2026 Conference Sessions

Nico Pronk - President of the HealthPartners Institute and Chief Science Officer at HealthPartners

Integrating movement into the workplace is a strategic imperative that enhances cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health of workers and may significantly boost organizational performance. Research indicates that physically active employees demonstrate higher work performance and lower absenteeism. Furthermore, movement serves as a productivity catalyst by reducing presenteeism and improving work ability through increased physiological resilience. Ultimately, by applying best-practice design principles and making movement simple, social, and rewarding, companies can deliberately transform physical activity from a secondary program into a core cultural value.

As a result of these presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Recognize what is meant by the physical activity health paradox.

• Realize that movement can be leveraged as a catalyst for both worker and  organizational performance.

• Identify critical design features for effective programs that implement movement as an integral part of work.

Attendees will select only one presentation to attend during this breakout session.

• From Surveys to Solutions: Personalizing Wellbeing Programs to Drive Results ‍- Jim Barclay & Lindsay Waechter

• If You Think This Is a Gen Z Problem’, It's Probably You... - Ali Payne

• Driving Engagement Through Culture and Communication: Building a Robust Wellness Ambassador Network and Strategic Messaging - Melanie Cuchna, Erica Blaha & Dawn Whitehill

Attendees will select only one presentation to attend during this breakout session.

• Cancer in Iowa: Community and Workplace Strategies‍ ‍- Mary Charlton & Kelly Wells Sittig

• Supporting Employee Financial Well-Being Across the Risk Continuum - Diana Kremzar

• An Inspiring Environment for Neurodivergent Employees - Kate Thompson

Attendees will select only one presentation to attend during this breakout session.

• Beyond the Scale: Realistic and Sustainable Well-Being Approaches Without the Weight Focus ‍- Alison St. Germain

• Reflective Supervision as a Wellness Strategy: Supporting the Humans Behind the Work - Emma Harding

• Whole-Person Health: Addressing Root Causes Through the Gut–Mind Connection - Caitlin Larson & Elsey Strube

Riz Vazir, Founder and CEO - Scroll By Choice

You wake up and check your phone. 6 out of 10 people do. A TikTok clip. An Instagram scroll. A news headline. Between each, a Slack ping or email pulls you back. By the time you start your first task, your focus is already fractured. For many, the only uninterrupted attention comes while doomscrolling.

Office workers lose 2+ hours a day to digital distraction. Poor digital habits come in the way of networking, learning, side projects and more. The total estimated cost of excessive, unmanaged screentime may be as high as $10K–$20K annually.

Drawing on digital wellness research, this session explores how tech habits affect focus and professional judgment and equips leaders to address digital overwhelm as both a wellness and performance lever.

Attendees will be learn to:

• Identify when poor digital habits may be eroding focus, engagement, and team effectiveness.

• Evaluate how organizational norms and communication practices contribute to digital overload.

• Lead by example modeling digital balance as a core element of leadership effectiveness and employee well-being.