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Attendee Testimonials

"Attended to get insight into what other companies are doing for wellness, cost containment for healthcare, employee engagement and communications and education. Taking back lots of good ideas..."

"The presenters were very knowledgeable. I also appreciated the depth of the presentations. This was definitely information I’ll be able to use."
“Keynote speakers were great as well as the breakout sessions.”
“The sessions were timely and informative. Great networking opportunities.”

Travel & Venue Info

Hyatt Regency New Orleans
Hyatt Regency
601 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113

Conference Agenda

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Click on any of the track details below to view a detailed explanation
Pre-Conference Workshops General Session Voluntary Benefits Broker Growth & Profitability Health Care / Regulatory Retirement Plans
8:00 a.m. -
Registration Opens
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Track: Pre-Conference Workshops View Track Financial Wellness Pre-Conference Workshop (Participation in this workshop requires $249 additional fee.)
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Track: Pre-Conference Workshops View Track Pre-Conference Workshop:Technology - Changing Enrollment as we Knew It
Moderator: John Stanley, Chief Marketing Officer, TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Panelist: Colin Bradley, VP, Business Development, WINSTON BENEFITS, INC.
Panelist: Steve Helsing, Sr. VP and Benefit Administration, UNIVERS
Panelist: Jon Shanahan, President & CEO, BUSINESSOLVER
Panelist: Peter Stevenson, COO and Co-founder, TRUSTNODE
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Track: Pre-Conference Workshops View Track Pre-Conference Workshop: DO or DIE: Reinventing Your Benefits Agency for Post-Reform Success
Scott Cantrell, Chief Marketing Strategist, BOTTOM LINE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Panelist: Nelson Griswold, Managing Director, AGENCY GROWTH MASTERMIND NETWORK
Robert J. Lieblein, EVP, MARSHBERRY
4:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Main Conference Begins: Welcome and Opening Remarks
David Albertson, Employee Benefit Group Editorial Director and Conference Co-Chair, SOURCEMEDIA
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Track: General Session View Track Keynote: PEAKonomics: Success Strategies from the 7 Summits
Alison Levine, Team Captain of the First American Women's Everest Expedition; Adjunct Professor - U.S. Military Academy, U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY
5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Benny Awards
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall

Monday, September 10, 2012

Click on any of the track details below to view a detailed explanation
Pre-Conference Workshops General Session Voluntary Benefits Broker Growth & Profitability Health Care / Regulatory Retirement Plans
7:00 a.m. -
Registration Opens
7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
7:00 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Breakfast Briefing: Innovative Ways to Use Screening Data to Accelerate Changes
Panelist: Joseph O'Brien, President and CEO, INTERACTIVE HEALTH SOLUTIONS

Sponsored by:

8:15 a.m. - 8:20 a.m.
Welcome by Conference Chairs, EBA Advisers of the Year Award
Ron Fields, Vice President, AFLAC BROKER SALES
Elizabeth Galentine, Editor in Chief, EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ADVISER
Walter Podgurski, Publisher, Conference Co-Chair, INSURANCE BROADCASTING, WBA, INSURANCE MEDIA ASSOCIATION, SOURCEMEDIA

Sponsored by:

8:20 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Track: General Session View Track Keynote: Bending the Obesity Cost Curve
Dr. Gail Christopher, DN, Vice President for Program Strategy, W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Track: General Session View Track Keynote: What the Best Do Best: Benefit Practices at the “Best Companies to Work for in America”
Moderator: Jennifer Benz, Chief Strategist & Founder, BENZ COMMUNICATIONS
Panelist: Cathy Benton, Chief Human Resources Officer, ALSTON & BIRD
Panelist: Shirley Bullard, Chief Administrative Officer and VP of Human Resources, THE KEN BLANCHARD COMPANIES
Panelist: Shari Conoway, Director, People, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PEOPLE DEPARTMENT
Panelist: Kevin Ricklefs, VP of Administration, CHG HEALTHCARE SERVICES
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break in the Exhibit Hall

Sponsored by:

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Track: Voluntary Benefits View Track The Role of Voluntary in a Changing Healthcare Landscape
Chris Hill, CEO, SPOTLITE
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track Organizational and Compensation Strategies to Drive Growth and Profitability
Robert J. Lieblein, EVP, MARSHBERRY
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Track: Retirement Plans View Track Future Proof Your Practice - How to Grow a Viable Retirement Plan Practice in the Disclosure ERA
James Holland, Director of Business Development & Assistant Compliance Officer, MILLENNIUM INVESTMENT & RETIREMENT ADVISORS LLC
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch in Exhibit Hall
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Industry Innovation Session: How Promoting Goodness in Leadership Energizes Your Workforce
Paul Batz, President, WHAT REALLY WORKS

Sponsored by:

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Track: Voluntary Benefits View Track How to Break into the Voluntary Market and get Employees on Board
William (Tinker) Kelly, President and CEO, VOLUNTARY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ADVISORS
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track Relationships Matter: Strengthening Connections at the Top
Trisha Zulic, CM, SPHR, Region I Client Human Resource Director, EFFICIENT EDGE HR & BENEFIT ENROLLMENT SERVICES, INC.
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Track: Health Care / Regulatory View Track 1, 2, 3 Ways Compliance Makes Brokers Indispensible
Dan Bond, Principal, COMPLIANCEDASHBOARD, LLC
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Track: Voluntary Benefits View Track Large is NOT the New Small - Moving Downstream to Smaller Clients
Geoffrey Thompson, Marketing Manager, CIGNA
Ken Zeldis, Partner, ZELDIS RESEARCH ASSOCIATES
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track Why Just Survive When you Can Thrive?
Andrew Torelli, President, E3 FINANCIAL
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Track: Health Care / Regulatory View Track Absence Management: How a Fully Integrated Program can Improve the Employers' Experience
Karen English, Partner and Senior Consultant, SPRING CONSULTING GROUP
Marge Savage, Director of Product/Market Development for Absence Management, THE HARTFORD, GROUP BENEFITS
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Track: Voluntary Benefits View Track Dynamic Non-Insurance Products Clients Love
Walter Podgurski, Publisher, Conference Co-Chair, INSURANCE BROADCASTING, WBA, INSURANCE MEDIA ASSOCIATION, SOURCEMEDIA
Charley Moore, Founder and Executive Chairman, ROCKET LAWYER
Rob Wasson, VP, Business Development, PAYCHECK DIRECT
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track Commission to Fee Based: The Right Move for Your Practice
Jack Kwicien, CLU, ChFC, Managing Partner, DAYMARK ADVISORS, LLC
3:45 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Track: Health Care / Regulatory View Track Applying Population Health Management to the MidMarket
John Kahle, Chief Wellness Officer, INTERCARE INSURANCE SOLUTIONS
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Track: Voluntary Benefits View Track Profit From The Power of Defined Benefits Contribution –The Next Benefits Trend
Rick Lindquist, President, ZANE BENEFITS
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Track: Retirement Plans View Track 401(k) Update: Early Impact of Fee Disclosure and Fiduciary Status Rules
Jeff Atwell, AIF, RF, Sr. V. P. Trust Business Development Officer, ANB TRUST
4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track When Health Insurance Benefits Met Prepaid Cards: A Love Story
Beth Griffin, Global Business Leader, Healthcare & Insurance, Global Prepaid Product and Solutions, MASTERCARD WORLDWIDE
Mark Keck, President, HEALTHCARE DIVISION, HAMMERMAN & GAINER
William Short, President & CEO, AMERIFLEX
5:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
Reception in Exhibit Hall
7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Benefits Rock

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Click on any of the track details below to view a detailed explanation
Pre-Conference Workshops General Session Voluntary Benefits Broker Growth & Profitability Health Care / Regulatory Retirement Plans
7:00 a.m. -
Registration Opens
7:00 a.m. - 7:45 a.m.
Morning Meditation: Mindfulness and How It May Cut Healthcare Costs
Ruth Wolever, PhD, Director of Research, Duke Integrative Medicine and Chief Scientific Officer, EMINDFUL INC
7:45 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
Track: General Session View Track Keynote Address: Straight Talk With Meghan McCain
Meghan McCain, Political Columnist, Author & Award-Winning Blogger
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Track: General Session View Track General Session: Gamification - The Power and Profit of Play
Moderator: Campbell Edlund, President, EMI STRATEGIC MARKETING
Panelist: Brent Poole, CEO, MINDBLOOM
Panelist: Cora Hall, Digital Marketing Manager, AXA EQUITABLE
Panelist: Jillian Verspyck, Director, Marketing Communications, ING
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track Leading Your Clients and Your Agency to Exceptional Performance
Kevin Trokey, President & CEO, BENEFITS GROWTH NETWORK LLC
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Track: Health Care / Regulatory View Track Real World Solutions to Keeping Employers in the Game
George V. Duczak, President, THE AMERICAN WORKER PLANS, INC.
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Track: Retirement Plans View Track Calculating the True Cost of Your Client's Retirement Plan
Jeffrey Feld, CPA, Principal, ALLIANCE PENSION CONSULTANTS, LLC
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break in exhibit Hall

Sponsored by:

11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Track: Voluntary Benefits View Track Four Steps to Becoming a Consultative Adviser
Panelist: Nelson Griswold, Managing Director, AGENCY GROWTH MASTERMIND NETWORK
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Track: Health Care / Regulatory View Track Self-Funding Health Benefits for Small and Mid-Sized Employers
Samuel H. Fleet, President, AMWINS GROUP BENEFITS
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Track: Retirement Plans View Track A World of Change and Opportunities in 401(k) Plans
Steven Kaye, President, AEPG WEALTH STRATEGIES
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Track: Broker Growth & Profitability View Track Making Health the Employer’s Business
Thomas Parry, President, INTEGRATED BENEFITS INSTITUTE
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Track: Health Care / Regulatory View Track Leverage Health Care Reform to Increase Revenue
Nathaniel Peniston, Vice President – Specialty Benefits, FRINGE BENEFIT GROUP
12:30 p.m. -
Conference Adjourns