Meet the 2026 Excellence in Benefits winners
This year's class of honorees represents the pinnacle of achievement and innovation in an evolving field.
Workplace
Matthew Hall forges strategic partnerships
The benefits strategy manager at Koch is tackling some of the biggest issues in healthcare today.
Lindsey Garito is humanizing the health experience
The assistant vice president of total rewards at Montefiore Einstein built a unified well-being brand and experience.
Molly King pushes beyond the status quo
The employee benefits director for the City of Milwaukee is always looking for a better way to do things.
Doretha Polite is redefining nonprofit perks
The human resources director at the Texas Civil Rights Project applies the lessons she learned from the for-profit sector.
Melissa Dal Vecchio leads with heart and data
The senior manager of health and welfare benefits at BMO acts as a strategic connector across the organization.
Jamie Gonzalez reaches for higher education
Taco Bell's people and culture leader is giving employees access to online courses via its Tacos & Tuition benefit.
Lindsey Bandison translates the tougher information
The benefits customer support supervisor at the University of Pittsburgh believes that how you deliver information is just as important as the information itself.
Amber Burkett is closing equity gaps
The benefits manager at LandCare is ensuring more of her team have access to foundational protection.
Heather Newton makes continuous improvements
The director of talent and training at Child & Family Center believes benefits should be an experience.
Beth Conradson Cleary evangelizes financial wellness
The executive director of the City of Milwaukee Deferred Compensation Plan wants to meaningfully improve employees' financial security.
Sheena Davis listens, learns and implements
Hearing from employees directly influences policies for the director of total rewards and HR technology at Apache Industrial.
Beth Skalitzky harnesses feedback to make meaningful change
The senior director of people rewards at home-based care company Compassus prioritizes seamless integration of the company's benefits programs.
Matthew Owenby aims for alignment in benefits
The chief administrative officer at Aflac views benefits not as "standalone functions," but "levers for driving long-term value."
Ashley Sowa keeps benefits broad and affordable
The SVP and head of human resources for Hanmi Bank focuses on benefits that make a difference for the greatest number of employees.
Jennifer Weinstein shares stories of success
The VP of benefits at Albertsons Companies is a self-described storyteller.
Jacalyn Epperson is modernizing benefits
The St. Tammany Health System benefits manager improved nearly every vendor relationship over four years.
Despite employer push, workers aren’t sold on AI benefits tools
Privacy, accuracy and transparency concerns are slowing adoption, even as organizations see artificial intelligence as a way to simplify benefits decisions and improve support.
Gen Z demanding different benefits, falling short on AI skills
From benefits education gaps to tech skill shortages, Gen Z is forcing employers to rethink how they hire, train and support the next generation of workers.
With 42% of men skipping preventative care, improving these 4 health categories is critical
To improve attention to male health, employers should start with enhancing benefits education, enabling time off for appointments, and championing mental wellness.
