2026 Employer Symposium
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 | 8:30 am - Noon
DoubleTree Conference Center
2111 Butterfield Rd, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Speaker’s Name
Title
Company Name
"The topic that the speaker is going to present on."
Steve Hamman
President
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
"COVID-19 Impact to the Health Care System and What Employers Should Be Thinking About Long-Term"
Steve Hamman
President
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
As president, Steve is responsible for the overall financial performance, long-term growth strategy and strategic planning of the state’s largest health insurance company, which serves more than 8 million members.
Steve joined BCBSIL in 1991 and has served in a variety of management roles within the company during his tenure at BCBSIL and at Health Care Service Corporation — which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. He most recently served as senior vice president, Enterprise Network Solutions and Provider Partnerships, for Health Care Service Corporation.
"The Political Landscape: Health Policy Outlook and Potential Election Outcomes"
MPP, President, District Policy Group
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Ilisa Halpern Paul
Recognized by The Hill as a Top Lobbyist for the past several years, Ilisa Halpern Paul has deep experience and command of a wide range of issues, including health care financing and delivery system reform, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the Affordable Care Act, digital health and telemedicine, home health, public health, behavioral health, and the federal budget and appropriations processes.
Ilisa partners with for-profit companies and nonprofit organizations to develop strategies to advance their federal legislative, regulatory, programmatic, policy and business goals. She works with clients to establish and strengthen relationships with elected officials and federal agencies, develop and implement government relations and advocacy programs, and craft effective grassroots campaigns. Clients value Ilisa’s strategic insight, creative ideas and ability to anticipate federal policy challenges and opportunities.
Ilisa Halpern Paul
MPP, President, District Policy Group
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Speaker’s Name
Title
Company Name
"The topic that the speaker is going to present on."
Jeff Kolker
Senior Vice President
GCG Financial
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
Jeff Kolker
Senior Vice President
GCG Financial
Jeff joined GCG 1992 and became Vice President of Employee Benefits in 1999. His responsibilities include supervision of the employee benefits resource team, product review, and the sale of new and renewal employee benefits programs including medical, dental, disability, and various other employee benefits to our clientele.
Jeff has used his accounting background and communication skills to become a leading producer in group benefits. He has been involved in speaking and advisory roles for many of the national health carriers, helping design benefit plans and providing valuable feedback on various plans’ strengths and weaknesses. His understanding and grasp of the continued pressures on businesses to remain competitive and profitable have helped make him successful in the employee benefits field. Jeff has also served on various advisory boards for insurance carriers doing business in the Chicagoland area. Jeff, along with GCG’s employee benefits division, has been recognized by several of the national carriers as a top producer and preferred broker.
Speaker’s Name
Title
Company Name
"The topic that the speaker is going to present on."
Michael Catalano
Lead Financial Analyst
GCG Financial
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
Michael Catalano
Lead Financial Analyst
GCG Financial
Michael Catalano is a Lead Financial Analyst who joined GCG in 2012. Michael’s primary responsibilities include heading up the financial analyst department and supporting GCG’s key account clients in the area of financial and data analytics. Additionally, Michael also helps to oversee GCG’s relationship with the Milliman actuary team in order to audit and interpret the deliverables they provide to GCG clients. Ultimately, Michael’s reports, observations and skills use analytics information to support the strategic goals of the advisor team and provide meaningful interpretations to GCG clients.
Karen English
Senior Vice President
Spring Consulting Group
Karen is a Partner and Senior Consultant with Spring Consulting Group, an Alera Group company. She has over 20 years of experience in the P&C and health & welfare arenas with an emphasis on product development, risk financing, process improvement and project implementation. Karen provides strategic direction, quantitative & qualitative analysis and implementation expertise for workers’ compensation, disability, absence, health and productivity programs that allows her to routinely work with alternative risk financing vehicles such as captives. Karen is committed to researching how disability, absence and health management programs can be integrated and uses that research to develop employee focused solutions that provide a cost savings for the employer. Karen is on the Executive Advisory Board for the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC), where she recently served as lead editor for the DMEC’s Tools of the Trade – Guide to Integrated Programs and DMEC’s Return to Work Program Manual. Prior to joining Spring, Karen was a Senior Consultant with Watson Wyatt’s US Insurance & Financial Services division, a risk manager with US Bancorp and a P&C broker for both Marsh and Aon.
Karen English
Senior Vice President
Spring Consulting Group
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
We brought together a group of people that have devoted their time and energy to employee benefits and the healthcare industry.
"2020 Benchmarking Results" by Jeff Kolker, Michael Catalano and Karen English
"COVID-19 Impact to the Health Care System and What Employers Should Be Thinking About Long-Term" by Steve Hamman
"The Political Landscape: Health Policy Outlook and Potential Election Outcomes" by Ilisa Halpern Paul
Closing Statements
9:00-9:10 AM
10:20-11:20 AM
11:20-11:30 AM
AGENDA
THE SPEAKERS
Investment advisory services offered through Alera Investment Advisors, LLC. Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.
© 2025 Alera Group
Three Parkway North, Suite 500
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 457-3000
Alera Group
Where Insight Fuels Action for Employers
The HRCI / SHRM credit codes are as follows:
SHRM: 23-2XPYK
HCRI: 627895
The use of this seal confirms that this activity has met HR Certification Institute's® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.
Your access to all our event resources in one spot.
9:10-9:40 AM
Introductions
9:40-10:10 AM
10:10-10:20 AM
Break
HRCI / SHRM Credits
"2020 Benchmarking Results" by Jeff Kolker, Michael Catalano and Karen English
"COVID-19 Impact to the Health Care System and What Employers Should Be Thinking About Long-Term" by Steve Hamman
"The Political Landscape: Health Policy Outlook and Potential Election Outcomes" by Ilisa Halpern Paul
Closing Statements
9:00-9:10 AM
10:20-11:20 AM
11:20-11:30 AM
AGENDA
9:10-9:40 AM
Introductions
9:40-10:10 AM
10:10-10:20 AM
Break
DoubleTree Conference Center
2111 Butterfield Rd,
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Location
- Breakfast and Carrier Partner Fair - 8:30 – 9:00 am
- Speaker Presentations - 9:00 – 11:30 am
- Carrier Partner Fair Continues - 11:30 am – Noon
- The state of healthcare in 2023 (Aaron Mauck)
- Trends, spend and data around mental health, health equity and pharmacy (Mary Delaney)
- Medicare (Larri Luthy)
- Retirement Plans and economic update (Bob Janson)
- Compliance and regulatory updates (Danielle Capilla)
"2020 Benchmarking Results" by Jeff Kolker, Michael Catalano and Karen English
"COVID-19 Impact to the Health Care System and What Employers Should Be Thinking About Long-Term" by Steve Hamman
"The Political Landscape: Health Policy Outlook and Potential Election Outcomes" by Ilisa Halpern Paul
Closing Statements
9:00-9:10 AM
10:20-11:20 AM
11:20-11:30 AM
AGENDA
9:10-9:40 AM
Introductions
9:40-10:10 AM
10:10-10:20 AM
Break
THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO OUR SPONSORS!
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
Shep
Sepaniak
Alera Group
Employees Access to Healthcare
Tiffany
Brown
Leave Laws and Absence Management
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
Bob Eisendrath
Alera Group
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
Bob Janson
Alera Group
Advanced Healthcare Strategies
HHS & FDA Landscape
"2020 Benchmarking Results"
Danielle Capilla
Alera Group
Medicare
"2020 Benchmarking Results" by Jeff Kolker, Michael Catalano and Karen English
"COVID-19 Impact to the Health Care System and What Employers Should Be Thinking About Long-Term" by Steve Hamman
"The Political Landscape: Health Policy Outlook and Potential Election Outcomes" by Ilisa Halpern Paul
Closing Statements
9:00-9:10 AM
10:20-11:20 AM
11:20-11:30 AM
AGENDA
9:10-9:40 AM
Introductions
9:40-10:10 AM
10:10-10:20 AM
Break
Resources from the event
Webinars
Resources
Complete the Survey for a Chance to Win!
Attendees: We would love to hear your feedback! Please click here to share your thoughts about our symposium. Three participants will be chosen at random to win Alera Group swag.
The survey closes Monday, March 3.
- Breakfast and Carrier Partner Fair - 8:30 – 9:00 am
- Speaker Presentations - 9:00 – 11:30 am
- Carrier Partner Fair Continues - 11:30 am – Noon
- The state of healthcare in 2023 (Aaron Mauck)
- Trends, spend and data around mental health, health equity and pharmacy (Mary Delaney)
- Medicare (Larri Luthy)
- Retirement Plans and economic update (Bob Janson)
- Compliance and regulatory updates (Danielle Capilla)
- Breakfast and Carrier Partner Fair - 8:30 – 9:00 am
- Speaker Presentations - 9:00 – 11:30 am
- Carrier Partner Fair Continues - 11:30 am – Noon
The 2026 Employer Symposium brings together leaders from Human Resources, Finance, and the Executive suite for a full-day experience designed to turn knowledge into meaningful strategic actions. This year’s theme - From Insight to Impact - focuses on helping organizations sharpen their strategies, anticipate what’s ahead, and leave with a clear path for action in 2026 and beyond.
Built around consistent session formats and cross-practice alignment, the symposium blends market intelligence, practical guidance, and real-world perspectives. Whether you’re navigating workforce challenges, rising costs, or shifting employee expectations, this event provides the clarity and strategic direction employers need now.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 8:30 am - 3:45 pm
Tattersall Distillery River Falls
1777 Paulson Rd Suite 3, River Falls, WI 54022
We close with a single, focused challenge: identify one strategy you’ll take back to your organization and implement in 2026.
- Breakfast and Carrier Partner Fair - 8:30 – 9:00 am
- Speaker Presentations - 9:00 – 11:30 am
- Carrier Partner Fair Continues - 11:30 am – Noon
- The state of healthcare in 2023 (Aaron Mauck)
- Trends, spend and data around mental health, health equity and pharmacy (Mary Delaney)
- Medicare (Larri Luthy)
- Retirement Plans and economic update (Bob Janson)
- Compliance and regulatory updates (Danielle Capilla)
Embracing Discomfort: Preparing for Change
Employee Benefits:
Market Panel
Strategies to Evaluate in 2026
Retirement:
Market Panel
Strategies to Evaluate in 2026
Property & Casualty:
Market Panel
Strategies to Evaluate in 2026
Inspiring Change: Leveraging change management techniques to implement change.
Who Should Attend
What to Expect:
A purposeful day built to clarify the landscape, surface new opportunities, and help you step into change with confidence and curiosity.
Market Perspectives + Actionable Insights
Panels & Strategy Presentations
Across three critical employer practice areas, you’ll gain a unified view of the landscape along with practical steps to take in 2026 to achieve your strategic priorities.
Health Insurance & Health Care
Get a clearer view of how cost trends, access challenges, consumer expectations, and regulatory shifts are reshaping health care, along with practical ways to improve outcomes and manage spend through thoughtful plan design, alternative funding, engagement tools, and data-driven ideas.
Retirement Plans
Get up to speed on compliance changes, market volatility, evolving plan design trends, and what’s influencing participant behavior today, while also exploring ways to strengthen financial readiness, refine governance, and build retirement benefits that support long-term well-being.
Commercial Risk
Take a clear look at the evolving risk landscape, from property and casualty pressures to cyber exposures and insurer market shifts, while exploring approaches that help reduce volatility, strengthen protection, and support organizational stability.
Keynote: Inspiring Change
Renowned speaker Avi Olitzky brings a compelling message on leading through change—how to inspire action, mobilize teams, and create meaningful movement inside organizations. His insights provide the motivation and mindset shift to carry the day’s learnings forward.
Agenda
This event is crafted for organizations with 100+ employees, though employers of all sizes will benefit.
Ideal for:
•C-suite leaders
•Human Resources executives
•Finance and operations decision-makers
•Employer groups looking to strengthen total rewards, manage risk, and plan for the future