2023 Workplace Benefits Conference Agenda

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. - REGISTRATION

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - CHARITY EVENT + LUNCH

All conference attendees are invited to assemble supply packages at the hotel in support of a local charity; lunch will be provided for volunteers.

2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - GENERAL SESSION

Workplace Benefits Industry Overview

Sean F. O’Donnell, LLIF - Senior Vice President, Head of Membership, Workplace Benefits, and Applied Research Solutions , LIMRA and LOMA

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - WELCOME + GENERAL SESSION

Transformational Leadership: The Building Blocks to Becoming a Game-Changing Leader

Not only have workplace benefits evolved, but the entire workplace dynamics have shifted in nearly every industry, not to mention the expectations of both employees and organizations. The amount of rapid change and uncertainty that still exists is unprecedented.

With revolutionary change, however, comes a plethora of new opportunities. As workplace benefit professionals, we must embrace this new world of work while also accelerating performance and driving a greater impact within our organizations. Leadership as we have known it will not suffice. In this inspiring keynote session, global leadership expert and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Matt Mayberry will share how to become a transformational leader that inspires your team members and drives a greater impact than ever before.

The ultimate differentiator of any organization is its leadership effectiveness. The essence of leadership is not your rank, title, or past accomplishments, but rather your ability to influence and impact others. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on how to lead through change, build cultural excellence, and improve leadership performance.

Matt Mayberry - Global Leadership & Cultural Development Expert, Bestselling Author

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. - BREAK

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS

1.1 Championing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace

EVETTE CREIGHTON
Sr. Manager for Talent, Inclusion and Diversity
Transamerica

KERRY FINNEGAN
Senior Partner
Mercer

ZOLTAN GOMBAS
Vice President, Broker, Communication Firm Relationship Management
MetLife

ANDREA QUADROS
Vice President, Strategy & Product Development
MetLife Legal Plans

VINCENT BRANCHESI, Moderator
National Director, Group Benefits, Center of Excellence
MetLife

Join this panel for a discussion about creating products and programs that champion people in the workplace. We will explore the topic of DEI through the lenses of a carrier, broker and employer to better understand the needs of our customers and identify opportunities in the marketplace.

1.2 Maximizing the Value of Medical Claim Integration

TRACY FUNK
Supplemental Benefits Practice Lead
Benefits Science Technologies

CHRISTINE LATORE
Vice President of Marketing and Insurance
Brella Insurance

JAMES OCAMPO
Executive Vice-President 
Wellfleet Workplace

TODD DZEN, Moderator
Vice President of Product & Voluntary Practice Leader
Symetra Financial

Medical claim integration has become an important value proposition in the supplemental benefits market. In this session, we will analyze how to best demonstrate value for employees, employers, and brokers. We’ll also discuss how to avoid common pitfalls associated with this offering, including negative loss ratio impact and medical data security concerns.

1.3 The Rising Relevance of Mental Health

JORDAN JORDANOV
Vice President, Group Products
American Fidelity

SWAPNIL PRABHA
Vice President, Workforce Wellness Solutions
Unum

GARY BEARD
Senior Director, Behavioral Health Market Insights & Strategy
Cigna

TOM DAVENPORT, Moderator
Senior Director, Product Development
USAble Life

According to the CDC, more than 50 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder in their lifetime, and 1 in 5 will experience mental illness each year. Attend this session to learn how mental health impacts the life, disability, and supplemental health insurance industry and how we can innovate to provide customers with better access to care.

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - WELCOME RECEPTION

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - REGISTRATION

7:45 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. - BREAKFAST

8:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - GENERAL SESSION

View From the Top

Every year at our event, industry leaders share their thoughts about today's most important topics. This is your opportunity to hear what's on the minds of these executives as they focus on our role in the future of work.

Colin Bradley - President/CEO, Winston Benefits, Inc.

Todd Katz - Executive Vice President, Group Benefits, MetLife

John Stanley - Senior Managing Director, Employee Benefits, Transamerica

10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. - BREAK

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS

2.1 What Drives the Future of Workplace Benefits?

KEITH GOLEMBIEWSKI
Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives
LIMRA and LOMA

MARY TRECEK
Associate Research Director, Workplace Benefits
LIMRA and LOMA

PATRICK T. LEARY, M.B.A., LLIF, Moderator
Corporate Vice President, Workplace Benefits Research
LIMRA and LOMA

While unanticipated political, social, and environmental events can cause significant upheaval and disruption within our industry, they can be analyzed to identify possible trends or forces of influence. Based on LIMRA research and input from industry leaders, we’ve identified four specific drivers that affect our industry and what they might mean for workforce benefits. Join us for an interactive session for the opportunity to learn more about these forces and explore what implications they will have on the future of the industry.

2.2 Talent Challenges and Opportunities for Carrier Workforces

BIANKA DOUGLAS
Vice President, Lead Human Resources Business Partner
Prudential

ADAM ZUCKERBERG, Moderator
Vice President, Worksite Solutions
Western & Southern Financial Group

CARLOS VICENT
Vice President, Head of Business Solutions, 
New York Life Insurance Company

JESSICA VANSCAVISH
Head of Disability, Absence, Life and Supplemental Health Product Management
Guardian

Talent poses a unique challenge for the insurance industry. This session will explore common challenges across carrier workforces, including difficulties recruiting and retaining talent, evolving employee expectations, importance of purpose at work, and the increased need for professional development. Panelists will also share how carriers are approaching these challenges, what is working well, and where opportunities to improve remain.

2.3 LDEx Standards: An Executive Case Study in Efficiency

CORY GARDNER
Senior Program Manager, Data Standards
LIMRA and LOMA

TONY GROSSO
Head of GWB Markets
EIS Group

JILLIAN MONDACA
Vice President, Head of Enrollment
Prudential

PATRICK SULLIVAN
Vice President, Insurtech Partnerships
Lincoln Financial Group

Attend this moderated discussion to explore the cost savings and process efficiencies realized by early adopters of the LDEx Standards. This conversation goes beyond defining the LDEx Standards and leans into the true benefits of standardization across the Workplace Benefits ecosystem.

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. - LUNCH

12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS

3.1 Transforming Your Organization for Its Future State

JILL KRENEK
Director of Continuous Value Creation
Texas Life Insurance Company

KIM RUDEEN
Vice President, Product Development & Management
Aflac

MICHAEL BECK
Director, Strategy & Innovation
Aflac 

JENNIFER CLYBURN, Moderator
Senior Manager, Strategy and Innovation 
Aflac Business Planning

Attend this session to hear best practices for navigating an organization with competing demands on resources. Panelists will focus on moving strategic initiatives forward, product competitiveness, and agility transformation. You will walk away with actionable takeaways you can begin implementing in your organization right away.

3.2 Technology Fees: Why Are We Paying and Who Benefits?

TED PHILLIPS
AVP Digital Distribution Center of Excellence
Sun Life

AMANDA POPE
Director of Carrier Relations
ADP

JILL SCHLOFER
2nd Vice President, Implementation & Enrollment
The Standard

BRYAN BURKE, Moderator
AVP, Voluntary Products and Strategy
Sun Life

Join in on this interactive session where a panel of experts from a carrier and technology platform will discuss the escalation of tech fees, including what they fund, what they are being used for, who is benefiting from them, and what value these fees provide to carriers. We will also highlight new LIMRA research on tech fees to further the panel’s analysis.

3.3 Discovering Holistic Wellness in the Workplace

RACHEL CHAMBERLIN
Head of Group Benefits Enrollment
Guardian Life Insurance Company

AMY RAY
Director, Advice and Wellness Solutions
Transamerica

JESSICA RUGGLES
Corporate VP, Financial Wellness Thought Leadership & Market Insights
New York Life

PHIL TRZCINSKI, Moderator
Director, Distribution Strategy and Execution
Transamerica

This session will explore various perspectives on wellness programs and the financial, physical, and social needs these programs seek to address. The panel will define wellness and what holistic wellness looks likes in the workplace ecosystem. We’ll uncover what barriers exist and show what “success” looks like in the face of these challenges.

1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - BREAK

2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - SOLUTION SHOWCASE

Select leading solution providers will take the stage to showcase the latest innovative solutions and thought leadership in the Workplace Benefits space.

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - BREAK

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - GENERAL SESSION

ReVisionary Thinking: The Science and Strategy of Adapting to Change

Can you reach your goals, even if things aren’t going the way you expect? Most people are good at setting goals and making plans, but not very good at revising those plans when things change. But that’s the real work of resilience. Resilience is letting go of the “old way of doing things” and rewriting a script for success that gives you the fastest and best path from where you are to where you want to go. Backed by Courtney’s data-driven research, ReVisionary Thinking offers concrete strategies for blazing a new path when the goalposts move on you.

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Avoid the typical mistakes people make when confronted with change
  • Improve mental flexibility as individuals and teams
  • Understand why gut instinct fails you in unfamiliar situations — and how to counter it
  • Generate more (and more innovative!) ideas when solving problems

Courtney Clark - Author, Speaker & Accelerated Resilience Expert

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - RECEPTION

Thursday, May 4, 2023

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. - BREAKFAST

7:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - REGISTRATION

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.: CONCURRENT SESSIONS

4.1 New Insights from the 2023 Benefits and Employee Attitude Tracker (BEAT)

KIM LANDRY
Associate Research Director, Workplace Benefits Research
LIMRA and LOMA

​Join us for new insights from LIMRA’s Benefits and Employee Attitude Tracker (BEAT). The BEAT study monitors employee views of employment and benefits. We will reveal new findings from the 2023 study, including:

  • Employees’ unmet benefit needs and benefits they value most
  • Types of benefits communication that are most helpful
  • Satisfaction with benefits and overall job satisfaction
  • What employees look for in a potential employer

4.2 Creating Personalized Benefit Choices

TOM ARMSTRONG
Vice President, Customer Analysis and Insight
Voya Financial, Inc.

JILL SCHLOFER, Moderator
2nd Vice President, Implementation & Enrollment
The Standard

The intersection of health and wealth is an important consideration for employees. Understanding the drivers behind how consumers make benefits decisions is critical for carriers as we strive to strike this balance. This session will showcase how to best use consumer research to inform and create personalized benefits choices for employees throughout their financial wellness journey.

4.3 Evolving Broker Roles and Responsibilities

JEFFERY MORGAN
Sales Director-National Accounts, Voluntary Benefits
Prudential 

SHARLA ST. ROSE
Managing Director
Alterity Group

THOMAS BOUVIER
Sales Manager
Aflac Broker Channel

Given the fluctuating environment, continued advances in technology, and increased pressure for employers to maximize benefit dollars they are spending, the role of the broker continues to evolve and expand. In this session, we will take a case study approach to show how brokers can best serve the industry with new operating models, and partner with carriers to provide the best outcomes for employers and employees.

9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - BREAK

9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - GENERAL SESSION

Leveraging the Legislative Landscape: A Legislative Update

In the ever-changing world of work, it is important for organizations to have an understanding of the emerging legislation and risk. Gain an in-depth understanding of how evolving legislation will impact your organization.

Jessica Strieter Elting - Director, Political & Public Affairs, Aflac Federal Relations

10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - BREAK

10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - GENERAL SESSION

Harnessing Growth in Workforce Benefits: 2023 Refresh

In 2021, LIMRA and EY partnered to explore the changing landscape of workforce benefits. We are now in a post-pandemic environment where carriers, distributors, and employers must continue to realign their value propositions to connect with employers and employees. Our new research highlights three dimensions driving industry change: The continued changing nature of work, the acceleration of digital transformation, and the broadening definition of workforce benefits — particularly through generational preferences. In this session, we will share our findings on the rapidly changing workforce benefits landscape and explore how organizations can harness profitable growth in this market.

Patrick T. Leary, M.B.A., LLIF - Corporate Vice President, Workplace Benefits Research, LIMRA and LOMA

Chris Morbelli - Principal, Life and Group Transformation, Ernst & Young LLP

11:45 a.m. - ADJOURN