Excellence in Benefits 2026

How the Excellence in Benefits winners are tackling open enrollment

Published October 7, 2026 7:00 AM EDT Updated October 6, 2026 4:38 PM EDT 5 Min Read

2026 EBN Excellence in Benefits Winners (front row, L to R): Doretha Polite, Molly King, Heather Newton, Lindsey Bandison, Melissa Dal Vecchio, Sheena Davis; (back row): Matthew Hall, Beth Skalitzky, Lindsey Garito, Jacalyn Epperson, Julie Blume, Amber Burkett, Jennifer Weinstein, Matthew Owenby (Photo by Marcy Vanegas)

Key insight: Benefits managers are replacing the narrow enrollment window with year-round communication.
What’s at stake: Employees who suffer from “selection remorse” after rushing through a two-week enrollment window.
Expert quote: “Success isn’t measured simply by participation rates” — Doretha Polite, Texas Civil Rights Project
Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review.

Amid another open-enrollment season, the goal of benefits professionals remains perennial — as does their ultimate objective of keeping employee awareness high throughout the year.

Danielle Lee

Editor-in-Chief

Danielle Lee, editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News, was most recently managing editor of Accounting Today, and previously served as technology editor of Accounting Today and editor-in-chief of … Read full bio

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