The Conversations That Will Shape Your Next Benefits Decision
Explore a curated agenda of employer-led sessions designed to help you solve today’s biggest HR and benefits challenges and return to work with strategies you can implement immediately.
Filtering by
Monday, September 14, 2026
5:00 pm
Registration Opens
1 hr
6:00 pm
Welcome reception
1 hr 20 min
Brahms Patio
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
8:00 am
Registration & Networking Breakfast
1 hr
Brahms
Sponsored by
After checking in at the registration desk and grabbing your badge, indulge in a delightful breakfast while nurturing valuable connections with fellow attendees.
9:05 am
Conference Opening Remarks
10 min
Beethoven
9:20 am
Keynote Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI-powered Future
40 min
Beethoven
In a world powered by AI, traditional leadership skills aren’t enough. Today’s leaders must go beyond IQ and technical expertise—they must integrate cognitive smarts with emotional intelligence to build organizations that are adaptable, resilient, and relentlessly innovative. These leaders don’t just analyze data, they understand people. They create cultures where creativity thrives, psychological safety is nonnegotiable, and teams feel genuinely understood and appreciated. They are both strategic and human. In this transformative talk, you’ll discover how to elevate your leadership by blending EQ and IQ to unlock deeper engagement, stronger performance, and lasting success for you, your people, and your customers in our AI-fueled world.
10:05 am
Fireside Chat Who’s Taking Care of the Benefits Team? Addressing Burnout Among Benefits Professionals
30 min
Beethoven
Benefits leaders have spent the last several years navigating rising healthcare costs, evolving employee expectations, increasing regulatory complexity, and a growing number of point solutions—all while serving as the front line for employee well-being. Yet the well-being of benefits professionals themselves is rarely discussed. This session explores the causes and consequences of burnout within the benefits function and examines practical strategies for building resilience, setting boundaries, and sustaining impact in an increasingly demanding role.
10:35 am
Networking Break
25 min
Brahms
Recharge and connect during our morning break session. This brief intermission provides the perfect opportunity to grab a cup of coffee, network with peers and prepare for the day’s engaging sessions.
11:00 am
Case Study How Employers Are Rebuilding Cancer Support, from Screening to Survivorship
40 min
Beethoven
Tommy Axford
Chief Commercial Officer
Private Health Management
Chris Swanker
Senior Vice President, Group Benefits Products
MetLife
As cancer rates rise and care becomes more complex and costly, employers are rethinking how they support employees across the full journey—from early detection to treatment and recovery. This session explores how more integrated, high-touch benefits strategies can close gaps in traditional coverage, improve outcomes, and deliver a better experience for employees while helping organizations manage one of their most significant drivers of healthcare spend.
11:40 am
Awards EBN’s Excellence in Benefits Awards
30 min
Beethoven
This year, Employee Benefit News will honor standout benefits and HR leaders who are redefining what’s possible in the workplace. These individuals are implementing innovative, cost-effective programs and leveraging new technologies to support their employees—and move the industry forward.
12:10 pm
Lunch Briefing From Fragmented to Frictionless: Designing a Smarter, More Connected Benefits Experience
1 hr
Chopin 1 & 2
Benefits complexity is accelerating. Employee expectations are rising. And AI is reshaping how work gets done. For CHROs, the challenge isn’t just adopting new technology, it’s making sense of a growing web of benefits programs, point solutions and fragmented experiences while delivering clarity, consistency and care at scale. In this session, we’ll explore how leading organizations are rethinking the employee experience by combining advanced technology with human expertise to simplify complexity and support people when it matters most. From navigating benefits decisions to orchestrating services across providers, discover how a smarter, more connected approach can create confidence for employees and measurable value for employers.
Networking Lunch
1 hr 10 min
Brahms
1:20 pm
Designing Benefits for a Multi-Generational Workforce
40 min
Beethoven
Ben Erdel
VP and Head of Product Innovation
Equifax
Rhea Li
Program Director, Well-being
Children's Health
Scott Rodney
Director of HR & Payroll
bartaco
With up to five generations in the workforce, employers are under pressure to meet a wider range of expectations than ever before—from financial security and caregiving support to flexibility and career growth. This session explores how leading organizations are designing benefits strategies that resonate across age groups while remaining cohesive, cost-effective, and aligned to long-term talent goals.
2:10 pm
Roundtable AI in Benefits & HR: From Hype to Real ROI
30 min
Chopin 1
Roundtable Benefits in the wild: How Employee Behavior Signals Financial Wellness Needs
30 min
Chopin 2
2:45 pm
Roundtable Broker and Advisor Relationship Management through KPIs
30 min
Chopin 1
Roundtable Designing Effective Communication Strategies
30 min
Chopin 2
3:15 pm
Networking Break
45 min
Brahms
Fuel up on insightful dialogue and connect with fellow professionals who share your goals during this networking break.
4:05 pm
Mental Health Access: Closing the Gap Between Coverage and Care
40 min
Beethoven
Lindsey Garito
Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards
Montefiore Medical Center
Kerry Symon
Principal, Clinical Partnerships
Spring Health
Chris Wolpert
Founder
Group Benefits Solutions
Despite expanded coverage, many employees still struggle to access timely, effective mental health support due to provider shortages, long wait times, and low awareness of available resources. This session explores how employers are rethinking their approach—moving beyond traditional models to improve access, drive utilization, and deliver more meaningful outcomes for their workforce.
4:50 pm
Opening Night Cocktail Reception
1 hr 20 min
Brahms
Savor handcrafted drinks, indulge in delectable bites, and enjoy the company of fellow attendees in a relaxed and vibrant atmosphere at our networking reception.
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
8:00 am
Networking Breakfast
1 hr
Brahms
Sponsored by
9:05 am
9:15 am
Keynote Well-being as a Business Imperative: The ROI of Addressing Workplace Burnout
30 min
Beethoven
Today’s leaders are navigating rising costs, an uncertain economy and the rapid pace of change with AI. Amid this period of disruption, the most future-focused organizations are not abandoning their employees. Instead, they’re doubling down on wellbeing as a driver of business performance. This session will explore actionable ways leaders can better support teams and leverage real-time data to help their people and business thrive.
9:50 am
Financial Wellness Beyond Education: Closing the Retirement Readiness Gap
40 min
Beethoven
Employees have more access to financial education than ever, yet gaps in retirement readiness persist. So what can employers do to help employees make better financial decisions—without crossing the line into advice or creating fiduciary risk? This session explores how employers can provide more personalized support while navigating important legal and fiduciary boundaries. Learn how leading organizations are helping employees build confidence, improve retirement readiness, and achieve greater financial security.
10:35 am
Networking Break
40 min
Brahms
Recharge and connect during our morning break session. This brief intermission provides the perfect opportunity to grab a cup of coffee, network with peers and prepare for the day’s engaging sessions.
11:20 am
Managing Chronic Conditions: The Hidden Driver of Cost, Productivity, and Employee Well-Being
40 min
Beethoven
Amber Burkett
Benefits Manager
LandCare
Dr. Jason Ong
Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Nox Health
Sara Richards
Director, Benefits
Red Bull
Chronic conditions—from diabetes and obesity to sleep disorders and mental health—are driving a disproportionate share of employer healthcare costs and workforce productivity challenges. This panel brings together leaders to discuss how they’re identifying high-risk populations, improving access to care, and designing integrated strategies that go beyond point solutions to deliver measurable outcomes.
12:05 pm
Case Study Beyond Fertility: What Walmart Learned From Four Years of the Fertility Center of Excellence Benefit
30 min
Beethoven
Brandy Olson
Director of Benefits and Wellbeing
Walmart
Dr. Fahimeh Sasan
Founding Physician and Chief Innovation Officer
Kindbody
What happens when fertility benefits are designed to meet employees where they are? Four years into its Fertility Center of Excellence program, Walmart will share key insights on improving access, supporting associates with wide-ranging health needs, and evolving benefits to meet the needs of a geographically diverse workforce. Leaders from Kindbody and Walmart will discuss how combining virtual and in-person care can help expand access across communities and social determinants of health (SDOH) nationwide. The session will also explore broader lessons learned around employee engagement, care navigation, and the role comprehensive family-building benefits can play in supporting workforce wellbeing.
12:35 pm
Networking Lunch
1 hr 10 min
Brahms
1:45 pm
Women’s Health & Family-Building Benefits in a Changing Landscape
40 min
Beethoven
Victoria Ashton
Chief People Officer
Lob
Julie Blume
Director of Total Rewards
Ropes & Gray LLP
Brad Martin
Director of People
Progyny
Doretha Polite
Human Resources Director
Texas Civil Rights Project
As demand for more inclusive, comprehensive support grows, employers are expanding beyond traditional offerings to address the full spectrum of women’s health and family-building needs. This session explores how organizations are evolving their strategies to better support employees across life stages—while navigating shifting expectations, improving access, and driving meaningful engagement.
2:30 pm
Roundtable Caring for Caregivers
30 min
Chopin 2
Roundtable What Are You Doing About GLP-1s?
30 min
Chopin 1
3:05 pm
Roundtable Keeping Retirement a Priority for Employees
30 min
Chopin 2
3:35 pm
Networking Break
20 min
Brahms
Recharge and connect during our afternoon break session. This brief intermission provides the perfect opportunity to grab a cup of coffee, network with peers and prepare for the day’s engaging sessions.
4:00 pm
Driving Benefit Utilization: From Awareness to Action
40 min
Beethoven
Lindsey Garito
Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards
Montefiore Medical Center
Matthew Lopez
Benefits Director
FanDuel
Matthew Owenby
Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer
Aflac
Many organizations offer robust benefits—but low awareness and engagement often limit their impact. This session explores how employers are rethinking communication, personalization, and employee experience to ensure benefits are not just available, but actively used—driving better outcomes for both employees and the business.
4:40 pm