Empower, Equip, Encourage: Leadership's Role in Strengthening the Workforce
The Everence Benefits Conference 2025 is designed for HR professionals and organizational leaders seeking innovative solutions to strengthen their workplace. With dynamic keynotes, engaging panels, and insightful learning sessions, this event will provide tools and strategies to empower your workforce.
Join us virtually for two afternoons of insight, inspiration, and actionable strategies to enhance your leadership and support your workforce.
All times in Eastern time
1:00 p.m. - Welcome and keynote - Values Rooted Benefits: The View from the Chief Executive
1:45 p.m. - Workshop 1 - Thriving Together: Fostering a Culture of Wellbeing and Flourishing in the Workplace
2:25 p.m. - Workshop 2 - Changes You Can’t Ignore: Evaluating New Retirement Plan Provisions
3:15 p.m. - Workshop 3 - Proactive Approaches to Health Plan Cost Containment
3:45 p.m. - Workshop 4 - Boost Retirement Plan Engagement: Empowering Staff to Save
1:15 p.m. - Workshop 5 - Retirement Readiness: Financially Prepared and More!
1:50 p.m. - Workshop 6 - Coverage Countdown: Supporting Medicare-eligible Employees
2:40 p.m. - Workshop 7 - Practical Pairing: How Creativity Boosts The Fundamentals For Your Health Plan Solutions
3:15 p.m. - Workshop 8 - 2024/2025 Ascensus Compensation, Retirement and Benefits Trends Report
3:45 p.m. - Keynote and closing - What’s On Your Table?
Values Rooted Benefits: The View from the Chief Executive
Employers have many options when choosing to offer benefits for their teams. Often, decisions are largely rooted in financial matters, coverage, provider expertise, team member needs. Including company and mission values when designing benefits packages and team care is an opportunity to provide benefits that mean more than just dollars and cents. We are delighted to have two distinguished chief executives from Everence partner organizations to share their passion and commitment to values rooted benefits.
President, Goshen College, Goshen, IN
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Stoltzfus became the 18th president of Goshen (Ind.) College in 2017. A 1983 Goshen College graduate, President Stoltzfus studied chemistry at Goshen College and received master’s and doctoral degrees in human nutrition from Cornell University (Ithaca, New York). President Stoltzfus’ research focuses on the causes and consequences of malnutrition in women and children in low-income communities. She taught human nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Baltimore, Maryland) and was vice provost for undergraduate education and professor of human nutrition at Cornell University before returning to Goshen to lead her alma mater.
President Stoltzfus is a member of College Mennonite Church in Goshen and is married to Kevin Miller. They are parents of two adult children, Lydia Miller (married to Grant Miller) and Gabe Miller, who all live in Chicago. Her parents are Victor and Marie Stoltzfus of Goshen, and her father was president of Goshen College from 1984 to 1996.
President and CEO, Goodville Mutual Casualty Company, New Holland, PA
David Gautsche has served on the board of directors and as President and CEO of the Goodville Mutual Insurance Group since 2015. Previously he served as Senior VP of Everence Financial and President of Praxis Mutual Funds. He holds a CPCU from the Institutes, a CLU from the American College, a Master’s in Business Administration from Indiana University and a BA from Goshen College. David has served as Chairman of PAMIC (Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies), NAMIC as a member of the board of directors, as well as other industry organizations. He also currently serves on the board of Trustees of Goshen College. David lives in Lancaster, PA with his wife Lisa; is father two adult children and a grandfather of four.
Thriving Together: Fostering a Culture of Wellbeing and Flourishing in the Workplace
Americans have been experiencing increasing stress levels, resulting from tensions such as social divisiveness, personal finances, and their health. Just as these stressors can affect the workplace, so too can the work environment impact mental health, as with vicarious trauma and burnout. Recent estimates suggest mental health issues cost the US $47.6 billion annually in lost productivity, absenteeism, and staff turnover. Join Kayona Pates of Oaklawn and Dr. Michael Diller of WellSpan as we tap into the power of difference making essentials in growing resilience and supporting mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Wellbeing Culture Changer, WellSpan Health
Changes You Can’t Ignore: Evaluating New Retirement Plan Provisions
From the top IRS and DOL findings to Secure 2.0 updates and litigation trends, fiduciaries must sift through the opportunities, challenges, and changes that impact their retirement plans. Join us as we take stock of how these considerations could drive how you plan for your company’s retirement plan benefits in 2025 and beyond.
Proactive Approaches to Health Plan Cost Containment
Cost containment in health plans is more critical than ever for organizations. Rising healthcare expenses put pressure on budgets, but the right strategies can reduce costs while improving employee well-being.
In this session, we will explore real-world approaches that have successfully balanced cost savings and employee health. This session will provide practical, actionable strategies. Join us to learn how HR can be a key driver in shaping cost-conscious, high-impact health benefits.
Boost Retirement Plan Engagement: Empowering Staff to Save
Employees who feel secure in their finances not only contribute more to their retirement plan, but also feel more engaged in their job. But, how do we boost retirement engagement and savings? We'll discuss the challenges employees face in saving for retirement, including the complexities of financial wellness, as well as various solutions that lead to financial health. Join Vanessa Coakley of Empower and Pleasant View CEO Kevin Paluszak as they dive into optimum plan design and how to inspire your staff to engage with their retirement plan, save for the future and achieve financial peace and wellness.
Retirement Readiness: Financially Prepared and More!
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are increasingly evaluated based on how well employees are financially prepared for retirement. While financial readiness is crucial, true retirement readiness goes beyond simply asking, “Will I have enough?” Join us to explore practical strategies, developed in partnership with your financial professional, to help your employees build greater confidence in their financial future.
Led by Everence Financial Consultants, Sonny Gaby and Steve Burkholder will share their experiences working with various employer groups to enhance employees' financial readiness.
Coverage Countdown: Supporting Medicare-eligible Employees
It is a common trend that more and more Americans are working past the age of 65. Employers, and HR professionals specifically, are engaging more with the nuances and complexities of the Medicare system. This presentation will provide HR professionals with information on common pitfalls, best practices, and how they can support employees transitioning to Medicare and/or retiring.
Medicare Supplement Consultant, Everence®
Practical Pairing: How Creativity Boosts The Fundamentals For Your Health Plan Solutions
Rising costs and complexity continue to shape employer-provided health plans. This session will delve into emerging trends and compliance considerations in an ever-changing regulatory landscape while exploring various solutions to ensure optimized benefits across your organization. Learn from two industry leading experts at Emerson Rogers, LLC. Join Nicole Warfield, Account Executive and Shelly Bloom, Director of Legislative Awareness and Training, to empower your organization in navigating the healthcare system and further elevate your organization’s benefit offerings. Leave with actionable knowledge to drive greater achievement of organizational goals, wellbeing, and employee satisfaction, by boosting your health plan.
2024/2025 Ascensus Compensation, Retirement and Benefits Trends Report
For nearly two decades, Ascensus’ (formerly Newport’s) annual Compensation, Retirement, and Benefits Trends Report has provided a comprehensive, single-source view of the total competitive rewards programs available for the middle market. The 2024/2025 report includes information from more than 780 organizations spanning a range of industries, geographies, and sizes, and summarizes general trends, deep insights, and strategic managerial takeaways. Ted Smith, Ascensus Regional Vice President will overview the Benefits Trends Report and lift out key items that are relevant to employers in 2025.
What’s On Your Table?
Psalm 23:5 says: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." This phrase highlights God's provision and possibilities, even when we are surrounded by challenges or opposition. It suggests that when in our most difficult seasons/circumstances, God desires to provide for our needs and position us, our communities, and organizations to thrive.
Vice President of Community and Church Development, Everence
As Vice President of Community and Church Development at Everence®, Leonard M. Dow leads the organization’s strategic efforts to engage and empower emerging, diverse communities and churches that have historically been underserved. He is passionate about fostering connections that drive lasting impact, ensuring these communities thrive in both spiritual and social dimensions.
Leonard also serves as President of Everence Community Investments, LLC, where he oversees community-focused initiatives and investment strategies. Additionally, he leads the Everence team in Philadelphia and is an active member of the Everence Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the organization’s broader strategic vision.
Leonard joined Everence in 2017, bringing more than two decades of experience in community leadership and development. Leonard earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia), where he was honored with the university’s Distinguished Service Award in 2017 for his impactful leadership and commitment to service.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and connect with peers.
Contact Laura Wolgemuth, Administrative Assistant – Organizational Services at organizations@everence.com or 717-653-6662.
