Annual Conference

Abhishek Kumar

Chief Information Officer

AccessHope

As Chief Information Officer for AccessHope, Abhishek Kumar leads strategy and operations of IT infrastructure and oversees the IT Strategy and Information Security Program. Abhishek has over 19 years of expertise in technology leadership, product development, and strategic planning. He has successfully spearheaded technology innovations, driving operational efficiency and scaling revenue growth. Abhishek's deep knowledge in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity has enabled him to implement innovative solutions in healthcare, specifically within oncology, where his leadership has helped AccessHope achieve significant operational milestones.

Prior to AccessHope, Abhishek worked with top hospitals, research centers and Fortune 500 companies including City of Hope, Johns Hopkins, and Johnson & Johnson.

Abhishek holds an Engineering degree in Computer Science and is certified in project management, agile methodologies, and IT service management methodologies. He was a speaker at Salesforce’s Dreamforce 2024 event and was previously honored with a 2023 Fortress Cybersecurity Award in the leadership category. He also led the team to win the 2024 Fortress Cybersecurity Award in the data protection category. He is a member of CHIME and the Forbes Technology Council, and has been featured in national publications such as CIO magazine.

Adrienne Fournier

Strategic Account Executive

Alight Solutions

As a Strategic Account Executive, Adrienne leads the relationship for her aligned clients across the entire suite of Alight’s benefits and wellbeing solutions. She represents the voice of her customers within the Alight organization and works to ensure that her clients are getting value out of their partnership with Alight. Adrienne is committed to helping her clients achieve their HR and business objectives and looks for creative ways to leverage Alight’s solutions to help her clients and their people thrive.

Adrienne has over 25 years of HR and benefits outsourcing experience at Alight supporting large, complex organizations. Her clients have spanned a variety of industries including defense, manufacturing, telecommunications, energy and the public sector, including 10 companies on the Fortune 500 list. Her areas of expertise include project and program management, user experience and engagement and total wellbeing strategies.

Adrienne has a long track record of service in the community and as a leader at Alight. She has led community activities for the Orlando office, served as an executive sponsor for service day events and played an active role in the women’s business resource group.

Alexandra Paul

VP, Strategic Partnerships

Accolade

Alexandra has spent the past 15 years of her career working with both high-growth, Fortune 50 companies and Series A startups, optimizing their distribution model for success. After a decade working at a health plan, she transitioned to the vendor side where she supported employers with their benefits needs, before shifting her focus to business development and opening new channels of distribution, with a current focus on health plans. Alexandra is Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Accolade, where she brings together her passion for a better healthcare experience and corporate growth to optimize partnerships and bring innovation to customers that provide for a more personalized experience and lower total cost of care. She has a background in journalism, specifically broadcast news and enjoys all things active outdoors.

Amanda Touati

North America H&W Benefits Leader

Danaher Corporation

Amanda has 15+ years of experience within the HR and consulting field. She is a data-driven professional that leverages insights to develop a results-oriented strategy by involving a crossfunctional team throughout the organization – bringing historically siloed groups together to solve critical business challenges.

Today, she helps Danaher associates across 15+ operating companies reach their potential through design, harmonization and operational initiatives for Danaher's benefit plans. Her responsibilities include managing medical and prescription program oversight, voluntary and flexible benefits strategic assessments, wellbeing, leave management, process improvement and overall governance.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, and before joining Danaher worked at Aon within their Health Specialty Consulting Practice.

Amy Taylor

Director of Health and Wellness

Taylor Farms

Amy received her B.S. in Marketing at CSU Sacramento and M.A. in Sports and Exercise Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and has spent her career in health and wellness. Her passion lies in helping Americans improve their health and longevity. Amy has led Taylor Farms’ wellness initiatives since 2013. She started the Lettuce Be Healthy wellness program locally in Salinas, CA and has expanded the program’s offerings nationally and internationally, covering 26,000 employees and 27 locations. Amy and her husband, Ted, have four young daughters – Clare (9), Lynn (7), Jane (5) and May (2).

Andrew Davies

President of International

Lyra Health

Andrew is a distinguished leader in the global health and wellness industry, currently serving as the President of International at Lyra Health. With a career spanning over 25 years, he has been a catalyst for transformation in corporate mental health and wellness strategies across diverse international markets. His unique blend of clinical experience and business acumen has equipped him with the expertise to navigating complex and diverse operating environments across the world. Andrew is recognized for his ability to bridge the gap between clinical best practices and business objectives, ensuring that mental health initiatives are not only effective but also aligned with organizational goals.

At Lyra, Andrew spearheads international operations in more than 180 countries and has been instrumental in the company’s growing global reputation and presence. His depth of knowledge and breadth of experience have positioned him as a trusted advisor to multinational corporations worldwide. In this capacity, he provides invaluable guidance in shaping corporate health strategies that resonate on a global scale. Andrew's forward-thinking approach and deep understanding of cultural nuances have been instrumental in tailoring mental health solutions to meet the diverse needs of global workforces. Andrew ' career exemplifies a dedication to improving global workplace mental health.

Anthony Scattone

Deputy Chief People Officer

Aon

Anthony Scattone is the Deputy Chief People Officer at Aon. In this role, he has global responsibility for the compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, learning, and HR M&A Centers of Excellence. Since joining the firm in early 2019, Anthony has led numerous complex colleague initiatives as the firm navigated the COVID pandemic, “war for talent”, and significant acquisition/divestiture actions. A current key initiative he is leading is the introduction of a market-leading approach to enable access to GLP-1 therapies in the US for Aon colleagues and their families.

Anthony joined Aon from United Airlines where he served as the Vice President, Total Rewards. In this capacity, he developed and executed a rewards strategy for the 90,000-employee organization in support of a strategic turnaround. Prior to United Airlines, Anthony was with Willis Towers Watson. There he served as the retirement business leader for the greater Houston market. Prior to joining Willis Towers Watson, Anthony was a principal at Mercer.

Anthony has a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Cornell University and attained his Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries in 2003.

Arif Kamal

Chief Patient Officer

American Cancer Society

Arif Kamal, MD, MBA, MHS, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO serves as the first-ever chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society where he drives coordinated efforts to accelerate progress against cancer through the organization’s patient, caregiver, and healthcare professional mission initiatives.

Dr. Kamal oversees the organization’s cancer support network, patient navigation services, educational programs, patient and caregiver lodging and transportation, 24/7 contact center, digital patient support resources, and efforts that impact the cancer continuum across 20,000 global communities.

Prior to joining the American Cancer Society, Dr. Kamal served for over 12 years as an oncologist, researcher, and innovative leader at Duke University and the Duke Cancer Institute. He is an associate professor of medicine and population health at the Duke University School of Medicine, and previously served as the physician quality and outcomes officer at the Duke Cancer Institute.

Dr. Kamal holds leadership positions with prestigious national professional organizations and has authored over 225 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts. A respected voice in the health care and oncology spaces, Dr. Kamal is passionate about facilitating conversations and advocating for advancements in all areas of patient care.

Dr. Kamal received his medical degree from the six-year combined B.A./M.D. program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He completed his internal medicine residency and a hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and a hematology-oncology fellowship at Duke University. He holds a Master of Health Science in clinical research from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Ashley Hume

President

Emerging Therapy Solutions

Ashley Hume is a 25-year veteran in the health care and managed care industries, bringing extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams in both the provider and payer spaces. As the President of Emerging Therapy Solutions (ETS), Ashley oversees all aspects of the organization, driving strategic initiatives related to cost containment and risk projection for catastrophic claims. Ashley sits on multiple national committees focused on reimbursement policy and innovative payment strategies for cell & gene therapy. Prior to ETS, Ashley held leadership positions at a health plan and a health plan services company. She also held senior leadership positions over revenue cycle and contracting for large specialty groups and a health system, gaining significant expertise in prior authorization, claims and patient financial services, as well as in third-party payor, direct-to-employer, and physician services contracting.

Becky Vea

SVP of People Operations

Health Catalyst

Becky thrives on challenging the status quo, particularly when it affects people. She is always on the lookout for innovative and cost-effective solutions to enhance employee wellness, boost retention and satisfaction, and reduce expenses. With over 20 years of experience in HR, Becky has discovered her true passion lies in finding innovative ways to purchase higher-quality and lower cost healthcare. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of People Operations at Health Catalyst, a healthcare data analytics company dedicated to improving healthcare worldwide. Over the past eight years, Becky has helped reduce year over year costs by an average of 10-15% each year, while developing and expanding competitive benefit programs.

Beth Ratliff

Chief Operating Officer

Premise Health

Beth Ratliff serves as Chief Operating Officer for Premise Health. Beth oversees enterprise integration of business processes, technology and clinical service delivery to drive enhanced experiences, effectiveness and efficiency. Former roles at Premise include Senior Vice President, Product Strategy, and Senior Vice President, Operations.

Beth previously served as President of CHS Health Services, leading the organization through rapid organic growth and organizational restructuring and expansion. Beth’s expertise includes lean healthcare, clinical application delivery, product management and clinical quality. Her 20+ year history in the healthcare field includes 14 years of experience with multi-site operations, including the onsite delivery of primary care, occupational health, pharmacy, and rehabilitation services to some of the country’s largest employers.

Beth is a Nashville Health Care Council Fellow and a member of the Fellows Alumni Advisory Board. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Therapy from University of Louisville and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Bill Bacich

Area Senior Vice President, Pharmacy Consulting

Gallagher

Bill is an accomplished PBM professional and is responsible for the overall management of Solid Benefit Guidance and the Gallagher National Pharmacy Practice’s operations including all pricing, analytics, auditing, contracting, project and data management initiatives. Through his nearly three decades of experience, Bill is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on PBM Pricing and Contracting. He has successfully leveraged his many years of insider knowledge of the Pharmacy Benefit Management business model to yield significant savings for his pharmacy consulting clients.

Prior to Solid Benefit Guidance, Bill’s work experience includes Director of Pricing at Medco Health Solutions, Director of US Managed Markets Contracting and Analytics at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Audit Senior at a former “Big 6” accounting firm. Bill graduated from Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In addition, he is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Society of CPAs.

Brent McDonald

SVP and Chief Strategy Officer, Office of Population Health

Vanderbilt Office of Population Health

As Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for the Vanderbilt Office of Population Health, Brent McDonald brings strategic vision and a growth mindset to help employers achieve their population goals through partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).

Brent joined VUMC in 2011 as the vice president for regional development and lead advisory services for the Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN). He helped design and build VHAN into one of the nation’s largest clinically integrated networks of hospitals and physicians.

Brent has 25 years of experience as a health care strategist with a vision for how to meet the market’s rapidly changing needs and expectations. Prior to joining Vanderbilt, he worked with North Highland Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Healthcare Advisory group where he developed a national revenue cycle strategy. Brent’s subject matter expertise includes the business of creating, launching and adopting successful value-based care models and innovative health delivery systems.

Brooke Worster

Chief Medical Officer

EO Care

Dr Brooke Worster completed her internal medicine and chief residency at Temple University and fellowships in both pain management and palliative medicine at MGH and Dana Farber Cancer center. She is an associate professor of medicine in the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and the director of the Division of Supportive Oncology. She is happy to be a clinician-researcher – practicing Supportive Medicine and cancer pain management for cancer patients. She has federal and private grant funding to study the use, impact, and perceptions of cannabis in various complex patient populations. Additionally, she serves as program director for the Master’s in Cannabis Medicine, Science and Business at Jefferson College of Emerging Health Professions.

Charlotte West

VP Client Development

Surest

Charlotte West is Vice President of Client Development at Surest. She is passionate about health care and striving for changes to our system that eliminate waste and improve health. She oversees Surest Client Development for National Account customers. Before she joined Surest in 2017, she spent nearly 20 years in health care benefits consulting at Mercer, helping large employers across the country develop strategies to manage and optimize their health benefits. Charlotte earned her MBA from The University of Chicago and her BA from Colgate University.

Catherine Wood

Executive Director of Total Rewards

Vanderbilt University

Catherine Wood resides in Nashville and leads Vanderbilt University’s total rewards strategy and execution in supporting the university’s goal of being an employer of choice while delivering exceptional service to the Vanderbilt community at large. In her current role, she is responsible for the university’s health and welfare, retirement, education assistance and dependent tuition plans, and oversees compensation administration and strategy. She joined the university in December 2016 as the Executive Director, Benefits and during her eight years at the University has overseen other functions including workers’ compensation, wellbeing, disability and leave management, and HR customer service.

Prior to her appointment at Vanderbilt, Catherine served as the Sr. Director, Benefits at Koch Business Solutions, supporting medical and retirement benefits strategy and operations for all 12 Koch companies in the US, encompassing ~60,000 members. Highlights included significant savings relative to benefit design – including plan simplification, comprehensive member education, vendor consolidation/contracting, and service delivery.

Additionally she served Kellogg Company in a variety of progressive HR roles both in Canada and the US. She began her career in Canada as a registered nurse, moving from hospital nursing in a variety of roles into occupational health nursing, before transferring her skills and knowledge to Human Resources.

She earned a Master’s degree in Business, specializing in HR Management, following a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Diploma in Nursing. A proud moment for Catherine was being presented the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for youth achievement by Prince Philip.

Chris Chan

Chief Value Officer

finHealth

Chris is the Chief Value Officer at finHealth, focused on helping employers extract greater value out of the healthcare system. He was previously SVP of Sales and Partnerships with DarioHealth, helping grow the business from 1 client to 100+. Previously, Chris was Chief Marketing Officer at SleepQuest and led both the Innovation LAB at Mercer and the Health Imagination team at WTW. Chris has partnered with founders and investors to support digital health companies in a number of categories, including caregiving, addiction, data warehousing, women's health, mental health, musculoskeletal/chronic pain, sleep, behavior change, network contracting, healthcare analytics, behavioral health and payment integrity spaces. In his spare time, he's a tattoo artist, aspiring comedian and collects vintage toys.

Chris Cigarran

Chief Commercial Officer

Imagine360

Chris brings a wealth of experience across both the population health management and benefits strategy and delivery realms. Previously, Chris was responsible for building Healthways' Employer and Government division, serving as President for four years. Chris also spent five years as Healthways' Chief Human Resource Officer, responsible for building and leading the People and Culture strategy. In his role as CHRO, Healthways was listed on Fortune's "Best Places to Work," and he received multiple honors from the Business Group on Health. Chris served as CEO of Imagine Health, the nation’s leading provider of high-performance networks, and now serves as Chief Commercial Officer of Imagine360.

Chris received his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University and his Master's in Organizational Development from the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University. He is married and has two wild and wonderful children.

Christopher J. Mosunic

Chief Clinical Officer

Calm

Chris is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Chief Clinical Officer at Calm, playing a key role in shaping the brand’s evidence-based programs and spearheading clinical research. With his wealth of experience as an executive healthcare leader at Yale New Haven Health, Johnson and Johnson, Rivermend Health, Advisor for Alder Brooks, Chris has demonstrated his expertise in building and leading integrated healthcare services.

Chris is also a seasoned Registered Dietitian, noted for his acumen in launching and growing health-focused organizations. His thought leadership is evident in the numerous scientific publications, clinical programs, and presentations he’s developed on a variety of topics such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mental health, integrated care, obesity, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.

Chris received his undergraduate degree in Biology & Psychology from Bucknell University, his MS in Nutritional Biochemistry from Tufts, his PhD in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt, and his MBA from Yale.

Colleen Daly

Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Research

Microsoft

As the Director for Occupational Health, Safety and Research at Microsoft, Dr. Daly’s role is to foster a culture of health, safety and wellbeing through innovative, inclusive offerings and experiences for Microsoft’s employees and their families while influencing their broader communities. Leveraging Microsoft’s experiences of offering world-class health and wellbeing programs and the company’s technology, Dr. Daly’s team also partners with external healthcare organizations to develop research partnerships that strive to infuse evidence-based medicine into health care decision making.  Dr. Daly is a governor-appointed member of the Dr. Robert Bree Collaborative. In addition, she serves on the board of the Foundation for Health Care Quality OB-COAP. Dr. Daly completed her PhD in Health services at the University of Washington School of Global Public Health and obtained an MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education and Epidemiology from The University of North Carolina Global School of Public Health.

Corey Luecht

Vice President of Executive Compensation, Payroll & Global Benefits

Allstate

Corey Luecht is Vice President of Executive Compensation, Payroll and Global Benefits at Allstate. Corey is accountable for ensuring Allstaters are supported at every life stage, with responsibilities for programs including employee well-being, health insurance plans, financial savings, payroll, and delivering other global benefit offerings in support of Allstate’s employee value proposition. He is a CPA, known for his deep expertise in compensation and benefits. He has held positions across Accounting, Real Estate and Administration, and Sourcing and Procurement.

Daniel Stein

Founder and CEO

Embold Health

Daniel Stein is CEO and founder of Embold Health, whose mission is to improve healthcare quality. Bringing together the largest dataset in healthcare, clinically-validated analytics, and the expertise of leading physicians and data scientists, Embold ensures that people receive better care and all doctors have the opportunity to improve.

Prior to founding Embold Health, Stein served as Chief Medical Officer of Walmart Care Clinics, where he led the retailer’s efforts to offer quality, affordable primary healthcare services. Stein came to Walmart after serving four years as an emergency room physician for the Veteran’s Healthcare System of the Ozarks, where he delivered medical care to U.S. veterans in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

Stein launched his career in healthcare by holding various policy positions in Washington, D.C., while completing his medical degree at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance staff, Stein worked extensively on the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and organized bi-partisan efforts to improve healthcare workforce, medical malpractice, and patient safety issues. He also worked at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, focusing on Medicare quality and pay-for-performance initiatives.

Stein earned an undergraduate degree in ethics, politics and economics from Yale University; a medical degree from Johns Hopkins; and a master’s in business administration from Harvard Business School. He completed his residency in primary care internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where he was honored with the John H. McArthur Fellowship in Medicine and Management.

Darcy Sementi

Health Care Benefits Manager

State Farm Insurance Companies

Darcy Sementi is the Healthcare Benefits Manager at State Farm Insurance Companies where she is responsible for the overall healthcare benefit strategy for both agents and employees, covering more than 160K lives. Darcy oversees a team of analysts responsible for daily health plan operations, healthcare innovation, program optimization, and plan governance. Prior to joining State Farm, Darcy served as Regional Vice President of Sales and Director of Operations for a national health plan and was the Vice President of Talent Acquisition for the nation’s largest dental support organization. Darcy has her MBA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and Bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University.

Dave Osterndorf

Chief Actuary

Centivo

Dave Osterndorf leads actuarial and data analytics work for Centivo.

He brings over 30 years of experience in employer-sponsored health care, including program design, operation and ongoing financial management. His expertise with comprehensive employer health strategies for both active and retired employees informs many of Centivo’s solutions. Previously, Dave worked for Willis Towers Watson, including serving as the firm’s Chief Health Actuary for many years. He had previously worked at two other consulting firms and at Aetna Life and Casualty’s health insurance operation. He is quoted frequently in the press including USA Today, the New York Times, Business Insurance and many others.

Dave holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He is also one of the three members appointed to the US Department of Defense’s Board of Actuaries.

David Hines

Executive Director of Employee Benefits

Metro Nashville Public Schools

David Hines is Executive Director of Employee Benefits at Metro Nashville Public Schools. In this role, he established a network of primary care clinics to serve their employees, retirees and their dependents. In 2017, he opened MNPS’ first integrated health and wellness facility, combining primary care, behavioral health, health coaching, fitness, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and pharmacy. His current work extends to creating greater access to specialty care through clinic-based telehealth and the development and expansion of value-based care, including adoption of bundled payment programs for medical services ranging from maternity care to medical and surgical weight loss.

David has served as the Director of Operations for the State of Tennessee Employee Health Plans; Benefit Manager for Nissan Motor Manufacturing; benefits consultant; Insurance Director for Rutherford County, TN. His career started at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee in claim’s management. David serves on the boards of HealthcareTN, the State and Local Government Benefit Association and the National Association of Worksite Health Centers.

David Sitt

Clinical Director

Agave Health

Dr. David Sitt is the Clinical Director at Agave Health, where he leads the foremost nationwide behavioral health platform for adults with ADHD. Agave Health offers a complete behavioral solution, incorporating real-time video based coaching, ADHD evaluations and therapy by licensed clinicians, and a robust self-serve library of CBT modules.

David is the best-selling author of "ADHD Refocused: Bringing Clarity to the Chaos." He is a sought-after speaker, consultant, and executive coach for thought leaders, corporations, and educational institutions. Additionally, he is a tenured professor at Baruch College (CUNY).

Finally, David is the co-founder of Elevate Psychology, a New York based clinic specializing in treating adults with ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, prenatal/perinatal depression, and women’s health issues.

David lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife (and Elevate Psychology co-founder), Dr. Ayla Sitt, and their four children.

Dawn Whaley

President and Chief Marketing Officer

Sharecare

As president and chief marketing officer of Sharecare since the company’s founding, Dawn Whaley participates in the development of overall corporate strategy and scaling operational execution, and is directly responsible for marketing, strategic partnerships, and business development.

Previously, Whaley was the executive vice president of marketing and strategic relationships for HowStuffWorks, a leading, non-fiction website providing high-quality content, where she helped manage operations and corporate development efforts, including business development and creation and execution of the marketing strategy. After growing HowStuffWorks to one of the largest content destination websites, Whaley assisted in the sale of the company to Discovery Communications in 2007 for $250 million. Whaley was also a founding member of The Convex Group, the media and technology holding company that acquired HowStuffWorks in 2002, until its sale to Discovery.

Prior to her role with The Convex Group, Whaley served as executive vice president for Alexander Ogilvy Public Relations, a leading, high-tech communications firm. In less than five years, Whaley helped grow the company from a 10-employee, regional agency with less than $1 million in annual billings to a 300-employee global firm with more than $40 million in annual billings. After leading the agency’s expansion in New York, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., Whaley helped to orchestrate its acquisition by WPP in 1998.

With a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications and business management from the University of Georgia, Whaley currently holds positions on the boards of directors for Forbes Travel Guide and the American Heart Association’s Metro Atlanta Division, for which she served on the executive committee of the 2016 GoRed for Women annual fundraiser – the most successful in the chapter’s history. Previously a member of the board of directors for Do Something, she was selected as one of the 2022 Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and has been named to the Atlanta 500, a list of the city’s most influential leaders, each year since 2018. Whaley also was bestowed with Atlanta Magazine’s Groundbreaker Award – which honors the people and projects that make Atlanta a better place to live – and selected as a Diversity in Technology Game Changer by the Technology Association of Georgia.

Deirdre Saulet

VP of Cancer Care

Carrum Health

Deirdre Saulet is passionate about changing how we pay for and deliver cancer care. In her role as VP of Cancer Care at Carrum Health, she oversees the Cancer Centers of Excellence program, which connects self-insured employers to high-value cancer care providers.

Prior to Carrum, Deirdre spent ten years at Advisory Board (an independent subsidiary of Optum), where she facilitated events and led research on oncology trends and best practices. She authored dozens of research papers and studies on critical topics, including cancer payment reform, patient experience, and clinical innovations.

Additionally, Deirdre is a founding member of the Cancer Business Forum, a collective of thought leaders across the industry producing leading edge insights and contributing to the Clinical Pathways Congress+ Cancer Care Business Exchange annual conference.

She received her PhD in Immunology from Duke and BS from the College of William & Mary. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher and lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, two dogs, and cat.

Denise King

VP Global Benefits & Payroll

Medtronic

Denise King is the Vice President, Global Benefits and Payroll for Medtronic and is based in Minneapolis, MN. In her 20 years at Medtronic, she has held a variety of roles in Total Rewards. Prior to joining Medtronic, Denise worked in HR for NRG Energy and in HR and IT at Marquette Bank. Denise received her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a Master of Arts & Leadership from Augsburg University.

Dickon Waterfield

President

Lantern

Dickon has firsthand experience with just how complex healthcare can be, as well as the importance of making it simpler. Before joining Lantern, Dickon was the Chief Commercial Officer at WithMe Health, a pharmacy benefit manager. Prior to that, he helped run Big Health, a digital therapeutics company with a focus on mental health. During his time there, Dickon grew the business to cover 2.5 million members. He helped people find their way back to good mental health through partnerships with clients like Comcast, CVS, Google, Target, and The Home Depot. Dickon even accelerated growth at Big Health by launching a first-of-its-kind strategic partnership with CVS, which became the CVS Point Solution Management Systems. Prior to his professional career, Dickon attended and graduated with a bachelor’s from Eton College and a master’s from The University of Edinburgh.

Don King

Head of Total Rewards

Businessolver

Don joined Businessolver on August 2024, as the VP, Head of Total Rewards. In this role, he is responsible for Businessolver's employee benefits, compensation, and recognition programs. His favorite aspect of his role is getting to show Solvers how much they are appreciated and providing programs that care for them and their families. With a bachelor’s degree in business management and over 30 years of experience in compensation and benefits, Don came to Businessolver from large healthcare organizations where he worked closely with physicians and other providers. He has earned various employee benefit designations, served on benefits advisory boards, and was nationally recognized by Employee Benefit News (EBN) in February 2015. Outside of his work at Businessolver, Don dedicates time as a faculty member at WorldAtWork, where he teaches courses in compensation and benefit certification. Born and raised in Hawaii, he carries his unique background and expertise into every facet of his professional contributions.

Douglas Newton

Chief Medical Officer

Rula Health

Dr. Douglas Newton is an experienced clinical leader with a demonstrated history of working in integrated health care systems, large payors, and fast-growth behavioral health companies. His career has spanned multiple roles at Kaiser Permanente, serving as National Medical Director at Optum Behavioral Health, founding Chief Medical Officer at SonderMind and currently serving as Chief Medical Officer at Rula Health. His skill sets include clinical subject matter expertise and authorship as well as leading initiatives in quality, research and medical-behavioral integration. Dr. Newton received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, psychiatry training at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and Master’s of Public Health from Yale University.

Ebony Travis Tichenor

Director, Global Well-Being and HR Employee Policies

Boston Scientific

Ebony J. Travis Tichenor is a strategic executive and Subject Matter Expert in Human Resources, Talent and Organizational Development, Compliance, Legal, HR Employee Policies, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Health and Well-Being. She is currently the director of Global Well-Being and HR Employee Policies for Boston Scientific, where she has worked for a little over 27 years.

Ebony leverages her expertise in change management, talent management, DEI, and performance management to enhance organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and growth. Her skills in mentoring, training, and personal development also contribute to fostering a positive culture and promoting well-being. As a seasoned global speaker and influencer, she frequently presents at global conferences and podcasts, addressing topics like personal branding, energy management, well-being, mental health, and DEI to a variety of audiences.

Ebony is a dynamic health and fitness influencer on social media platforms such as Instagram and LinkedIn. She mentors and motivates others to achieve their personal health and wellness goals, all while embracing and promoting an authentic lifestyle.

Elina Onitskansk

Founder & CEO

Ilant Health

Elina Onitskansky is an experienced healthcare executive committed to enhancing access, affordability, & equity in healthcare. She is the CEO of Ilant Health, a value-based center of excellence for obesity and cardiometabolic health, which has been recognized as a top vendor in the space. She previously held a variety of leadership roles, including Senior Vice President & Head of Strategy at Molina, Chief Growth Officer at Help at Home, and Associate Partner and Co-Leader of the commercial service line at McKinsey. Elina has been recognized as one of Rock Health’s 2024 System Disruptors. Elina holds an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School & an A.B. in Chemistry & Physics magna cum laude from Harvard College.

Elizabeth Arnold

Director of Well-Being & Benefits

LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

Elizabeth Arnold connects lawyers and professional staff around the world to a comprehensive suite of offerings across the firm’s innovative well-being and benefits platform.

Leveraging more than two decades at the firm, Ms. Arnold oversees a global team focused on benefits program development and well-being resources in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States.

Her notable accomplishments include spearheading a firmwide behavioral health first aid training initiative and leading Latham’s participation in the American Bar Association’s Well-Being Pledge, which hundreds of law firms, law schools, and corporations have since joined. Ms. Arnold also drove the firm’s efforts with respect to signing the Working with Cancer pledge, which aims to build a supportive workplace for those living with cancer.

A magna cum laude graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Ms. Arnold was a Presidential Scholarship Award recipient. She began her career working with major US health insurance companies and earned a Certificate in Global Benefits Management from the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Programs. In her spare time, she practices yoga and received her Yin Yoga Teacher Certification

Ellen Kelsay

President and CEO

Business Group on Health

Ellen is president and CEO of Business Group on Health. Business Group on Health is the largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to representing large employers' perspectives on critical health, well-being and workforce strategy issues. The Business Group keeps its membership on the leading edge of innovation, thinking and action to address the delivery, financing, affordability and experience with the health care system. Leveraging its network of members and industry thought leaders, the Business Group drives change by sharing best practices, shaping health care policy and crafting innovative solutions to improve employee health and well-being and optimize business performance. Business Group members, many of whom have operations globally, include 72 Fortune 100 companies and over 440 companies in total who provide health coverage and well-being solutions for more than 60 million workers, retirees and their families in over 200 countries.

Previously, Ellen served as Chief Strategy Officer of the Business Group. During this time, she was responsible for shaping the strategy for the organization and its membership. She had overall strategic and operational responsibility for all key initiatives.

Prior to joining the Business Group, Ellen was a senior partner at Mercer; a global human resources consulting firm. During her 20-year tenure with Mercer, she held several leadership roles including: senior strategic consultant, member of the North America Leadership Team, and market business leader for East, South, Mid Atlantic and Canadian regions. She was responsible for leading the successful delivery of strategic consulting services to clients across the geography. She also led several strategic and operational initiatives on behalf Mercer’s North America Health & Benefits business. Ellen worked at Aetna prior to joining Mercer.

Ellen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and business administration from the University of Richmond and is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ellen Rudolph

Co-Founder and CEO

WellTheory

Ellen Rudolph is co-founder and CEO of WellTheory, a first-of-its-kind platform on a mission to reverse the autoimmune epidemic. Launched in 2022, WellTheory was born out of Ellen's personal health journey to empower the 50M Americans navigating autoimmune disease with evidence-based care, education & community. WellTheory has raised over $12.2M in funding from Accel, Lux Capital, Box Group, Rock Health, and others. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Fortune, Fast Company, and Inc. Magazine, and she has been recognized as Forbes 30U30 and Inc.'s Female Founders 250.

Prior to starting WellTheory, Ellen spent 7 years building early-stage consumer businesses from the ground up. She led the team responsible for the marketing website at Oscar Health NYSE OSCR, the first health insurance company built around a full-stack technology platform. Before that, Ellen helped build ecommerce pioneer Everlane's retail technology stack as one of its first product managers.

Ellen graduated from Stanford University with Distinction where she received a bachelor's degree in Product Design Engineering and was elected to Pi Beta Kappa. She is an active angel investor in early-stage female-founded and digital health companies and mentors women in tech and founders in her free time.

Eric Parmenter

VP Sales, Hospital Health Systems

Quantum Health

Eric Parmenter is the Vice President of Hospitals and Health Systems for Quantum Health at Quantum Health. He is established as a national expert on employee benefits, behavioral economics and psychology. A consultant with deep experience in health plan strategy, design, prevention care, and productivity and behavioral economics, Eric is a seasoned health tech executive. A former executive at Collective Health, Evolent Health and a Principal with Towers Watson, he has worked in the employee benefits business for 30-plus years as an advisor midsize, large and health system clients

Eric is an award-winning author of the book STOP: 21 STOPs to Reduce Stress and Enhance Joy and has authored more than 25 articles on employee benefit topics including “Fixing the Broken Triangle”, “Healthcare Benefit Crisis—Ten Years Later” in 2015, “Choice Architecture—a Tool for Ratcheting up Benefit and Wellness Results,” “eACOs—The Health Plan of the Future,” and “Healthcare Benefit Crisis.” A member of several “Who’s Who” lists for business executives.

Eric graduated from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a PhD in Business Psychology, The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a Masters of Business Administration, and the University of Illinois with a BA in Psychology. He is an Adjunct Professor of Business at Lipscomb University.

Eric is the founding President of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists.

Erich Barnes

SVP, Total Rewards

Tyson Foods

Erich Barnes leads the Total Rewards team at Tyson Foods, where he oversees the strategy and design of compensation and benefits programs for all team members—from frontline employees to the executive team. As a member of the Human Resources leadership team, Erich is dedicated to engaging with team members, hearing their stories and championing inclusion for all.

In his role at Tyson Foods, Erich spearheaded a team that transformed the company’s benefits offerings, significantly improving the team member experience while achieving substantial cost savings. This included introducing advanced concierge and navigation services to make medical and pharmacy benefits more accessible to the diverse team member population.

Before joining Tyson Foods, Erich was Vice President of Total Rewards at Resideo Technologies, where he led the development, design, and administration of compensation, benefits, and recognition programs for a leading provider of residential comfort, security, and “Internet of Things” technology.

Erich has led the compensation and benefits functions for multinational corporations across a variety of industries and regions.

He holds a Bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a Master's degree from Rutgers University, both in Economics.

Erich and his wife, Antoinette, live in Bentonville, Arkansas. In his leisure time, he indulges in reading Civil War-era history. His favorite book is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Felicia Cheng

Director, Global Wellbeing

Salesforce

Felicia Cheng is a Director of Global Wellbeing at Salesforce where she focuses on providing best in class resources, embedding Wellbeing into the flow of work and creating a safe and supportive culture for all employees around the world. She believes the biggest problems in business today is how we support our biggest company assets, our people. It's not only how to attract the best talent, it's how to keep top talent engaged, motivated and well in an incredibly exciting age of innovation with AI.

Frank Dumont

Medical Director

Virta Health

Dr. Frank Dumont currently serves as a clinician and Medical Director at Virta Health. Prior to joining Virta, he worked in a hospital-owned clinic for nearly 20 years, where he practiced outpatient and inpatient medicine and served as medical director of the wellness service line for the medical center.

Dr. Dumont has been devoted to improving healthcare delivery for over two decades, participating in organized medicine as a young physician representative to the AMA and serving on the Colorado Medical Society Board of Directors. He received his MD from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and today is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Garrett Hohimer

Vice President, Policy & Advocacy

Business Group on Health

Garrett is the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Business Group on Health and leads efforts to represent large employers’ perspectives on critical health, well-being and workforce issues. Prior to joining the Business Group, Garrett led government relations and served as regulatory and operations in-house counsel covering topics relevant to employer plan sponsors. Before that he was an attorney in private practice with a boutique benefits, labor, and employment firm in Chicago.

Garrett spent more than a decade in the performing arts, is a former U.S. Marine, and has his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Gary Loveman

CEO

Well

Gary was previously the EVP of Consumer Health Services at Aetna where he led transformative efforts in the areas of consumer, data, analytics, marketing, pharmacy and clinical. Before Aetna, Gary was the long-time Chairman & CEO of Caesar’s Entertainment Company, one of the largest gaming companies in the world, where he pioneered the customer loyalty and rewards program that revolutionized the use of analytics to influence consumer behavior in the hospitality industry.

Gary began his career as a Harvard Business School professor after completing his PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves on the boards of several healthcare companies and the Boston Children’s Hospital. Gary is also an owner and Director of the Boston Celtics.

Gerry Stanley

Chief Medical Officer

Evernorth

Gerry is an award winning third-generation family doctor, speaker, author, and catalyst for healthcare transformation. With more than 20 years of practice and executive leadership experience, he has spoken and presented extensively on the topics of health care disruption/transformation, population health management, self-insured health plan management, medical consumerism and direct to employer network enablement.

He joins the Evernorth team after serving as the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the digital therapeutic company, Harvard MedTech. Prior to that role he served as the Chief Medical Officer of the Employer and Consumer division of the Cerner Corporation. In that capacity, he led a national system of on-site/near-site health centers/pharmacies/occupational-health centers, a national group of care coordinators, a corporate wellness strategy business, an analytics team, and a third-party administrator (TPA). He has deep knowledge and experience serving and supporting self-insured entities, health plans, and private/public health systems.

An accomplished physician and entrepreneur, Gerry brings a unique and fresh perspective to the team by bridging health care with its specific business cases. His ability to make complex systems and ideas approachable for clients through his storytelling allows him to build meaningful relationships and drive growth for the organization.

Gina Gabriele

Client Relationship Lead

Marsh McLennan Agency

Based in New York City, Gina Gabriele has 25+ years’ experience in the employee benefits field and currently serves as a Client Relationship Lead with MMA, responsible for business development and relationship management. She has worked with a diverse set of companies spread across the financial and professional services, technology, manufacturing, retail, real estate and healthcare industries.

Gina focuses on Fortune 500 companies in the specialty areas of Time Away from Work, absence management, health and productivity management, integrated disability management, voluntary benefits and group life, accident and disability. Prior to joining the ADL Specialty Practice, Gina held senior level positions in the healthcare consulting practice.

Gina has been with MMA for 17 years. Before returning in 2013 to settle in the New York market, she served as Vice President at Marsh and ABD Insurance and Financial Services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gina Jacobson

Program Director, Working with Cancer

Publicis Groupe

As one of the founding forces behind Publicis Groupe’s Working with Cancer initiative, Gina creates and oversees the programs associated with delivering against the WWC Pledge internally. She’s committed to creating a multi-faceted, best-in-class example of supporting employees impacted by cancer—whether directly or as caregivers—through individual and group coaching, training, and community engagement. Using this foundation, she also recruits and guides other companies to take and activate the pledge.

Gina’s previous title at Starcom was Chief Growth Officer, but she always preferred to think of herself as more of a “Chief Potential Officer.” In that role, she oversaw both new business and organic growth, uncovering new opportunities and inspiring companies and colleagues to pursue what’s possible—an experience that prepared her perfectly for her current role.

In the Fall of 2018, Gina was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Now cancer-free for two years (and counting), she intends to keep living a joyful and purposeful life, while helping others recognize and realize their full potential.

You can read about what she’s learning from the best-worst thing that ever happened to her through her blog, weareallmadeofstars.net, and via her Substack, which includes Strive for Five, a one-year look back at the first four years of her journey as she approached the 5-year survival milestone.

Ilene Lichtman

Director, Employee Benefits

Silgan

Design and administer U.S. employee benefits for Silgan, a Fortune 500 company with approximately $6 billion from manufacturings facilities worldwide. Primary product lines include dispensing and specialty closures, metal containers and custom containers. More than 50% of the U.S. manufacturing facilities are unionized so we administer many health plans. Presciption drug benefits are carved out and a number of voluntary programs are also offered.

Ilona Smith

SVP of Employer, Government and Coalitions

CVS Caremark

Ilona Smith serves as senior vice president of the Employer, Government and Coalitions business unit of CVS Caremark, leading a team responsible for all sales and account management for these groups.

She and her team grow and retain clients by understanding their unique goals and achieve them through program administration, innovative service delivery, and strategic planning.

Ilona joined CVS Health in 2003 and has held several positions of increasing responsibility across different lines of business, all focused on delivering service to clients, including her prior role as Division Head, Employer Accounts.

Ilona holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a master’s degree in Management from Baker University

Hau Liu

Chief Medical Officer

Cylinder Health

Hau Liu, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, has more than 20 years of health care experience, including leadership roles in clinical medicine, digital health, chronic condition management, and health care operations. Prior to his role at Cylinder, he served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy at Teladoc Health, Chief Medical Officer at the Shanghai hospitals of United Family Healthcare, and Director of the Chronic Care Management Division at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Hau is a practicing physician and currently on the faculty at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He previously served on the faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine and as a fellow at the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research.

Heidi Riney

Chief Medical Officer

Nox Health

Dr. Riney is board-certified in sleep medicine and neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Georgia Association of Sleep Professionals (GASP) and National Sleep Foundation (NSF), where she serves on the Public Affairs Committee.

She completed her medical training at Wake Forest, neurology residency and neurophysiology fellowship at Emory University and sleep medicine fellowship at FusionSleep. During her neurology residency, Dr. Riney taught neuroanatomy courses and led small group clinical cases with second year Emory medical students. She was also involved in research, looking at concentric-needle single-fiber electromyography for the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

After her neurology residency, Dr. Riney completed a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Emory University. During her fellowship, Dr. Riney led weekly lectures with neurology residents on topics related to electromyography and electroencephalography.

Hope E. Karnes

Medical Director, Workforce Health Solutions

Quest Diagnostics

Hope Karnes, MD, PhD is the Medical Director for Quest Diagnostics Workforce Health Solutions. Through this role, she is dedicated to offering medical insights and guidance to support the vision of improving health for employer clients and their employees. Dr Karnes received a Bachelor of Science degree cum laude in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis in 2004. She went on to complete her MD and PhD from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2009 and 2011, respectively. From 2011 to 2016, Dr Karnes completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology, as well as a fellowship in blood banking and transfusion medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Karnes joined Quest Diagnostics in 2018, supporting client engagement and education across the Esoteric Laboratories. Most recently, Dr. Karnes has been providing medical support to Quest’s Diagnostic Services division, including Workforce Health Solutions. She enjoys teaching and promoting appropriate laboratory test stewardship practices among clinical and laboratory colleagues and was named a “40 Under Forty” selectee for laboratory leadership by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

Jackie Adams

Director, Benefits

Meijer

At the crossroads of data, processes, and people, you'll find Jackie Adams—a leader passionate about leveraging data to drive impactful outcomes that enhance the human experience. With over fifteen years of experience in technology and analytics, Jackie moved into the Benefits space over two years ago at Meijer, a Midwest retailer. Her innovative approach and commitment to data-driven decision-making have contributed to the success and wellbeing of the organization and its team members. In her current role as Benefits Director, Jackie is dedicated to connecting team members with benefits that genuinely enrich their lives.

Jake Anderson-Bialis

Co-Founder

Inflection

Jake is the co-founder of Inflection, a global digital education platform featuring DivorceIQ, EldercareIQ, EndofLifeIQ, MenopauseIQ and FertilityIQ. Jake is a board member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, a Big Brother, husband, father, graduate of Duke University (Summa Cum Laude) and a Baker Scholar (top 5%) from Harvard Business School. Jake lives in San Francisco and Auckland, NZ and speaks both Russian and English.

Jake Frenz

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

SmithRx

Jake Frenz is the founder and CEO of SmithRx, a new type of pharmacy benefits manager (PBM). Jake is dedicated to reducing the complexity and cost of pharmacy benefits, pioneering a disruptive new model that is transparent, 100% pass-through, and prioritizes costs over discounts. Prior to founding SmithRx, Jake built the operations organization at Collective Health, and led large program teams delivering commercial and Medicare healthcare products at Anthem.

Jake served as a Captain in the Marine Corps as a logistics officer with 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, where he completed two tours in Iraq. After leaving active military service, he turned his attention to healthcare and co-founded CombatIV, an infusion-pump IV device designed for combat zones. Jake received a B.S. in Finance and Economics from the University of Colorado and holds an MBA from UCLA.

Jamie Benton

VP of HR

Rollins, Inc.

Jamie Benton serves as the Vice President of Human Resources for Rollins, Inc. Jamie has been with the organization for 10 years and overseas all functions of HR including Recruiting, Employee Relations, Employee benefits, Retirement Plans, Payroll etc. Prior to joining Rollins, Jamie was the head of Human Resources for Racetrac. Jamie is the father of three children and an avid Georgia bulldog fan.

Jane Lee Choe

Chief Commercial Officer

Midi Health

As Chief Commercial Officer at Midi Health, Jane Lee Choe leads the enterprise sales strategy expanding our client base with employers, health plans, providers and strategic partnerships. She works closely with plan sponsors to drive real change in benefits for women in midlife. Before joining Midi, Jane held key roles at Parsley Health, Livongo, and Teladoc, and she's also brought her expertise to Carbon Health, Robin Care, Crossover Health, and International SOS. Through each role, Jane has been focused on improving overall health and well-being while for women and reducing healthcare costs through proactive, specialized care. She has a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Sciences from UCLA, an MPH from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and a Master’s in Clinical Informatics from Duke University's School of Medicine.

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve

Director, Wellbeing Research Centre, Professor of Economics and Behavioural Science

Saïd Business School, Oxford University

Jan-Emmanuel De Neve is the Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre and a Professor of Economics and Behavioural Science at the Saïd Business School at Oxford. The underlying theme throughout his research in behavioural economics and public policy is the study of human wellbeing. His work offers new insights on the relationship between happiness and income, productivity, firm performance, and economic growth.

Jan is an Editor of the World Happiness Report and the co-founder of the World Wellbeing Movement, a coalition of exemplary corporations that help put wellbeing metrics at the heart of business and public policy. He is a frequent advisor to governments and businesses including Unilever, Gallup, and BetterUp and currently guides the development of the world’s largest study on wellbeing at work for the global job search site Indeed with over 17 million surveys completed so far.

His research has been published in academic outlets such as Science, Nature, The Review of Economics and Statistics, Management Science, The Journal of Political Economy, Psychological Science, The British Medical Journal, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). His work was selected among “The Management Ideas that Mattered Most” by Harvard Business Review and he was awarded the inaugural Ruut Veenhoven Award for his contributions to the scientific study of happiness.

Jan obtained his PhD from the London School of Economics and was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University. His research and commentary regularly feature in the media, including in The Economist, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and on the BBC. He is a frequent speaker at academic and non-academic conferences, including at PopTech and TED. Alongside his role at Saïd Business School, Jan is the KSI Fellow and Vice-Principal of Harris Manchester College at the University of Oxford.

Janet Choi

Chief Medical Officer

Progyny

Dr. Janet M. Choi is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Progyny where she brings her expertise to ensure Progyny provides the highest quality fertility and family building services to our members and continues to raise the bar as the industry leader.

Dr. Choi has written, published, and lectured extensively on infertility, onco-fertility, and fertility preservation. She is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the New York Obstetrical Society. She has been selected as one of New York Magazine’s Top Doctors as well as a New York Super Doctor annually since 2018; a Castle Connolly Exceptional Woman in Medicine every year since 2019; and has been annually listed with Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors” since 2015.

Prior to Progyny, Dr. Choi was the medical director of CCRM New York for the last 7 years. Before CCRM, she was an assistant clinical professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center and served as the Director of Onco-fertility and Co-Director of the Fertility Preservation Program.

Dr. Choi graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University with an A.B. in English literature, and earned her medical degree and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University. She completed her sub-specialty fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.

Jeffrey Stohlberg

Director, Global Benefits

Moderna

Jeffrey Stohlberg is the Director of Global Benefits at Moderna, headquartered in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA. In this role, Jeff leads initiatives focused on enhancing health, retirement, and well-being benefits, supporting the overall wellness of Moderna’s employees. A forward-thinking leader, Jeff has spearheaded the development of a Benefits Assistant utilizing mChat and ChatGPT, leveraging technology to streamline benefits processes and improve the employee experience. Beyond his primary responsibilities, Jeff is an active leader within the company, serving as the co-chair of Moderna's Rainbow Alliance Employee Resource Group (ERG) and a member of the ERG leadership team, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. In addition to his work at Moderna, Jeff is an engaged industry leader. He serves on the Customer Advisory Boards (CAB) for Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), Fidelity Investments, and the Hartford, where he contributes to shaping innovative benefits programs and strategies. His collaborative approach and commitment to employee well-being have made him a key figure in both his organization and the broader benefits community. Outside of work, you can find Jeff on a tennis court or running along the ocean in South Boston, enjoying the beauty of the city.

Jeni Chih

Senior Director, Global Health & Wellness

PepsiCo

Jeni Chih is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of driving innovation and transformation across diverse industries. With a career spanning diverse industries including manufacturing, investment banking, retail and technology at renowned companies such as Oracle, NetApp, and Gap Inc., Jeni has amassed a wealth of experience in strategic design and execution in global benefits.

Currently as the Senior Director of Health & Wellness for design and strategy at PepsiCo, Jeni leverages her diverse background to drive impactful change at the intersection of employee well-being and organizational strategy. In this role, she leads initiatives to design and implement comprehensive health and wellness programs that prioritize the holistic needs of employees.

With her extensive experience, strategic mindset, and commitment to making a positive impact, Jeni Chih continues to drive meaningful change in the realm of health and wellness, setting the standard for excellence in design and strategy across industries.

Jenna Glover

Chief Clinical Officer

Headspace

Jenna Glover is Chief Clinical Officer at Headspace, where she oversees the company’s Care Services, including coaching, therapy, psychiatry, QA and training, and care enablement teams, to ensure members receive high-quality, culturally-responsive care. She previously served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Director of Psychology Training at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and as the lead psychologist at Avalon Hills, a residential eating disorders program based in Logan, Utah. Jenna’s clinical work focuses on utilizing motivational interviewing and acceptance based therapies across a range of internalizing disorders. Her passion is working with others to develop skillful behaviors that help create a life worth living.

Jenna also provides professional and community outreach, frequently delivering talks and lectures on promoting wellness and self-care. She has also given a TEDTalk on these topics. She has been honored with awards for teaching excellence, service to students, and wellness. Jenna is a licensed psychologist, and received her doctorate in Combined Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychology from Utah State University.

Jim Pursley

President

Hinge Health

Jodi is a Principal Benefits Analyst with Boston Scientific. She’s worked for Boston Scientific for 10 years and has 18+ years of extensive experience in benefits administration, policy analysis and strategic planning. She has a deep understanding of benefits regulations and compliance and excels in optimizing benefit programs to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement while managing costs effectively. Her expertise spans health insurance plans, wellness initiatives and vendor negotiations.

Joel Vikrant

Global Clinical Benefits Lead

Google, Inc.

Dr. Joel Vikrant is a results-driven strategist with over a decade of experience strengthening population health systems globally. He is an expert in developing integrated, multidisciplinary digital strategies to improve patient care, consistently delivering strong clinical and operational quality assurance through product design, and monitroing and evaluation. Dr. Vikrant currently serves as the Global Benefits Clinical Lead at Google, where he drives quality improvement initiatives and enhances clinical offerings for global benefits programs. His experience includes designing and implementing multi-site community and digital primary care health systemsfor multinational clients during his 8 years at Mercer, and helping stand up the clinical programs during his 2 years at Collective Health.

Dr. Vikrant holds a Master of Public Health with a focus on Global Health from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor in Medicine, Bachelor in Surgery from the Christian Medical College and Hospital in India.

Jodi LaMae

Principal Benefits Analyst

Boston Scientific

Jodi is a Principal Benefits Analyst with Boston Scientific. She’s worked for Boston Scientific for 10 years and has 18+ years of extensive experience in benefits administration, policy analysis and strategic planning. She has a deep understanding of benefits regulations and compliance and excels in optimizing benefit programs to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement while managing costs effectively. Her expertise spans health insurance plans, wellness initiatives and vendor negotiations.

Jordan Feldman

CEO & Co-Founder

Rightway

Jordan is the co-founder and CEO of Rightway, a modern care navigation and pharmacy benefits manager, revolutionizing healthcare by helping over one million people take charge of their care and prescription journeys. Rightway’s next-generation technology and groundbreaking delivery model attack healthcare's top cost categories: prescription drugs, hospital care, and physician and clinical services.

Growing up with a physician for a father, Jordan saw first-hand how having a dedicated, expert advocate could simplify healthcare, improve care quality, and lower costs. At Rightway, his mission is to provide every patient with the same experience by combining intelligent clinical guidance with data-driven personalization to guide them toward the highest-quality, most cost-efficient care and therapies.

In 2019, after seeing that navigation alone couldn’t make a meaningful impact in pharmacy care, Rightway developed the industry’s most transparent PBM, with an aligned model that drives every prescription to the lowest net cost. For the first time, patients could manage their medical and pharmacy needs in one place creating a single, unified experience across the entire healthcare ecosystem to supercharge patient engagement. Rightway's PBM combines high-touch pharmacy navigation with a transparent and aligned model, unlocking extensive margin trapped in the supply chain and passing it back to plan sponsors and patients.

Prior to Rightway, Jordan was part of both the Mortgage Trading and Investment Banking teams at Goldman Sachs which he left to help found Redbird Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on tech-enabled services, healthcare, and communications infrastructure.

Josh Golden

Senior Vice President, Strategy

Capital Rx

Josh is responsible for assessing market trends, evaluating business initiatives, and developing strategic partnerships to support the continued growth of Capital Rx. Prior to Capital Rx, Josh served as Area Senior Vice President at Solid Benefit Guidance, a division of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. He was responsible for the successful delivery of a wide range of pharmacy consulting solutions to Fortune 500 employers, government entities, labor unions, and health plans. Prior to joining Solid Benefit Guidance in 2016, Josh was the Practice Leader of the Employer Consulting Segment of Pharmaceutical Strategies Group, LLC. He has also held strategic consulting positions at Aon Hewitt, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, and Buck Consultants. Josh has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Joy Sylvester

Vice President Total Rewards

Memorial Hermann Health System

Joy Sylvester, FACHE, SPHR has spent over 20 years in the healthcare industry and currently serves as the Vice President of Total Rewards at Memorial Hermann Health System since May 2023. In her current role, Joy provides the strategic direction for the enterprise-wide areas of compensation, benefits, HR Shared Services and Workforce Analytics. Joy’s extensive HR Management experience spans all areas of HR, serving previously as a Chief Human Resources Officer, AVP of Total Rewards, and an HR Business Partner, all with a focus on workforce optimization, rewards, and strategic planning.

Joy holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Villanova University and Bachelor of Arts in Business from Northern Vermont University.

Karen Velkey

Corporate VP, Compensation & Benefits

HII

Karen Velkey is corporate vice president of compensation and benefits for HII, America’s largest shipbuilder and a global, all-domain defense provider.

Named to this position in 2015, she is responsible for formulating and maintaining competitive compensation and benefits programs for HII, including executive compensation, salary and wage administration, short and long-term incentives, and retirement benefits as well as health and wellbeing initiatives across a broad spectrum of physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Velkey has more than 30 years of experience in human resources. Prior to this role, she served as director, corporate compensation for HII, and previously worked at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, and Northrop Grumman.

Ms. Velkey is active in the community serving as the co-chair of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Health Care and Life Sciences Committee, on the Board of Versability Resources, and as a member of the Virginia Business Roundtable for Early Education. She is past president of the Virginia Living Museum and currently serves on the Board of Advisors. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College and an MBA from the University of Montana.

HII is America’s largest shipbuilder and a global, all-domain defense provider. With a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national defense, we are united by our mission in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world. HII’s diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business professionals.

Karey Godsey

Benefits Program Manager

Visa

Karey Godsey is a seasoned Benefits Program Manager with Visa, a position she has held since January 2018. This is in addition to her nearly two decades of benefits management experience helping grow Whole Foods from 17,000 employees to a multi-national company of 100,000+ employees. During her time there, Karey served as a Senior Benefits Coordinator and Benefits Team Leader, roles that provided her with comprehensive insights and expertise in benefits management and human resources.

Away from her professional life, Karey has a passion for travel and had visited over 50 countries. Karey currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and their dog, Maeby, where she enjoys live music and exploring new restaurants.

Kate Verbeck

Director, Total Rewards

HSM Solutions

Kate Verbeck has spent the entirety of her career focused on improving the wellbeing of individuals through carefully curated health care strategies and solutions delivered to members through their employers. With history accomplishing this work at some of the largest national employers, her last role, as Director of Benefits for Reynolds American, a member of British American Tobacco, and her current role as Director of Total Rewards at HSM Solutions, where her main focus continues to be creating strategies focused on the intersection of physical, emotional, social and mental health for her population, with a keen eye to the member experience and holistic care.

Kathleen Mahieu

Senior Vice President of Strategy

CuraLinc Healthcare

Kathy Mahieu joined CuraLinc Healthcare in 2022 as Senior Vice President of Strategy. Kathy has more than 25 years of proven experience as a thought-leader focused on creating innovative, human-centric solutions to improve the member experience, expand access to mental health care and support the development of high-performing organizations. In her role, Kathy is responsible for leading product strategy, designing, developing, and managing CuraLinc’s robust product portfolio, and leveraging client and customer insights to drive innovation that delivers meaningful outcomes for both members and their employers.

Prior to joining CuraLinc, Kathy was the Senior Vice President of Product Strategy and Innovation at Magellan Health and Director of Digital Product Innovation and Strategic Partnerships with Aetna Behavioral Health. During this time, Kathy developed virtual care and network strategies and established strategic partnerships to differentiate and advance innovation and transformation in behavioral health care delivery. She was also responsible for behavioral health product development and market and consumer insights to inform and guide innovation. For the majority of her career, Kathy led the Behavioral Health Solutions Practice for Aon Hewitt. Kathy worked with Fortune 100 employers to evaluate and design EAP and behavioral health care programs.

Kathy holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a minor in Secondary Education, and a Master of Business Administration from Sacred Heart University. She also holds a Master of Arts Certification in Elementary Education from Fairfield University. As a certified elementary school teacher, Kathy worked for several years in the public school system in Connecticut.

Katy Wong

National Pharmacy Team Leader

Brown & Brown

Katy joined Brown & Brown in 2024 as National Pharmacy Practice Leader. In this role, Katy leads the firm’s pharmacy consulting capabilities by driving business and customer engagement strategies, and by leading the development of pharmacy benefit-related innovation and intellectual capital.

Prior to Brown & Brown, Katy served as Chief Pharmacy Officer at Cigna. In this role, she led the creation, adoption and evaluation of clinical pharmacy programs, products, and services. Katy’s successful 26-year career at Cigna included numerous roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President of broker/consultant relations, Senior Clinical Director in account management and sales, and Manager for health care operations.

Katy holds a Bachelor of Science, College of Pharmacy degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Ohio State University. She is a registered pharmacist in Ohio and Nevada.

Keith Brown

Vice President of Total Rewards

Tractor Supply Company

Keith Brown brings a wealth of experience in global Total Rewards leadership to his role at Tractor Supply Company. Prior to joining Tractor Supply, Keith served as Vice President of Total Rewards at Boeing, where he oversaw global strategies in this area. His career also includes leadership positions with BorgWarner Inc., HD Supply, AON Hewitt and Capital One Financial Services.

A graduate of West Point with honors, Keith holds a degree in Political Science and System Engineering. He served as an Officer in the Army for six years before transitioning to the private sector.

At Tractor Supply Company, Keith is focused on enhancing Total Rewards programs to attract top talent, improve engagement and retain key team members. His extensive global leadership experience and dedication to fostering a strong workforce make him a valuable addition to the HR Leadership Team.

Kevin Theissen

Senior Director of Benefits

Nestlé USA

Kevin is a Total Rewards professional with more than 25 years of experience through leadership roles, as both a vendor and a client.  Kevin is the Senior Director of Benefits at Nestlé.  He is responsible for Health & Wellbeing programs for Nestlé in the U.S. for all operating companies including Nestlé USA, Nestlé Health Science, Purina, and Nespresso.  Kevin has responsibility for the strategy, plan design, vendor management, consultant relations, compliance, contracting, M&A, and administration for health and wellbeing programs.  He leads a team that delivers competitive and award-winning benefits for Nestlé’s over 35,000 employees and their families, supporting them throughout their life-stages and career. Kevin is focused on delivering innovative and impactful programs that support total wellbeing for Nestlé employees & their families.  

Kim Hurst

Senior Vice President, Enterprise Strategic Accounts

United Healthcare

Kim Hurst is the Senior Vice President of Enterprise Strategic Accounts for UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health care company serving more than 50 million people nationwide. In this role, Kim helps set the strategic direction and performance of high-quality, affordable, long-term health care solutions for UnitedHealthcare’s largest clients, including more than 450 employers and 9 million members across the United States.

Kim brings more than 25 years of health and benefits experience, fostering a collaborative environment through curiosity and commitment while creating a culture that generates growth. Prior to her current position, Hurst served as Aon’s leader of the Large Market Segment for North America, where she oversaw growth, client delivery and innovative solutions for one of the nation’s leading benefits consultants. She spent more than 2 decades at Aon in various leadership roles, developing innovative solutions to help address complex health care challenges for employers and consumers.

She holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and French from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She currently sits on the Executive Committee of the of the John Crosland School Board. She is based in Charlotte, N.C.

Kumar Dharmarajan

Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder

World Class Health

Dr. Kumar Dhamarajan is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of World Class Health, a leading provider of global health solutions for self-funded employers and their employees. In his role, Dr. Dhamarajan leads clinical strategy and innovation, ensuring the delivery of exceptional healthcare experiences through the company's global Centers of Excellence network and concierge health services.

A practicing cardiologist and geriatrician, Dr. Dhamarajan is passionate about advancing value-based care models that prioritize quality, outcomes, and patient satisfaction. He combines deep clinical expertise with strategic leadership to transform how care is delivered and accessed on a global scale.

Before founding World Class Health, Dr. Dhamarajan held leadership roles at Clover Health, where he served as Chief Clinical Officer, and the Yale School of Medicine, where he was a faculty member and researcher. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a Master’s in Health Policy from the London School of Economics.

Dr. Dhamarajan is a recognized thought leader in healthcare, frequently speaking and publishing on topics such as care redesign, clinical quality improvement, and global health innovation. His work continues to shape the future of patient-centered care, delivering superior outcomes for individuals and organizations alike.

Larry Levitt

Executive Vice President for Health Policy

KFF

Larry Levitt is the executive vice president for health policy, overseeing KFF’s policy work on Medicare, Medicaid, the health care marketplace, the Affordable Care Act, racial equity, women’s health, and global health.

Prior to joining KFF, Levitt served as a senior health policy adviser to the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services, working on the development of the Clinton Administration’s Health Security Act and other health policy initiatives. Earlier, he was the special assistant for health policy with California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, a medical economist with Kaiser Permanente, and served in a number of positions in Massachusetts state government.

Levitt holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Lesley Leiserson

Senior Director, Benefits and Health Management

The Home Depot

Lesley Leiserson is the Senior Director of Benefits and Health Management at The Home Depot, where she has led the company’s benefits strategy since 2006. With a unique combination of finance and fine art expertise, Lesley brings both analytical precision and creativity to designing innovative benefits packages, that enhance the health and quality of life for over 400,000 associates.

One of Lesley’s standout achievements is the Healthy Living Program, which has educated tens of thousands of associates on their health status and empowered them to address potential health issues before they become critical. This program was featured in American Healthcare Leader’s article, “Lesley Leiserson Paints Home Depot’s Benefits,” highlighting its lasting impact over the past 14 years.

Lesley also played a key role leading The Home Depot’s U.S. COVID-19 HR response, prioritizing associate safety, ensuring business continuity, and maintaining compliance with state and local regulations during the pandemic.

A dynamic leader, Lesley serves on the boards of Aetna Better Health Inc. GA and Aetna Health Inc. GA. She has been honored multiple times with The Home Depot’s CEO "Living Our Values Award" and has earned the prestigious IABC Gold Quill Award for excellence in communication.

Before joining The Home Depot, Lesley held management roles at Hewitt Associates and ADP. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Alabama.

Based in Atlanta, GA, Lesley enjoys spending time with her husband, their two teenage sons, and their two Schnoodles, Snuggles and Kiwi.

Lisa Woods

Vice President, Physical & Emotional Wellbeing

Walmart Inc.

Lisa Woods serves as Vice President, Physical & Emotional Wellbeing for Walmart Inc. Woods is a benefits and wellbeing professional with broad-based knowledge and experience. She has been nationally recognized as an innovator and thought leader in health care with a strong commitment to ensuring Walmart’s 1.6 million U.S. associates have access to benefits that are comprehensive, affordable, and competitive. During her many years with Walmart, Woods has played a key role in developing a portfolio of cutting edge programs focused on payment reform, reducing waste in the system, and ensuring appropriateness of care for Walmart associates. Additionally, she spearheads efforts to provide inclusive and pro-active support for all associates’ mental health.

Prominent examples include Woods’ work with Walmart’s Centers of Excellence (COE) program, quality-focused network plans, and virtual care access. Woods led the effort with her team to design and implement the COE program for heart, spine, joint replacements, and cancer with leading quality health systems. Woods has also worked on developing network plans focused on quality, while concurrently leading successful efforts focused on virtual care access for associates and their families. Her efforts have earned her wide-spread recognition, including being named to Fortune magazine’s World’s Greatest Leaders (#10) in 2019, being awarded Top 25 Health Care Innovators in 2020, and most recently, her work contributed to Walmart being awarded the Premier Trailblazer Award in 2023.

Woods’ dedication to the health and wellbeing space also spans to the broader U.S. with her service on many committees and boards. She currently serves as President Emeritus for the Council of Employee Benefits, on the Board of Business Group of Health, member of the Consumer Goods Forum, Health & Wellbeing, and member of the American Benefits Council. Woods frequently shares her time and insight as a guest speaker at industry events, providing attendees with a thorough understanding of topics critical to making lives better for communities across the nation.

Luke Prettol

Principal Benefits Strategy Consultant

AT&T

Luke Prettol is the Principal Benefits Strategy Consultant at AT&T, where his team is responsible for the strategy and design of the company's active and retiree health and welfare benefits. Throughout his 15+ years leading benefits strategy at companies of various sizes, he has been a passionate advocate for delivering equitable access to patient-centered healthcare solutions. Luke holds a BBA in Human Resource Management from Baylor University and a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Madhavi Vemireddy

CEO

Cleo

Madhavi Vemireddy, MD is Cleo’s CEO, having previously served as Cleo’s Chief Clinical Officer. Madhavi is board-certified in Internal Medicine and has over 24 years of experience in advanced clinical analytics, population health programs, and digital health products. Madhavi joined Cleo through the CareTribe acquisition, where she was the cofounder and COO. At CareTribe, Madhavi applied her population health experience and her personal journey of caregiving for her eldest son to support family caregivers, irrespective of the age or condition of their loved one(s). Prior to CareTribe, Madhavi was Chief Medical Officer and Head of Product at ActiveHealth Management and Head of Program Design for Aetna Care Management (both CVS Health companies), where she led the development of evidence-based analytics, population health programs and digital platforms that served over 22 million Americans.

Marco Diaz

SVP, Global Head of Benefits

News Corp

Marco Diaz is Senior Vice President, Global Head of Benefits for News Corp. He is responsible for setting the overarching US benefits strategy in conjunction with the various business divisions with oversight and responsibility to Global benefits delivery as well. Benefits include a broad suite of Health & Welfare plans, retirement plans such as defined contribution, defined benefit and non-qualified plans.

Marco serves on the Boards of the the Business Group on Health, the Northeast Business Group on Health, the Foundation of Arts and Healing and is on the executive client advisory group boards to a number of large benefits vendors.

Prior to News Corp, Marco worked for Thomson Reuters where he oversaw the Americas benefits function.

Melissa Carlton

Director, Benefits, Wellness and Occupational Health

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Melissa Carlton has more than 30 years of dedicated human resources experience. Her career covers roles in Talent Acquisition, Compensation, HRIS, Benefits, Wellness, and Occupational Health.

Melissa leads the HR team responsible for providing benefits, wellness, and employee health services to the employees of St. Jude. Her team personifies the St. Jude commitment to employee wellbeing by offering Top Notch benefits for St. Jude’s Top Notch talent. Under her leadership, St. Jude has been recognized as one of Glassdoor’s Top Workplaces, 100 Healthiest Workplaces in America, Best Adoption Friendly Workplaces and in previous years Fortune Magazine’s 100’s Best Places to Work.

Melissa is a passionate advocate for the city of Memphis and the St. Jude employees who live, work and play in the Bluff City and is a proud graduate of the University of Memphis, where she earned a Master’s in Business Administration degree.

Michael Becker

SVP, Sales & Partnerships

Wondr Health

Michael has spent the past 18 years helping employers put together engaging, thoughtful, and effective health benefit programs and strategies. He was co-founder of a successful well-being and data analytics company and has overseen (6) six dynamic commercial organizations within the employee benefits space. Prior to Wondr, Michael was focused on the areas of corporate well-being, healthcare consumerism, data analytics, and digital navigation. At Wondr, Michael’s teams work to grow Wondr’s employer footprint through like-minded, large employers and strategic partnerships. Michael received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Carthage College (WI).

Mike Medel

Senior Vice President and Practice Lead - Plan Sponsors

Pharmaceutical Strategies Group

With over 25 years in Pharmacy, there’s not much that Mike Medel hasn’t seen or done. As SVP and Practice Lead, Plan Sponsors, he works with employers, health systems, and labor unions to help them navigate complex industry issues. Though he’s quick to note that every day is different, Mike and his team work with plans to negotiate PBM agreements, analyze utilization management ideas, implement new PBM programs, and conduct audits or market checks. Leading a team of pharmacists and non-pharmacists, Mike uses all his resources to transform a client’s issues into assets.

Illinois College of Pharmacy, helping him understand the complex intersection of pharmacy and finance.

Mike brings an impressive diversity of experiences accrued throughout his accomplished career, including:

• Leading hospital pharmacies in Chicago’s Advocate system
• Growing a Medicaid pharmacy plan from 250,000 members to over 2 million in 5 years
• Consulting for large health systems, national employers, health plans, and public sector programs
• Serving as a hospital pharmacy executive for the largest health system in Arizona

Whether clients need to find savings opportunities in their pharmacy programs, increase revenue at internal pharmacies, or find ways to improve the care environment, Mike has insights. More than that, he applies acute industry expertise and refined marketplace knowledge to develop a success strategy tailored for each client. Wherever opportunities exist, count on Mike and his team to find them.

Monica G. Williams

Executive Director, Benefits

Baylor College of Medicine

Monica Williams serves as the Executive Director of Benefits at Baylor College of Medicine, where she leads the Health & Welfare, HRIS, and International Services teams within the Human Resources-Benefits Department. With nearly 19 years at Baylor, Monica began her journey as a front desk benefits representative and has since dedicated herself to mastering the "Baylor way."

Her career path has taken her from city government to the oil and gas sector, and ultimately into education and healthcare. Monica is passionate about benefits administration, viewing it as a vital way for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to their most valuable asset: their employees.

Recognized as a knowledgeable and inspiring leader, she is also a collaborative team player. In an ever-evolving landscape, Monica emphasizes the importance of embracing innovation and new experiences to navigate challenges effectively.

Morgan Bridges

Sr. Director Global Benefits and Wellbeing

Expedia Group

Morgan Bridges has more than 18-years experience in HR roles supporting global organizations in Total Rewards, Operations and Employee Relations. She has worked in the travel, technology, retail, and healthcare industries. Currently, she is the Senior Director of Global Benefits and Wellbeing at Expedia Group. Morgan is passionate about fueling enterprise business performance via the integrated people agenda and programs while also supporting employees through all phases of their lives.

Mudita Upadhyaya

Living Well Manager

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Dr. Mudita Upadhyaya currently leads the Employee Wellbeing Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she designs, implements, and evaluates a comprehensive, nonprescriptive, and technologically advanced wellness initiative for a diverse workforce. In this capacity, she focuses on fostering a holistic approach to employee well-being, tailored to the unique needs of St. Jude's large and varied employee population. Prior to this, Dr. Upadhyaya served as the Senior Wellness Manager at a prominent academic healthcare institution in Texas.

A seasoned strategist and health professional, Dr. Upadhyaya is also a certified human resource professional with a deep expertise in health promotion. Her proficiency in leading multidisciplinary teams and crafting impactful wellness programs makes her a distinguished leader in corporate well-being. She has co-authored over 20 publications in prestigious journals, with her research primarily focused on nutrition and physical activity interventions aimed at combating obesity through workplace-based strategies.

Dr. Upadhyaya holds a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and a Master of Public Health from Tulane University in New Orleans.

Nancy McCarrick

SVP

Aon

As Senior Vice President in the Health Solutions practice, Nancy cultivates and leads Aon’s relationships with large global clients. In support of her clients’ goals, Nancy oversees the delivery of a broad range of specialized services and initiatives, providing ongoing critical analysis and strategic advice. She has experience managing M&A related health and benefits harmonization specifically in manufacturing and life science industries. This work includes healthcare redesign, measurement solutions, and complex bidding and negotiations. Nancy leads Aon’s Life Science industry practice for US health solutions. In this capacity she generates industry-based thought leadership.

Prior to joining Aon in 2018, she was a partner at a major global consulting firm where she served as the lead consultant for several of their largest employers. Nancy initiated and led their national health and benefits retail vertical that provided enterprise-wide thought leadership specific to the retail sector. She began her career in large market sales for a national health plan where she was trained in underwriting and learned the intricacies of provider payment models and care management.

She holds a BS from Providence College. Nancy volunteers for the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston as a mentor for her Little Sister since 2009. She is an avid runner.

Nate Murray

Co-Founder

Crossover Health

Nate Murray is a founder of Crossover Health. He is an entrepreneur with a strong passion for healthcare and more than 20 years' experience in the industry. Murray works closely with the procurement, finance, and benefits design teams to ensure administrative and financial compliance of the health services implemented. Nate also helps to develop shared savings programs that align incentives across the partnership, and deliver objective improvements along the cost, quality, and experience dimensions. He is a strong advocate of plan designs that make primary care, mental health, and physical medicine low cost or no cost for members.

Murray has been employed by several large healthcare payers in operations and product development, and has experience in partner and consumer marketing, call center operations, and strategic planning. He has also worked in healthcare technology, helping payers and consumers understand and make important decisions based on costs. Prior to founding Crossover, Nate led the development of a direct-to-consumer Medicare marketing program and building a large online Medicare broker partner network.

Murray earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Utah and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Brigham Young University. He lives in Laguna Niguel, California, with his wife and sons.

Nechia Callender

Sr. Benefits Manager

J. Crew

With over a decade of experience in employee benefits and strategic planning, Nechia has established herself as a leader in the human resources field. Currently serving as the Sr. Benefits Manager at J.Crew, she has successfully implemented groundbreaking initiatives that have significantly improved employee satisfaction and operational efficiency. Nechia thrives on creating innovative solutions that align with organizational goals. Her strategic planning skills have not only streamlined processes but also enhanced the overall employee experience. The driving force behind her professional success is her daughter, who has inspired her to constantly strive for excellence. Becoming a mother early in her career motivated Nechia to achieve more, both personally and professionally, and instilled in her a passion for making workplaces better for everyone. Nechia continues to be an influential figure in the HR community, dedicating her career to crafting benefits programs that support and enrich the lives of employees.

Nicole Mata

Director of Health Benefits

Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC)

Nicole Mata is the Director of Health Benefits at Self-Insured Schools of California (SISC) where she is responsible for the daily operations of the SISC health benefits risk sharing pool for over 400,000 members from 470 California public school districts. She started her career at SISC in 2007 and is passionate about providing public school employees with access to quality healthcare. Nicole received a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services in 2008, an MBA in Healthcare Management in 2021, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in public health (DrPH) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Pamela Rich

Vice President

Business Group on Health

Pamela Rich is a Vice President at Business Group on Health. In her role, she leads a number of organizational initiatives, including the Well-being & Workforce Strategy Institute, the Leadership Forum on Employee Experience, the Leave Optimization Forum and the Business Group’s podcast, and identifies opportunities available to employers to drive health and well-being within their organizations.

Rich has been with Business Group on Health since 2007 and has worked on a broad spectrum of topics, including pharmaceuticals, preventive care, maternal and child health, consumer-directed health plans, and benefit communications.

Rich received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international affairs and a Master of Public Health degree from The George Washington University.

Pascal J. Goldschmidt

Chief Medical Officer

Lennar Homes

“Dr. Goldschmidt is an accomplished physician, professor, healthcare leader, and medical researcher.”

Dr. Goldschmidt is the Chief Medical Officer of Lennar Corporation (LEN on NYSE), Dr Goldschmidt has served as Professor at three prestigious institutions, Duke University School of Medicine, Ohio State University (OSU) and University of Miami. He was Center Director at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Chief of Cardiology at OSU, then at Duke, and Chairman of Medicine at Duke. In 2006, he became Dean of the Leonard Miller School of Medicine and Founder/CEO of UHEALTH, the University of Miami Health System. Dr. Goldschmidt and his team expanded UHEALTH to include the medical practice, four hospitals, and major outpatient clinic facilities along both coasts of South Florida. Clinical revenues increased three-fold over a ten-year period, and reputation rose markedly and concurrently. For further information on Dr. Goldschmidt please refer to https://pascalgoldschmidt.com/curriculum-vitae.

Patrick Nelli

CEO & Founder

Aligned Marketplace

Patrick Nelli is the CEO & Founder of Aligned Marketplace. Prior to Aligned Marketplace, Patrick spent a decade at Health Catalyst (HCAT), a data and analytics company focused on supporting some of the largest healthcare organizations in the country, where he was President and Chief Financial Officer and helped take the company public. Previously at Health Catalyst, he helped build value-based care analytics for some of the largest ACOs in the country in pursuit of Health Catalyst’s mission to deliver data-informed improvement. Prior to Health Catalyst, Patrick invested across the healthcare space and performed drug discovery research. Patrick’s passion is to drive as much healthcare improvement as possible through innovation.

Paul H. Keckley

Managing Editor

The Keckley Report

Dr. Keckley is an independent health industry analyst. His 45-year career includes operating roles in the public and private sectors in the U.S. system and abroad.

He publishes The Keckley Report (The Keckley Report - Paul Keckley), an independent weekly compilation of news, studies and perspective. He is also a columnist for Healthcare Executive and regular contributor to health industry coverage by CNN, Modern Healthcare, STAT, Healthcare Financial Management, Health Leaders, Politico, Business Insider, Fortune, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others. He has authored 3 books and 250 articles and published studies in peer-reviewed journals about the emergent role of consumers in U.S. healthcare, clinical approval processes used by insurers to authorize coverage and others.

In 2010, he facilitated negotiations between the White House and leading healthcare trade organizations pursuant to the passage of the Affordable Care Act and is considered an expert on U.S. health policies specific to delivery and financing.

Before starting The Keckley Group in 2015, he served as Executive Director, Navigant Center for Health Research and Policy Analysis, Washington DC (2013-2015), Executive Director, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, Washington DC (2006-2013), Executive Director, Vanderbilt Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Nashville TN (1999-2006), President, PhyCor Management Corporation, Nashville TN (1994-1999) and Principal, Keckley Healthcare Market Research, Nashville TN (1974-1993).

He holds a B.S. from Lipscomb University, Nashville TN, an M.A. and Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, Columbus OH and completed a graduate fellowship at Oxford University, UK.

Rachel Quinn

Network Strategy Lead, Health Benefits

Amazon

Rachel Quinn leads US network strategy for over a million Amazonians and their families. Her current role includes identifying and developing affordable, innovative valuable based care strategies, including Amazon’s advanced primary care strategy. Prior to Amazon, Rachel led and implemented value-based purchasing and Accountable Care Organizations and Center of Excellence direct contracts with leading health systems at the Washington state Health Care Authority. Rachel has also worked for King County Health Benefits program and Public Health Department. She holds a dual masters in public health and public policy.

Rani Aravamudhan

Senior Medical Director

Artemis by Nomi Health

Dr. Rani is a General Medicine physician with extensive experience in healthcare informatics. In her current role as Senior Medical Director at Artemis, she supports customers and internal teams in developing analytics, methodologies and content that are geared towards measuring clinically relevant health impact. Prior to this, Dr. Rani served as the Senior Clinical Consultant at HDMS (A CVS Health company) on the customer experience team. Prior to that, she worked in various capacities in Population health, Value-based care, EMR/ EHR workflow configuration areas. Her unique combination of deep clinical expertise, healthcare IT experience and data science acumen makes her a true force for innovation in the healthcare benefits world.

Rebecca Miksad

Chief Medical Officer

Color Health

Dr. Rebecca Miksad is a mission-driven Physician-Scientist with extensive expertise in cancer and patient-centric health technology and AI solutions. As Chief Medical Officer at Color Health, she oversees Color’s medical and clinical functions, driving the expansion of cancer screening, diagnostics, care navigation, and survivorship tools for program participants. Dr. Miksad previously founded and led the Strategic Affairs team and Research Unit at Flatiron Health, developing pioneering healthtech products and establishing industry standards for real-world data. Her work has influenced FDA guidances and advanced Health Equity initiatives.

With over 100 scientific publications, Dr. Miksad is an internationally recognized leader in oncology, clinical trials and data science. She established the first High Risk Cancer Genetics clinic at Boston Medical Center, where she is an Associate Professor and continues to care for patients. She previously directed the Gastrointestinal Cancer program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and conducted NIH-funded research. Clinically trained as a medical oncologist, Dr. Miksad holds an MD with Honors from Cornell University and an MPH in Clinical Effectiveness from Harvard University.

Safa Gamam

VP, Total Rewards

Wells Fargo

Safa Gamam is a dynamic leader dedicated to advancing employee wellbeing and organizational excellence. She currently oversees employee health and wellbeing programs at Wells Fargo and brings over 15 years of experience in developing and leading innovative health and wellness programs that support better health and wellbeing at both the individual and population levels. Driven by a genuine desire to help individuals and organizations achieve their best possible health, Safa has successfully built and managed comprehensive wellbeing programs, tripling employee engagement and fostering a culture of health across diverse and dispersed workforces.

Before joining Wells Fargo in January 2023, Safa managed global employee wellness programs at State Street, and worked across various industries including healthcare, technology, industrial and natural resources, and the financial sector. Her ability to cultivate strategic partnerships within organizations and with global partners has driven significant program improvements and enriched the overall employee experience. Safa's career roots are in population health research and community health programming have equipped her with the expertise to create and implement best-in-class wellbeing programs. Outside of work, Safa is a mom to a lively three-year-old and enjoys several hobbies, including raising chickens, gardening, skiing, and outdoor rock and ice climbing. She is also passionate about volunteering at community gardens and helping youth from underrepresented backgrounds learn outdoor sports.

Sam Holliday

Co-founder & CEO

Oshi Health

Sam is on a mission to increase access to the high quality, whole-person care that two of his family members have needed to manage their digestive conditions. His goal is to free millions of people from the burden of these conditions so they can get back to their life and work.

Sam is leading Oshi’s growth and democratizing access to high value digestive care that’s proven to achieve unmatched clinical outcomes, member engagement & satisfaction and cost savings. He has led development of national-scale specialty value-based care contracts that serve as a model for how to pay for outcomes that matter to patients and drive significant cost savings.

Having invested in creating robust evidence, Oshi is aligning healthcare stakeholders to bring this critically needed care to millions of people: Payers provide in-network access to Oshi’s care for their members; employers build awareness of Oshi’s care to improve the health and productivity of their workforce; provider groups partner with Oshi to extend their practices; and patients come to understand their condition and triggers to achieve sustainable control over their symptoms.

Oshi has built a specialized clinical workforce and empowered culture that thrives in delivering true relationship-based care, earning Oshi multiple ‘Best Places to Work’ honors.

Prior to co-founding Oshi Health, he held leadership roles across healthcare technology and tech-enabled services companies focused on improving population health. Sam lives in New York City and enjoys comparing notes with other innovators in healthcare and cheering on Philadelphia sports teams and NYCFC.

Sarika Gundu

Head, Canadian Benefits and Enterprise Recognition

BMO

Sarika is an influential People and Culture Leader, known for her bold innovative solutions leveraging her extensive experience in employee health to transform workplaces into performance-driven cultures. Sarika has a proven track record for building spaces where employees feel engaged, empowered and psychologically safe to bring their whole self to work.

She currently represents the voice of 30,000 plus employees as the Head of BMO’s Canadian Benefits and Enterprise Recognition Program. She’s transformed her passion and advocacy for advancing the role of women in the workplace through the architecture of BMO’s first ever Women’s Health strategy. Prior to joining BMO, Sarika led Deloitte Canada’s wellness and benefits program and was the firm’s in-house Mental Health SME. Before Deloitte, she pioneered the development of a national workplace mental health program called the Workforce Mental Health Collaborative at the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), National Office.

Sarika serves in key roles as a board director for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, a member on the marketing committee for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation and a technical committee member for the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace (the Standard) – the first of its kind in the world, is a set of voluntary guidelines, tools and resources intended to guide organizations in promoting mental health and preventing psychological harm at work.

Sarika holds a Master of Science in Health Services Administration and a Bachelor of Psychology.

Sean Bell

General Manager, New Ventures

Spring Health

Sean Bell is the General Manager, New Ventures at Spring Health where he focuses on the expansion of Spring's care programs to support acute behavioral conditions in its members.

Previously, Sean was Chief Operating Officer at Aduro, a leader in employee preventive care, and, previous to that, at Arivale, the first company to develop a patient-based model for precision medicine using multi-'omic modeling to inform care planning. Prior to Arivale, Sean was Executive Vice President at Free & Clear (now part of RVO) which was the national leader in medication-assisted treatment for tobacco addiction. Sean has also supported initiatives in national access to care for Opioid Use Disorders and for behavioral health access in the Medicaid population. Sean is a graduate of Bowdoin College and obtained his MBA from the University of Washington in Seattle where he resides today.

Shannon Sarcia-Carlson

Head – US Benefits

BMO

Shannon began her career in Benefits and Wellness at M&I Corporation as a Benefits Analyst in 2001 and quickly progressed through more senior roles to gain experience in Benefits planning and administration, Wellness, Human Resource Technology, Project Management, Communications, and Acquisitions & Divestitures. Throughout her career at BMO, Shannon has worked on many key HR initiatives including most recently in 2020 leading the Enterprise Wellness Team where she relaunched BMO's Enterprise Wellness strategy, which has been recognized as an industry-leading practise.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in Human Resources and Management Information Systems. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Tricia's Troops Cancer Connection in Wisconsin. Shannon is known as a meticulous, collaborative, and caring leader who has become a trusted advisor for many senior leaders at BMO because of her ability to balance compassion with the advancements of digital strategies, risk, and compliance.

Sherry Nelson

Senior Director, Global Benefits, Global Mobility & Immigration and Well-being,

TransUnion

Sherry is a dedicated and strategic Total Rewards, Global Mobility, Immigration, Wellness, and HRIS leader with over two decades of HR leadership experience. She has supported public, private and Fortune 500 companies generating more than $9 billion in revenue. Sherry excels in building impactful relationships across all levels of an organization, from C-Level executives to union and non-union employees, retirees, and shareholders. Her experience spans a range of company sizes from 100 to 85,000 employees, and includes operations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia. Recognized as a trusted leader, Sherry drives the implementation of innovative, transformative, and value-adding programs that align with corporate goals and values. She is a proven, data-driven decision-maker, seeking opportunities for continuous improvement and cost efficiency while designing competitive programs that attract and retain top talent.

Snezana Mahon

President

Transcarent

Snezana Mahon is President of Transcarent, Transcarent, the first comprehensive, consumer-directed health and care platform that makes it easy for people to access high-quality, affordable health and care. Transcarent is transforming healthcare with WayFinding, an experience powered by clinicians and generative AI where Members can “Just Ask Transcarent” to instantly get trusted health and benefits navigation, take the next step with personalized clinical guidance, and access on-demand care delivery. At Transcarent, Snezana leaders the company’s operational functions and product development. She brings over 15 years of progressive experience in the healthcare industry including pharmacy benefit management, product development & management, government programs, vertical and horizontal enterprise integrations, clinical innovation, and operational excellence.

At Express Scripts, Snezana held various leadership and management positions within the Clinical Product and Government Programs organization. Most recently as Vice President and General Manager at Evernorth Care Solutions, she was responsible for all clinical initiatives and utilization management programs that help make the use of prescription medications safer, more affordable, and more accessible for patients and payers. Previously, Snezana was Senior Director of Medicare strategy, where she guided Medicare Advantage and Part D plans on CMS guidelines, regulations, and Star Ratings requirements.

Snezana is a registered pharmacist and holds a doctorate in pharmacy from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Her earlier retail pharmacy career included positions with Walgreen Company.

Snezana resides in St. Louis, MO with her husband and two children. When Snezana is not championing operational excellence and innovation in solutions development, she can be found cheering on her kids’ sports teams.

Sonya Kurien

Associate Director of Total Rewards

RTX

Sonya Kurien is the Associate Director of Total Rewards at RTX, where she leads the communication strategy for all U.S. benefits and global well-being. Sonya has dedicated her 25+ year career to creating a healthier workforce through mind, body, wallet and community wellbeing initiatives. Outside of the office, Sonya is passionate about volunteering in her community and providing one-on-one personal coaching to help people live their best lives. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her family.

Stephanie Campbell

Sr. Manager, Solutions Consulting

Hello Heart

Stephanie joined Hello Heart with roughly 20 years of healthcare experience in direct patient care and chronic condition management. Her background also includes working in app-based technology, collaborating with employers, payors, health systems, and consultants to improve member outcomes. Based on her experience, she is uniquely positioned to be a top-tier subject-matter expert in population health. She earned her RN from Del Mar College, BSN from Chamberlain University, and MBA from the University of Texas at Tyler.

Steve Manning

Vice President, National Accounts

Aetna®

Steve Manning is VP, National Accounts, PEO Business. His main focus is to increase and strengthen the National Accounts & PEO business. His strong track record of engaging and serving some of our most critical clients will position him for success.

Prior to assuming this position, Steve was VP, Enterprise Accounts. As VP of Enterprise Accounts, he designed an innovative Sales and Account Services model combining Aetna and Caremark National Accounts. Steve directed a cross functional team in developing Enterprise Accounts organization design, job descriptions, sales incentive plan design, underwriting process, Member Services support, cross-training and customer consultant communications. He was responsible for the growth and strategy for Enterprise Accounts, the fastest growing National Accounts Business Unit.

Before leading Enterprise Accounts, Steve was Vice President for Aetna’s Integrated Business Unit (IBU). He led the modernization and growth of the IBU. The IBU team delivered significant incremental growth in their first two years of existence. He was accountable for ensuring the overall satisfaction of Aetna’s pharmacy customers.

Mr. Manning led the National Accounts Business Unit at CVS/Caremark for 12 years. Before leading National Accounts, he served as VP of National Accounts, East. Mr. Manning has had various roles in his 28 years with the company including Strategic Account Executive, Director and Area Vice President. Prior to joining CVS/Caremark, he served as an Account Executive with MetLife.

Mr. Manning earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa and a MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Steve Schwartz

Head of Customer Success

Grayce

Steve Schwartz is the Head of Customer Success at Grayce, the leading global family care solution. Prior to joining Grayce, Steve led and built Customer Success teams at Carrot Fertility and FOLX Health. He holds an MS from Virginia Commonwealth University and a BA from Tufts University.

Thomas Riley

Senior Director of Data and Analytics

Cariloop

TC Riley is the Senior Director of Data and Analytics, where he oversees a team that empowers departments across the organization to make data-driven decisions. He works closely with the sales, account management and marketing teams to provide insights that allow Cariloop to better serve its customers, members and partners. TC joined Cariloop with a background in establishing analytics practices, marketing analytics, information services, and consulting, having worked with large-scale enterprise organizations across the B2B ecosystem. He’s a passionate volunteer for the Living For Zachary organization and their mission of raising awareness and preventing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in youth. TC lives in Wylie, Texas with his wife and three boys.

Timothy Tolino

Global Director of Benefits, Mobility, and Wellness

Hunter Douglas

Tim Tolino is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in employee benefits, mergers and acquisitions, and relationship management. Currently serving as the Global Director of Benefits, Mobility, and Wellness at Hunter Douglas, Inc., he oversees the well-being of over 24,000 employees across 140 locations worldwide. With a career spanning roles at Aon and NFP, Tim has led complex M&A transactions and human capital due diligence projects, demonstrating his expertise in aligning business strategies with people-centric solutions. He is passionate about learning and development, change management, and finding inspiration in every interaction.

Todd Smasal

Vice President, Total Rewards & Employee Value Proposition

Northwestern Mutual

Todd is Vice President of Total Rewards & Employee Value Proposition at Northwestern Mutual. In this role he is responsible for the design, development and oversight of all base pay programs and variable compensation programs and employee benefits plans for Northwestern Mutual employees. Additionally, Todd oversees the development and delivery of the Company’s Employee Value Proposition, reinforcing the qualities and programs that make Northwestern Mutual an employer of choice.

Having recently celebrated his 29th anniversary with Northwestern Mutual, Todd joined Northwestern Mutual in 1995 as an intern in the company’s Employee Relations group and progressively earned additional responsibilities including as Director of Employee Relations before moving into his current role.

Todd is a native of Minneapolis/St. Paul. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. He also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Outside of work Todd and his wife, Joan, and three children enjoy time together at their cottage in Wautoma, Wisconsin.

Victoria Pavlov

Vice President, Global Benefits

Hearst

Victoria Pavlov is the Vice President of Global Benefits at Hearst where she leads the Health & Welfare and Retirement teams in developing strategy, managing vendors and administering the Hearst Benefits portfolio.

Previously, Victoria was Vice President of Global Benefits at Nielsen. In this role, Victoria lead US and global benefits and retirement programs for up 46,000 employees in more than 100 countries. Prior to Nielsen, she served as the Director of Health and Wellbeing for American Express.

Victoria spent over 15 years as a consultant advising large US multinationals on their benefits strategy and design.

Victoria holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa (Canada). 

Wendi Mader

CEO

eMed Digital Healthcare

Wendi brings over 20 years of experience in fostering collaboration with employers, payers, and partners to develop and implement innovative population health and safety solutions. Currently, she leads eMed as its CEO, focusing on driving the company's mission forward.

Before joining eMed, Wendi spent 17 years at Quest Diagnostics, where she played a pivotal role in guiding the commercial, product, and marketing teams for the employer channel. During her tenure, she spearheaded the development and launch of numerous population health programs, significantly contributing to the organization's growth. She was also instrumental in crafting and executing go-to-market strategies across various business lines at Quest.

Wendi has a proven track record of creating solutions and partnerships that enhance care quality while reducing costs for both employees and employers. Her commitment to continuous innovation and collaboration among payers, employers, and providers is central to her approach in achieving superior outcomes.

William Kimbrough

Sr. Medical Director of Clinical Services

Amazon One Medical

As a primary care provider, Will focuses on developing therapeutic relationships with his patients in order to manage their health optimally. He emphasizes prevention but also has particular interests in sports medicine and in the treatment of complex medical conditions, striving to understand the broad impact of illness on each patient's life. After receiving his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Will went on to earn his MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in internal medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital in New York City and also earned a master's in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Will is certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine.