Employee Health Care Conference

07:15 AM - 08:00 AM PT

Continental Breakfast

Hosted by:
CVS Caremark
CVS Healthspire

08:00 AM - 08:30 AM PT

Welcome and Opening Remarks

In the current environment of rising costs, rapid technology advancements, and an increasingly complex benefits ecosystem, breakthroughs are required for employers to deliver effective and affordable benefits offerings. WTW leaders will discuss how you can discover breakthroughs that matter to your organization.

08:30 AM - 09:30 AM PT

Embrace Change

Embracing change is at the heart of discovering breakthroughs. The key to unlocking value is to disrupt the status quo by identifying win-win opportunities. Learn how leading employers uncover hidden arbitrage strategies to change employee behavior, improve program designs, and advance the marketplace.

Brian Athow, MD, Human Resources, Fedex

Andrew Gregg, VP, Employee Benefits, Prudential

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Design for Affordability – New Approaches, New Thinking

Plan sponsors are tapping into new payment models, network strategies, and innovative designs to lower the total cost of care. Hear how employers are taking breakthrough approaches to mitigate cost increases and spend health care dollars differently.

Heather Denkert, Senior Manager, Health & Wellness, United Airlines

Karen Miller, Vice President, Total Rewards, Inspire Brands

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Breakthroughs in Obesity & Weight Management

Obesity causes many problems. GLP-1 medications are highly effective but costly. Learn how employers have addressed comprehensive treatment through a mix of prescription drugs, personalized medical management, and food as medicine.

Jason Tzau, Head of US Health Plan Benefit Strategy and Program Management, Amazon

Stevi Evans, Director, Benefits Design and Delivery, WeightWatchers

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Understanding Connected Women’s Care Through the Eyes of Your Member

As employers expand support for women’s health, it’s important to understand the variety of conditions and care one may experience during a lifetime – a concept best understood from both the employee and physician perspective. You will actively participate in this session to explore your employees’ needs and learn how to deliver impactful health benefits that boost productivity and overall health and deliver cost-savings.

Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny

Julie Stadlbauer, Chief Business Development Officer, Progyny

Brittany Martinez, Director, Benefits & Wellness, CHG Healthcare

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Lead with Your Values: Better Experiences, Lower Costs, Higher Engagement

Strong benefits programs are built around a company’s culture and values. Learn how Raymond James and DeVry University implemented health care strategies that drive engagement and lower costs. Discover how to leverage navigation, virtual primary care, second opinions, and ecosystem partners to deliver a better experience for your people.

Nicole Cody, Vice President of Total Rewards, International Paper

Morgan McHugh, Head of Customer Success and Development, 2nd.MD by Accolade, Accolade

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Maximize Your Budget: How Consolidating LSAs and Pre-tax Benefits Transforms Underutilized Benefits with Moderna and Workday

In today's economic landscape, tight budgets demand innovative solutions. Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) offer an opportunity to reallocate existing funds from underutilized, high-cost programs into a more flexible and cost-effective benefit. Rather than viewing LSAs as a net new budget, learn how they can serve as a powerful tool to optimize your existing resources. Join benefits leaders from Workday and others to learn about the financial advantages of only spending what you use in the LSA model, minimizing waste and maximizing value.

Mark Fischer, Head of Product, Co-Founder, Benepass

Jeffrey Stohlberg, Director, Global Benefits, Moderna

Jeannie Franks, Director, Americas Benefits, Workday, Inc.

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Improving Workplace Mental Health: Layered Care and Engagement Strategies That Support Employee Wellbeing

Ensuring that employees not only have access to mental health resources but also actively engage with them is crucial. Discover strategies to enhance utilization and deliver outcomes from HR leaders. We will address the drivers of low EAP engagement rates, discuss the significance of an innovative layered care model, explore effective enrollment strategies, and share impactful outcomes. Attendees will leave knowing how to reduce organizational health care costs and foster a resilient workforce.

Patrick Chanod, Principal, Human Capital, Well-being Center of Excellence, Edward Jones

David Wright, VP, Growth Solutions, Headspace

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Why Is Cancer So Expensive, and What Can HR Managers Do About It?

Despite the crucial role of cancer screenings in early detection and treatment, low adherence rates pose significant challenges. In addition, the US Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends only four single-cancer screenings, while cancers without recommended screenings represent ~70% of cancer deaths. This limitation leaves many cancers undetected until later stages when outcomes are worse. Additionally, late-stage cancer costs employers over $90,000 per employee annually, compared to when caught at earlier stages.

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

Mark Coffin, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

09:50 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Step Away from the Medicine Cabinet: Embracing Movement as Medicine

Chronic pain affects more than the body. It takes a toll on mental health, overall wellbeing, and workplace productivity. Traditional treatments can lead to costly medical interventions such as medication or surgery that can result in more pain, depression and anxiety. New clinical research finds that conservative care, which focuses on non-invasive treatments and lifestyle changes, significantly shifts how pain is treated. Hear how PG&E and Molson Coors Beverage Company are embracing conservative care to reduce costs and improve employee wellbeing.

Jeremy Martins, Benefits & Wellness Program Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

Claire Morrow, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, OCS, Senior Physical Therapy Consultant Manager, Hinge Health

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

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Refreshment Break

Hosted by:
MedImpact
VSP

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Pharmacy Innovation – Pushing the Transparency, Technology & Clinical Outcome Boundaries

The growth in pharmacy expenses far outpaces inflation and consumes more of every dollar spent on health care. Yet an effective response has been elusive. Evolution in pricing models and improvements in the patient experience are the new mandates. Hear from employers who are sponsoring these changes and adopting new models for their employees.

Julia Bryan, Manager, Associate Benefits, Subaru

Sheryl Correa, VP of Total Rewards, City of Hope

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Rethinking Benefits Design – Emerging Solutions

In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, traditional health plan design often falls short. This session will explore new innovations in value-based benefit design, whole-person care, and advanced health management programs. Join us to discover how these cutting-edge approaches can transform your organization’s health benefits, enhance employee wellbeing and support sustainable health care programs.

Debra Tierney, Sr. Manager North America Benefits, IDEXX

David Thomas, Benefits Manager, Global Behavioral Health, Amazon

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Fertility and Family-building Benefits Programs in Uncertain Times: The New Benchmarks

Modern employers are implementing benefits programs that support their workforce across their lifetime fertility journey from preconception to postpartum through menopause. However, today’s uncertain regulatory environment surrounding access to reproductive health care necessitates additional benchmarks to address the family-building needs of your employees. Leading employers will share how they implemented a global end-to-end reproductive health care benefits program that ensures quality of care, excellent patient experience, as well as evidenced-based outcomes. Attendees will walk away with actionable tips on how they can support their employees in today’s uncertain, and evolving, reproductive health care regulatory environment.

Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, Founding Physician & Chief Innovation Officer, Kindbody

James Gaumer, Area Executive Vice President, California Schools VEBA

Laura Josh, General Manager, California Schools VEBA

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Beyond ROI – How Dexcom Measures Health Benefits Value and Experience

Achieving employee engagement with health benefits and driving true value at scale remains a critical challenge for employers for all sizes. As employers are now looking at health benefit measurement past just traditional ROI, Dexcom is using a navigation and care coordination platform to drive value on investment (VOI) and redefine engagement as a meaningful interaction with employees, their provider or a partner. This transformation created new opportunities to engage their entire population, allowing them to enhance health care journeys, optimize point solutions, and measure total value through clinical outcomes and an improved employee experience. In this session, you’ll learn how Dexcom continues to innovate to drive sustained results.

Dena Shore, Senior Benefits Manager, Dexcom

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

The Great Debate: Which GLP-1 Strategies Are Built to Last?

Skyrocketing use of GLP-1s for weight loss and diabetes has left employers scrambling to contain costs and balance access. With 50% of the US population predicted to have obesity by 2030 and new indications for cardiovascular and liver diseases expected, there’s no end in sight. During this session, senior benefits leaders will use real-world examples to debate which strategies are poised to survive the evolving GLP-1 landscape, and which approaches you should leave behind.

Niki Bourque, Wellbeing Program Manager, Regions

Nicole Cody, Vice President of Total Rewards, International Paper

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

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Building a Well-Being-Centered Culture: The Keys to Thriving in Today’s Workplace

As organizations increasingly recognize the importance of mental health, many still face obstacles such as high implementation and unpredictable costs, inconsistent access across regions, and a lack of tailored solutions. This session will showcase how leading companies are streamlining their global mental health strategies to enhance employee wellbeing while driving significant cost savings. Discover actionable insights that HR and Benefits leaders can leverage to overcome these challenges, reduce health care expenses, and boost overall ROI.

Dr. Neha Chaudhary, Chief Medical Officer, Modern Health

Amy Reichanadter, Chief People Officer, Databricks

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Cancer Is Different: Comprehensive, Compassionate Care for Addressing Oncology

Cancer is not an episodic health event, but a life-long journey that requires comprehensive, compassionate care for people living with it and caregivers alike. In this session, you will take away data-driven results and the key benefits of implementing a comprehensive cancer care experience, inclusive of screenings and early detection, surgery, and Oncology Nurse Navigation to support your employees and their families as they navigate the physical and mental journey that is a cancer diagnosis.

Randy Hawkins, Chief Medical Officer, Transcarent

Heather Leibert, Benefits Manager, AbbVie

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM PT

Delivering Better Outcomes, Improving Access and Cutting Costs with AI Care

AI has the potential to solve the trifecta of competing concerns: improving access, reducing costs, and driving better patient outcomes. Join this engaging session to learn how human-centric, natural language AI Care can bring a world-class clinician into every home with convenient, anytime-anywhere care – while saving your company millions in unnecessary medical spend.

Julie Blume, Director of Total Rewards, Ropes & Gray LLP

Andrea McCoy, Associate Director of Customer Success, Sword Health

11:40 AM - 12:40 PM PT

Luncheon

Hosted by: Evernorth Health Services

12:40 PM - 01:40 PM PT

A Strong Offense is the Best Defense: Become a Guardian for your Plan

Recent lawsuits are challenging the scope of an employer’s fiduciary responsibilities. Due diligence is no longer enough, with broadened expectations for employers in protecting members as guardians of their plans. Expanded oversight requires focus on payment review, employee guidance, and plan performance. Learn what it means to be a guardian.

McCain Johnson, Director, Employee Benefits, Allina Health

Kati Stratos, Executive Director of Data Services, Total Rewards, Comcast NBCUniversal

Kellee Garcia, Director, Total Rewards, Omni Hotels

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Supporting Affordability and Financial Resilience through Retirement Design

In the wake of living crisis, financial wellbeing is the top area where U.S. employees are looking to their employer for support. Learn how two leading organizations have re-evaluated their retirement program designs to develop innovative approaches that enhance employee financial resilience in cost effective ways.

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Achieving Benefits Parity for Caregivers: Driving Outcomes — and Reduced Health Spend — for Your Entire Population

Benefits leaders understand the struggle to deliver equal benefits to their employees around the globe — and it’s even more apparent with the diverse needs of caregivers. This session will highlight equitable and inclusive benefits programs that cater to diverse caregiving needs across different regions and life stages. You’ll gain insights into evaluating and optimizing your benefits offerings through strategies that focus on prevention, risk identification, and improvements to mental health, other health outcomes, and productivity

Brittany Cowing, Director, Benefits, Uber

Stephanie Riedel, Sr. Manager, AMER Benefits, Autodesk

Martha Wyatt, Managing Director, Global Head of Global Banking & Markets Human Resources, Scotiabank

Julia Schmitt, Associate Director of Customer Success, Cleo

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

The Fertility Care Revolution: Steering Employees to Success

Imagine a world where your employees always receive the best possible fertility care, exactly when they need it all while your company saves on health care costs. Too good to be true? Not anymore. In this dynamic session, we'll crack the code on using data-driven provider steerage to optimize fertility benefits and hormonal health journeys. Learn how to navigate the maze of provider quality, uncover hidden gems in your network, and empower employees on their family-building journeys. We'll showcase Carrot's innovative approach to personalizing care pathways, resulting in happier employees and a healthier bottom line. Don't miss this chance to revolutionize your fertility benefits and become a magnet for top talent.

Ben Pasker, Vice President of Customer Success, Carrot Fertility

Felicia Seda, Global Benefits & Wellness Leader, Kyriba

Jenni Polenske, Manager, Total Rewards, Montage International

Shannon Lynch, Benefits Lead, Headway

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Conquering Costs by Controlling Cardiovascular Risk

As benefits leaders face the highest medical cost growth in 13 years, heart health should be a key focus. CVD is not only the leading cause of death, but also the most expensive chronic disease. Reducing CVD risk – and related costs – requires clinically validated efforts to engage members and enable lasting lifestyle change. This session will explore how digital health can empower members to improve their outcomes, while also lowering the related costs for employers.

Jennifer Griffin, MBA, SPHR, ACSM-EP, Director of Well-Being, Banner Health

Stephanie Campbell, RN, BSN, MBA, Sr. Manager, Solutions Consulting, Hello Heart

Bill Otten, MBA, Commercial President, Hello Heart

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Elevating Member Engagement Across the Health Care Continuum

Join us for an engaging session on enhancing member engagement in everyday and critical health care moments. Members need reliable, user-friendly tools to manage their health, along with exceptional support during challenges. This discussion will highlight how leading employers maximize human and data-driven insights to optimize benefits and improve employee experiences. Discover insights from industry innovators and learn effective strategies to drive better health outcomes for your members.

Siu Po Becker, MD, Chief Medical Officer, National Accounts, Cigna Healthcare

Felita Rodriguez, Director of Benefits, USAA

Kira Case, Senior Director of Benefits, Progressive Insurance

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Evolving Your Mental Health Strategy: Six Dimensions for Success

In today’s dynamic work environment, offering basic mental health benefits is no longer enough. To stay ahead of health care trends, you’ll need a future-proof approach. Our experts will reveal six key dimensions essential for a modern mental health strategy. Learn how to integrate whole-person care, personalize the member experience, support families, address complex needs, enhance organizational wellbeing, and drive value.

Susan Wyatt, SVP, Customer Success, Lyra Health

Nihar Shah, Group Vice President, People Services, DaVita

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Virtual Care: Revolutionizing Disease Prevention and Cost Savings for Employers

This session will explore how virtual care, including primary care and caring for people with cardiometabolic conditions, is transforming employer healthcare strategies. We'll emphasize the importance of early intervention, proactive health management, and preventing disease progression including the importance of addressing obesity to enhance overall health. Attendees will learn about the significant impact of virtual care on health outcomes, absenteeism, and overall cost efficiency from employers who are adopting preventive care strategies.

Shane Lipp, PHR, SHRM-CP, Sr. Manager, Benefits, Synovus

Lara Bunn, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Teladoc Health

Lori Skewes, Director, Employee Health & Wellness, Schwan's Company

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Expanded Governance – How to Ramp up Your Benefit Program Management

Scrutiny is rising on ERISA fiduciary standards for employer health benefit plans. What additional actions can be taken? Hear from two employers as they discuss new oversight strategies to include AI-driven payment integrity claim reviews targeting inaccuracies in provider discounts/billing, medical coding, and PBM spread pricing. Hear about new pharmacy interventions like alternative drug channels, PBM overlay support and drug formulary customizations.

Danielle Cook, Senior Manager of Benefits, Vanguard

Jessica Denshaw, Consultant, Global Benefits, Dell Technologies

02:00 PM - 02:40 PM PT

Informed Benefit Delivery: The Power of Integrating Strategy and Administration

Deliver benefits with strategic design and communication, powered by integrated benefits delivery. Evolve benefits and communication designs and inform strategy through effective administration. Learn how personalized decision support, data-driven insights, and communication best practices boost engagement and utilization to optimize benefits investments.

Laurie Falkenstein, Senior Director Benefits, North America, Avolta

02:40 PM - 03:10 PM PT

Refreshment Break

Hosted by:
MedImpact
VSP

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Driving Financial Resilience through Retirement Plan Design

In the wake of the cost-of-living crisis, financial wellbeing is the top area where U.S. employees are looking to their employer for support. Learn how two leading organizations have re-evaluated their retirement program designs to develop innovative approaches that enhance employee financial resilience in cost effective ways.

Sara Ferrell, Director, Global Retirement Plans, Emerson

Courtney Turney, Benefits Director, JM Family Enterprises

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Personalizing the Employee Experience – New Insights, Technology and Innovation

Attracting and retaining talent hinges on providing an exceptional employee experience. Explore how organizations can leverage technology and innovation to create a seamless benefits journey, from education to enrollment. Discover best practices for gaining employee insight, engaging employees, delivering personalized experiences, optimizing enrollment, and ensuring employee satisfaction.

Terri Wood, Director of Benefits, Internal Communication & HR Operations, Northside Hospital

Jane Zhang, Sr. Manager, Health & Well-Being Programs, Liberty Mutual

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Elevating Care for Working Parents

The mental and financial stress of balancing work and raising children can be overwhelming for many parents – the cost of two kids in childcare exceeds the average rent payment by over 50% in the U.S. With limited long-term support and no social safety net, it’s no surprise that working parents are leaving the workforce in record numbers. In this session, learn how leading companies develop top-tier family benefits programs that address the unique challenges facing working parents and parents-to-be. Gain actionable insights on how your organization can better support these employees, ensuring they receive the care and resources they need to thrive at work and at home.

Lucy Avsharyan, VP of Benefits, United Talent Agency

Kate Ryder, Founder and CEO, Maven Clinic

Megan Bourque, Head of Benefits, Fidelity Investments

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Redefining Weight Management Beyond the Scale: A Customer-Centric Approach

As employers face increasing demand for weight management solutions, the challenge is finding sustainable approaches that go beyond the prescription pad. In this session, Amazon will share their strategy for supporting employee health through a foundation of lifestyle management, paired with thoughtful use of GLP-1s, behavioral health, and bariatric care – anchored in personalization and accessibility. We’ll also explore how integrated care models – featuring clinical, behavioral, and pharmacy experts under one roof and across all cardiometabolic conditions – enable organizations to take full control of both their GLP-1 spend and their broader weight management benefit, without compromising on care quality or outcomes.

Lindsey Hoeft, MBA, MPH, RDN, Principal, Healthcare Innovation, Amazon

Avantika Waring MD, Endocrinologist and DABOM, Chief Medical Officer, 9amHealth

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Awakening Potential: Strategies for Effective Sleep Disorder Management

Explore the impact of sleep disorders in commercial health plans as chronic conditions surge. Despite the clear ties to sleep disorders, poor adoption and adherence rates leave health and savings potential untapped. Join this session to discover how you can achieve superior outcomes, transform health and yield millions in annual savings.

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

Carolyn Riva, VP of Client Success, Nox Health

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Gather, Assess, Achieve: How Honda’s Decision-Making Framework Boosted Mental Health Utilization

When Honda leaders started to feel their mental health solution wasn’t meeting today’s needs, its HR team led with a strategic, data-driven approach. The result? A 23% utilization rate that exceeds industry and regional benchmarks. Save your seat to hear from Rich Richardson, SVP of Human Resources on how Honda cultivated leadership buy-in, developed targeted communication strategies, and boosted employee wellness to make a difference. You’ll walk away with the takeaways you need to deliver results for your people and organization.

Rich Richardson, SVP of Human Resources, American Honda Motor

Sarah Bowe, SVP of Customer Success, Spring Health

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Planes, Trains & Workforce Gains: Transforming Employee Benefits with Southwest Airlines and Amtrak

Southwest and Amtrak excel at customer experience – now, they're transforming employee benefits too. Join benefit leaders as they share how they’ve made bold investments, chosen the right solutions, and streamlined benefits for a simpler, more effective employee experience.

Nathan Counts, Vice President of Total Rewards, Amtrak

Robin Glass, President, Included Health

Jerald Prince, Director, Head of Benefits, Southwest Airlines

03:10 PM - 03:50 PM PT

Future Trends in Cancer Care: Predictions and Preparations

This session will highlight changes in cancer care and how patient-centered care will offer better experiences, more personalized support, and improved outcomes for patients.

Christy Carver, Director of Corporate Benefits, Cubic Corporation

Brent Nicholson, Co-Founder / Chief Growth Officer, Carrum Health

Pia Bhatia, GM Oncology, Carrum Health

04:05 PM - 05:00 PM PT

Washington Update

With a new presidential administration and a new Congress, this is a time of change and uncertainty in Washington, and there are many policies under consideration with significant ramifications for health care policy. Get the inside scoop from the ultimate Washington insider on what all these changes mean from a legislative, regulatory and judicial perspective.

Katy Johnson, President, American Benefits Council

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM PT

Cocktail Reception

Hosted by:
CarelonRx
Embold Health
EyeMed
Inspira Financial
Quest Diagnostics
Verily

07:15 AM - 08:00 AM PT

Continental Breakfast

Hosted by:
CVS Caremark
CVS Healthspire

08:00 AM - 09:00 AM PT

Know the Road Ahead – Emerging Trends Panel

In the current environment of rising costs, rapid technology advancements, and an increasingly complex benefits ecosystem, tightly focused breakthroughs are required for employers to deliver effective and affordable benefits. In this panel, we’ll focus on the disruptive trends and opportunities to improve healthcare, and the impact employers can make by leaning into provider quality. The panel will conclude with an award for the Top emerging vendor, as voted on by the attendees at the conference.

Marco Diaz, SVP, Global Head of Benefits, NewsCorp

Lindsay Lange, Actuary, Health Care Delivery Leader, WTW

Chirag Shah, Partner, Define Ventures

Adam Stavisky, Advisor, Stavisky LLC

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Improving the Future of Decision-Making – Using Analytics in Healthcare

Health care data science can inform employer plan management, identify gaps in care, and transform the patient experience. The advent of machine learning now offers employer plan sponsors an ability to act earlier with improved precision. Learn how leading employers are harnessing the power of data and analytics to improve decision making.

Matthew Hall, Benefits Strategy Manager, Koch Industries

Peter McKee, Benefits Manager, Children’s Mercy Kansas City

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Going Beyond – Global Benefits Breakthroughs

You have governance and infrastructure to manage your global benefits. What next? How do you keep up with constantly evolving benefits environment? How do you further your total rewards strategies? Hear from leading multinational corporations on how they leverage global scale to future proof their benefits strategy.

Janna Maxey, Senior Manager, Global Benefits, Lenovo

Terry Tansill, Global Total Rewards Executive, Baker Hughes

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSA): Consolidating Budgets to Maximize Total Rewards and Employee Wellbeing

Join a panel of HR leaders from large organizations to explore the transformative power of Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSA) while consolidating budgets. Join this session and:
• Gain actionable insights on maximizing total rewards frameworks, enhancing employee engagement, and fostering wellbeing through innovative benefits solutions
• Learn how LSAs align with current workplace trends, enabling you to elevate your organization as a top employer
• Dive into real-world case studies and unlock new employee satisfaction and retention possibilities

Ryan Ramsey, Head of Strategic Alliances, Espresa

Sarah Schutzberger, Wellness and Benefits Manager, Samsung Semiconductor

Cienna Walters, Global Benefits Manager, The Wonderful Company

Beth Barrett, Associate Director of Benefits, Teva Pharmaceuticals

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Elevating Whole Health Engagement: Integrated Strategies and Trusted Partnerships

Integrated medical, advocacy and pharmacy strategies can transform employee engagement. Learn the value of selecting a trusted benefits partner to centralize and optimize your health programs, reduce vendor complexity, and build organizational trust. We'll share DaVita’s journey, highlighting how digital and telephonic solutions empower associates beyond traditional support. See how a consumer-centric approach to whole health engagement can drive better health outcomes and elevate your wellbeing strategy with the right partner every step of the way

Alex Bolorchi, PharmD, Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy Services, CarelonRx

Nihar Shah, Group Vice President, People Services, DaVita

Natalie Pawlik, Client Executive, Anthem

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Gen Z: Reimagining Health Benefits for a Next-gen Workforce

As employers engage workers from four distinct generations, the group they have the least experience with is Generation Z. While ample research exists about how Gen Z views work-related topics like career goals, purpose and fulfillment, and work-life balance, fewer studies have focused on how employers can support this generation’s health and productivity. Our research revealed one major reason employers should refashion their health benefits for the next generation: Many Gen Z workers don’t feel “well.” Across all key aspects of wellbeing, Gen Z employees appear to struggle more than employees of other generations, with the most significant gaps in mental health and work life. This session will explore how employers can support Gen Z’s health benefit needs through a reimagined annual enrollment process, new entry points into the health system, and abandoning the stereotype that this generation only wants digital communication.

Megan Bourque, Head of Benefits, Fidelity Investments

Ben Isgur, Vice President, Health Care Thought Leadership, Fidelity Health®

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Enhancing Chronic Care: The Case for Mental Health Integration

When a mental health condition is comorbid with a chronic health condition, the total cost of care can be 2-8x higher. Unfortunately, the physical symptoms often receive more attention than the mental ones. Tailored programs specific for chronic conditions is showing promising results. Join this discussion as we explore the nuances of managing mental health and chronic conditions and how payors can be part of the solution.

Matty Qualls, Director of Total Rewards, Tanner Health

Terri Bartlett, SHRM-CP, Director of Benefits, Rarebreed Veterinary Partners

Dr. Chris Mosunic, Chief Clinical Officer, Calm

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Helping Employees Make Healthy Commitments Through Wellness Communications

At Costco it's our promise and responsibility to provide our employees with exceptional health care benefits, and it's our employee's role to be familiar with and use their benefits. Our annual “We’re in This Together” (WITT) wellbeing pledge campaign equips our employees to discover, understand, and wisely use their benefits. As part of the WITT campaign employees receive support for their physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing, plus new for 2025: social wellbeing. Learn more about the WITT campaign and other initiatives that Costco has implemented to promote and improve employee's wellbeing.

Celeste Parker, Director of Employee Benefits, Costco

Tim Burnett, Vice President, Client Management, Aetna

09:15 AM - 09:55 AM PT

Winning Strategies in Wellbeing: Innovation & the Future of Workforce Health

MGM Resorts International is redefining employee well-being with a strategy that blends cutting-edge technology, data-driven insights, and holistic health solutions. As AI and business transformation reshape the workforce, MGM is leveraging HR technology innovation and people analytics to enhance engagement, measure impact, and build a culture of well-being. This session explores how MGM’s well-being strategy integrates AI-driven personalization and digital health solutions – including its approach to weight management – to support employees, optimize costs, and drive sustainable health outcomes. Gain insights into how MGM is future-proofing its benefits strategy while fostering a resilient and high-performing workforce.

Patrice Johnson, Director, Wellbeing Benefits, MGM Resorts International

Lorna Borenstein, CEO & Founder, Grokker

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

The Future of Benefits: How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping the Landscape

Join us for an insightful session exploring the revolutionary impact of artificial intelligence on the health care landscape and employee benefits. It is reshaping how health care is accessed, delivered, and managed. It is changing the workforce and the role of HR. From administration to the provider/patient experience, AI is influencing it all. In this session, you will see real examples of how AI is transforming the landscape.

Beata Kashani, VP of Talent Management & Total Rewards, Brightspeed

Brian Conner, VP of Global Total Rewards, Boomi

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

How to Build a Compassionate Culture on a Budget

An exploration of compassion and purpose in fostering a thriving workplace in today’s competitive business landscape. This session examines how organizations can cultivate a culture of compassion, enhancing performance and nurturing a profound sense of belonging among employees. Learn from industry trailblazers as they create holistic employee journeys that help people live their best lives, sharing best practices for a whole-person approach that yields health outcomes, cost savings, and passionate employees.

Carrie Monroe O'Keefe, Strategic Account Executive, Personify Health

Andrew Torres, Senior Personnel Analyst, City of Los Angeles

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

Addressing the Looming Crisis of Digestive Health

Digestive health is complex, and the current system isn’t structured to diagnose or treat this condition category well – driving high avoidable costs and creating a significant improvement opportunity. As long wait times for GI consultations are compounded by the lowered colorectal cancer screening age, employers are prioritizing more effective and accessible GI care. Hear how Neilsen evaluated its GI population needs and gaps, prioritized virtual multidisciplinary digestive care, and communicated a new provider with sensitivity.

Tom Moran, Vice President, Global Benefits & Mobility, Nielsen

Sam Holliday, Co-founder and CEO, Oshi Health

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

Leveraging Technology and Transparency as a Pathway to More Efficient Care

Removing barriers to care, such as high-deductibles, and providing actionable information regarding cost, quality and alternative treatment pathways empowers members to choose more efficient care options in ways that traditional plans have failed to do in the past. Please join this session to learn how a true consumer focused strategy plan can make a measurable impact on member choice and outcomes.

Greg Landmark, Sr. Vice President, Total Rewards & People Analytics, Travelers

Albert Snell, VP, Benefit Design, Analytics & Strategy, Surest

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health and Well-being

Explore the evolution of EAPs and their ability to enable organizations to provide compassionate, mental health care support that impacts whole person care, all areas of health and well-being, and an organization’s bottom line through reduced absenteeism and higher retention. Hear from a large employer and discuss how AI-enabled analytics and integration with other benefits offerings amplifies the impact of effective mental health support.

Amy Coleman, Director, Employee Assistance Program, BNSF Railway

Jeff Cordell, President and CEO, Health Advocate

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

Prioritizing Employee Health with an Aligned Pharmacy Benefit Strategy

With traditional PBMs under increasing scrutiny from the FTC and Congress, and a swarm of recent lawsuits, the need for alignment, transparency, and true value for employers and their people has never been greater. Join a conversation with a large employer and learn why innovative benefit leaders are leaving the big 3 PBMs in favor of more flexibility, a better member experience, and major cost savings.

Renu Chhabra, Vice President of Global Benefits & Well-Being, Tyson Foods

Jordan Feldman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Rightway

10:10 AM - 10:50 AM PT

Rising Health Care Costs: The Role of Whole-family Benefits

Health care costs are on the rise. Despite these financial pressures, employers remain committed to offering comprehensive benefits. How do you balance it all? We'll explore strategies to manage costs, maintain quality, and enhance the employee experience, keeping employers competitive. A large employer will share their approach to managed whole-family benefits. Together we’ll dive into data showing how addressing the health of the entire family reduces overall health care expenses, improves outcomes, and supports employee wellbeing.

Ana Rodriguez, Sr. Manager of Benefits Innovation and Campus Programs, Disney

Kelly Esselman, SVP, Client Success, WIN

10:10 AM - 10:10 AM PT

LSA Masterclass: Why Total Rewards Leaders Say Personalized Benefits Are a Win-Win-Win

A 2024 WTW survey stated that 38% of employers planned to offer or were considering implementing a Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) program by 2025. From what we’ve seen over the last year, these numbers will only continue to grow. Leading organizations are adopting LSAs to elevate global employee health and wellness, and the result is a win-win-win for employees, HR and benefits teams, and finance. This session will provide expert viewpoints on the trends driving this shift to LSAs, including real-world case studies, new benchmarking data, and strategies for you to win with personalized benefits.

Allie Daly, Large Enterprise Account Executive, Forma

Zach Mann, Benefits Program Manager, Zillow

Lydia Wright, Senior Manager, Global Benefits & Strategy, Atlassian

10:50 AM - 11:20 AM PT

Refreshment Break

Hosted by: VSP Vision CAre

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Better Health Outcomes – Approaches to Population Health Management

The real mandate of our health care system is to maintain and improve health not just treat disease and sickness. How is this happening through the science of longevity? Cancer poses a growing obstacle to the world’s health, but advancements in treatment are allowing for improved prevention, early detection, and better care. Hear approaches employers are taking to improve population health.

Jonathan Liu, MD, FACP, Principal, Health Strategy, Amazon

Angela Sim, Sr. Director, Global Benefits, Gilead Sciences

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Optimizing GI Outcomes: Integrating Virtual Care for a Healthier Future

Learn about the nuances of virtual vs. in-person care, focusing on boosting the effectiveness of digital health programs. This session will explore innovative strategies used by dedicated virtual care teams that offer holistic treatment, reduce diagnosis time, and minimize heavy medication reliance. You will hear about strategies that enable employers to integrate digital care seamlessly into existing health frameworks, ensuring a future where virtual care is not just an alternative but a formidable counterpart to in-person care.

Jessica Palacios, PHR, SHRM-CP, MSHRM, Associate Director, System Benefits Administration, Texas A&M System Office

Chris Nordman, Senior Vice President, Commercial Team, Cylinder

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

The Future Beyond GLP-1s: Building Your Multidisciplinary Obesity Management Strategy

The spotlight has shined on GLP-1s for well over a year now…what’s next for obesity? Will more employers adopt GLP-1 management strategies? Or will the hype go away? Learn why a multidisciplinary (including GLP-1s, lower cost AOMs, and behavior change therapy) approach is essential to treat the root cause of obesity. Hear from a F500 leader on how they’ve curbed GLP-1 utilization across their population without compromising obesity outcomes for their people.

Frank Janecek, Sr. Director, Benefits, Fortune Brands Innovations

Gretchen Zimmermann, Vice President of Clinical Strategy, Vida Health

Veeneta Lakhani, Chief Strategy & Development Officer, Vida Health

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Cancer’s New Reality: Designing Strategies for Gen X and Millennials in the Workplace

Cancer is typically associated with older adults, but diagnoses among adults aged 20-49 have risen by 30% in the last decade, impacting more working-age Americans. This younger demographic requires unique strategies for early detection and seamless care through survivorship. Learn about the changing cancer demographics in the workplace and how Universal Music Group optimizes outcomes for employees at every stage of their cancer journey.

Christopher Smith, Vice President, Benefits, Universal Music Group

Caroline Savello, President, Color Health

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Achieving Organization Excellence with the Power of the Employee Voice

University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS), through its Wellfocused program, engages nearly 40,000 users in a mission to enhance wellbeing and organizational excellence. Recently, UPHS launched a survey strategy to amplify employee voices, aiming to create a more inclusive and wellbeing-centered workplace. Join us to explore how wellbeing and organizational change management intersect, driving meaningful transformation.

Janna DeCicco, Senior Employee Well-Being Consultant, University of Pennsylvania Health System

Bridget Neurer, Sr. Director, Client Success Market Lead, WebMD Health Services

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Advancing Health Equity with Primary Care

Health equity and primary care are linked, and this panel explores the connections and addresses implications for employers. In this session, we will discuss best practices on advancing LGBTQIA+ and women’s health equity strategy, inclusive patient and employee care, and use of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to build engagement.

Tanner Brunsdale, Director, Benefits & Mobility, Lyft

Josh Dunsby, PhD, VP Enterprise Partnerships, Amazon One Medical

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Disease Is the Enemy: How to Prevent and Fight Disease with Advanced Primary Care

Access to high-quality advanced primary care is vital for preventing and effectively managing costly diseases. However, employers often face challenges in offering this level of primary care within the current benefits ecosystem. Join us for a practical discussion on how advanced primary care, combined with concierge member support and incentives, can enhance the member experience, promote healthier plan members, and reduce total cost-of-care for self-insured employers.

Dr. Scott Conard, Medical Director, 7-Eleven

Patrick Nelli, CEO & Founder, Aligned Marketplace

12:15 PM - 12:30 PM PT

Conference Wrap-up

Recapping key conference topics and themes, this session will conclude our conference with a few surprises and recognitions.