Honorees
Meet the leaders redefining the employee experience.
The 2026 Excellence in Benefits Awards honors the employers, HR leaders, and benefits innovators whose work is shaping the future of workforce strategy. Their initiatives are driving meaningful results across employee health, financial well-being, engagement, retention, workplace culture, and benefits innovation.
These honorees represent some of the most forward-thinking organizations in the country—and many will be taking the stage at BENEFITS at WORK.
Join them in Las Vegas, September 14–16, for three days of candid conversations, practical insights, and proven strategies focused on the challenges HR leaders are navigating right now.
Excellence in Benefits Honorees
Lindsey Bandison
Benefits Customer Support Supervisor
University of Pittsburgh
Kim Bird
Employee Benefits Unit Manager
Colorado Department of Corrections
Julie D. Blume
Director of Total Rewards
Ropes & Gray LLP
Amber Burkett
Benefits Manager
LandCare
Beth Conradson Cleary
Executive Director, City of Milwaukee Deferred Compensation Plan
City of Milwaukee
Melissa Dal Vecchio
Senior Manager, U.S. Health and Welfare Benefits
BMO
Sheena Davis
Director, Total Rewards & HR Technology
Apache Industrial
Jessica DeVenuta
Senior Benefits Manager
Lakeshore Learning Materials
Jacalyn Epperson
HR Manager- Benefits
St. Tammany Health System
Lindsey Garito
Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards
Montefiore Medical Center
Jamie Gonzalez
People & Culture
Taco Bell
Matthew Hall
Benefits Strategy Manager
Koch Industries
Molly King
Employee Benefits Director
City of Milwaukee
Heather Newton
Director of Talent & Training
Child & Family Center
Matthew Owenby
Chief Administrative Officer
Aflac
Doretha Polite
Human Resources Director
Texas Civil Rights Project
Beth Skalitzky
Senior Director of People Awards
Compassus
Ashley Sowa
SVP & Head of Human Resources
Hanmi Bank
Jennifer Weinstein
VP Benefits
Albertsons Companies