role as fiduciary and requires they know what’s in their contracts with carriers/TPAs, PBMs, consultants/brokers and vendors including how these entities make money. Hear from leading employers in how they are working with their vendor partners to address these key issues – now and in the future.

Cheryl Larson, President & CEO, Midwest Business Group on Health

Pam Hannon, Global Retirement & Healthcare Leader, GE HealthCare

Lesli Marasco, VP of Global Benefits & Well-Being, AbbVie

Carole Mendoza, Vice President of Benefits, Voya Financial

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM CT

Conference Wrap - Up & Prizes

Recapping key conference topics and themes, this wrap-up session will bring major conference takeaways to life, providing you with a summary of all key-takeaways as well as a chance to win prizes.
WHOM YOU WILL MEET
• Corporate executives from:
• Benefits
• Human Resources
• Health Care
• Organizational Development
• Total Rewards
• Talent Management
• Wellness