Speaker Bios
Bilda Acuña
Assistant Vice President, Hispanic Markets
Unum
Bilda Acuña is a 15-year insurance professional specializing in Hispanic marketing strategy and consultation. She began her career with a predecessor company of Unum in 1996 after several years as a marketing professional in the medical and non-profit industries. She has held a number of positions at Unum in the areas of marketing and communications and assumed her current position of AVP of Hispanic Markets in 2007.
In this capacity, she is responsible for leading a corporate initiative with the goal of creating better connections with the Hispanic community and Spanish-speaking customers. She oversees a team of marketing and communications professionals focused on increasing benefit literacy among Spanish speakers through simplified, culturally-relevant education programs that enable them to make informed benefit buying decisions. She also leads a corporate-wide team in building best-in-class service capabilities for Spanish speaking customers.
Acuña received her undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She serves in various organizations focusing on education, mentoring and services for Latino children in the U.S. and South America.
Karrie Andes
Director of Human Resources
Deffenbaugh Industries, Inc.
Karrie Andes, SPHR, is the Director of Human Resources for Deffenbaugh Industries, Inc. and Affiliates in Kansas City. Founded in 1957, Deffenbaugh is one of the largest waste management services companies in the Midwest. Karrie has over 16 years of professional HR experience, primarily in heavy industrial environments. She developed an insatiable desire to provide low-cost, high-quality healthcare to their workforce. By aggressively managing and using self-insurance, they avoided premium increases for almost 5 years, and their 3-year average increase trend is only 3% - well below market trends.
Karrie was invited to pen her own column this year in Employee Benefit News titled "View From The Andes." She is also the creator and chairperson for The Savvy Self-Funding Healthcare Conference and Expo, which gained national recognition and attracts attendees from across the United States.
Karrie graduated summa cum laude from Parkville University with a B.A. in Human Resources, and is currently pursuing her M.A. in Human Resources with Ottawa University. She is also the recipient of the 2006 Benny Award for Benefits Leadership in Health Plan Management.
Kevin Andrews
President
SmartBen
Mr. Andrews is responsible for product planning, strategic alliances and defining company strategy. Mr. Andrews is a leading expert and visionary in the use of technology for the communication, education and enrollment of employee benefits. Mr. Andrews co-founded SmartBen, Inc. in 2000 following a successful career in the employee benefits arena, in which he consulted on employee benefit programs and developed communication technology as a co-founder of Visual Benefits Technologies.
Mr. Andrews has over 15 years of experience in assisting clients with HR technology solutions. He has worked with well-known brands such as Frontier Airlines, Tommy Hilfiger, XM Sirius Radio, Cornell and Johnson Outdoors. He has been a frequent speaker at benefit conferences and HR forums. He has also been interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR) and other publications for his insight and expertise on HR and benefit technology topics.
Mr. Andrews graduated from Spring Hill College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He also earned a Masters degree in Management Information Systems from Georgia College and State University. He has been awarded the distinction of being listed in the Who's Who Among Students in Universities and Colleges, as well as an honored member of the International Who's Who of Professionals. He is an active participating forum member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), a dynamic global network.
Robert N. Arnoff
President
Arnoff and Associates Inc.
Robert Arnoff is president of Arnoff and Associates Inc., a consulting firm and benefits brokerage in Ohio. He is the co-author, with Leah Shepherd, of The Three Rs of Employee Benefits: Recruiting, Retention and Rewards. He began his career with Northwestern Mutual Life assisting individuals with their life, disability and insurance needs. After 2½ years with Northwestern Mutual, Mr. Arnoff worked as a group representative at an executive benefits firm. He is an accomplished speaker and author on employee benefit topics. He received his BBA in business management from Kent State University and acquired his life, health & accident license in 1979. His professional training in the field of employee benefits started with the Wharton School of Business Certified Employee Benefit Specialist program. He serves as a board member for the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. Additionally, he is a member of the Solon Chamber of Commerce and its HR Roundtable, a member of the Northeast Ohio Health Underwriters Association, the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) and the Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG). Mr. Arnoff is an associate member of North East Ohio Municipal Finance Officers Association, and a SHRM facilitator for SPHR and PHR programs at DeVry University (Cleveland SHRM).
Jennifer K. Barton
National Practice Leader, Human Resource Services
Willis
Prior to joining Willis in 2002 Jennifer was Director of Human Resources for a national long term care firm overseeing all functions of human resources. Her career in human resources has encompassed work both nationally and internationally. And her background includes experience and expertise in strategic human resources planning, employee relations, compensation, benefits, recruitment, mergers and acquisitions, human resources technology, and workplace practices and administration.
Jennifer holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Kennesaw University and Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Human Resource Management from University of Georgia. She has also earned her designation as a Senior Professional in Human Resources.
As a National Practice Leader in Human Resources Services, Jennifer oversees the Human Resources Consulting Services of Willis, providing guidance and hands-on assistance to Willis clients across the United States in all areas of Human Resources.
Jennifer has held numerous speaking engagements at industry events, including SHRM and World at Work, on critical human resource topics.
April Bettencourt
Manager, Benefits & Payroll
VSP Vision Care
April Bettencourt joined VSP Vision Care as Benefits & Payroll Manager in January 2001. In August 2008, VSP acquired Marchon Eyewear, creating VSP GlobalSM and expanding April's responsibilities to include both domestic and international employees. April is currently responsible for all benefits and payroll administration, including wellness, worker's compensation, and disability management, for VSP Global's 3,000 employees worldwide.
April's 26-year career in Human Resources, with an emphasis on Benefits Administration, began in the savings and loan industry, where she participated in various mergers and acquisitions.
Ralph L. Bernstein
Senior Vice President and Business Leader
U.S. Bank's Healthcare Payment Solutions
Ralph Bernstein is senior vice president and business leader of U.S. Bank's Healthcare Payment Solutions business that includes savings and payment products and services for consumers, healthcare providers, and health insurers.
Ralph has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and healthcare industries, including payments, credit and debit, and international banking. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, he served as vice president of card solutions for Exante Financial Services (now OptumHealth Financial Services), a division of UnitedHealth Group, and as principal of RS3 Solutions, Inc. a healthcare, banking, and payments consulting firm.
Ralph rejoined U.S. Bank in April 2008. From 1996 – 1999 he served as vice president of emerging products and markets for the bank's Corporate Payment Systems group. He has also held leadership positions with LumenSoft USA, Gelco Expense Network, and Electronic Data Systems. His background includes management positions in credit and debit card issuing, product development and management, sales, operations, and finance.
Ralph earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and is a graduate of the Baccalaureate program of the graduate school of the City University of New York. He currently serves on the board of Jewish Community Action in St. Paul, Minn., and served for seven years as a trustee, treasurer, and vice president of Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka, Minn.
Marc J. Bilodeau
Senior Vice President
Employee Benefits Practice
Although Marc operates within the Atlanta Employee Benefits Practice, he provides strategic consulting and data-driven decision making analytical consulting to both local and national employer groups. With over 25 years of diversified experience within the Health and Welfare industry, Marc brings both consultative and direct benefit management experience to the Willis team with a focus on strategic planning, data analysis, claim system design / evaluation and benefit design / evaluation.
Marc provides consulting services to customers throughout the US and is responsible for full-service client relationships, internal data analytics and strategic planning for any Willis Client. He also operates as a national resource for all Willis clients who require specialized data analytics and reporting, strategic planning, and projects related to the assessment and design of innovative solutions. Marc and his team stay current on emerging products, trends and technology with the overall objective of keeping Willis clients informed and prepared to address current and future industry challenges.
Marc is a graduate of the University of Maine and holds a BA and MA in Sociology. Prior to beginning his career in Employee Benefits, Marc held a teaching position at Radford University and East Carolina University where he taught research methods, statistics and organizational sociology. Marc is a frequent speaker on the sources and uses of data in the benefit design, assessment, and decision making process.
Carrie Boerio
Corporate and Media Relations Director
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Carrie manages corporate partnerships, media relations and communications for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, which is a national nonprofit organization located in Dublin, Ohio. Carrie leads the coast-to-coast celebration of National Adoption Day and manages the Foundation's Adoption-Friendly Workplace program, helping employers establish adoption benefits and compiling an annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List. A Pittsburgh native with a degree in Communications, Carrie has been working for nonprofit organizations serving victims of child abuse for 25 years. She has presented at national human resource conferences and written about corporate support of adoption for the Adoption Factbook, Encyclopedia of Adoption, Workspan Magazine and Compensation and Benefits Review.
Janet L. Bruno, M.D., M.A.
Medical Director of Consumer Solutions
OptumHealth
Janet L. Bruno, M.D., M.A., is medical director of Consumer Solutions for
OptumHealth, the nation's largest health and well-being company. Her clinical
leadership includes oversight of disease and case management programs
serving more than five million individuals. She also is actively involved in health
and wellness online delivery. Dr. Bruno is passionate about educating and
motivating others to create a healthier lifestyle.
Dr. Bruno received her medical degree from the University of Washington.
She initially trained in surgery, and subsequently completed training and
certification in Family Medicine. Dr. Bruno completed a tour as an Air Force
flight surgeon and has held several positions in varied clinical settings, including
serving as medical director of a three-facility county jail system. Dr. Bruno's
personal and professional interests have led her to several international mission
trips to Kenya, Honduras and Mexico.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Bruno served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya.
Subsequently, she volunteered in one of Mother Teresa's leper colonies in India.
She later obtained a master's degree in International Affairs.
Brian B. Bullock
President and CEO
The Burchfield Group, Inc.,
Mr. Bullock is the founder, president, and CEO of The Burchfield Group, Inc., a nationally-recognized pharmacy benefits consulting and auditing firm. Burchfield assists managed care organizations, third-party administrators, employers, Taft-Hartley trust funds, and purchasing coalitions with pharmacy benefit management (PBM) procurement, contract negotiation, plan and PBM performance monitoring, and development of benefit design strategies for the future.
Prior to this role, Mr. Bullock was senior vice president, sales and marketing at Prime Therapeutics, the pharmacy benefit management subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, and vice president, benefit management services for Scrip Card/HCPP in Dallas, Texas.
With expertise in pharmacy benefits that includes clinical, operational, sales, and marketing areas, Mr. Bullock brings a unique, multi-dimensional perspective to the complex issues of pharmacy benefit management. During his 25-year career, Brian has also practiced community pharmacy and managed pharmacy operations for a start-up franchise program.
Mr. Bullock has served in numerous leadership capacities for the American Pharmaceutical Association and is a member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy. In addition to his professional work, Mr. Bullock is active in the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Northern Star Council.
George W. 'Coach' Campbell
Senior Corporate Trainer
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace in the Workplace Program
With over 30 years of experience, Coach Campbell, as most of his business clients refer to him, is a graduate of University of Tennessee in Industrial Engineering. He leads the effort to bring the principles of ‘Financial Peace' to the workplace nationwide for the Ramsey organization. He is responsible for the National Certification Program of Workplace Trainers and for helping companies large and small to realize what a huge impact the ‘Personal Financial Wellness Challenge', of their employees, is having on their businesses. For the ten years prior to joining Dave's Financial Peace @ Work Team, Coach Campbell worked as an independent performance consultant and trainer for clients like Coke-a-Cola, Federal Express, the United States Postal Service, US Sprint, and the State of TN, just to name a few. He has presented for numerous national and regional conferences and has been one of the most well attended programs at our conferences for the past three years.
Peter S. Chandler
Associate Director, Investor Education
FINRA
Peter Chandler is FINRA's Associate Director of Investor Education. In addition to developing educational tools and information, including writing many of FINRA's Investor Alerts, he works closely with other regulatory organizations and investor groups to promote responsible saving and investing. Mr. Chandler has more than 20 years of experience in investor education, communications and marketing, both with FINRA and FINRA's predecessor NASD, and The NASDAQ Stock Market, where he was NASDAQ's director of University and Investor Programs and served as NASDAQ's Director of Ecommerce. Mr. Chandler has a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Masters in Marketing from The Johns Hopkins University.
Larry Chapman
Senior Vice President
WebMD Health Services
Larry Chapman is Senior Vice President, WebMD Health Services, where he provides leading edge thought leadership on integrating health cost management; plan design, incentive systems, and organized prevention programming for worksite, managed care and community-based populations. Prior to his current position he was co-founder and Chairman of Summex Health Management, an industry leader in health management services for business and industry which was acquired by WebMD in 2006. Chapman currently serves as an editor of the American Journal of Health Promotion and the Editor of the Art of Health Promotion section of the Journal.
Chapman has published over 170 articles and columns and 13 books on the topics of wellness, health cost management and health and productivity management. He has been a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the Department of Veteran's Affairs and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Chapman is a frequent keynote speaker and has given over 2,500 presentations and workshops on employee health, wellness and healthcare cost control.
Chapman earned his master's degree in Medical Care Organization from the University Of Michigan School of Public Health. He also holds degrees in Environmental Health and Medical Technology. As a consultant in the field of wellness and health promotion for more than 25 years, his clients have included more than 800 public and private sector organizations. Chapman has also received numerous professional rewards including a Lifetime Service Award from the Association of Worksite Health Promotion and in 2008 he received the first ever Halbert L. Dunn Lifetime Wellness Achievement Award from the National Wellness Institute.
Daniel Cohen
Vice President, Healthcare Solutions
MasterCard Worldwide
Daniel Cohen is part of The Healthcare Solutions team at MasterCard Worldwide. In this role, he leads initiatives to address the payment needs of different healthcare markets around the world and works with financial institutions, health plans, third parties and technology providers to develop solutions and strategies for the industry.
Mr. Cohen holds an MA from Columbia University and a BA from The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jeanette Cooper
Consulting Actuary
The Segal Company
Ms. Cooper joined The Segal Company's Atlanta office in 2006 as a Consulting Actuary. She works closely with defined benefit retirement plan clients on preparing actuarial valuations for their plans and on plan design.
Ms. Cooper has over 20 years of experience as a pension actuary and retirement consultant. Working primarily with defined benefit plans, she has modified and implemented new plan designs including identifying objectives, providing alternative designs and costs, assisting with communication materials and presenting results. Ms. Cooper has worked on multiemployer, corporate and public sector plans, and developed and delivered presentations to Trustee and plan participant groups.
Ms. Cooper has worked on multiple-year deterministic cost projections as well as asset/liability studies. Recently, she has assisted in developing rehabilitation plans for multiemployer plans under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA '06).
Ms. Cooper has consulted with clients on complex benefit issues including early retirement windows, protected benefits, employee contributions, compensation and benefit limits, relative value and minimum distribution rules. She leads in-house training sessions on new legislation and its practical application.
Ms. Cooper graduated with a BS in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries and an Enrolled Actuary.
Kay Rayner Curling
Director, Human Resources
Serco Inc.
Kay Curling is the Director of Human Resources for Serco Inc. In her role at Serco she is charged with delivering best in class benefit solutions for a disparate and diverse workforce covering all fifty states and several global locations. Her career has included positions in international banking, serving as an adjunct professor in Germany, and 20+ years in the Human Resources field. Kay is a frequent guest lecturer at industry conferences and periodically authors articles for industry publications.
She has had the privilege of serving on several client boards of prestigious national benefit providers as well as local community Boards. She is an active advocate in the world of work life and human resources and has been credited with several local and national awards including the 2007 HR Leadership Award for Community Leadership, 2004 People First Award awarded by Employee Benefit News and Vision Service Plan, 2004 Worldwide Employee Benefits Professional Honoree, 2003 Northern Virginia Worldwide Employee Benefit Professional of the Year, 2003 Workforce Optimas Award for HR Innovation and 2000 Benefit Professional of the Year awarded by Employee Benefit News and Vision Service Plan.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Ms. Curling is also earned the credentials of a Senior Professional in Human Resources through the Society for Human Resource Management and is a licensed health and life insurance consultant and agent.
Alexander "Sander" Domaszewicz
Principal and Senior Consultant
Mercer Health & Benefits Services
Sander is a Principal and Senior Consultant housed in the Mercer Health & Benefits Services (Mercer) Newport Beach, California office. He is Mercer's National Practice Leader for Consumerism and leads Engagement efforts for the Total Health Management group, specializing in emerging benefits and ways to encourage groups to become involved and informed around health care cost and quality. Areas of focus include health care strategy, consumer directed health care, health and benefits decision support tools, web health resources, HR portals and online benefits.
Sander's prior experience includes project management in the Health & Group Benefits Delivery Services group at a large multi-national consulting firm for flexible benefits administration outsourcing. In this capacity he addressed outsourcing issues, systems integration, design, and testing as well as database administration and training relating to flexible benefits. Prior to benefits outsourcing project management, Sander managed a hearing health care facility in Southern California, giving him exposure to issues from the provider perspective.
Sander is a frequent presenter at health care and benefits-related events and has published articles in Benefits Quarterly, Employee Benefit News, HR Magazine, and Workforce. His consulting assignments include work with many large and small public and private organizations in both the benefits and product development areas.
Sander holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from San Diego State University, a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a certificate in Human Resources Management from Cornell.
Kim Dwyer
Director of Benefits
Advocate Health Care
As Director of Benefits, Kim Dwyer strategizes, designs, develops and implements all employee benefits and wellness programs with communications to support them. She is responsible for all administration and selection of benefits providers, including third party administrators, managed care companies, benefit networks, trustee and recordkeeping services. Kim is also responsible for consolidation of multiple benefit plans due to acquisitions with common enrollment and communications platforms. She also developed case management/certification for self-funded disability plans. Kim is a leading thinker on benefits administration “going green”.
Recently, Advocate was voted one of the Top 5 Employers in the State of Illinois and is considered the premier health care provider in Chicago. With 9 acute care hospitals and 2 childrens' hospitals, it is the second largest private sector employer in Illinois, having 28,000 employees and annual net revenues of $4.1 billion. She has led the creation, development and implementation of the new health and productivity program for Advocate's health plan participants.
Kim holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Illinois, Sports Medicine and Education. She is an active member of the Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) and is or has served as a Board advisor for Client Advisory Board member for HealthMedia, Institutional Advisors, Fidelity, ADP Benefit Services and MBGH.
Gary Earl
Senior Vice President
CIGNA
For the past 25 years, Gary Earl has dedicated his focus, energy and passion to the subject of health from the perspective of the study, creation and demonstration of solutions relating to conditions, cultures, communities and economics. He is a national leader in the effort to turn the traditional dialog and focus of managing costs and treating disease to a more broad and comprehensive one of uncovering and addressing the social and environmental determinants of health. Mr. Earl has successfully been able to connect together people and organizations, who through study, learning and connection seek meaningful, sustainable change. He has successfully demonstrated the value of such an investment in the movement, which has lead to an improvement in the environments in which people live and work.
Prior to re-joining CIGNA in 2005, Mr. Earl was nationally recognized for his work as the Corporate Vice President of Benefits and Healthcare for Caesars Entertainment; the world's largest gaming organization. In this role, Mr. Earl envisioned, inspired and led the creative development and integration of innovative and life altering solutions; aimed at improving the overall health, productivity and quality of life of the 81,000 employees and family members of Caesars Entertainment. Subsequently, Mr. Earl and his team were successful at demonstrating the economic, social and human gain based upon the investment for the company and its shareholders, driving expense, absence and inactivity below nationally acceptable norms, while impacting the communities in which the company and its associates reside. Based upon the results of the efforts put forth by Mr. Earl and his dedicated collection of colleagues, Mr. Earl was honored as "Benefit Manager of the Year 2003" by Employee Benefits Magazine.
Mr. Earl's experience prior to Caesars includes tenure with the employee benefit consulting company, The Watson Group, where he served as a corporate vice president and partner, and with CIGNA HealthCare, spending over a decade of service in a variety of roles including financial underwriting , sales, management and product development.
Mr. Earl is founder and Executive Director of Health, Hope & Purpose, Inc., a nationally recognized health information non profit and is the creator and operator of the Health Awareness Tour; a annual cross-America bicycle tour that's purpose is to promote health awareness and education to all people.
Gary is presently Senior Vice President of CIGNA. He is also Co-Founder of Communities of Health, a social cooperative affiliated with CIGNA. He is dedicated to expanding the dialog and agenda of health and cultural awareness and improvement on a local, national and global level. His work in the field of social epidemiology has spurred both he and CIGNA to a new focus of understanding and investing in the establishment of communities of health for the explicit purpose of a legacy of improvement to both society and humanity.
Thomas G. Emerick
President
Emerick Consulting
Thomas G. Emerick is the President of Emerick Consulting, LLC, a firm engaged in providing consulting services to a broad spectrum of clients. Tom's years with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Burger King Corporation, British Petroleum, and American Fidelity Assurance Company have provided an excellent blend of experience and contacts. His last position with Wal-Mart was Vice President, Global Benefit Design.
Tracey Gavin
Senior Associate
Mercer
Tracey Gavin is a Senior Associate in Mercer's office in Indianapolis. Ms. Gavin is the consultant and project manager for health and welfare services provided to her clients. Projects include development of employee benefits strategies, vendor selection, bidding and consolidation, insured and self-funded rate negotiation, and vendor performance.
Prior to joining Mercer in 2005, Ms. Gavin spent 8 years in employee benefits consulting and human resource management. Her primary focus has been as a Consultant/Project Manger where she was responsible for overall client relationships and ongoing management of employee benefit programs. As a Consultant, Tracey was a strategic partner to clients in developing and attaining long term client goals and objectives related to their employee benefit programs.
Bill Germanakos
Season 4 Winner of "The Biggest Loser" and
Director, Wellness Ambassador
Quest Diagnostics
Bill Germanakos, a Quest Diagnostics Sales Representative, was one of 18 contestants on the fourth season of the NBC hit reality show "The Biggest Loser". Bill is 41 years old, from Lynbrook, New York. At the age of 40 during an appointment with his physician, Bill was informed that he was not only classified as obese, but had seriously high blood pressure and several health factors, including high cholesterol, which put him at risk for heart disease. The diagnosis was a result of the laboratory diagnostics performed by Quest Diagnostics. Along with several other compelling factors, such as the recent death of a close family friend and the fact that his father had died young, was motivation enough for Bill to decide to make important and necessary changes in his life, as it pertained to his diet and exercise habits. The thought of not being around to walk his two daughters down the aisle was a major contributing factor for him to improve his health.
Bill's mantra on "The Biggest Loser" was: "To become half the man, so that he could be twice the man", and standing at 5' 8", Bill went from weighing in at 334 lbs to 170 lbs, losing a total of 164 lbs, or 49.1% of his starting body weight.
At the live finale of the show this past December, Bill was declared the winner of the fourth season of NBC's hit reality show, "The Biggest Loser," and was awarded the grand prize of $250,000.
Now that Bill has become "Half the Man", he strives every day to be "Twice the Man", for himself, in his career and especially for his family. After having been reeducated about diet and exercise, his goal is to "pay it forward" by helping to educate those who also struggle with obesity.
Paul Gilles
Group Vice President-Compensation and Benefits
Time Warner Cable
Paul Gilles is Group Vice President-Compensation and Benefits at Time
Warner Cable. Prior to his current position, he held similar leadership
roles at Deloitte and Springs Global. He formerly was also a Principal
in an international Human Resource consultancy focusing on the area of
rewards. He has over 20 years of experience in finance, rewards and
change management.
He has an undergraduate degree in accounting, a graduate degree in
taxation and a post-graduate certificate in change management
consulting. Mr. Gilles is a CPA, CCP and SPHR. He is also on the World
at Work faculty where he teaches accounting and finance for HR
professionals. Over his career, he has spoken at numerous professional
and industry association meetings and has authored over 30 articles on
various reward topics.
Ed Golitko
Senior Director of Human Resources
EMC Corporation
Ed is EMC Corporation's Senior Director of Human Resources responsible for global retirement plans and Human Resource systems. In his nine years with EMC, Ed has directed the implementation of award-winning health benefit programs; the creation of 21st century workforce management systems; and is currently transforming the company's approach to employee wealth accumulation. Ed employs his expertise as a Certified Financial Planner as well as prior experience in HR systems, Payroll, Benefits, Finance and Retirement Plan Administration with Mutual of Omaha and Harris Corporation.
Justine Goode
Market Segment Manager
Wells Fargo Health Benefit Services
Justine Goode brought 20 years of healthcare administration experience to Wells Fargo when she joined the company in August 2007. She currently serves as Market Segment Manager focusing on the strategic development of the Health Savings Account (HSA) individual market, and enhancement of the customer experience.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo, she worked as a consultant with the Technology Solutions Practice of Watson Wyatt Worldwide. She consulted with clients to develop and implement web-based health and welfare benefit administration solutions, as well as lead product innovation and process improvement for Watson Wyatt's health care modeling tool suite – Evaluate.
Justine was the Director of Product Development for Definity Health. Under her direction the company developed and successfully launched the Consumer-Driven Health Savings Account HSA product in January 2005. While at Definity Health, Justine served in a number of other roles, including that of Director of Enrollment, Billing and Fulfillment and Director of Employer Results. She was the Project Manager for the conversion of new and existing clients to a new claims vendor and platform in 2003.
She led the implementation of Fortune 1000 clients, and performed business systems analyst and PPO management functions during her six years at eBenX. She also assumed key positions in claims administration and provider relations during her six years as part of the Prudential organization.
Justine holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science & International Relations from Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
Mark A. Gow
Director of HR
IAP World Services
Mark Gow is currently the Director of HR for IAP World Services in Cape Canaveral, Fl. IAPWS is a government contractor with over $1.2B a year in revenue and over 5000 employees throughout the world. As HR Director, Mark is responsible for the Base Operations Support Services line of as well as the IAP Center of Excellence for Labor Relations.
Prior to joining IAP Mark spent 6 years as the Director of Benefits and Compensation for Johnson Controls World Services and 16 years with Lockheed Martin Corporation in a variety of HR positions including the Manager of Compensation, Benefits & Systems for the Space Shuttle Processing Contract at the Kennedy Space Center.
Mr. Gow received an undergraduate degree (summa cum laude) in Human Resource Administration from St. Leo College and an MS in Human Resources and Organizational Development (with Highest Honors) from Chapman College. He is a certified Senior Professional in HR by the Society of Human Resource Management and was the recipient of the 2007 EBN Benny Award for the Benefit Professional of the Year.
Tami L. Graham
Global Benefits Design Manager
Intel Corporation
Tami is the Global Benefits Design Manager, within Intel's Worldwide Compensation and Benefits Group.
Tami was formerly a member of Intel's HR Legal Group as a legal advisor for the design and administration of Intel's compensation and benefit programs.
Prior to joining Intel in 1999, Tami served in a similar legal role with JCPenney Company, and in private legal practice advised many large companies on a wide range of benefits matters.
Tami holds a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, and a B.A. from Sonoma State University. Tami is admitted to the state bars of Texas, Oregon and Ohio, and belongs to many professional organizations and trade associations focused on employee benefits policy.
Bob Grimes
Vice President of Human Resources
NuStar Energy L.P.
Bob Grimes serves as Vice President of Human Resources for NuStar Energy L.P. where he oversees NuStar's human resources programs, including benefits and compensation, recruiting and employee relations.
Prior to joining NuStar, Mr. Grimes spent 17 years as the Director of Employee Relations & Public Affairs at the Valero Bill Greehey Refinery in Corpus Christi. In that position, he managed all employment activities, employee relations programs, technical training and security, as well as charitable programs and media relations. He also spent 13 years at Valero's corporate office in San Antonio where he served as Director of Employment and Field Employee Relations and Payroll Manager.
A committed volunteer, Mr. Grimes currently serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement and is a member of the Rotary Club of San Antonio. He previously served as President of the United Way of the Coastal Bend and President of the Corpus Christi Downtown Rotary Club.
Mr. Grimes holds a B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University.
Nelson Griswold
President
Cross-Sell Solutions
Nelson Griswold is the insurance industry's recognized authority on cross-selling and solution-based selling.
A former senior executive and top producer with a national enrollment firm, Nelson founded Cross-Sell Solutions to help brokers succeed at cross-selling worksite voluntary benefits and to transition from being viewed as a mere insurance salesperson into the client's trusted advisor by following his proprietary Advisory Selling® system.
Nelson consults with brokers, agencies and carriers to help them increase their revenues and market penetration with voluntary benefits.
His innovative approach to cross-selling voluntary benefits is the result of Nelson's own real-world, trial-and-error search for success cross-selling voluntary. After analyzing the attitudes and cross-selling efforts of hundreds of brokers, from those who refused to cross-sell to those who were highly successful, Nelson took the methods and strategies of the most successful brokers and synthesized them into his own system for cross-selling voluntary benefits that turned him into a top producer. That proven system is the basis for the Cross-Sell Solutions System.
A featured speaker at industry conferences, Nelson's work has appeared in leading industry publications, including his groundbreaking article “Four Steps to Cross-Selling Voluntary,” which introduced the industry's first-ever systematized approach to help brokers cross-sell worksite voluntary benefits.
Ken Groh
Vice President, Communication Consulting
Aon Consulting
Ken is a vice president with the Communication Practice in the Chicago office of Aon Consulting. Ken works with clients to provide support in a wide variety of employee communication assignments including organizational change, crisis communication, employee engagement and human resources program education.
Ken joined Aon's Chicago Organization Performance and Implementation (OPI) practice in 2000 and has worked for major private and public organizations to help educate and engage their employees in a wide range of initiatives.
In addition to communication planning and strategy development, Ken's background includes researching audience perceptions through surveys and focus groups and in managing implementation through print, social media, DVD/video, web and meeting materials.
During the last four years, Ken has conducted research and surveys to understand the role that Web 2.0/social medial has in employee communication. He is currently working with a number of organizations to create strategies for integrating social and traditional media into effective communication strategies and implementation plans.
Ken is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He has earned numerous awards for his communication work, including IABC Gold and Silver Quill awards for print and video communications from the International Association of Business Communicators and awards and awards from the Public Relations Society of America. He is a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and a board member of the Chicago chapter.
Jennifer Hader
Director, Product & Strategy Development & Management
CIGNA
As director, Jennifer provides strategic direction and leads the growth and development for CIGNA's group life insurance division, as well as the division's customer and client self-service and client reporting initiatives. She is responsible for delivering on CIGNA's mission to help the people we serve improve their health, well-being and security.
Jennifer has more than 18 years of corporate experience in insurance, financial services and consulting. She has held several project and business management positions and also headed up marketing communications and business proposal areas. Prior to joining CIGNA in 1999, she was marketing manager for Lee Hecht Harrison.
Jennifer received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Philadelphia University, and her master's degree in marketing from Temple University.
Chris Hartnett
EVP, Benefits
Roussel & Associates
Specializing in employee benefits, group insurance and retirement planning, Chris Hartnett uses his 10 years of experience in the financial services industry to analyze, design and implement cost-effective benefit plans for companies of all sizes. Prior to joining Roussel & Associates in 1997, he was at Great West Life and Annuity, where he dealt with employee benefits and retirement plans for corporation throughout the Southeast with anywhere from 20 to 2000 employees. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Marketing/Finance and has Series 6, 63, and Life and Health licenses.
John Hickman
Partner
Alston & Bird, LLP
John Hickman is head of the Alston & Bird, LLP Health Benefits Practice where he leads five attorneys devoted exclusively to HIPAA privacy, flexible benefits, and other health & welfare benefit issues. Mr. Hickman has been a pioneer in the consumer directed health care arena and has worked closely with health plans, financial institutions, and employers as well as the IRS, Treasury, and DOL in developing guidance for tax-favored health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs).
Mr. Hickman has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White) and Who's Who Legal in the employee benefits area. Mr. Hickman has lectured widely and published articles on HIPAA, ERISA litigation, cafeteria and health plan issues. He is co-author of the Cafeteria Plans Manual, HIPAA Portability and Privacy, and Consumer-Driven Health Care (published by the Employee Benefits Institute of America). Mr. Hickman is head of the Technical Advisory Committee and is on the board of the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC). Mr. Hickman is also an adjunct professor of law at Emory University School of Law.
Peter Hirano
Principal
HighRoads
Peter is a thought leader and strategic consultant who provides a perspective on global HR outsourcing that can only result from a long history in the industry.
He has spent his entire 20 year career in HR Outsourcing, Operations, Systems and Product Management.
Peter most recently held senior executive positions with Convergys Corporation where he had global responsibility for product management, product strategy, strategic planning, marketing and implementations. During his tenure, Convergys became the leading global provider of integrated outsourced Human Resource solutions for Fortune 500 companies and signed contracts valued at $1.4 Billion in 2005. Previously, Peter was a partner at both KPMG Consulting Inc. (now BearingPoint) and Hewitt.
Peter holds a Master of Management in human resources and marketing from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Bob Ihrie
Senior Vice President of Employee Rewards and Services
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
Since August 2007 Bob Ihrie has been the Senior Vice President of Employee Rewards and Services for Lowe's Companies, Inc., where he oversees the strategic direction of all compensation, benefits, payroll, and International HR programs for over 215,000 employees. He also serves as secretary of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. Bob also serves as the employer co-chair of Care Focused Purchasing and is a Board member of the National Business Group on Health and Lake Norman Regional Hospital. He joined Lowe's in May 2000 as the Vice President of Compensation and Benefits.
Prior to joining Lowe's, Bob spent 13 years at Payless Shoe Source in a variety of compensation, benefits and HRIS positions. He has over 35 years of experience in the retail industry.
Bob graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Haverford College and has an MBA from Harvard University and a JD from Temple University. He is also a certified compensation professional and a certified benefits professional.
Joshua P. Itzoe
Principal
Greenspring Wealth Management
Joshua P. Itzoe,CFP®, AIF® leads the firm’s Institutional Advisory Group and is the author of the successful book, Fixing the 401(k):What Fiduciaries Must Know (And Do) To Help Employees Retire Successfully. Written for plan fiduciaries, Fixing the 401(k) outlines the core principles and ideals by which successful plans must operate and shows how any employer, large or small, can build and operate an excellent 401(k) plan.
He has written about fiduciary responsibility for Benefits & Compensation Digest and is a sought after speaker on the topics of 401(k) plans and fiduciary matters. Itzoe has been quoted extensively in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, SmartMoney Magazine, Kiplinger's Retirement Report, Wealth Manager Magazine, The Baltimore Examiner, Journal of Financial Planning, Investment Advisor, Registered Rep, PLANADVISER Magazine, Financial Advisor and National Underwriter Life and Health.
Itzoe graduated with honors from Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. He also earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® professional designation, awarded by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, which is associated with the University of Pittsburgh. He has received formal training in investment fiduciary responsibility. Itzoe has also served as an Instructor for the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) in the area of financial planning.
While at Wake Forest, Itzoe was a four-year starter for the baseball team and spent several years playing professionally after graduation for both the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Missy Jaeger
Principal
Mercer
Missy is a Principal and consulting expert in the Atlanta office for the Health and Benefits practice, and a senior member of Mercer's Total Health Management Practice.
She works with clients to identify health management opportunities, designing programs and interventions to reduce health care costs, improve productivity and impact health care spend.
Missy holds a BS in education and a Master's in Exercise Physiology, has been with Mercer for five years, and has 20 years of experience in the health management field, including managing health and wellness benefits for two larger employers.
Kim Johns
Director of Employee Benefit Operations
Mohawk Industries
Kim Johns, Director of Employee Benefit Operations for Mohawk Industries, has recently moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area from Dallas, Texas. Kim brings twenty years in the Healthcare benefits field, enabling a broad development of skill sets and understanding from three critical components – the carrier, the consultant and the customer.
Kim spent several years with Aetna, and managed operations with claims, customer service and utilization management. Kim then moved to the consulting side of benefits, and was a consultant for Watson Wyatt. Kim then moved into Corporate Benefits with Tenet Healthsystems, followed by the opportunity to be the Benefits Manager for the Neiman Marcus Group in Dallas, TX.
Prior to moving to Georgia, Kim worked for Dal-Tile, a division of Mohawk Industries. While at Dal-Tile, Kim was the Manager of Benefits and HR Services., and provided support for Dal-Tile and Unilin.
Ric Joyner
President and Chief Technology Officer
Eflexgroup.com
Ric is one of the founders of eflexgroup.com. eflex is a national web based TPA for Cafeteria, HRA, HSA, and COBRA plans. eflexgroup is a leader in self-service employee benefits systems. Ric is celebrating his 23th year in this field. He also carries his insurance license, is a Certified Employee Benefits Specialist, Group Benefit Associate, Certified Flexible Compensation Instructor, board approved by ASPA to teach Cafeteria plan regulations. Ric also has a bachelors of science in Information Technology summa cum laude from Capella University.
Ric also helped found the National Association of Professional Benefit Administrators and is past president. NAPBA is dedicated to training administrators in best practices. Ric also served as WI AHU President.
Bob Keller
Vice President of Compensation, Benefits & Safety
Norwood Promotional Products Inc.
Bob Keller is the Vice President of Compensation, Benefits & Safety for Norwood Promotional Products Inc., the largest supplier of promotional products in the United States. He has thirty five years of experience in Human Resources, including fifteen in global corporate compensation and benefits, working for General Electric, General Dynamics, RR Donnelley, Quebecor World and Fiskars Brands, in addition to his own consulting practice. He is a member of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce's Health Care Committee and past member of the National Association of Manufacturers' Human Resources Committee, the Council for Positive Employee Relations, and the Washington-based Human Resources Policy Association. He received his BS degree from Cornell University's School of Industrial & Labor Relations, his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a member of the American Bar Association.
Jack Kwicien
Managing Partner
Day Mark Advisors
Mr. Kwicien has over 30 years of executive management experience. He has founded several entrepreneurial ventures and has significant experience in insurance, benefits, and worksite marketing, negotiating strategic alliances, financing transactions and mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Kwicien co-founded Daymark Advisors LLC, a Baltimore-based consulting and advisory services firm in 2001. Exclusively serving the insurance, benefits, financial services and workforce management market sectors, Daymark Advisors provides strategic consultancy on a retained basis and is a merger and acquisition intermediary with clients on both the buy and sell side. He is also the co-developer of the SMART Benefits Strategic Planning Toolkit.
He previously founded RewardsPlus; a national employee benefits company that leveraged Internet technology and worksite-marketing strategies to deliver customized core and voluntary benefits solutions to employers and employees. He led RewardsPlus as President and CEO until he successfully exited the company in 1999. In 2007, Hewitt Associates purchased that company.
Mr. Kwicien also was the founder a private equity fund that invested in early stage technology companies. In addition, Mr. Kwicien spent over 20 years in the insurance and financial services industry and held executive positions principally in sales and marketing with Prudential, Crum & Forster and Zurich Insurance Group. While an executive with Zurich, he founded a worksite marketing business unit, Group Sales, that successfully marketed property and casualty insurance using payroll deduction billing. Under Mr. Kwicien's direction, the business unit grew to $42 million in sales in 2.5 years.
Mr. Kwicien serves on the Advisory Board for the Workplace Benefits Association, is a frequent guest speaker at insurance industry conferences, and writes a monthly column for Employee Benefit Adviser and Employee Benefit News. He holds a degree from the University of Notre Dame and serves on the executive committee of the Life and Breath Foundation.
George Lane
Principal and Client Manager
Mercer
George is a Principal and Client Manager in the Washington, DC office of Mercer.
Throughout his 29-year career, George has worked with clients on numerous employee benefit issues, including benefit plan design and strategy, financial analysis, vendor performance, employee communications, recruitment and retention, and work/life issues.
He is a frequent speaker on benefits and human resource issues and has participated in seminars and conferences for Employee Benefit News, SHRM, CEBS, the Washington Area Compensation and Benefits Association (WACABA), the HR Consortium, and the Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area (HRA-NCA). The range of topics he has addressed includes Fundamentals of Benefits Plans, Understanding the Underwriting Process, Commitment in the Workforce and Changing Trends in Health Care Benefits. His articles have appeared in the Potomac Tech Journal, the Washington Business Journal and Employee Benefit Adviser.
George is Vice President of the Board of WACABA, Chair of the Advisory Committee for the CARE (Companies as Responsive Employers) Award (an initiative to recognize Northern Virginia businesses that provide exceptionally family-friendly workplace policies) and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for Employee Benefit Adviser.
George received his CLU from the American College in 1986, and holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Bucknell University.
Douglas Layman
Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
Gilsbar, Inc.
Mr. Layman is the executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer at Gilsbar, Inc., a leading third party administrator and insurance services provider. During his tenure with Gilsbar, he has shifted the organization's focus to a market-driven thought leader, which has proved to be a great success. As executive vice president, he is responsible for Gilsbar's corporate direction and vision. He focuses on its revenue generating strategies, with an emphasis in marketing employee engagement.
He was recently interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR) and was highlighted in A.M. Best's April 2008 issue. Mr. Layman shares his expertise of member engagement and health and lifestyle management at conferences and seminars across the country. His speaking resume includes various World Health Care Congress events, the International Institute of Research, and the National Business Group on Health.
Mr. Layman earned his degree at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.
Nancy Lazgin
Director, Global Benefits
Staples, Inc.
Nancy Lazgin is Director, Global Benefits for Staples, Inc., the world's largest office products company with 2008 sales of $23 billion in sales and 91,000 associates who are committed to making it easy for their customers. As Director, she oversees benefits' strategy and design in 27 countries. In addition, she and her team are responsible for domestic benefit sourcing, vendor and performance management as well as benefit design, implementation and associate education and empowerment with regard to their health and future.
Prior to this position, she worked as head of employee benefits for many large, multi-national companies including Grinnell Corporation (a Tyco International Co.), ITT Corporation, Thermo Electron Corporation and The Providence Journal Company. She has a BA in mathematics from Hood College and is a Director Emeritus of New England Employee Benefits Council, a member of the advisory board of BCBSMA and is President of the Lisa Najemy Scholarship Fund.
Lesley Leiserson
Director of Benefits
Home Depot Inc.
Lesley Leiserson is Director of Benefits for Home Depot Inc., the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer. She is responsible for leading, developing, and implementing the strategic direction of Health and Welfare plans, programs and initiatives in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition she and her team are responsible for benefit communications, managing vendor relationships and overall plan performance. Prior to joining Home Depot, Lesley's experience includes project and service delivery management at Hewitt Associates and ADP.
Lesley is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Finance. She is also a recent recipient of the 2009 Gold Quill Awards.
Ronald S. Leopold
Vice President and National Medical Director
MetLife Institutional Business
Dr. Leopold is an industry thought leader for MetLife focusing on the future of work, health and benefits. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and is recognized for his entertaining style that blends thought-provoking industry insight with compelling illustrations and humor.
He is a Board Certified Occupational Medicine Physician who holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business, the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Public Health from Boston University.
In addition to publishing many articles on employee benefits, Dr. Leopold is the author of A Year in the Life of a Million American Workers, an almanac of absence data that provides a comprehensive picture of one million American workers and their health conditions, illnesses and absence patterns over a one-year period.
He will be publishing his next book in May 2009 on the future of employee benefits entitled The Benefits Edge: Honing the Competitive Value of Employee Benefits.
Maia Lucier, PHR
Director of Compensation and Benefits
Dimension Data Americas
Maia Lucier is the Director of Compensation and Benefits for Dimension Data Americas, a global information technology company. Prior to joining Dimension Data in 2002, she worked in human resources for an information security company. She also spent time on the healthcare side in a physical therapy practice and a hospital system. Maia received a Bachelor of Science from James Madison University in Health Services Administration and Business. She holds the Professional in Human Resources certification since 2003 and is pursuing her Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation.
Linda Matzigkeit
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Linda Matzigkeit is Senior Vice President, Human Resources of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Her primary focus is to develop and execute Children's People and Service Strategies
She provides executive oversight, vision, and support in the following areas: Recruiting, Retention, Volunteer Services, Total Rewards, Internal Communication, and Learning Services. Additionally, she has responsibility for the oversight and vision of the Customer Service Function.
Matzigkeit began her career in human resources more than twenty years ago in the healthcare industry. After ten years as a human resources consultant with Hewitt Associates, Matzigkeit brought her career full circle when she joined Children's in January 2003. Originally from central Illinois, she earned a Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, and an MBA with a focus in human resources. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of becoming an employer of choice.
Mike Medel
Pharmacy Benefit Consultant
PSG
Dr. Mike Medel has executive-level managed care pharmacist experience, having run the pharmacy program for a million-member MCO. He has experience providing consulting services to a variety of large national employers, health plans and other public sector programs. His background is well rounded, and includes many aspects of managed care pharmacy including: clinical, contracting, network strategy, manufacturer relations, utilization and cost management, project management, and operations. Dr. Medel holds the Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy, an MBA from Loyola University, and is board certified with the Nutrition Support Practice.
Roger A. Mermelstein
Head of Sales and Marketing
Aetna Federal Plans
Roger leads the sales team on Aetna's largest account with over 520,000 members and revenue of $1.5 billion. In addition to sales management, he is responsible for the creation and execution of marketing, sales and advertising plans annually. During his 15 years in the healthcare services industry Roger has worked in a variety of customer facing roles in commercial, Medicare and governement business segments.
James Moyna
Partner
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
James Moyna is a partner specializing in audits of qualified benefit plans for McGladrey & Pullen's Chicagoland practice. He joined the firm in 1988 as an auditor and subsequently worked with Retirement Resources for approximately six years. During his time with Retirement Resources, James became knowledgeable with respect to qualified plan compliance matters, government reporting and benefit plan administration.
In 1998, James relocated to the Chicagoland area offices of McGladrey & Pullen LLP to serve in the Benefit Plan Audit practice. His previous audit experience, combined with his knowledge of qualified plan operation, has provided a firm foundation for his work in the Benefit Plan Audit practice.
James is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Illinois CPA Society and the American Society of Pension Actuaries. He is also a Qualified Plan Administrator by the American Society of Pension Actuaries. In addition, James functions as a specialized volunteer advisor to the Illinois CPA Society on the subject of qualified benefit plans and serves on the Illinois CPA Society Conference Task Force.
James has instructed others in benefit plan audit methodology, both outside the firm as well as within the firm's Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program. James is also a featured speaker at AICPA National Conferences on Employee Benefit Plans, Illinois CPA Society Conferences, the NIPA Annual Conference and Expo and the 403(b) Summit.
Robert F. Nease, PhD
Chief Scientist
Express Scripts
Bob Nease joined Express Scripts in 2001, bringing with him a wealth of experience in medical decision making and scientific research. As a leader in the convergence of consumer behavior and healthcare, he is responsible for advancing Express Scripts' behavior-centric approach to the pharmacy benefit. To this end, he closely follows emerging science around human behavior and decision making, then works to develop tools and communications that help plan sponsors enable better health and value.
Dr. Nease received his doctorate from Stanford University, where he studied methods to improve medical decisions made by doctors and patients. Before joining Express Scripts, he was an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis and an Assistant Professor at the Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Nease retains adjunct appointments at the Washington University School of Medicine and the School of Public Health at St. Louis University.
In addition, he leads the advisory board for the Center of Cost-Effective Consumerism and is a reviewer for a number of journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Annals of Internal Medicine, the Journal of General Internal Medicine, Quality of Life Research, and Medical Decision Making. He is also the past President of the Society for Medical Decision Making and has served as a study section member of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Jan Oldenburg
Senior Practice Leader, Health Portfolio, Internet Services Group
Kaiser Permanente
Jan Oldenburg is product manager of My Health Manager, Kaiser Permanente's Personal Health Record on kp.org, which currently has more than 3 million active member-users. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Oldenburg was the principal in several consulting companies specializing in strategies for using the Internet effectively in health care, working at the intersection of marketing strategy and Internet technology. Clients included UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and Medtronic. In the mid-1990s, she was the senior director for electronic commerce at HealthPartners, a Minnesota HMO, where she developed a secure Internet transactional system for contracted providers. Oldenburg has been a northern California Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society associate board member since 2003.
Mark R. O'Leary
Senior Vice President, Business Development
TSYS Healthcare
Mark O'Leary is Senior Vice President of Business Development for TSYS Healthcare. In this role he is responsible for Sales, Marketing, and Corporate Development for this new division of TSYS. TSYS Healthcare delivers world class solutions to solve the evolving healthcare payment and account management needs of Banks, TPAs, Payers, Employers, and Consumers. TSYS (NYSE: TSS) is one of the world's largest payment-services companies offering a broad range of issuing and acquiring payments technologies including consumer-finance, credit, debit, prepaid, loyalty, healthcare and other related services.
Prior to joining TSYS, Mr. O'Leary held executive and leadership positions at Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, United Healthgroup / Exante Financial Services, US Bank, Lawson Software and the Deluxe Corporation. He was most recently a Managing Director with Cherry Tree Securities, an investment bank and venture capital firm based in Minneapolis. Mr. O'Leary has also been a board member for several non-profit organizations addressing poverty and healthcare delivery. He holds degrees from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from Creighton University.
Mark Parabicoli
Associate VP & Managing Director, Employee Benefits
Liberty Mutual
Mark Parabicoli has been with Liberty Mutual for 18 years working in the Affinity Marketing and Claims arena. Mark's current role in the Affinity Marketing department is securing and maintaining partnerships with employer groups in order to incorporate our auto and home products into members' voluntary benefits programs offered to their employees.
Prior to transitioning in January 2009 to his current position, Mark was the Manager of Examining and Quality Assurance for the Claims Department. In this roll he managed a team that acted as technical consultants for the national Claims field operations for complex and high-exposure claims. His Examining team also monitored and managed large exposure litigated files, including class action lawsuits. Mark's Quality Assurance teams monitored the quality of ongoing Claims work product so that a consistent product was delivered to our customers with superior quality service, while also remaining complaint with all state claims handling regulations.
Mark earned his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts in 1990.
Christopher Parks
Co-Founder & CEO
change:healthcare
Christopher Parks serves as CEO of change:healthcare, the company he established in 2006. His career spans more than seventeen years in healthcare sales, operations and consulting. His first position was a Program Manager for Healthways, where he led the start-up and management of two inpatient/outpatient hospital-based chronic disease clinics. Four years later, he became a senior consultant at HealthCare Microsystems, responsible for the company's business with HCA. Later, as Regional Director of Operations for National Seating & Mobility, he increased same store sales and total market revenues and oversaw the Kaiser southern California seating & positioning capitated agreement. His most recent position was with Global Healthcare Exchange (previously Neoforma), where he held a series of national services and sales positions. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University.
Nick Partridge
President
Pendant Health
Nick Partridge currently serves as President of Pendant Health, an innovative dental benefits startup based in Dallas, TX. Nick works on behalf of insurance agents to analyze and develop customized dental benefit plans that align employers short and long-term goals with those of their employees. He has experience in the areas of plan design, plan and claims analysis and dental benefits strategy. Nick is a certified CE instructor, providing a dental benefits course throughout Texas and has been featured in Employee Benefit News.
Mr. Partridge is actively involved in the Dallas Association of Health Underwriters, the Dallas Human Resource Management Association, chairs his local fraternity alumni group and is active within his church.
Prior to Pendant Health, Nick spent seven years in diverse roles with an industry leading Fortune 500 company and has served on two non-profit boards.
Kaye Pestaina
Vice President, Senior Health Compliance Specialist
The Segal Company
Ms. Pestaina has specialized in health care compliance issues since joining The Segal Company's National Compliance Practice in 2001. In 2003, she was named a Vice President. Ms. Pestaina works with Compliance staff and benefit consultants across the country on legal and regulatory compliance matters pertaining to the design and administration of employee health and welfare benefit plans.
Her responsibilities include reviewing and analyzing the application of federal regulations to health and welfare plans, including HIPAA, ERISA, and other federal rules. In addition, she researches and monitors federal and state laws and regulations and develops model materials for the assessment of health plans and for the preparation of amendments to health plans and summary plan descriptions. She also provides training for internal Segal staff on various compliance issues.
Ms. Pestaina has more than 15 years of legal experience, most recently as a Senior Health Law Attorney in the US Department of Labor's Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance in the Employee Benefits Security Administration. At the Department of Labor,
Ms. Pestaina was involved in developing legislation and regulations on a number of issues regarding group health plans, including HIPAA, managed care reform, and requirements for the review and appeal of health claims. She also worked with the Department of Labor's field offices in implementing health regulations.
Ms. Pestaina was a Senior Trial Attorney with the US Department of Justice for several years, where she enforced the Americans with the Disabilities Act. Prior to joining the federal government, she was a litigation associate at DLA Piper.
Ms. Pestaina graduated from Cornell University with a BA in Government and received her JD from Harvard Law School.
Ms. Pestaina is co-author, with Segal colleague Kathryn Bakich, of the Employers' Guide to HIPAA Privacy Requirements (Washington, DC: Thomson Publishing, 2002). She speaks often on various topics, including: Medicare and retiree plans, health care reform, mental health parity and HIPAA non-discrimination.
Ouida Peterson
Vice President of Education
CONEXIS
Ouida Peterson is an award-winning speaker who is nationally recognized for her expertise on the complex and specialized subjects of COBRA, HIPAA and 125 plans. She has conducted more than 1,200 seminars, webinars and approved CE classes across the country and is a highly sought-after presenter known for her personable and engaging style. She delivers a compelling presentation full of anecdotes that bring these difficult subjects to life and quickly engage the audience in the real world of compliance.
She has received many industry awards including the Outstanding Texan of the Year and her professional organization's most prestigious honor, the Hollis Roberson Award. She was also recognized as the first recipient of the William G Wetzel Excellence in Public Speaking Award – this was a very special honor for Ouida because her credits Bill as her inspiration, mentor and hero.
Don R. Powell, Ph.D.
President and CEO
American Institute for Preventive Medicine
Dr. Don R. Powell is the President and CEO of the American Institute for Preventive Medicine located in Farmington Hills, Michigan. The Institute is a leading developer and provider of health and productivity management programs and self-care publications. It is internationally recognized for its ability to present health information in a format that employees can easily understand and are motivated to follow; thereby reducing health care costs and absenteeism. Over 12,500 corporations, hospitals, MCOs, unions, and government agencies use its health risk appraisal, lifestyle change programs, health coaching, self-care guides, and health education materials. Some of its clients include Ford, Office Depot, Citibank, Merck, CBS, Lowes, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the Center for Disease Control, Baylor Medical Center, U.S. Army, CIA, and the Department of Health & Human Services.
Involved with wellness since 1971, Dr. Powell has helped millions of people improve their health. He is a licensed psychologist who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. He also taught in the University's Psychology Department for eight years where he was nominated for the "Distinguished Teaching Award" and presently serves as a guest lecturer. Dr. Powell is considered to be one of the country's foremost authorities on the design and implementation of community and corporate health management programs. He is the author of fourteen best-selling books including Healthier at Home and A Year of Health Hints. He gave 110% in writing his latest book Best Sports Clichés Ever which Sports Illustrated called "a home run". He also wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column and has published many professional articles.
Dr. Powell has received numerous awards for his work in health promotion. He was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame – Class of 2008. He has also won the Hod Ogden Medal from the Centers for Disease Control, the Distinguished Leadership and Service Award from the Association for Worksite Health Promotion, the Healthy American Fitness Leaders Award from the President's Council, the Governor's Physical Fitness and Health Award, and the U.S. Government's Director's Award for Innovative Public Health Contributions. He is a member of the "Healthy People 2010" project, which has set the nation's health goals for the 21st century. Dr. Powell has also appeared on hundreds of television and radio talk shows, including "Good Morning America," "FOX & Friends," "CNN," and "ESPN", and has been featured in many publications including USA Today, New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
Randall Price, CBP
Health & Productivity Manager
UPS
Randall Price, CBP, is a Health & Productivity Manager at United Parcel Service (UPS), Inc. of America, the world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services which daily manages the flow of goods, funds and information in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
In his current role, Randall is the Project Manager for UPS' Care Coordination and Patient Management initiatives helping to integrate medical, prescription, behavioral health, EAP/Worklife, disability, Workers Comp', HRA, absenteeism, presenteeism claims, lab and other data values into a data repository enabling the health plan to capture a holistic view of a member's health and wellness status in order to engage that member as an active participant in improving their total health and productivity status.
In addition, Randall has an integral role in UPS' on-going plan design review and efforts and, is overall responsible for day-to-day administration for UPS' health care and ancillary benefit programs for over 700,000 UPS employees, retirees and their families. The UPS benefit program has consistently been named as one of the best in corporate America.
Following several UPS assignments in Package Delivery Operations, Human Resources, and Finance & Accounting, Randall joined the UPS Health Care group in 1998. Since joining UPS Corporate Health Care in 1998, he has managed various health plan vendors and projects.
Doug Reys
Manager of Compensation and Benefits
Franklin International
A practitioner, teacher, and consultant, Doug Reys has been recognized for innovation in HR and benefit programs with several awards including Employee Benefit Professional of the Year in 2002. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences and has taught at Wilberfore and DeVry universities. With over 30 years of management level experience he practices a philosophy of continuous improvement.
Charles Rice
Certified Financial Planner
Frontline Financial Advisors
Mr. Rice began his financial planning career with the Dallas, Texas regional brokerage firm of Eppler, Guerin & Turner, Inc in 1981. In 1983 Mr. Rice went to work for Pace Financial Management, Inc a fee for service financial planning firm. In 1987 Mr. Rice began working as an independent financial advisor for individual clients and their privately owned businesses. Mr. Rice received his BSBA and MBA from the University of Arkansas and his Certified Financial Planner certificate in 1983. Mr. Rice is a Registered Investment Advisor and Commodity Pool Operator.
Mr. Rice gained practical experience working with clients and retirement plan advisors and administrators to provide retirement plan solutions for clients. Mr. Rice will review the mechanics of establishing and maintaining a qualified retirement plan whereby each plan participant is able to manage through a brokerage account the investments in their retirement account provided the employee by the employer. The brokerage account allows the plan participant to invest their retirement account as they choose at the brokerage firm. Establishing a qualified plan in this manner provides a broad investment selection to each plan participant and allows each plan participant to choose their investment advisor.
Debbie Rowson
Executive Vice President
J. Smith Lanier
Debbie Rowson, CLU is an Executive Vice President with J. Smith Lanier & Co. With offices throughout the Southeast, J. Smith Lanier & Co. was founded in 1868 and is the 7th largest privately owned agency in the U.S.
Debbie began her career after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia with a degree in Risk Management and Insurance. She has spent 30 years in the insurance business- both on the carrier and consulting side. The last 25 years have been spent working directly with large employers designing, implementing, communicating and managing their employee benefit programs.
Debbie served as the first female President of the Atlanta Association of Life Underwriters. She was voted one of “Ten Women to Watch in the 90’s” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Debbie is known for her ability to negotiate unique arrangements for her clients and for her ability to “think outside the box” in developing creative, but viable solutions to challenges around benefit design, funding, service and communication.
Almost 10 years ago she began a benefits call center, initially to handle employee enrollments. Today, the Benefits Service Center (BSC) handles enrollments, Human Resources issues, claims resolution, benefit education and questions- as well as numerous other special projects. BSC offers a high touch and high tech solution to her clients and their employees. She continues to add services that provide value to her clients- by simplifying the benefits administration process, increasing employees’ comprehension of their benefits and providing advocacy to both the employer and employee.
Steven Schwartz, PhD
Research Director, Behavioral Science & Data Analytics
HealthMedia, Inc.
Dr. Schwartz completed his doctorate degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1995 with specialized training in Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine and completed a masters degree in Experimental Psychology from the College of William & Mary in 1985. Before joining HMI, Dr. Schwartz served as the Corporate Director of Medical Research for Oakwood Healthcare Systems and before that as the Coordinator for Behavioral Medicine Services at the University of Michigan Healthcare System where he still holds an adjunct appointment as a research investigator. He has published numerous papers on a variety of issues in health and behavior and has presented research papers, research and therapy workshops, and seminars at both national and international conferences for over twenty years. As a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Schwartz has significant theoretical and practical expertise in Behavioral Psychology, General Learning Theory and Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy with specialized expertise in Behavioral Cardiology and Chronic Illness Self-Management. As a Research Director, Dr. Schwartz has expertise is research methodology and application of research methods to applied settings (such as healthcare and/or other work environments). Dr. Schwartz's past grant activities have included funding by the NIH, Michigan Department of Community Health, and the Ford Foundation.
Tony Schy
Partner and Co-founder
Chapman Kelly
Tony Schy is a Partner and Co-founder of Chapman Kelly. Chapman Kelly services clients in all 50 states. The company has audited over 25 Fortune 500 companies. He has written articles on health care cost containment for nationally distributed magazines, and spoken at many educational conferences. Tony brings extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of project management, product development, performance measurement, process design, and methodology in financial, insurance and healthcare industry sectors. Prior to Chapman Kelly Tony spent 10 years with Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) as Director in the Technology and Outsourcing Financial Services Practice. During Tony's career with Accenture he served multiple clients including Allstate, JP Morgan, Mellon Bank and UPS.
Leah Shepherd
Managing Editor
Employee Benefit News
Leah Shepherd is the managing editor of Employee Benefit News. She is the co-author, with Bob Arnoff, of The Three Rs of Employee Benefits: Recruiting, Retention and Rewards. She has more than five years of experience in editing and writing about employee benefit topics for the magazine, weekly electronic newsletters and EBN's Web site. Her articles and podcasts have analyzed trends, changes and best practices in health benefits, dental plans, vision plans, disease management, employment laws, retirement plans, HR communication, work-life benefits and workplace flexibility, among other things.
Before coming to Employee Benefit News, Ms. Shepherd worked as a reporter at several newspapers in Maryland and Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor's degree in print journalism from the University of Maryland.
Adam Stavisky
Senior Vice President, Consulting Services
Fidelity Investments
Adam is a Senior Vice President in Consulting Services of Fidelity Investments. His current responsibilities include managing the East region for Fidelity's Consulting practice. Adam provides strategic guidance to organizations on the design, funding and positioning of their benefits programs.
Adam joined Fidelity in November of 2004. Prior to joining, Adam was the Health and Group practice leader for Mercer's Boston and Rochester markets. Prior to Mercer, Adam was the Health Management practice leader for Hewitt's Philadelphia market.
Adam earned a BA in Mathematics from Northwestern University and a MA in Mathematics from UCLA.
Greg Stein
CEO
Avista Health Management Solutions
Greg Stein is the founder, President, and CEO of Avista Health Management Solutions, a Health Transformation and Management company. He is responsible for the overall vision and mission new product, channel market, and corporate relationship development, as well as sales.
Avista provides employees and dependents covered by health benefits plans with experiential healthcare cost education, cost transparency models, unique and personal health coaching solutions, integrated data analytics measure the ROI and provide predictive modeling, and best practice health support group development. A comprehensive incentive program ties health management solutions, "wellness" initiatives, and plan design priorities together.
Prior to starting Avista, Greg helped build a $2.9 million dollar pharmacy benefits management company to $65 million in annual sales, helping to guide them to the top five fastest growing companies, "Fast Track 25" in Birmingham and the "Best in Business" award from the Birmingham Business journal in 2001. He was honored with the Birmingham, AL Top 40 Under 40 Award in 2002. He has been a featured speaker at national Consumer Driven Health Congresses in 2001, 2003, and 2004, Employee Benefit News Conference and Expo in 2007 and is scheduled for 2009, and at regional Society of Human Resource Management conferences in Alabama and Tennessee.
Greg has 25 years experience in employee benefits as a consultant with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Missouri, MetLife and developed a variety of programs for an early consumer driven healthcare administrator. He has a BA in Political Science with Minors in Economics and Coaching from Illinois Wesleyan University. His primary area of expertise is in managing health care cost/claims through the reduction of risk-factors for chronic diseases.
Kathleen Strukoff
Senior Vice President and Key Account Manager
Aon Consulting
Kathleen Strukoff is a senior vice president and key account manager based in the Baltimore office. Her primary responsibilities include managing client engagements and relationships for large Aon clients.
Ms. Strukoff has over 20 years of experience in assisting clients develop solutions to their human resource business needs. Since joining Aon Consulting in 1996 from a public corporation where she worked as a human resource executive, she has worked with several large employers such as ADT Security Services, the National Football League, PEPCO, McCormick and Company, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Bearing Point and the City of Baltimore.
Ms. Strukoff holds an MBA in Human Resources from the University of New Mexico. She also has earned her CEBS designation and Senior Professional Human Resources. Kathleen serves on the National Total Rewards Forum for the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).
Brant Suddath
Director of Benefits
Home Depot
Responsible for leading, developing, and implementing strategic direction of U.S. employee retirement and executive benefits programs and initiatives that are aligned with company objectives. Also responsible for managing vendor relationships, such as plan providers, consulting firms, law firms, etc., for outsourced functions, including but not limited to RFP development, contract negotiations, plan evaluation, project management, etc. Ensure compliance with ERISA, SEC, IRS, FMLA, HIPPA, and COBRA. A member of Emory-Adventist Hospital, Board of Directors and Institutional Investors, Advisory Board. Attended the University of Georgia from 1988-1993.
Cam Sutton
President and Chief Executive Officer
ARAG
As president and chief executive officer, Cam provides strategic direction and leads the growth and development for ARAG's North American subsidiary. He is responsible for leading ARAG's mission to deliver exceptional value while helping individuals protect their families, finances and futures.
Cam has more than 35 years of experience in the insurance industry. He has held several executive positions and spearheaded key initiatives at some of the world's leading risk management, brokerage and consulting organizations. Prior to joining ARAG in 2007, he was the executive vice president for Aon's Executive Benefits Practice and a member of Aon Consulting's Global Operating Committee.
Cam received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska's College of Law. He is also a Chartered Life Underwriter. He is also an active member of several industry groups and a former trustee for the national Association of Life underwriters.
Emily Talley
Benefits Manager
Tanner Health System
Emily Talley serves as Benefits Manager for Tanner Health System, a regional healthcare system of 4 hospitals and 20 physician practices serving west Georgia and eastern Alabama. In this role, she is responsible for all aspects of research, design, administration, and communication for employee benefits programs for Tanner's 2,300 team members. Under her direction, Tanner has implemented various defined contribution plan design changes, consolidated plans through merger and termination, and added two nonqualified plans. Emily has also overseen several initiatives to engage employees in saving for retirement and ensure appropriate management of Tanner's fiduciary responsibilities.
Prior to joining Tanner Health System, Emily was operations manager for HRW Management, an investment management firm in Washington, DC.
Emily graduated magna cum laude from the College of William and Mary and has an MBA from the University of West Georgia. She has also earned the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Chris Teh
Vice President and Consulting Actuary
Sibson Consulting
Mr. Teh joined Sibson Consulting's New York office as a Vice President and Consulting Actuary in 2006. In his current role, he assists clients in their day-to-day operational requirements, as related to the annual actuarial valuation of defined benefit pension plans. He also helps clients in developing their short- and long- term retirement plan strategies. He has worked with a number of corporate and not-for-profit organizations throughout the New York area.
Mr. Teh has extensive experience with: plan redesigns of both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans, projecting funding and accounting costs for retirement plans, asset liability modeling studies, compliance with governmental regulations, FAS 123R stock option valuations, and merger and acquisition due diligence.
Mr. Teh has over 15 years of actuarial consulting experience, working with a broad spectrum of clients in industries ranging from professional services, to telecommunications, to pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Sibson, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Human Resource Consulting Practice in New York.
A magna cum laude graduate of New York University, with a BS in Actuarial Science and Finance, Mr. Teh is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary under ERISA and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Jack Towarnicky
Associate Vice President of Benefits Planning
Nationwide Mutual Insurance
J. M. (Jack) Towarnicky is the Associate Vice President of Benefits Planning at Nationwide Mutual Insurance. His 29 years of Fortune 500 benefits experience includes assignments at Tenneco, Cooper Industries and Marathon. Jack received his BBA and MBA from Cleveland State University, and his Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law. He is licensed in Ohio. Jack has obtained the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist designation. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefits Specialists. Jack serves on the Board of Directors for the American Benefits Council, Washington, D.C. He is a lecturer at The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business, and previously at Franklin University. He has presented on a variety of benefits topics over the past few years, including automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans, benefits for non- traditional families, retiree medical as well as the future of benefits as a profession. Jack and the Nationwide Benefits Planning Team were recently recognized as the 2008 Business Insurance Benefits Manager of the Year: www.businessinsurance.com. Nationwide leadership was also recently recognized by plan sponsor magazine as Corporate Plan Sponsor of the Year in their March 2009 issue.
David L. Uyemura
Principal and Owner
Regulatory Compliance Resources, LLC
Dave is an attorney in Portland, Oregon and principal and owner of Regulatory Compliance Resources, LLC specializes in employee health and welfare benefits. His services include:
compliance guidance for health and welfare employee benefits laws such as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, cafeteria plans, wellness plans, domestic partner coverage; health and welfare compliance reviews; preparation of plan documents, summary plan descriptions, notices and other written materials; and training and seminars.
Dave was a Principal and Senior Attorney with Marsh USA and Mercer Health and Benefits for ten years following ten years with Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon where he was Associate General Counsel and Manager of the Portland Metropolitan Marketing Department. Prior to Blue Cross, Dave was an Assistant Attorney General with the Oregon Department of Justice and for 13 years before that was in private legal practice.
Dave received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Oregon and his Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Business Administration in Taxation from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Karen Weinseiss
Head of Innovation & Product Management for
Medical, Wellness & Voluntary
Aetna Product Group
Karen Weinseiss is head of Innovation and Product Management for the Product Group. In this role, she manages all Product Group marketing, Core Medical, Wellness, Voluntary and eHealth business areas. In addition, she is responsible for the innovation and end-to-end product management process for the Product Group.
Ms. Weinseiss was previously head of Marketing and Communications for the Product Group. Prior to that role she worked as head of Marketing and Communications for Specialty Products where she was responsible for the marketing strategy and communications for Consumer Fund Products, Dental, Disability, Life, Long Term Care, and Medicaid.
Ms. Weinseiss joined Aetna in 2006. She brings over 20 years of experience to Aetna in marketing, sales, business development, operations and administration. Prior to joining Aetna, Ms. Weinseiss worked for Creative Solutions Group (CSG), a boutique employee benefits consulting and management services company, where she provided consulting services and marketed voluntary products and services. Prior to CSG, Ms. Weinseiss was Vice President of Market Development at GE Capital Commercial Finance. During her tenure, Ms. Weinseiss primarily focused her energy on developing new channels for GE's commercial financing products. Before GE Capital Commercial Finance, Ms. Weinseiss was the Direct Sales Leader for GE Financial Assurance's (GEFA) Employer Services Group where she led a group of sales associates responsible for marketing employer and employee-paid benefits products. Prior to GEFA, Ms. Weinseiss held numerous positions at GE both domestically and internationally.
Ms. Weinseiss holds a BA from Douglass College at Rutgers University and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.
Steve Wetzell
Senior Vice President, Health Care Initiatives
HR Policy Association
Steve Wetzell is Executive Vice President, Health Care Initiatives for the HR Policy Association. The HR Policy Association is coalition of more than 250 chief human resource officers representing large employers. Mr. Wetzell works with the Association to develop and implement innovative benefit solutions to meet member needs. Mr. Wetzell also provides technical input to assist in the development and advancement of Association benefit policy positions and strategies.
Mr. Wetzell has more than 25 years of experience working with large employers on human resource management issues. Prior to join the HR Policy Association, Mr. Wetzell worked for Fortune 500 companies specializing in the areas of compensation, benefits and labor relations. Mr. Wetzell has also served as a consultant to large employers on a variety of industry leading benefit initiatives focused primarily on health care related efforts, including The Leapfrog Group, The Buyers Health Care Action Group, The Consumer-Purchaser Disclosure Project, and the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement.
Mr. Wetzell is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has served on several Boards of Directors for health care related institutions. He also served as a member of the Commonwealth Fund's Commission on a High Performance Health Care System. Mr. Wetzell has also worked as a U.S. Senate health care staff member and has provided testimony on numerous occasions before federal and state legislative bodies pertaining to the employer's perspective on health care and benefit related policy issues.
Fred Williams
Director of Health Management Strategies
Quest Diagnostics
Fred is responsible for the development and promotion of health management strategies, especially focused on wellness, early detection, and risk reduction policies for the Employer Solutions Division of Quest Diagnostics. He has over 30 years experience with all facets of employee benefits management as well as cultural and change management issues. As Quest Diagnostics has increasingly pursued the business of wellness, prevention, and e-medical records, it has provided ample opportunity to evaluate and offer alternative health opportunities for its own employees. Fred led Quest Diagnostics to the early adoption of a consumer directed health plan, and launched HealthyQuest, an internal initiative designed to more fully engage individuals in improving their health and adding quality years to their lives. He is a member of the NBGH National Leadership Committee on Consumer Directed Healthcare, and Chair of the Sub Committee on Consumer tools, a member of the Board of Directors of the Center for Value Based Health, a member of the Advisory Board of the Consumer Directed Health Care Conference, and a member of the HERO Think Tank, Fred has a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia.
Andrew Windham
Founder & CEO
Insurance Georgia
Andrew Windham is a dynamic entrepreneur whose expertise and passion is assisting small business owners and entrepreneurs in growing their businesses, and consulting on issues related to wealth management. He is currently rolling out a new concept that he calls a "wealth team" approach, bringing together key professionals, i.e., financial planner, attorney, insurance consultant, tax consultant, et. al., who take an integrated team approach to helping their clients achieve their ultimate wealth goals. The "wealth team" serves as the client's group of trusted expert advisors whose function is to assure that all aspect of foundation, protection, growth and wealth acceleration are always in focus.
Andrew uses his wealth team concept with personal clients and in coaching fellow insurance and financial professionals, enabling them to assist their wealthy and ultra-wealthy clients (and those who aspire to wealth) in creating and managing their ultimate wealth teams. This eliminates the need for clients to be experts in specific areas and empowers them to successfully pursue and achieve their ultimate wealth goals with ease and grace. Andrew believes that this big-picture, integrated team approach will be an essential part of the transformational approach needed to move out of our current troubled economy and into a space of accelerated growth and protection of wealth.
Because of his ongoing success, Andrew's expert opinions have been published in several industry magazines. He is a lead author in Attaining Leadership Brilliance, part of The Power of Coaching Series by Machen MacDonald.
Andrew is a frequent guest expert on traditional and Internet radio shows on issues related to insurance coverage and wealth management, and he is currently working on his own Internet radio program for launch in early 2009. He is a highly sought-after consultant and national speaker for his innovative wealth team approach, and he has presented alongside such noted entrepreneurs as John Assaraf, Jim Bunch, Jack Canfield and Murray Smith, among others.
As the founder and CEO of Insurance Georgia and TUF Advisory Group, Andrew acquired a national reputation for his companies' approach to insuring entrepreneurs, small business start-ups and the self-employed. Insurance Georgia is known for its innovative, creative approach to protecting people's lifestyles and finances. Each year, the company assists 11,000 agents in 47 states in bringing their cutting-edge business model to the hundreds of clients that they serve.
Patsy Writesman
CEO
Company Co-Pilots
With nearly twenty years' experience in leadership, management, marketing, customer service and sales, Patsy Writesman understands your workplace challenges in a way only a veteran executive, businessperson, and leader can.
She served as an Executive Director of Electronic Data Systems and Unisys Corporation, and led dynamic and winning teams while directing Medicaid Programs and Student Loan programs in Hawaii, Florida, Arkansas, Kansas and Tennessee.
In short, she's been in the trenches, felt the pressure of meeting CEO and company expectations through her staff of 350. She was successful in meeting corporate goals, sales quotas and customer expectations. She knows what it takes to succeed as a leader in business, and she is a master at helping leaders understand how to deliver.
She has worked with groups across the nation on such issues as improving leadership and management practices, creating processes that work, building teams and sharpening communications, project management and mentoring and coaching.
Whether you need to build your business, serve your customers better or be a more effective leader and communicator, Patsy Writesman delivers. She and her associates specialize in helping leaders and organizations translate their visions and values into actions that produce increased results.
Patsy has a gift for sharing her considerable knowledge with others. Combining solid business sense and tested tactics with fascinating personal anecdotes gathered during her impressive career, she holds the audience's attention and drives home her points in a way that attendees remember.
Patsy is a member of the International Federation of Speakers, National Speakers Association and Past President of the National Speakers Association, Tennessee Chapter.
Mindy Zatto
Principal
Strategic Benefits Advisors
Ms. Zatto founded Strategic Benefits Advisors in 2002. She has over 20 years of advanced benefits consulting experience and has assisted numerous clients with all aspects of their employee benefits plans.
Ms. Zatto's expertise encompasses defined benefit, defined contribution and health and welfare programs – both from a strategic plan design level as well as an administrative level. She was an industry pioneer in the defined benefit outsourcing arena and developed one of the first complete defined benefit administration practices in the country.
Ms. Zatto has worked extensively in the areas of benefit calculation audits, historical data clean-up, administrative system design, participant self-service Web application design, administrative reengineering, comprehensive benefit statement development, legal case support, government filing requirements and compliance programs, and countless special projects to address significant client issues. In addition, she has helped third party providers in the industry evaluate potential new capabilities and product offerings that they can bring to the market and has assisted them in the due diligence, the development, and the implementation of these new services.
Ms. Zatto graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Applied Mathematics with a Concentration in Computer Science. She is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary, a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, and a Member of the Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries.