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Excellence in benefits 2025

Takeaways from 5 years of EBN's Excellence in Benefits Awards

ByPaola Peralta
September 2, 2025 3:16 PM

Employee Benefit News' annual Excellence in Benefits Award aims to highlight leaders making some of the most influential changes in HR and benefits. As we prepare to celebrate a new class of award winners at this year's Benefits at Work conference, we're also looking back at leaders who have set the standard and continue to move the bar forward.   

From finding the right benefits philosophy and being an effective leader, to prioritizing specific benefits such as generous PTO and expansive mental health support, HR and benefit pros across every industry have been doing their part to improve the employee experience. Faced with ballooning costs and working within tight budgets, their efforts have resulted in long-term, successful business practices and happier workers, and they serve as inspiration for a new wave of leaders hoping to accomplish the same. 

Many of the previous honorees featured below will be speaking at Benefits at Work, happening September 3-4 at the Wynn, Las Vegas. Here's what they've had to say about healthcare spending, supporting employees through challenging times, and what keeps them motivated.

On the power of making healthcare decisions: Stephanie Koch, Hendry Marine Industries

Director of human resources
EBN2024_headshot-StephanieKoch.png
"We have the ability to save our employees money on their total healthcare spend, design our own healthcare plans based on our needs (and transparent data), keep premiums flat during healthcare renewals and more," Koch previously shared with EBN. "It's the most rewarding work I've ever done in the 25-plus years of my HR career."

*Stephanie Koch will be sharing her expertise in a panel at the Excellence in Benefits conference on September 3.

On embracing employee feedback: Dominique Schroeder, Guild

Senior benefits program manager
Dominique Schroeder 
"Benefits are often seen as health and welfare, but they can be so much more," Schroeder shared.. "I appreciate the opportunity for employees to share a lot and then also get general feedback: Are we doing things right? Do we have the right resources in place?"

On changing the conversation around death: Ron Gura, Empathy

Co-founder and CEO
Ron Gura
Ron Gura
"Death is an important, meaningful life event that doesn't skip any of us," Gura shared with EBN. "Bereavement must be addressed, and leave is not enough. It's a big hole in our benefits portfolios. When the inevitable happens and you lose a loved one, Empathy is the friend you wish you had."

On supporting employees through tough times: Jennie Rogerson, Canva

Global head of people
Jennie Rogerson 
Jennie Rogerson
"We recognize that team members may be going through times they can't easily talk about, and we want to support them," Rogerson shared with EBN. "We saw the biggest impact we could make was to let people take time away without needing to explain why."

On embracing benefits communication: Faith Primacio, Cision

Director of global benefits
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"I am passionate about transforming the way benefits are communicated, making complex information accessible and relatable," said Primacio. "Benefits [communication] is about storytelling — telling data-driven stories to our finance team to secure approvals and crafting clear, engaging communications for our employees so they can make informed decisions."

On what motivates a long-term benefits career: Ralph Spagnuola, Nava Benefits

Partner
EBN2024_headshot-RalphSpagnuola.png
"The advice I've taken to heart is to follow your talents and your passions, as what you can do well will always help you be the most successful," Spagnuola said. "I started in this business because of an opportunity that I was given for an internship. Over time I realized that I had a talent for understanding complex things and communicating them well to others. I am good at making our complex healthcare system make sense for employers and their employees — and I love doing it."

On mental health in the workplace: Brooke Wilson, CVS Health

Head of resources for living
Brooke Wilson 
"If the majority of people are talking about mental well-being, I don't think that means the majority of people are saying 'I need therapy,'" Wilson previously shared with EBN. "Everybody gets stuck, and it can impact people's performance at work as well as their ability to be engaged in their personal lives. We're here when people just might need a little more support to help you live your best life for yourself and your family members."
Paola Peralta
Associate Editor, Employee Benefit News
Excellence in benefits 2025 Employee benefits
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