Better Healthcare, Happier Employees, Half the Cost
"This book empowers CEOs to create a healthcare system that truly works for business and employees."
Healthcare Innovation Warriors
There is an army of healthcare innovation warriors across the country dedicating their careers to making healthcare more customer-centric. I would like to acknowledge just a few of them.
Physicians
Bill Bestermann, M.D.
Dr. Bill Bestermann is an internist who focused his practice on patients with cardiovascular disease and related conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Better treatment for chronic diseases is the new frontier in medicine. Dr. Bestermann works to support organizations in consistently producing optimal medical therapy (OMT) which is best practice treatment for these diseases. Patients who have type 2 diabetes and are on OMT have one fourth as many heart attacks and one fifth as many strokes compared with those receiving usual care—the care that most of us receive.
Bill Hennessey, M.D.
Dr. Bill founded CareGuide Advocates as a medical cost savings, transparency and advocacy company. He creates affordable access to care before and after the care has occurred. His Hospital Bill Eraser offering is highly sought. His laser focus is eliminating hospital facility fees at every opportunity while fulfilling his company’s mission of helping millions save billions on healthcare.
Cristin Dickerson, M.D., Certified Health Value Advisor
Cristin Dickerson is a practicing radiologist and Founder and CEO of Green Imaging, a national radiologist-curated network of outpatient diagnostic testing facilities for self-funded health plans. She is passionate about educating employers and physicians that there are more affordable and ethically aligned ways for them to purchase and provide health care.
Dr. David Berg
Dr. David Berg has served as Co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Redirect Health since the inception in 2013. Prior to co-founding Redirect Health, Dr. Berg established and maintained successful healthcare clinics both in Canada and the United States. With Redirect Health he has leveraged his decades of healthcare leadership experience to make healthcare simple and affordable for businesses throughout the country. Dr. Berg is the author of The Business Owner’s Guide to Fighting Healthcare, a how-to guide that helps business owners leverage healthcare as a competitive advantage. In 2018, the Phoenix Business Journal honored Dr. Berg with the “Healthcare Heroes Innovator Award” for creating a transformative healthcare member experience that eliminates barriers for people to get affordable healthcare. He holds degrees in Physics and Biology from the University of Toronto as well as a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
Janice Johnston, M.D.
Dr. Janice Johnston, M.D., has served as Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Redirect Health since January 2013. She oversees all medical operations as well as patient experience, spearheading efforts to enhance quality of care while improving administrative efficiencies. Dr. Johnston is integral to both the telehealth and in-person clinical operations, continually advancing strategies to improve member service and ensure positive patient outcomes. She has been recognized numerous times by AZ Business Magazine in the categories of “Most Influential Women Business Leaders," "Outstanding Medical Director" and "Telehealth Leader." She was also recognized as a "Keeping the Blues Alive" award recipient for her work advocating for musicians’ health. Additionally, Dr. Johnston is part of the MusicCares Provider Network through the Grammy Foundation. She holds an M.D. from the University of Toronto and is currently a Health Insider for ABC15.
Firouz Daneshgari, M.D., MBA, FPMRS, FACS
Dr. Daneshgari is an executive surgeon-scientist with an impressive track record in training, clinical experience, and leadership in healthcare institutions such as Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. At the peak of his career and since 2014, Dr. Daneshgari has offered an unflinching exploration into the systemic dysfunction caused (primarily) by America healthcare model. “Procedures and surgeries generate revenue; healthy people don’t. Can our healthcare system be healed? “ “We have built a system specialized for sick care, and yet ironically we expect the results of ‘healthcare’ from it,” he says.
Dr. Daneshgari details a framework for a new healthcare paradigm based on the concept of Health Guardianship (www. Bowtiemedical.com) that prioritizes mitigation of health risks and elimination of chronic conditions, and rewards guardianship of health, not delivery of sick care services.
“My aim is to generate a national dialogue and movement toward a path forward that will create the next model of healthcare delivery. A model that will have all the medical and technological advances, and yet it is accessible, affordable, high quality and consumer centric and not-provider -centric” Daneshgari says.
G. Keith Smith, M.D.
Dr. G. Keith Smith, M.D. is an anesthesiologist who has been in practice since 1990, the co-founder of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma and the co-founder of the Free Market Medical Association. In 2009 he launched a website displaying all-inclusive pricing for various surgical procedures, a move which has saved individuals, self-funded health plans and cost sharing ministries millions of dollars. Dr. Smith’s revolutionary approach to pricing for medical services, based on uncompromising free market principles, has been featured in numerous and major media outlets.
Jerry Beinhauer, M.D.
With over twenty years of successful experience in starting and operating businesses in both the technology and healthcare sectors, Dr. Beinhauer is a well-respected member of the medical and business communities. He possesses a unique understanding of the intersection of technology, business, and healthcare that is rarely found in a physician. This combination of experiences gives him unparalleled insights into the inefficiencies found in the U.S. healthcare system and uniquely positions him and his partners to catalyze the change needed to bring affordable healthcare to all.
Joseph Shen, M.D.
Dr. Joseph Shen, M.D., is a physician, scientist, entrepreneur, researcher, inventor/innovator/pioneer of Multifunction Cardiography Technology, a.k.a. MCG. The technology is a 21st Century Bedside Digital Signal Processing Deep-Machine-Learning/A.I. tool for Early Detection/Monitoring of Whole-Heart Health Solution, based on a fundamentally sound unifying mathematic principle - Complex Lagrangian Mechanics (or Euler–Lagrange Equations), to reduce suffering, save lives, and lower heart health diagnostic costs. He is the World’s first Computational Electrophysiologist, and the founder of “Computational Clinical Electrophysiology” – a new branch of computational biology.
K. Andrew Crighton, M.D.
Dr. Andy Crighton, Founder of Crighton Consulting Group. Former Chief Executive Officer of the CEO Roundtable on Cancer, an initiative founded in 2000 at the behest of President George H.W. Bush who issued a challenge to harness the power of CEO's to do something "bold and venturesome" to defeat cancer. Previous Chief Medical Officer and Head of the Global Health Organization for Prudential Financial with international expertise in mental health, risk management, pandemic planning, and health disparities across the U.S. healthcare system.
Kaylan A. Baban, M.D., MPH
Dr. Baban is a passionate leader in leveraging mindbody in clinical lifestyle medicine to optimize patient outcomes and heal the healthcare ecosystem. As George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences’ inaugural Lifestyle Medicine Director and inaugural Chief Wellness Officer, creator of the American Colleges of Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine’s joint Core Curriculum MindBody modules, co-creator of the ACLM Physician and Health Professional Well-Being course, and as an academic program advisor, career mentor, and business consultant, Dr. Baban is committed to putting into action the compelling data on mindbody in whole-person clinical care and academic medical training. Dr. Baban’s first book, Personalized Zen, is anticipated in early 2026. She is board-certified in Preventive Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine.
Lisa M. Benke, M.D., MHA, BSN
Dr. Behnke is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Asserta Health and the Chief Medical Officer of Frontier Health. She is a nurse, physician, and healthcare executive with over 45 years of broad, diverse experience as a hands-on clinical leader and healthcare practitioner in both health systems and health plans. She has broad and deep expertise in all aspects of healthcare payment innovation from both the payer and provider perspectives.
Mark Tomasulo, M.D.
Dr. Mark Tomasulo, M.D. Head of Direct Primary Care Strategy and Innovation at Amazon One Medical. Dr. Mark is a Physician/Entrepreneur/Executive with extensive experience as primary care doctor, hospitalist, managed care medical director, CEO/Founder of PeakMed Direct Primary Care and benefits consultant.
His skills include health claim analysis, predictive modeling, implementation of wellness programs, strategic planning, business development, claim review, knowledge of multiple cost containment solutions for health care, and quality/cost issues facing employers today.
As CEO/Founder of PeakMed Direct Primary Care, Mark helped create a platform allowing doctors and patients to communicate, manage, and collaborate individualized care plans without the constraints of a broken system. PeakMed is redefining health care transparency, costs, technology, care coordination, and has created a continuum that is doctor-centered and patient-focused.
As a physician and benefits consultant, Mark provides insights, guidance and risk mitigation expertise to reduce costs and improve employee well-being and productivity. Performing a thorough analysis of population health and claims data, he identifies cost drivers and health risks and make recommendations regarding appropriate lifestyle and medical management programs and strategies. He also evaluates the quality of care being delivered and support the development of strategies to improve the health status of an employer’s population. He assists in communications with carriers and providers to negotiate claims, provides guidance in the evaluation of service vendors and acts as a resource and subject matter expert.
Mary Tipton, M.D.
Dr Mary Tipton is a primary care physician specializing in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. After 18 years running an insurance based private practice she got fed up watching her patients (and her employees) pay more and get less, year after year. In 2024 she opted out of the insurance system and opened Blossom Health, a direct primary care practice. In this model her patients get personalized high quality care for a transparent monthly membership fee.
Michael D. Parkinson, M.D., MPH, FACPM
Michael D. Parkinson, MD, MPH, FACPM Principal, P3 Health (Prevention, Performance, Productivity). Past President, American College of Preventive Medicine. As Principal of P3 Health, Dr Parkinson works with national employers, organizations and innovator start-ups to improve health, reduce excessive medical costs and optimize business competitiveness. He most recently served as Senior Medical Director, Health and Productivity for UPMC Health Plan and Workpartners overseeing member and employer health, care and performance strategies and lead the December 2019 National Lifestyle Medicine Research Summit. Mike is a Past President of the American College of Preventive Medicine, the national medical specialty society of physicians trained in and committed to disease prevention and systems-based approaches to improving health and health care.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-parkinson-md-mph-facpm-8493035/
Michael Jennings, M.D.
Michael Jennings, MD. Dr. Jennings was one of the first direct primary care providers in Utah. He played an important role in getting the state of Utah to pass legislation that recognized subscription-based primary care providers as not being an insurance entity. He has been a pioneer in the DPC movement.
Owen Scott Muir, M.D., DFAACAP
Owen Scott Muir, M.D., DFAACAP is a child and adult psychiatrist focusing on neuromodulation and AI-guided approaches for disabling neuropsychiatric illness. He is the founder of Fermata in NYC, is SVP of strategy at Acacia Clinics In Sunnyvale, CA, CMO of iRxReminder, and a consultant to Spring Health, Yung Therapist Sidekick, Videra Health, Magnus Medical, Soniera Bio, Outro Health, and has served as an NIH and industry funded investigator with Mind Medicine, Brainsway, and Magnus Medical and more. He writes about healthcare and health policy at The Frontier Psychiatrists.
Paula Muto, M.D., FACS
Paula Muto, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the founder and CEO of UBERDOC., the largest growing network of direct pay specialists in the country. A graduate of Amherst College and New York Medical College, Dr. Muto completed her training in General Surgery at Tufts and her fellowship in Vascular Surgery at the Lahey Clinic. From a family of surgeons, she has been in solo private practice for over 20 years and is the owner of a successful Vein Center. She is an outspoken advocate for patient care and is passionate about women's health. She has emerged as a powerful voice for price transparency, patient choice, and protecting the doctor-patient relationship. She is working with employers and benefit consultants to provide better access to definitive care at an affordable price.
Ron Stout, M.D., MPH
Ron Stout, President and CEO, Ardmore Institute of Health. Dr. Ron Stout serves as President & CEO of the Ardmore Institute of Health (AIH), whose mission is to improve the health and vitality of people to live more meaningful lives. Previously he worked as Medical Director at Procter & Gamble (P&G), leading occupational health, pharmacovigilance, and Medical Affairs. At P&G he supported acquisitions and New Ventures including MDVIP, OTC, VMS and pharma product launches.
Dr. Stout was formerly Medical Director for Preventive Medicine and Occupational Services at Kettering Health Network in Ohio. He served in the United States Air Force (AF) as Occupational and Preventive Medicine Consultant, Principal Investigator Air Force Health Study and IMA to the office of the AF Surgeon General. In his various roles, Dr Stout has provided leadership to dozens of primary care clinics.
Dr. Stout has served on the NIOSH Board of Medical Advisors, the Preventive Medicine Section Council of the AMA, American Board of Preventive Medicine, American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and numerous other private and public Boards. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, General Preventive Medicine & Public Health, Occupational Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Prior to a bicycle accident in 2008, Ron enjoyed downhill skiing, wakeboarding, off-road motorcycling and many other vigorous activities. Rather than regret what he can no longer do, Ron celebrates the power of lifestyle medicine that has enabled him to progress from being paralyzed with a medical prognosis of being wheelchair bound, to an active lifestyle. Ron enjoys biking, walking, outdoor activities, travel, his family and eats a flexitarian diet. His life partner Pam Stout BSN, MPH, is a Lactation Consultant, who has served as an educator, manager and hospital Director.
Soujanya (Chinni) Pulluru, M.D.
Soujanya (Chinni) Pulluru MD. Clinical Business Executive with 20+ Years Of Experience Driving Transformative Change In Healthcare Delivery With Demonstrated Outcomes. As a family physician and medical executive with a deep commitment to Value Based Care, Chinni Pulluru has dedicated her career to radically restructuring the care continuum. She is driven by creating access, delivering value in healthcare that revolves around the patient. Her executive leadership is guided by expertise in clinical innovation, payer knowledge, operations, regulatory compliance, analytics, and provider alignment. She has managed large multi-specialty organizations, including integrated Dental and Behavioral Health.
As Chief Clinical Executive and VP of Clinical Operations at Walmart, Chinni powered the expansion from 1 clinic to 48 in under three years. She played a key role on the M&A team that acquired MeMD, a telehealth company, and negotiated an innovative partnership with UnitedHealth Group and Optum Health for full risk senior-focused care. In each instance, she worked seamlessly across stakeholders to drive transformation that ensured quality care remained the core focus.
At DuPage (now Duly Health and Care) she drove multi-million increase in net revenue while elevating patient care for over 300K risk-based lives. During the height of the pandemic, she stepped up as interim-CMO to spearhead medical affairs and COVID-19 strategy. As she moved into Vice President and Chief Clinical Executive, she delivered on a 2x patient growth in primary care and 3x revenue growth in Dental as she brought structure to expansion. She led the clinical strategy to help expanded testing centers by 600+ locations, and developed and implemented a Community Health Worker model.
Stephen Schimpff, M.D., MACP
Dr. Stephen Schimpff. Dr. Schimpff is a retired CEO, University of Maryland Medical Center & COO Univ Md Medical System. Internist, researcher and educator; professor of medicine and former professor public policy. He enjoys delving into the complexity of modern health care as an author of health care books for the general public.
Steven F. Schutzer, M.D.
Steven F. Schutzer, MD. "As a young, idealistic arthroplasty Fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the late '80s, I had the good fortune to be mentored by William H Harris, MD - arguably the most recognized and accomplished surgeon-scientist of modern times. At the conclusion of early morning rounds each day, Dr. Harris would peer over his glasses and wistfully say "Steve, you've got to leave it better than you found it". Those few simple words had a profound impact on this then young surgeon. Throughout my career, that inspiration has guided my actions toward focusing on the unambiguous right of every person to affordable, accessible, high-quality healthcare".
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-schutzer-md-81616125/
Tony Dale, M.B., B.S.
Dr. Tony Dale, M.B., B.S, is committed to changing healthcare for the better. As founder and Chairman of The Karis Group and Sedera, Tony has directly impacted the lives of millions of patients seeking the best possible care at fair and affordable prices.
His interest in tackling the business side of healthcare began following his rude introduction to the American medical system when he injured his knee playing basketball and needed knee surgery. After being quoted an initial price and then receiving a significantly larger bill, Tony determined to find a way to help people find better access to quality and affordable care.
Tony founded The Karis Group in 1996 to help patients negotiate their exorbitant medical bills. In 2014, recognizing the unmet needs in the traditional health insurance industry, Tony founded Sedera as an alternative Medical Cost Sharing solution.
Prior to moving to the United States in 1987, Tony practiced family medicine in London’s East End. Dr.’s Tony and Felicity Dale both trained at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. They live in Austin, TX where they are kept busy working with Sedera, writing, speaking and enjoying children and grandchildren.
His most recent book, The Cure For Healthcare: An Old-World Doctors Prescription For The New-World Health System was published in 2021 available on Amazon.com
Innovation Leaders Creating Significant Impact Nationally
Allison Johnson
Allison Johnson is a dedicated employee benefits professional, with a passion for innovative solutions and client satisfaction. She has played a pivotal role in driving success and growth for clients throughout the country. Allison is a recognized leader in moving healthcare to be more customer-centric, ensuring that clients receive personalized and efficient services. Her expertise and commitment are instrumental in navigating the complexities of the industry and delivering exceptional results.
Bill Lacy
Bill Lacy has over 35 years of experience in executive and financial leadership positions. Currently, Bill serves as the CEO for the Association for Corporate Health Risk Management (ACHRM), a membership-based organization comprised of progressive employers ranging in size up to 50,000 employees and best-in-class vendors (Sponsor Partners) and consultants seeking education, a venue to collaborate, innovative methodologies, disruptive technologies and other resources to more effectively contain their organization’s healthcare costs.
ACHRM has offered 300 virtual and in-person events since its launch in June, 2012 engaging more than 1,000 employers and other professionals. The Association has published several white papers, case studies and launched various pilots to introduce new methodologies to assist employers with their healthcare cost containment strategies. Recently, ACHRM was engaged by both a large mid-western City and mid-Atlantic County to analyze and design a healthcare cost containment plans, with upwards of $150 million dollars in
savings.
Prior to ACHRM, Bill was CFO and COO for Business Health Services, a national Corporate Wellness and Behavioral Risk Management provider based in Baltimore, Maryland; and CFO for Planet Fitness PA based in Lafayette Hill, PA. Bill has also held executive positions with the Association for Corporate Wellness (ACW), B&T (Equity) Bank, Exelon (PECO) Energy, Rainbow Industrial Products, NatWest, and Entre Advisors LLC.
Bill is Adjunct Professor, Pfeffer University teaching MBA Finance and currently serves on the University of the Sciences’ Board of Visitors, and previously served on other not-for-profit and for-profit boards. Bill is an Eagle Scout. He earned his MBA (finance and marketing) from Drexel University and BS (math and economics) from Ursinus College.
Brian Klepper, Ph.D.
Brian Klepper, PhD is Principal of Worksite Health Advisors and a nationally prominent health care analyst and commentator. He speaks, writes, and advises extensively on high-performance health care, primary care clinics, and the management of clinical and financial risk.
A purchaser advocate, he has focused on the market and policy dynamics of the health care quality and cost crises, and readily available solutions to purchasers willing to approach the problem laterally. His current focus is on high-performing health care organizations that consistently deliver better health outcomes at lower cost than usual approaches in high-value niches.
Dr. Klepper has been involved in several transformative health care efforts favoring patient and health care purchaser interests. His 2009 testimony to an HHS panel resulted in the revocation of an industry group’s monopoly on Health Information Technology certification. In 2010-2013, he spearheaded a national effort, culminating in a lawsuit against CMS and HHS, to expose the AMA’s RBRVS Update Committee’s role in distorting US’ care and cost patterns.
Brian is a regular contributor to the health care trade press. He is a reviewer for the journals Health Affairs and The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, and an advisor to several health care organizations. He is Founder and Moderator of The Healthcare Benefits Hackers listserv, a vibrant discussion forum with more than 900 participants focused on health care value and high performance. George Washington University’s Masters in Health Administration Program ranked Brian's writing, archived at Care & Cost, the top 2016 blog by a health care professional. Feedspot named it a 2017 top 100 health care blog.
Cynthia A. Fisher
Cynthia A. Fisher is the Founder and Chairman of PatientRightsAdvocate.org, a nonprofit organization seeking healthcare price transparency, giving power to American consumers and employers to lower their costs of care and coverage through a functional marketplace and choice. She is a life sciences entrepreneur, independent investor, and corporate board director of The Boston Beer Company (SAM) and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. (DEA).
Cynthia is best known for her pioneering work as Founder and CEO of ViaCord, Inc., a leading umbilical cord blood stem cell banking service which she started in 1993. In 2000, she co-founded and was President of the cellular medicines company, ViaCell, Inc. (VIAC). Prior to founding ViaCord, Cynthia ran the Blood Bank Division of Haemonetics Corporation, a medical equipment manufacturer. She began her career in sales at IBM focusing on healthcare IT, insurance, and defense industries. Cynthia holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Science and BS in Biophysics from Ursinus College.
Dave Chase
Dave Chase is the CEO and founder of Health Rosetta, an organization dedicated to empowering community-owned health plans (COHPs) with the vision of COHPs everywhere. Under Dave’s leadership, Health Rosetta has proven its effectiveness across 1000s of employers, driving the quadruple aim and transforming health plans from the leading cause of wage stagnation, debt, and bankruptcy into drivers of well-being and wealth.
Health Rosetta's mission is to reinvest the currently wasted $1.5 trillion in healthcare into social determinants of health such as income, better food, and community well-being. This approach, guided by the principle that "Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up," has restored the American Dream for tens of thousands of people. Health Rosetta plans eliminate high deductibles and co-pays, making healthcare accessible without fear of bankruptcy. At RosettaFest, America's top employer/union health plans are showcased where employers from manufacturers to school districts prove that focusing on improving benefits leads to superior health outcomes -- and reduces spending 20-50% per capita.
The Health Rosetta community's transparency has set a new industry standard (gag clause prevention & compensation disclosure), leading to significant legislative changes and creating the largest shift in employee health benefits since 1943. Through initiatives like the Health Rosetta Plan Grader™, which assesses the key attributes of health plans and prescribes proven strategies for transformation, the organization continues to drive sustainable, world-class health plans.
Dave's impact extends beyond Health Rosetta through his best-selling books, media contributions, TED talks, and TV/film appearances, reaching over 10 million people with the message of restoring hope, health, and well-being to communities. He received the Health Value Awards' Lifetime Achievement for Health Benefits Innovation at the World Health Care Congress.
Before founding Health Rosetta, Dave co-founded Avado, which was acquired by WebMD/Medscape, and founded Microsoft's $30B healthcare ecosystem. In addition to his professional achievements, Dave has coached multiple high school track and cross country teams/individuals to state championships and was a PAC-12 800 Meter and 4x400 competitor. His dedication to faith, family, and friends underpins his commitment to servant leadership, impacting over 5 million lives through the Health Rosetta community.
The Rosetta founders recently launched a new open source platform designed to create standardization in this new area of innovative self-funded health plans: https://www.nautilushealth.org/
E. Heidi Cottle
E. Heidi Cottle, SVP, Cost Containment Strategies consults with NFP, an AON company, advisors and clients to develop client specific cost containment strategies. Heidi is a subject matter expert in delivering solution-based programs through – emerging and innovative programs which strive to improve quality, cost, and outcomes while mitigating client benefit risk.
Jessica Brooks-Woods
Jessica Brooks-Woods. With an unyielding commitment to principled action, Jessica is steadfastly dedicated to catalyzing positive change within the health sector—a realm deeply intertwined with my lifelong passion. As the CEO of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP), she lead an unwavering charge to elevate health insurance agents and brokers, ensuring holistic consumer needs are met.
During her transformative tenure as President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health (PBGH) from 2013 to 2023, she orchestrated initiatives that revolutionized healthcare's value, access, equity, and quality for employers. Her strategic prowess resulted in monumental annual employer savings exceeding $30 million and reduced employee financial burdens by over $6 million through pioneering programs.
Endowed with the moniker 'Velvet Hammer in Healthcare,' she blends fierce advocacy with purpose, delivering comprehensive value across healthcare touchpoints.
Lee Lewis
Lee Lewis. Lee serves as Chief Strategy Officer and GM Medical Solutions for the Health Transformation Alliance. He leads efforts across over 50 large and jumbo employers and six million employees to save lives and save millions of dollars through improved health delivery, outcomes and experience. Key initiatives in this role include new models of health benefits administration, curated provider steerage, and improved clinical delivery and outcomes.
He has advised healthcare strategy at Fortune 10 employers, insurance companies and administrators, medical associations and the Departments of Justice and Labor. He incubated and helped form two dozen health-benefit startup companies, and has been quoted and featured in Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.
Lewis is a founding, charter member of the Health Rosetta organization, which seeks to open-source employer health benefits strategy for the public good, and is credited as a co-founder of the Health Value Exchange, a free, online contributor database with over a thousand health benefit vendors democratizing industry access to great solutions.
Before joining the HTA, Lewis was a consultant at Gallagher, where he founded Gallagher’s innovation lab and national jumbo employer practice. In 2019 he was recognized with the industry’s top honor as the Outstanding National Consultant for Large & Jumbo Employers Award by the independent Validation Institute. His consulting clients won Diamond Innovation Awards at the World Healthcare Congress, Innovation Awards from the Texas Business Groups on Health, Top 20 Innovator Awards from Healthcare Revolution Conference, and Financial Innovation and Large Group Management Innovation accolades from the Validation Institute.
Lee is a Rhodes Scholar Nominee and graduated Second in his Class, Magna cum Laude with University Honors and attended the University of Michigan and BYU.
Marilyn Bartlett
Marilyn Bartlett, CPA. #13 on Fortune Magazine’s 2019 list of World’s 50 Greatest Leaders. Senior Policy Fellow, National Academy for State Health Policy. Controller for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana in 2001. In 2007, Marilyn became the CFO for a regional Third-Party Administrator, focusing on self-funded plans. In 2014, Marilyn assumed the position of Administrator of Health Care and Benefits Division for the State of Montana and was responsible for managing Montana’s largest self-funded health plan, with over 31,000 members. Actuarial projections showed health plan reserves would be ($9 million) by December 2017 if significant changes were not implemented. She led the health plan forward by contracting with Montana hospitals for reference-based pricing, changing to a transparent pass-through pharmacy benefit, launching significant changes to vendor management, and realigning benefit administration of the plan. In December 2017, the plan reserves were $112 million. In 2018, Marilyn transitioned to a specialist role with the State Auditor’s office, focusing on analysis and proposed legislation for managing pharmaceutical drug pricing for Montana consumers. Ms. Bartlett’s noteworthy accomplishments and passionate contributions to her constituents and industry has earned the respect of public and private leaders alike.
Nelson Griswold
Nelson Griswold Founder & Chairman, NextGen Benefits Network. Chairman, Employer Healthcare Council, C-Suite Network. Nelson is the visionary leader of NextGen Benefits, the award-winning movement that is disrupting the employee benefits and healthcare industries by empowering business owners and C-Suite executives to take control of their healthcare spend and manage the quality and cost of healthcare.
Stacey Richter
Stacey Richter is the host of Relentless Health Value, an award-winning podcast that connects leaders from across the healthcare industry who share a commitment to the quadruple aim. Stacey endeavors to showcase the latest thinking to improve population health and patient and provider experience while managing costs. She believes that patients are best served when payers, purchasers, providers and others communicate and collaborate effectively. In 2018, Stacey co-founded QC-Health, a cause-driven benefit corporation seeking to leverage the experience of its founders in pursuit of better patient outcomes. She is also co-president of Aventria Health Group, a consultancy. Stacey has innovated healthcare solutions that are win-wins for stakeholders, and most of all, the patient.
Vidar Jorgensen
Vidar Jorgensen was born in Arendal, Norway and graduated from Harvard College in 1969 with honors in political science. Jorgensen is the majority owner of Validation Institute (VI) which is bringing cost and outcomes transparency to health Care. Using VI data, an employer can reduce their all-in health care spending by 10% in year 1 and 30% in year 5 with better outcomes, employee satisfaction and retention. Jorgensen is co-founder of Cambridge Innovation Institute, which in turn owns and manages about 90 conferences focused on biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, digital health care and energy storage: www.cambridgeinnovationinstitute.com
He is the Co-Founder of Grameen America www.grameenamerica.org, the largest and fastest growing US based microfinance organization and www.grameenprimacare.com. Since 2008, GrameenAmerica.org has lent over $4.7 billion to 210,000 Latina and African American women in the US with a 99% repayment rate. In 2022 MDRC released the results of a rigorous randomized controlled trial that determined that the Grameen America microlending model resulted in a reduction of material hardship, and an increase of credit scores and business ownership, for Grameen America members as compared to a control group.
Jorgensen resides in Concord, Massachusetts with his wife Kathy. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Wendell Potter
Wendell is a former health insurance company executive who became that industry’s worst nightmare. Time Magazine called Wendell “the ideal whistleblower.” Bill Moyers called him a straight shooter. Michael Moore called him “the Daniel Ellsberg of corporate America.”
Wendell walked away from his job at Cigna, the big health insurance corporation, in 2008 after what he has described as a crisis of conscience. Now, Wendell is President of two organizations -- Business for Medicare for All and Medicare for All NOW -- working to end the employer-based health insurance system and guarantee health care for all Americans.
In June of 2009, Wendell went public with what he knew, and in a very big way. In riveting Congressional testimony, Wendell described how insurance company executives, in their quest to meet Wall Street’s profit expectations, routinely canceled the coverage of policyholders who got sick. He went on to disclose a common but little-known practice that industry executives, behind closed doors, called “purging.” Under purging, insurance companies used big price increases to force small businesses with sick workers to drop their policies.
Wendell also explained how insurance companies flouted regulations designed to protect consumers, and how they intentionally made it nearly impossible for consumers to get information they needed about their policies in language they could understand. Wendell went on to become a bestselling author. The New York Times called his first book – Deadly Spin – “a tour de force.” Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin called his most recent book – Nation on the Take —“a stirring guide for how we can work together to reclaim our democracy and reunify our country.”
Wendell has also written numerous articles for publications in the U.S. and abroad, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Newsweek and the Guardian, and has been a frequent guest on TV and radio. He is president of the Center for Health and Democracy and Business Leaders for Health Care Transformation and founder of Tarbell.org, a journalism nonprofit.
Employer Representatives Leading the Change
Dan Ludwig
Dan Ludwig, Director of Benefits and Safety at Brakebush Brothers, has over 25 years successfully reducing occupational losses. In 2014 Dan transitioned into controlling health plan expenses as the company ventured from fully insured to self-insured. Dan developed Brakebush’s Centers of Excellence program which includes steerage to high value providers as well as an international pharmacy. After years of success offering an onsite musculoskeletal disorder prevention program, Brakebush opened their first fulltime onsite clinic in Westfield, WI in 2016. Along with the MSD prevention, this clinic offers primary medical, mental health services, Rx dispensing, and other services. Their second clinic was opened in their Irving, TX facility in 2021, and plans are in the works for adding onsite services at two other locations within the next 6 – 12 months. In 2018, Brakebush was award The Alliance (WI) Healthcare Transformation Award. The following year, Dan was presented with the Employer/Purchaser Excellence Award (National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions) in recognition of innovation in healthcare strategy. Each year since becoming self-insured, Brakebush has maintained annual per member costs lower than their first year.
Daron Jones
Daron first got the "itch" to improve businesses and their cultures while working for Covey Leadership Center in Utah. Since then he has worked to create cultures that help workers become their best versions of themselves. Daron is currently working with Kevin Clegg to spread ideas and practices of employee ownership as far and wide as possible.
Ginger Miller
Ginger Miller is currently the Director of Health and Benefits at Utz Quality Foods, LLC where she oversees the leave management program, leads efforts to create value- based benefits, and develops opportunities to promote the health and well-being of the organization’s associates. Ginger earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Elizabethtown College and practiced in the field of Occupational Therapy for 19 years as a clinician and manager before joining Utz Quality Foods in 2013. In addition to numerous clinical certifications, she is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist and a Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist and trained in Neurodevelopmental Techniques.
John Keller
John is a multiple-exit entrepreneur in retail and software, participating in harvests of over 100MM in value. Over the past 20 years of his career, John has provided critical roles in operations, strategy, marketing, organizational development and more across numerous industries and business-types. His passion for in business goes far beyond just making money, as he has been heavily engaged in innovation and social impact throughout his career. Although John’s business achievements are primarily the businesses and non-profits he’s been part of starting, growing, failing or harvesting, he also earned an MBA from BYU—and while he has yet to use his degree, his time in that pursuit helped him solidify his love for learning and reading. John is a voracious reader—He’s usually trying to finish reading (or listening to) about a book a week. As the current president of Redlist, John works with his team to provide a software as a service (SaaS) platform for heavy industrial assets and teams for some of the biggest companies in the world—Companies like Georgia Pacific, ExxonMobil and more. When John isn’t working, reading or sleeping, he can usually be found trying to provide support to his better half and their 7 children.
John Torinus Jr.
John Torinus Jr. has worked as a journalist, entrepreneur, and business manager since leaving the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as an artillery company commander. Torinus served 20 years as CEO of Serigraph Inc., a graphics parts manufacturer that owns five plants. He continues as active chairman at Serigraph and a general partner in the Wisconsin Super Angel Fund. He has served as chairman of the Wisconsin Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Competitive Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, and West Bend Friends of Sculpture. He has written two books on the economics of health care and served on several task forces to reform health care delivery. He holds a baccalaureate in industrial administration from Yale and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Stockholm. Torinus was a columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where he served as a business editor, and his hometown paper, the Daily News in West Bend, Wisconsin, where he served as editor and general manager for eleven years. Over the past 30 years, he has been a director or co-chaired a number of health care cost commissions or organizations.
Kevin Clegg
Kevin Clegg. CEO of A More Company. Kevin is always thinking about why companies/people do what they do and how they can create lasting change for the better. He started his career in HR leadership with multiple Fortune 500 companies and has since shifted his focus to small business. In 2022 he transitioned his company into the first Employee Owned Trust - Holding Company in the U.S. His vision is to bring employee ownership as a business operating model to the mainstream. Helping individuals own their life, career and company is his passion. He's also pioneering innovative healthcare solutions to better serve the health and wellness of employees and their families.
Rae Barton
Rae Barton is an adventurer at heart, a UK native, has studied music, and art at multiple universities, but finally graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2021. Since graduating she has worked as the HR Administrator, Office Manager, Travel and Events Planner, as well as Product Support Manager at Redlist Software.
Stephanie M. Koch, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CHVA
Stephanie M. Koch, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CHVA. Stephanie is a resident of the Tampa Bay area, currently working as the Director of Human Resources for Hendry Marine Industries. Stephanie has over 25 years of HR leadership experience at various companies. Over the past several years, she has taken an active role in understanding and transforming employee health benefit plans creating outside the box, innovative strategies. Stephanie is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience with other HR professionals, CEO’s, CFO’s and everyone in the healthcare industry so that more companies understand the value a self-funded health plan has for both the company and the employees.
Because of Stephanie’s healthcare knowledge and unique experience in self-funding, she has become a frequent speaker at events across the country. In the past two years, Stephanie has spoken at various healthcare conferences including The Best of the Best hosted by the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value, The Validation Institute’s Flagship events - Health Benefits Nation and thINC Healthcare Innovation Congress, YOU Powered Symposium, BenefitsPro, Employee Benefit News, The CFO Leadership Conference, World Finance Forum, HealthRosetta, DisruptNaples and has been a guest on multiple podcasts and webcasts discussing healthcare strategy from the lens of an HR executive. In 2024 Hendry Marine Industries won the “Most Engaged Employer Award,” for the State of Florida from The Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value and Employee Benefit News named Stephanie top 25 HR and benefits leaders in the country in 2024.
She is a graduate of William Paterson University, Leadership Tampa – Class of 2012 as well as a member of SHRM, HR Florida, HR Tampa, Leadership Tampa Alumni, a member of the Advisory Board for Workforce Development Partners, Advisory Board Member with The Validation Institute, and the Vice Chair for the Florida Alliance for Healthcare Value. She’s also a licensed healthcare agent in the State of Florida.
Most importantly, Stephanie has a 16-year-old son named Jacob, who is special needs, and falls on the Cerebral Palsy and Autism spectrums. They love going to Disney, seeing movies, going bowling, swimming and spending time with their friends.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-koch-scp-shrm-sphr-chva-5a458b1/
Innovative Benefit Advisors
Aaron Witwer, M.S.
Aaron Witwer, MS. Benefits Advisor and Chief Impact & Stewardship Officer for BenEngage and Revolution Benefits Group. Equitable and ethically-minded health insurance plans are needed now more than ever, so it's my mission to build and share plans that help employers provide access to quality, affordable healthcare and also protect employers bottom line (in that order). Based in Northeast Ohio, Aaron is a multi-year Rosie Award winner from Health Rosetta, Emerging Leader finalist from YOU Powered Symposium, and Innovations Award winner from Cleveland Clinic.
Alan Wang
Alan Wang. With over 30 years of experience in the employee benefits and human resources industry, Alan is the founder and managing principal of UBF Consulting, a firm that helps businesses and their people thrive. As a Health Rosetta Associate Advisor, he is certified to provide solutions that lower healthcare costs, improve outcomes, and enhance employee satisfaction.
At UBF Consulting, he leads a team of talented and passionate consultants who share my vision of creating positive change in the workplace. They offer strategic insights and practical guidance on human capital, talent management, culture, and the future of work. They also partner with our clients to design and implement effective and sustainable benefit programs that align with their goals and values. As a coach and mentor, he enjoys supporting the professional and personal growth of his team members and the community. He is especially committed to helping underserved young people achieve their potential and overcome the barriers to success.
Bill L. Andersen
Bill started his health insurance career formally in 1983. That decision was born however, many years before at the age of 10. Bill was an adopted child, raised by a mother that had significant health problems. As a 14 year old girl, she had rheumatic fever, that destroyed her immune system, her ability to have children and more. Today Bill’s mom at 87, has had over 75 surgeries, has battled 5 major diseases, survived COVID and more. That moment at the age of 10 as he was watching her learn to walk again after one of those surgeries, set him on a path that continues more aggressively today, than ever before. Bill’s background spans nearly 40 years, within the partial self funded and self funded space. He has always supported and believed in the independent TPA, Independent Re-Insurer, and the ability to plug only companies offering best practices, and offerings, into his clients plans. As an Independent Agency, TPA, Re-Insurance Carrier, and Consulting Company Partner, Bill’s expertise is invaluable when you are building outside the traditional box, the world of the BUCA’s has programmed the industry to be. Bill’s clients will attest the fact that Bill gets things done. Creativity, in today’s market place is what Aspirational Health is all about. As one of the Founders of Aspirational Health, Bill’s role is to assist in helping clients and brokers ask the right questions, and to obtain real cost saving outcomes. One cannot expect those who created the problem to begin with, to create a solution today. New thinking is required by all those that desire change. Bill’s decision to make a difference for his mom and other moms, still is his primary focus today. Making change is why we’re here. We can only do it together.
Bryce Heinbaugh
Bryce Heinbaugh has spent his entire career advising employers on how to best purchase healthcare for employees and their families. Driven by a passion to systematically change the Sickcare System, Bryce believes removing the misaligned financial incentives of the healthcare financial model is the most effective way to truly achieve the best health outcomes while protecting patients from financial harm. Employers have the power to change the healthcare system for the better; they simply need bold encouragement and a proven patient-centric model which Mr. Heinbaugh enjoys providing the roadmap for following.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryce-heinbaugh-mba-healthcare-trailblazer-2216368/
Colby Denton
Colby Denton runs an insurance consulting firm, Impact Beneficial, specializing in optimizing major medical plans to drive significant cost savings and enhance the member experience. Through direct contracting with providers and labs, and reducing administrative burden, the firm helps clients achieve substantial savings. Focused on delivering the right care at the right time and place—whether on-demand, in-person onsite, at a facility, or virtually—Impact Beneficial ensures both accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Leveraging advanced analytics, the firm reprices fraudulent or incorrect claims while continuously identifying opportunities for ongoing cost mitigation. Additionally, by improving contracts with PBM vendors and lowering acquisition costs for high-cost medications, Impact Beneficial helps clients unlock maximum value from their healthcare strategies.
Cristy Gupton
Cristy Gupton is a forward-thinking healthcare strategist who works directly with employer health plan sponsors, helping them design “employer-built” healthcare vs. “insurer-built” healthcare. She successfully eliminates the counterproductive barriers to employee healthcare by introducing, embedding, and implementing health plans built on the foundation of direct primary care and the accompanying point solutions that enhance the care experience. She also analyzes and demonstrates year-over-year reductions in medical expense trends, allowing plan sponsors “found money” to reinvest into better care and better outcomes. Employers who collaborate with Cristy are afforded the opportunity to incrementally reduce employee out-of-pocket costs with a goal of eventually reaching a zero-cost outlook for employees who engage in their high-performing health plan.
Dave Contorno, CAA
avid is Founder of E Powered Benefits. As a native of New York, David began his career in the insurance industry at the age of 14 and has since become a leading expert in the realm of employee benefits over the last 21 years.
Among his many accolades, David received a Broker Spotlight in 2004 and was recognized as an outstanding Broker of Service in 2005 through 2014 by Blue Cross Blue Shield. He has continually received the Echelon Award by United Healthcare since 2003, reserved for the top 1% of agents nationally, and was a 2015 “40 Under 40” Award Winner presented by Charlotte Business Journal. Most recently, David was Benefits Selling Magazine’s 2015 Broker of the Year and, in March 2016, Forbes deemed him “One of America’s Most Innovative Benefits Leaders.”
David is a member of the Board of Directors for both the Charlotte Association of Health Underwriters and Healthreach Community Clinic. He served on the NC Insurance Commissioners Life and Health Agent Advisory Committee, as well as participated in the Technical Advisory Group that helped with the Market Reforms required under the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina. He is a long-time member of the Lake Norman and South Iredell Chambers of Commerce as well as the National, North Carolina, New York and Long Island Associations of Health Underwriters. David contributes to numerous publications, including Forbes, Benefits Selling Magazine, Business Leader Magazine and Insurance Thought Leadership.
David is committed to giving back to his community and actively participates in the membership drive for the United Way, assisting the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and supporting The Dove House Child Advocacy Center. When he is not working, he enjoys boating and traveling.
Dennis J. Walker
Dennis J Walker of Salt Lake City, UT has been selling health plans since 2012. He left his large, comfortable corporate position to start a firm with controlling costs as the center focus of his new firm. He firmly believes in getting the CEO on board as quickly as possible for them to retake ownership of the healthcare process for their people, giving guidance to the HR and finance teams, and providing the employees under their care with choices. n under a year, Dennis was able to build his team of agents to nearly a dozen, all focused on reshaping the face of healthcare by gathering as much information as possible, analyzing it in a proprietary and unique way, and then guiding the clients they work with on changing and controlling healthcare costs.
Donovan Pyle
Donavan is the Founder & CEO of Health Compass Consulting. While working on the carrier and brokerage sides of the employee benefits industry, Donovan identified a fundamental misalignment in the market: Brokers make more money when their clients' costs go up, and this undermines their ability to maximize the return on an employer’s benefits investment.
The problem inspired Donovan to develop and found one of the first fee-based, carrier-agnostic employee benefits consulting firms in 2018. By working directly for employers instead of vendors, Donovan’s firm — Health Compass Consulting — escapes the financial conflicts of interest that prevent employers from fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility or maximizing the return on their benefits investments.
Today, Health Compass's clients have anywhere from 100 to 10,000 employees, and their average client saves $1,856 per employee per year -- with better coverage. Just as importantly, their employees live happier, healthier lives because of the financial stability Health Compass services create.
Pyle is a Senior Advisor at Validation Institute, where he chairs the Certified Health Value Professional (CHVP) advisory board, which elevates the professional standards of the benefits consulting industry by providing the leading education on health plan innovation.
He is one of a handful of consultants in the U.S. who holds the highest certification and designation in the employee benefits industry and has also earned the top certification from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) - Senior Certified Professional.
Eric S. Avrumson, CEBS®, ChHC®, CAA
For 20 years, Eric has been working in the insurance industry, helping clients and partners achieve their goals and optimize their value. As a Senior Vice President and Strategic Team Leader at NFP, one of the largest insurance brokerage, consulting and wealth management firms, he leads a high-performing team of associates who specialize in employee benefits and health insurance solutions for the corporate and municipal marketplace.
He leverages his credentials as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), to design and manage data-driven cost containment strategies, health plan designs, and risk management techniques for our clients. He is passionate about the transformation in the health care industry and how to best position our clients for success. He also shares his knowledge and expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Baruch College, where he teaches a course on group health plan design for students pursuing their CEBS designation. Eric’s mission is to collaborate with our clients and partners to evaluate their current state and determine where a call to action is needed, while maximizing the value for the end user and containing costs for our clients.
Frank M. Stichter
Frank M. Stichter, President of Strategic Healthplan Consulting LLC, earned the Managed Healthcare Professional (MHP) designation through the Health Insurance Association of America. He is also a Certified Health Rosetta Advisor, is on the Board of Advisors for the Association For Corporate Health Risk Management, the Broker Advisory Council for ELAP Services, and has served on the Board of the Colorado Healthcare Association for Human Resource Management (CHAHRM). Frank has spoken numerous times on the subjects of Self-Funding and Healthcare Risk Management programs at national conferences and seminars throughout the country, and has written a variety of articles and position papers on these topics as well. Frank is also the author of his Best Selling book “You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know.”
Previously, Frank had his own Agency for 14 years, and worked for 2 large regional insurance Agencies as a broker and consultant in Ohio and Colorado. Frank also was a Partner and Co-Founder of a Wellness, Lifestyle and Disease Management company, HyHealth LLC.
Locally, Frank is active in the Crested Butte and the surrounding area serving as Member and Past President of the Chamber of Commerce, Member and Past President of the Crested Butte / Mt. Crested Butte Rotary Club, and Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 5470.
Jonathan Harris
Johnathan Harris. Jonny is an insurance consultant that specializes in self-funded health plans for employers with 50 or more enrolled employees. He seeks to bring the principles and best practices taught in the Aspirational Healthcare model to employers across the country at scale. Jonny firmly believes in the individual responsibility of brokers to empower the true customers of healthcare—employers—to achieve superior results for their organization’s health plan.
Kevin Brown
Kevin Brown. Kevin is a 40-year student of the Employee Benefits industry, spending his first 20 years with insurance carriers before moving to the brokerage/consulting side these past 20 years. “What I have learned is that there is a tremendous amount of waste in the healthcare system and several uninspired as well as unscrupulous players in the benefits arena”. As a health & welfare broker/consultant, Kevin takes his role of stewardship for his clients very seriously. Simply put, follow the money, find the quality, expose the pretenders, tell the truth, develop a roadmap, always be learning, embrace innovation, and be the caliber of a Benefits Broker or Consultant he would want to hire himself. He believes employers can save a tremendous amount of money while enhancing their employee benefit plans, particularly with Self-Funding strategies. He have seen a lot of gunk, a lot of waste, and a lot of pretenders in his 40-year career in this industry. It is his quest to change the paradigm with the way healthcare is purchased and experienced. Orriant is one of those partners who is equally as passionate about this needed transformation in Healthcare, and he is pleased and honored to be aligned with Darrell Moon in his mission.
Louis Bernardi
Louis Bernardi, Founder & Chief Benefit Optimization Officer, BritePath. Lou has dedicated over 30 years to navigating the evolving landscape of employer-sponsored healthcare. In his role as a general agent and trusted advisor, he has guided thousands of employers through the complexities of managed care. Throughout his career, Lou has witnessed firsthand the deterioration of traditional health plans, largely driven by the inefficiencies of the managed care delivery system.
Today, Lou channels his expertise into BritePath, where he serves as Founder and Chief Benefit Optimization Officer. His passion lies in helping forward-thinking employers revamp outdated health plans into high-performance healthcare solutions that empower the American healthcare consumer while simultaneously elevating businesses. Lou's approach reduces healthcare costs while enhancing employee engagement and delivering better health outcomes.
As a proud Health Rosetta and Aspirational Healthcare member, Lou is part of a network of innovative advisors and solution partners committed to transforming healthcare. In early 2024, Lou will also launch the Benefits Champions Network (BCN), a community focused on pioneering best practices in health benefits.
Lou hosts the podcast Benefits with Friends, where he educates listeners on alternative healthcare ecosystems and empowers the American healthcare consumer to make informed decisions.
Mark Holland
Mark Holland. Mark has worked in the employee benefits industry for 26 years and knows first-hand the challenges employers, agencies, and brokers face due to the broken status quo of the benefits industry. With our health care system, ACA, and constantly changing regulations spinning in different directions, the administrative and compliance burden put on employers and HR and is overwhelming. Benefit administration has become too complex and manual of a process, resulting in time wasted and administrative errors, costing employers enormous dollars and liabilities. On the employee side, they do not value their employers tremendous investment in them (an average of 42% of payroll). On top of that, employees do not understand the how to manage and utilize their benefits. Let's face it, most companies do not have the capabilities or resources to show their employees the value they truly are providing to each benefit eligible employee. Mark is passionate about challenging this mindset and leading others to a better way. As a NextGen Benefits member, he is constantly finding new ways to help others navigate the benefits industry by overcoming adversity, taking risks, and achieving their goals. He has brought together an innovative team of people who are dedicated to disrupting the current system to bring Mark's clients better benefits with lower costs. BenefitHelp specializes in assisting HR professionals to increase their employees level of understanding by communicating the value of their benefits package through customized enrollment solutions and educating employees on ways to save themselves and the company money. Mark and his team work collaboratively and cohesively with their clients to bring the best service and provide the best outcomes.
Michael Juergens
Michael Juergens is a Father, Husband, Colorado Native, Registered Employee Benefits Consultant, and Founder/Owner of Rise Benefit Solutions. He thrives on guiding his clients on how to develop result-driven top-tier health plans – making the complex simple. He is passionate about what he does. Michael’s goal is to empower employers, their employees, and their families on how to get the best healthcare at the best price.
In 2017 his second son (Chase) was born with a condition called CDH. His son's hospital bill was $222,367 of which $99,000 was said to be his responsibility. This experience opened his eyes to how much variability and bureaucracy exists in the US healthcare system and drives his passion to deliver value for consumers and businesses.
Michael has his REBC certification through the national association of health underwriters, as well as certificates in accident, health, and life insurance, human capital management, and leadership. Currently serving as a committee member on the Arvada Healthcare KAPS Council, serving as a board member on the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, he is highly engaged in the community. He has been featured as a keynote speaker on what it means to be an "Engaged Healthcare Consumer" and featured on the TrendBreakers podcast. Michael is a current volunteer with the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center, Community Table of Arvada, Team Rubicon, Helping Hands, and Colorado Friendship. As an active member of the Colorado community, he makes it a priority to give first.
Nathan Ballash, CAA
Nathan Ballash, CAA. Operations Officer and Agent at Coordinated Insurance’s Employee Benefits Pro team
Nicholas L. Manion, Pharm.D., R.Ph., M.S.
Nicholas L. Manion, PharmD, RPh, MS is the Founder and CEO of Pointer Health Solutions, where he leverages his extensive expertise in managed care pharmacy and population health to innovate transformative healthcare solutions for employers and communities. With career-spanning roles at prominent organizations like OhioHealth, Dr. Manion has excelled in managing medical and pharmacy benefits and directing clinical and financial outcomes in at-risk payor contracting. His diverse experience includes community and specialty pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and healthcare operations. He earned his PharmD from Ohio Northern University and an MS in Health System Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University.
Scott Haas
Scott Haas - After 40 years of learning, making mistakes and evolving, where Scott is today is helping independent physicians and plan sponsors align in common sense ways to create a new pathway to serve their beneficiaries in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner. Paying it forward is an obligation.
Scott Ferrin, CAA
Scott S. Ferrin. CAA. Employee Benefits Specialist at Employee Benefits Pro.
Steve Neilsen, MHA, FACHE, RHU
Steve Nielsen is the President at NBG Benefits. Steve has spent his career working at the intersection of health care providers and employer purchasers. He’s held executive positions with Intermountain Healthcare and Community Medical Centers of Central California. He founded the Western Business Group on Health, an employer purchasing coalition. He served on the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions’ Board of Directors. He is a founder of NBG Benefits. He works to improve health, satisfaction and affordability. He participated in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s value improvement project. He is a member of the Utah State Health Department’s Transparency Advisory Group and the Utah Partnership for Health Care Value. He served as Co-Chairman of the Utah Health Underwriters Association Legislative Committee. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Registered Health Underwriter. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and Washington University at St. Louis, with an M.H.A in healthcare management.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-e-nielsen-mha-rhu-fache-8a827b57/
Innovative Point Solution Providers
Al Lewis
Al Lewis, author of the bestselling textbook Why Nobody Believes the Numbers, is universally considered the industry's premier authority on vendor outcomes measurement. He currently runs Quizzify, the leading employee health literacy company.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-lewis-%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%A6-57963/
Angie Taylor
Angie Taylor - Nurse Navigator at Concierge Nurse Navigators is an experienced RN with an MBA who understands that the clinical environment and the business environment can feel like two different worlds. Her education, clinical and professional experience blends into a unique skill set that allows her to bring these two worlds together to deliver exceptional, quality healthcare services. She is passionate about strengthening people and working with teams to develop solutions to complex challenges and committed to working hard to build the internal and external relationships that are necessary to sustain an organization. She uses her strengths to contribute to a work environment in which people feel a genuine sense of fulfillment for
their contributions and are encouraged to apply and develop themselves.
Betsy Foster
Betsy Foster. Betsy Foster, co-founder and President of Love.Life is creating the new future of healthcare. Love.Life is transforming health and health care from a sick care model to a well care model that focuses on prevention and reversal, which lead to real improved health outcomes. Love.Life unites the power of functional, integrative and lifestyle medicine with eastern medicine (“best of eastern and western medicine”) along with nourishing food, precision wellness therapies, and cutting edge fitness and technology all under one roof to create a personalized care plan to empower you to become the best version of yourself. Love.Life has an interdisciplinary care team of over 20+ specialists to support you on your journey to optimize your health. Prior to co-founding Love.Life she worked at Whole Foods Market for almost 30 years as a senior executive in numerous roles. She is deeply passionate about transforming health and health care, and appreciates Darrell putting forward this book to share valuable insights to CEOs to transform true health and health care is this country.
Bibb Beale
Bibb Beale founded Frontier Health with the conviction that employers shouldn't have to be cornered and subjected to providing appalling health insurance options to their employees for audacious prices. Bibb and his team at Frontier are realigning the self-insured health plan with DPC as the star, improving health outcomes for the American workforce, and putting money back in the hands of the employer. Bibb lives in deep South Texas with his wife Amy, and his three boys, (12, 10, and 8) where he enjoys hunting, riding dirt bikes, and working in his barn.
Brad Butler
Brent Hale
Brent Hale is the co-founder of the Blomquist Hale Solutions which for over 30 years has specialized in innovative models of behavioral healthcare. Along with the University of Utah, Blomquist Hale Solutions created a novel behavioral health delivery system that dramatically increased preventative services and added unusually high levels of care coordination. When coupled with a select panel of high-performing specialists, it significantly increased the number of individuals in the population accessing treatment while at the same time reduced overall costs. Blomquist Hale Solutions also provides one of the few EAP’s that intentionally drives high utilization in face-to-face, solution-focused counseling, typically helping over three hundred percent more employee families than the national average. Blomquist Hale Solutions currently contracts with more than 400 public and private organizations nationwide.
Brian Garcia
Brian Garcia. Business and sales professional with over 30 years of experience in healthcare and technology. Focused on helping all size employers and their employees to become better healthcare consumers. Partnering with groups and collaborating with them to provide better financial and clinical outcomes.
Casey Billington
Casey Billington. Her role allows her to interact daily with forward-thinking and innovative advisors/consultants, third-party administrators, and employer groups as they work to build patient-centered self-funded health plans for employees and families. Helping create plans to close gaps in care, improve care coordination, and drive higher quality outcomes more often.
Focused on gaining adoption and acceptance of employees and families thru first-hand education and personal guidance to high quality providers and value-based care.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-billington-rn-bsn-cctc-92a810143/
Chad Gray
Chad Gray is the co-founder and CEO of Integrated Musculoskeletal Care, Inc (IMC), which provides outcomes-accountable musculoskeletal care programs that improve overall healthcare quality, reduce costs and improve patient and employee safety. Gray has over two decades of experience as a clinical practitioner and is a widely recognized entrepreneur, health-benefit design consultant and concierge practitioner focused on innovations in musculoskeletal triage, health care and self-care.
David Silverstein
David Silverstein has been working to change the American Healthcare system for nearly a decade. He’s a strong proponent of market driven healthcare and has written both legislation and a Presidential Executive Order designed to promote economic change through price transparency. He is the founder of BrokenHealthcare.org and Amaze Health, a company that is transforming the way Americans manage their health and medical care.
Don Sanford
Sanford is a partner with Smith Communication Partners and helps organizations effectively reach key audiences through unique and powerful communication methods and processes. He is especially focused on advancing improvements in the delivery and outcomes of health care and is a strong advocate for preventive medicine and wellness.
Doug Burgoyne
Doug Burgoyne. Managed Care Pharmacy Executive.
Eric Krieg
Eric Krieg. Founder - Risk International Benefits Advisors. A former industry insider, with 30 years of experience in benefits brokerage and consulting, Eric now focuses his time and energy advising employers on how to gain control over their health and benefit plans. Acting as a fiduciary and deploying proper plan governance is a game changer. Directing a Fiduciary Certified Sourcing Process, along with in-depth contract and plan analysis, he provides a behind the scenes look at how the benefits industry truly operates and is fixated with driving cost excess cost out of plans and stopping the constant shifting of cost to employees. “Why should the Benefits/insurance industry and brokers win while employers and employees lose?? This is unacceptable” – Eric Krieg
Guy Benjamin
Guy Benjamin - the youngest of four brothers, was born and raised in Israel. He spent 12 years as a pilot in the Israeli Air Force. Following his career in the Air Force, Guy graduated from Yale School of Management and upon graduation, joined McKinsey & Co. Guy is the co-founded and CEO of Healthee, an AI platform aiming at making healthcare more accessible, and lowering costs of care to employees. Healthee's mission is to help employees be healthy, effortlessly, by leveraging cutting edge technology.
Jack G. London, D.D.
Jack G. London, D.D., Founder & CEO of PatientPAL.org LLC. As a former Hospital administrator, Jack saw first hand the patients their families frustrations attempting to navigate through the complexities of their heathplan insurance. PatientPAL was created to assist these patients in securing guidance towards top quality and cost-efficient providers, and be treated with compassion and care as if they were a family member. “Everybody needs a PatientPAL”.
Jamie Greenleaf
Jamie Greenleaf. Jamie believes that all hardworking people should retire with dignity. She has spent a career spanning over 20 years consulting retirement plan sponsors and plan participants nationwide. She provides consulting services in all areas of plan management and oversight, including plan design, fees and services benchmarking, investment management selection and monitoring, fiduciary and regulatory compliance, investment policy design, and financial education to many Fortune 500 and publicly traded companies, nonprofit entities and public agencies.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-greenleaf-aif-cbfa-c-k-p-4029365a/
Jay Hoffman
Jay is inspired to lead the change to affordable access to high quality healthcare, with complete transparency. With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Jay is a passionate and driven leader who strives to deliver high-quality care to millions of Americans. He served as the Director of Walmart Health and Wellness Sales, where he lead a team of exceptional associates who are disrupting the system by offering affordable, accessible, and understandable healthcare solutions to individuals, employers, and brokers. As part of his life lessons, he has learned to lead consistently with an open mind and positive attitude while also having a highly interactive and collaborative style of engagement. His need to solve challenges, build relationships and closely protect his integrity has offered an incredibly satisfying career trek.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayhoffman09/
Joan Ziegler
Ever use a tap to pay card or ApplePay? You've used dynamic authentication. Joan created the concept, founded & raised the money for PrivaSys, the company that engineered, patented & licensed the dynamic authentication patent portfolio used in > 100 million tap payment cards under the Visa, Mastercard, AmEx & Discover brands. Still the standard today.
She solves tough security problems & builds companies from shared vision to revenue with high-performance teams to create disruptive technologies that work with existing workflows & processes. Bad for Bad Actors. Good for security-conscious companies
She is doing it again, this time in healthcare with her new company, Elev8 Data. Her 3PSecure SaaS solution uses dynamic authentication so in the event of a healthcare breach, there is nothing of value for hackers to monetize.
Jordan Taradash
Jordan Taradash, CEO & Co-Founder, PeopleOne Health. Jordan leads an organization at the cutting-edge of value-based healthcare transformation. PeopleOne Health provides world-class healthcare that seamlessly blends treatment and prevention, leading to significant savings for employers and employees by keeping people healthier. As a member of the founding team, Jordan built one of the fastest-growing companies in value-based primary care, which consistently delivers one of the highest member satisfaction ratings in the world. He oversees PeopleOne Health’s executive team, steering the company’s strategic vision, growth, and culture.
Joyce Canning
Joyce Canning is a seasoned healthcare professional with extensive experience in pharmacy benefit management (PBM). Her leadership in regulatory compliance, quality, and service, along with her unwavering dedication to improving healthcare through transparent, patient-centered solutions, has been invaluable to the advancement of this work.
Kimberlee Langford, BSN, R.N., CCM, CRMT, CPC
Kimberlee Langford, BSN, RN, CCM, CRMT, CPC - serves as VP of Clinical Services for Specialty Care Management (SCM), a company that helps clients reduce and manage high-cost healthcare claims, especially those related to dialysis and kidney disease with a holistic model that uses clinical data analytics to identify and act on hidden risk and improve risk upstream with specialty nurse coaching, as well as to bridle runaway and arbitrary costs pertaining to dialysis.
As an RN who has spent the better part of her life in a profession she loves - and in the service of others, she is grieved at the evolution of healthcare. Gone are the days where the hospital was a mecca of caring, healing and community support where patients could trust that they would be cared for. Today, Nurses, Doctors, Clinicians, and Patients - and their employer - sponsored health plans are the pawns that corporations move to get to the dollar bill. There are many at the healthcare potluck table who are not contributing and bringing a dish - happily filling their plates and piling them high. And for high-cost sectors like dialysis, cancer, musculoskeletal - the costs feel predatory - preying on those who are the most vulnerable. It's exciting to work with people like Darrell Moon, and the dedicated teams he has brought together, to put the patient - the PERSON - back in the center. Together, we can bring CARING back into healthcare. And YOU - CEO - YOU have the power, and Darrell can show you and help you to claim it. You have an army behind you – and the army is growing!
Korb Matosich
Korb Matosich. Founder & CEO of Asserta Health.
Kristin Begley, Pharm.D.
Kristin Begley. Chief Commercial Officer Capital Rx. Kristin has a wealth of expertise, with particular strengths in development of innovative market solutions leveraging technology and risk based contracting. She has a demonstrated record of success building organizations from the ground up and recognized as a thought leader in pharmaceutical supply chain, Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBMs), payer strategies, digital consumerism, consulting and business development. She also has a deep network of senior leaders at consulting and brokerage houses, payers (employer/labor), PBMs and health plans. Kristin previously served as the Chief Commercial Officer at EmpiRx Health, a market changing Pharmacy Care Management model rooted in payer alignment, risk based contracting and concierge service. Prior to EmpiRx Health she was a founder of Truveris. Her responsibilities included direct revenue generation, creating opportunities for new business offers, client retention and market strategy. Truveris built software deployed by benefit advisors, pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers, pharmacies and self-insured plans to help reduce total pharmacy and health care spend. Kristin also served as Hewitt’s National Pharmacy Practice leader responsible for client expansion and oversight including financial, clinical, and operational commitments. Previous roles included Towers Perrin (consulting), a residency in managed care and contributor to DrugFacts.com.
Lee Jacobson
Lee Jacobson. Founder and CEO of Coba Health, a novel system for surgical services utilizing top tier US board certified, fellowship trained surgeons at hundreds of surgical facilities throughout 48 states in the US. Providing outstanding surgical care in multiple specialties at a greatly reduced cost. They serve self-funded companies and their employees throughout the world offering the highest quality care at the lowest possible price. The mission at Coba Health is to improve the lives of the people they serve through excellent care, amazing customer service, and reduced cost.
Lucien Morin
ucien Morin. Lucien founded Magellan in 2003 with the goal of providing integrated business solutions to employers, focusing on payroll services and employee benefit administration. With a terrific business partner he grew Magellan for fifteen years, eventually providing services in over 35 states and to over 1,500 employers. He is very proud of everything they accomplished at Magellan, and employed some amazing people over that time. He sold Magellan to his business partners in 2018 to launch a new company called Savvos Health, hoping to revolutionize how people shop for health care, and to reduce the cost of health care in this country.
Mark Royal
Mark Royal. CEO at PIE Development. PIE Development is a premier real estate strategy and development company that focuses primarily on Healthcare-related facilities. The disruptive and accelerating transformational changes inherent in today's healthcare market demand innovation at every level. At PIE Development, they are comprised of top real estate specialists, leading physicians and healthcare professionals, as well as, partnerships with key outside companies, to create an elite, nimble company, where innovation has a home. They combine hands-on, healthcare expertise, from those who provide healthcare to patients, with top-notch real estate, to develop outstanding healthcare facilities, and more.
Mark Testa
Mark Testa. With 30 years of mastery in nonsurgical musculoskeletal care and over 15 years in regenerative medicine, Mark has some ideas on how to drive down healthcare expenses. He is the MSK go-to expert for employee benefits professionals. As a chiropractor turned licensed insurance broker specializing in self-funded health benefits, He combines his clinical insights with a fiscal strategy to optimize healthcare ROI. Hi is for value, transparency, aligned incentives, direct contracting, removing the middle man, employers getting their power back, and employees being healthy without going bankrupt.
Matthew VanderKooi
Matthew VanderKooi. Matt is the founder and CEO of NewLife Physical Therapy, with practices and employer-based clinics in Wisconsin, Washington, North Carolina, Texas, and Minnesota. Matt co-founded SolveGlobal LLC, a company dedicated to solving musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as part of a national movement to reform healthcare and reduce costs for employers and consumers. By delivering SolveGlobal’s musculoskeletal primary care and population health system, Matt has helped client Brakebush Brothers keep healthcare premiums level for 9 of the last 10 years.
Michael Hennesey
Michael Hennesey. CEO of DiaThrive.
Nicole Bell
Nicole Bell - Chief Commercial Office, Curai Health. Nicole has been on a quest to transform primary care, and Curai is her fifth stop on that journey. She joins Curai from Amazon Care, where she led the commercialization team. Nicole also co-founded the Pacific Northwest's only healthcare innovation hub "The Cambia Grove", led the market development function for Cambia's owned or invested startups, and led network strategy for a Blue health plan.
Nicole Williams
Nicole Williams. Nicole (Cole)is an accomplished, influential, and persuasive leader with more than twenty years of extensive experience providing operational, clinical, and business management expertise in diverse, fast-paced, and ever-changing environments. She demonstrates a proven track record of success directing strategic design, implementation, and leadership of healthcare benefits, executing programs, and developing talent to propel the enterprise forward.
Her background includes serving as a trusted advisor and peer with cross-functional business alliances to promote the organizational vision and goal. Additionally, she is a trusted leader delivering results that align with the organizational mission.
She is a forward-thinking through change, challenges, and roadblocks while providing excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills. Additionally, she establish expectations, communicate vision, and monitor progress to maximize effectiveness.
Pramod John
Pramod John. CEO at VIVIO, A Public Benefit Corporation. VIVIO redefines drug management by using data intelligence and a transparent, adaptable model that ensures optimal outcomes at the most competitive prices. Unlike PBM models which are driven by profit, VIVIO leverages data from clinical trials, individual patient needs, and market prices to provide personalized drug therapies. Our innovative software seamlessly integrates these elements to deliver the right drug for the right patient at the right price, eliminating unnecessary middlemen and markups. Access a broader range of drug therapies, achieve substantial cost savings, and provide better care with VIVIO.
Robert W. Edmonds III
Robert W. Edmonds III. With over twenty years of experience in the employee benefits industry, Robert is a Senior Director at Risk International, a leading provider of risk management and consulting services. He leads the client development team, where he leverages his expertise in sourcing process improvement, insurance, and employee benefits to deliver innovative and customized solutions for our clients. He is also a partner with their benefits advisors to design and implement strategic benefits programs that align with our clients' goals and values. Prior to joining Risk International, he was a Vice President and Practice Leader at Oswald Companies, where he specialized in group benefits for private equity firms. Robert is passionate about helping our clients achieve their objectives and optimize their benefits outcomes, while also contributing to the growth and success of our organization. He is proud to be part of a team that values collaboration, excellence, and integrity.
Robin Foust
Robin Foust is an award-winning health data scientist, analyst, and architect in the field of health and human performance. Robin is a proponent of dedicated Primary Care (PC) including PC based data driven decisions for patient referrals to high-value Specialists and Facilities to perform procedures PCPs can’t perform – the “now” frontier. Robin is the recipient of several leadership awards and recognition for health and financial outcomes achieved by populations served -- including as principal designer of programs receiving (“it takes a village”); 2 C. Everett Koop awards for her pioneering work in maternity and condition management, a Leadership Award in the field of Wellness, and awards in the field of Health and Human Performance.
Known for creative problem solving, Foust has always turned data analytics into meaningful and actionable reporting. Foust’s solutions help achieve best population health, financial, and productivity outcomes for employers, unions, trusts, Medicare, Medicaid, and providers served, one population at a time – one individual at a time.
Robin is published, a thought leader in healthcare and a highly rated speaker on various healthcare topics. Robin’s publications include but are not limited to: Engagement Strategies in Health & Disease Management: Best Practice in Boosting Participation; Special Report on Best Practices for Evaluating Healthcare Outcomes published by Dorland Health, and more.
Sally Pace
Sally Pace is the CEO of Connect Healthcare Collaboration, an employee benefits marketing firm that helps point solutions build their brand, helps brokers and employers drive employee engagement through benefits advocacy, and helps the 20% of the population that drives 80% of the cost improve their outcomes with clinical advocacy. Her team has also built a platform called The Granite List, helping benefits leaders search and source the best solutions for their plans. With 68% of employers report that employees underutilize their benefits, medical billing is a leading cause of bankruptcy in the US, and only 12% of the adult population is health literate, the work the CHC team does to drive utilization and engagement matters now more than ever.
Spring Lane, MSN, FNP-C
Spring (Guillory) Lane, MSN, FNP-C, is a visionary healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience dedicated to transforming primary care by making personalized, prevention-focused healthcare a cornerstone of the healthcare system. As the founder of The Spring Lane and CEO of Exceptional Wellness, Spring bridges the gap between abstract health advice and actionable, personalized care plans that fit seamlessly into patients' busy lives.
Founder, TheSpringLane.com | CEO & Provider, Exceptional Wellness
Mission-Driven Care
Spring's mission is rooted in empowering patients and equipping practices to prioritize prevention. Her approach not only fosters healthier lifestyles but also enables healthcare providers to integrate preventive care into their workflows—and get compensated for it. By shifting the focus to long-term wellness, Spring is redefining how care is delivered in communities.
Career Highlights
Founder & CEO, Exceptional Wellness (2022 – Present)
Leads a hybrid practice in Lake Charles, Louisiana, delivering innovative wellness solutions tailored to individual needs.
Helps practices nationwide design systems for personalized preventive care that are both impactful and financially sustainable.
Founder, The Spring Lane (2024 – Present)
Expanding her mission by offering tools, resources, and systems to make prevention-focused primary care accessible for patients and profitable for practices.
Clinical Leadership, Aledade, Inc. (2016 – 2023)
Managed clinical performance and practice transformation, helping providers across Louisiana achieve value-based care benchmarks.
Directed Accountable Care Organization (ACO) initiatives, improving health outcomes and optimizing care delivery.
Registered Nurse, Med/Surg & Float Pool (2004 – 2023)
Gained extensive clinical expertise across ICU, pediatrics, postpartum, ER, and nursery care, fostering a holistic understanding of patient needs.
Transforming Healthcare
Spring’s vision for Exceptional Wellness and The Spring Lane reflects her dedication to blending advanced clinical knowledge with a compassionate, patient-centered approach. With over two decades of expertise, she continues to inspire transformative change in healthcare delivery, ensuring a healthier future for all.
Terry Killiliea, Pharm.D.
Terry Killiliea, Pharm.D.. Senior Vice President, Clinical/Fiscal Integration at USI Insurance Services. PBM expert.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrance-killilea-pharm-d-052039206/
Thompson Aderinkomi M.S., MBA
Thompson Aderinkomi MS, MBA. CEO and Co-founder of Nice Healthcare. Thompson Aderinkomi has been a leader in delivering solutions that solve the two biggest problems in healthcare, access and affordability, for more than a decade. Thompson is the CEO and Cofounder of Nice Healthcare, a technology-enabled integrated care clinic that delivers all care in the comfort of the patient’s home.
Legal Advisors
Chris Deacon
As a Principal Owner and a Healthcare Leader and Truth Teller, Chris has over 10 years of experience in legal and public sector roles, ranging from deputy attorney general to assistant director of pensions and benefits. She leverages her expertise in legal issues, transactional law, and legal writing to provide strategic advice, advocacy, and education on healthcare matters.
Her mission is to disrupt the healthcare industry with innovative solutions, honest perspectives, and collaborative partnerships. She shares her views and opinions on various platforms, including podcasts, blogs, and social media, as well as speaking engagements and events. Chris is passionate about creating positive change and impact in the healthcare sector, and she welcomes opportunities to connect and collaborate with like-minded professionals and organizations.
D. Douglas Aldeen, Esq.
Doug Aldeen is an Austin, TX based health care and ERISA attorney who recently served as ERISA counsel on behalf of the Berkeley Research Group in New York City to the $7.7 billion May 2016 acquisition of Multiplan and its medical bill repricing product Data Isight by the private equity firm Hellman and Friedman. Since 1997, he currently and has represented reference base pricing organizations, a bundled payment software platform, PPO networks, medium to small self-funded plans, TPA’s and provider sponsored HMO’s in various capacities including Herdrich v. Peagram which was argued before the United States Supreme Court in 2001. Moreover, he serves as a resource to national news organizations regarding issues on health care and in addition as a consultant with the Governmental Relations Committee at the Self-Insured Institute of America in Washington D.C. and as an advisor to RIP Medical Debt which has abolished over $1.2 billion in medical debt. Doug received his JD from the University of Illinois.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dougaldeen-erisa-healthcareattorney/
Julie Selesnick
Julie Selesnick. Julie is a Senior Counsel at Berger Montague and a member of the firm's Employee Benefits/ERISA practice group, where she represents the interests of employees, retirees, and plan participants and beneficiaries in ERISA cases in the district court and on appeal, with a focus on ERISA issues related to employer-provided health plans.
Prior to joining Berger Montague in 2021, she practiced at another prominent plaintiff's class action firm for several years, learning the ropes for representing plaintiffs, bringing class action lawsuits, and practicing under the ERISA statute and various consumer protection statutes. Prior to that, she was a trial attorney and partner at a distinguished national defense firm. Over the course of her career, she has represented both plaintiffs and individual and corporate defendants in a variety of ERISA, employment, insurance coverage, and other commercial disputes before mediators, arbitrators, judges and juries in federal and state courts throughout the country.
CEO Consultants/Coaches
Bob Hilke
Bob Hilke is a healthcare industry insider, having worked more than 30 years for the nation's largest healthcare insurance company. Throughout Bob's career, he focused his efforts on reducing healthcare costs and improving the healthcare experience for millions of Americans. Today Bob is helping CEOs solve the biggest problem they don't know they have by sharing an Aspirational Healthcare model that significantly reduces employee healthcare benefit costs and improves the healthcare experience and outcomes for their employees.
Jeff Ellington
Jeff Ellington. Owner of ConcentricDNA™ (CDNA) coordinates systems and services which reverse current misalignment by making saving incentives far more powerful than existing premium inflation incentives. It’s clinically driven management system initiates, operationalizes and continuously improves medical care and the innovations vital to its sustainability. CDNA contract advocacy supports trusted healthplan advisors whose employer clients know 20 to 50%+ on healthcare spend is achievable and delivered via shared visions.
Josh Berlin
Josh Berlin is the CEO of healthcare advisory firm, rule of three, LLC, which supports clients across healthcare in the provider, plan, employer, advocacy, and disruptive sides of the industry. His tenure across the healthcare landscape has endeared him to leaders and organizations across the country, with whom he has been privileged to serve in bringing forward-thinking perspectives around the strategic and operational direction to achieve their hope for future.
Kimberly White
Kimberly White. Leadership and Development Consultant. Kimberly believes that each leader brings a unique set of strengths & challenges to their leader-role. Her approach to development is most effective with people who want to leverage what they do well & strengthen their challenge areas.
Her balanced approach masterfully delivers professional development that meets individuals where they are so that their development efforts impact the business, their teams and themselves.
Her anchor the learning development process raises the likelihood of new learning fueling future effective action. She delivers a principle-based design that blends the power of Coaching, Consulting & Training to create a dynamic process that elevates both the effectiveness & quality of results. The impact of her approach generates greater capacity, capabilities, and confidence so that those who lead are more influential and generate sustainable results for the business as well as themselves. Each person is unique and each leader faces unique opportunities and challenges for their growth. Kimberly individually tailors development plans designed to meet the specific growth desires & goals of the leader. Kimberly's expertise has been cultivated over 1000's of leader development sessions and team development engagements. Her experience stands on a solid foundation of education and continuing development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyaugerwhite/
Marlin Woods
Marlin Woods. Marlin Woods is the Executive Coach of The WOODS Plan LLC. The WOODS Plan is an leadership coaching platform which demonstrates professional coaching by an individually curated approach. This method effectively engages the leader and raises the expectation of the leader's aspirations. The best client for The WOODS Plan is a leader recognizing the desire for greater impact personally and professionally, allowing Marlin’s esteemed coaching program to elevate the quality of effectiveness of leaders. Marlin is author of the book, "Courting the Employ(H)er / A Business-To-Business Romance." Available via Amazon.com and Kindle. He is a national public speaker on the subjects of leadership, personal development, and sales behavior.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlinwoods/
Individuals & Representatives of Org. Driving Change
Andrea Werner
Andrea serves as the Chief Population Health Officer for Emplify Health (formerly Bellin Health and Gundersen Health Systems), an integrated, healthcare delivery system, serving Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Iowa. As the Chief Population Health Officer, Andrea is leading the system transformation into a population health organization. Areas of responsibility include Business Health; Community Health Improvement; Population Health Innovation and High Value/Accountable Care.https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-werner-a42911223/
Darren Fogarty
Darren is the Executive Director of the Committee for Fee-Only Benefits Advisors, a group of healthcare industry leaders coming together in a volunteer effort to make transparent, fee-only compensation the benefits industry gold-standard. Its vision is to make the benefits advisor profession renowned for client-first, fiduciary principles.
Darren also serves as a Director at the Institute for the Fiduciary Standard, a nonprofit thinktank in Washington, DC, where he has spent seven years researching fiduciary advice and fee-only advisor compensation in the financial services industry. He has (co)authored over a dozen articles on the nature of sales, advice, fiduciary duty, and health care/insurance. Lastly, Darren is a Business Development Analyst at SolV, a healthcare benefits consulting firm with an emphasis on transparency, integrity, and serving employers and employees first.
Donna Grande
Donna Grande. Donna is a passionate preventionist who has dedicated her career developing campaigns and building leadership across the health ecosystem to give voice to improve health outcomes and advocating for policies that eliminate disparities to ensure optimal health for all. She resides in the Washington, DC area and believes individual conviction, dedication, and responsible action by those in power can build teams, break barriers, and improve conditions for wellness and well-being.
Eric Vanderhoef
Eric is an operational healthcare executive in financial distribution. It is the confluence between payors, providers, and consumers in healthcare. It is the art of making money for businesses while providing quality outcomes for the consumers.
Eric Weaver, MHA, DHA
Dr. Weaver is nationally recognized for his work in primary care transformation and value-based care. He is the Executive Director of the Accountable Care Learning Collaborative, a nonprofit organization established by former HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and former CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan to accelerate the value-based care readiness of healthcare organizations. Dr. Weaver has an extensive executive leadership track record with physician-led ACOs and risk-bearing entities. He was recognized as the ACHE “Young Healthcare Executive of the Year” and the Modern Healthcare “Up & Comers” Award in recognition of his work in value-based care. Dr. Weaver holds a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from Texas State University and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Garry Welch, Ph.D.
Garry Welch PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, Silver Fern Healthcare LLC. With over 30 years of experience as a Senior Behavioral Scientist, Research Professor, and Entrepreneur, Garry specializes in helping progressive care delivery organizations address the key behavioral, psychosocial, and metabolic drivers of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) such as insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. As Chief Scientific Officer at Silver Fern Healthcare, he leads the development of innovative, value-based digital health solutions like the Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMP), providing scalable, sustainable, and cost effective strategies to tackle the root causes of chronic conditions and improve patient outcomes using the latest whole person care and MetS science. Passionate about reforming the broken current US healthcare system through partnerships with healthcare activists and change agents.
Jay Kempton
Jay Kempton. In 1992, Joseph “Jay” Kempton started his journey with The Kempton Group, which was founded in 1969 by his father, Wayne Kempton. Mr. Kempton became the President and CEO in 2003 and has diligently worked with Oklahoma employers to ensure their employee benefits fit the needs of our community. In 2011, Mr. Kempton became aware of the free market medical movement in Oklahoma and what it could mean for healthcare in his community. Based on a true belief in transparency, and a genuine desire to change how employers and participants view and purchase healthcare, Mr. Kempton started the Kempton Premier Provider™ program. By partnering with free market minded providers in Oklahoma, Texas, and surrounding states, Mr. Kempton has helped his self-funded clients save millions of dollars in just a few years. Because of this program, now Mr. Kempton is asked to speak to other TPAs, providers, and employers all over the country about how to partner with free market providers to improve employee benefits and lower employer claims.
Jeff Hogan
Jeff Hogan President of Upside Health Advisors. Healthcare leader passionate and committed to moving from volume to value and to the creation of new healthcare consumerism. Focused on health services procurement, health data/analytics and optimized health outcomes.
Jeff Lawhead
Jeff Lawhead, Retired Regional Manager for Costco Health Solutions, has over thiry-five years’ experience at the regional and national level with PBM’s, Managed Care Organizations and Employee Benefits Consultants. Prior to joining Costco Health Solutions, Jeff served as a senior sales executive for United Health Group’s PBM, OptumRx. While there he was responsible for national account business development and sales. He also held business development roles with CatalystRx, CIGNA Pharmacy Management and United Drugs. He has consulted with corporate clients of all sizes, state governments, school systems and managed care organizations. Previous clients developed include Miami-Dade Schools, Government of the Virgin Islands, Home Depot and numerous mid-market self-funded plan sponsors.
Jeff is a graduate of Auburn University and has completed post graduate studies with The American College. He is a member of the Academy Of Managed Care Pharmacy and holds professional licensure in Life Accident and Sickness products with the State of Georgia. He resides in Newnan Georgia.
Jennifer L. Tomasulo
Jennifer L. Tomasulo has diverse experience in operations, administration, and management, she is a dedicated and dynamic leader known for her positive attitude and collaborative approach. Her expertise spans Accounting, Human Resources, Facilities, Technology, and Project Management, with a proven ability to streamline processes, build strong teams, and deliver impactful results. Jennifer has held several key roles throughout her career, including her position as Director of Strategic Operations at PeakMed Direct Primary Care, where she oversaw innovative programs, client relationships, and operational efficiency. She has successfully led teams, managed budgets, coordinated corporate wellness strategies, and implemented new technologies such as Salesforce CRM and Hint Health. Prior to PeakMed, Jennifer held positions at NFP Corporate Services (CO) Inc., Insurance Technologies and CITC USA, where she demonstrated her skills in payroll and benefits administration, project management, and executive support.
Her career also includes international experience in Dubai, UAE, where she helped launch a health screening and age management clinic.
Jim Purcell
Jim Purcell. Founder, Returns On Wellbeing Institute. Jim is a mediator and arbitrator of complex business disputes, particularly in healthcare and insurance. He is the former CEO of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and before that, for 25 years was a trial lawyer. Jim is a co-founder of the Returns On Wellbeing Institute. His ideas for linking employee wellbeing with core business objectives have appeared in Forbes.com, Harvard Business Review, Chief Executive, SHRM, and CNBC, and they help HR professionals earn support from CEOs and Boards of Directors as trusted strategic advisors. He served in Viet Nam as a 1st Lieutenant with the 101st Airborne Division Pathfinder Team and was wounded in action.
John Hoben
John Hoben – John is a soldier of bible ministry. He is an investor, brand ambassador and business developer who specializes in networking and finding the right people to spread God’s Word. He co-founded and serves on two not for profit faith based humanitarian boards. They are Soldiers Bible Ministry and Erie Canal Light Transformations. See https://SoldiersBibleMinistriy.org and https://GloryBarge.org for details. Some previous clients include the U.S. Department of Defense, Raytheon, The World Bank and Constellation Energy.
Joni Bowen
Joni Bowen. Joni has worked for Walmart Health & Wellness as a Senior Manager and now is the Enterprise Telehealth Program Manager for Orlando Health. Joni also has her own consulting company called Arched Arrow Consulting.
Karen Moseley
Karen Moseley. In collaboration with HERO members and the HERO team, Karen provides leadership in research and education on issues such as the impact of wellness program best practices on health outcomes and the impact of healthy cultures on employee performance.
Matt Ohrt
Matt Ohrt. Leader - Wisconsin Healthcare Best Practice Group. Co-Leader for Wisconsin Chapter FMMA. Co-Founder - Self Fund Health. As a VP of HR, Matt led a health plan transformation at Merrill Steel. He then co-founded Self Fund Health, which is a Health Plan offered to employers through advisors. It is modeled after his proven employer designed plan. In 2023 Matt published Save Your Company: Don’t Feed the Beast, The Employer Healthcare Success Formula. With over 5,000 copies sold in the first year, his book is helping to educate and drive the national free market healthcare movement.
Nancy Spangler, Ph.D.
Spangler helps organizations address the shared responsibility required for individual and organizational resilience, well-being, and performance. Services include consultation, training, group facilitation, communication, and leader coaching.
Paige Polakow
Paige Pokalow. Paige is a leader in the healthcare and wellness field. She has spent her career, thus far, pursuing her passion to understand and improve the lives of patients, the impact of wellness, and increase the presence of women in leadership roles. Throughout her work at major Chicago-based hospitals and now with national platforms, she has been a voice of change and improvement from bedside to administration to strategic growth, operations, and strategy. In 2015, Paige and her husband, Tom, opened CryoPure Spa, in Highland Park, Illinois, where she holds the position of President and Co-Founder of the 5-star-rated wellness clinic. In June of 2017, Paige recieved the Women's Leadership Award for her impact in the leadership arena. In 2018, Paige started an OR Optimization software company, and is always looking for ways to create easier, more accessible, and more informative healthcare and wellness.
Patrick Blackaller
Patrick Blackaller. Executive Director at EHCW
Dr. Ronke Komolafe
Dr. Ronke Komolafe. She is a visionary leader and a distinguished healthcare expert specializing in the seamless integration of mental and physical health. With more than 15 years of dedicated service, she currently holds the esteemed positions of Board Chair and CEO of Advancing Integrated Health, where she spearheads initiatives to guide mental health and health IT companies toward successful business and market expansion strategies.
Dr. Komolafe's influence in the healthcare sector is further amplified by her role as the Editor-in-Chief of Integrated Health Magazine. In this capacity, she focuses on cutting-edge approaches to physical and mental healthcare, ensuring that innovative practices reach a broad audience of healthcare professionals and policymakers.
She is the Chair of the Mental Health Group of the Forbes Business Council. As Vice Chair of the American Association for Doctors of Behavioral Health and Vice President of HIMSS South Texas Chapter, Dr. Komolafe is critical in shaping the future of behavioral health and healthcare information technology.
Roxanne (Ramoutar) Derhodge, B.Sc., M.Sc., R.P.
Roxanne (Ramoutar) Derhodge. BSc., MSc., R.P. Roxanne leverages her expertise to deliver impactful speeches to help individuals take their next step toward social and corporate change. She speak on topics ranging from mental well–being to redefining leadership to creating safe spaces for leaders like you to find their ‘True Authentic Selves’ and connect with your teams.
She has written two books, ‘A Therapist Insider’s Guide on Relationships: Healing the Past’ and ‘Return on Relationships: Amplify Your Authentic Leadership to Create More Resilient Teams.’
With three decades of experience in the industry, she has established myself as a mental health and wellness expert. As a certified psychotherapist, she utilizes appropriate cognitive tools and strategies to safeguard and nurture individual’s mental health for their well–being. She is also a Chair of the Forbes Executive Women’s Council and a member of the Forbes Executive Council.
Trenton Olson
Trenton Olson is the CEO of Senior Benefits Insurance Services (SBIS). Trenton and the team at SBIS are dedicated to assisting Medicare eligibles through the Medicare Maze.
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