2025 HR & Finance Forums

Andrew S. Zito
President/CEO
Advus Financial Partners

Andrew has always been fascinated by complex things. The more complicated something is, the more he wants to understand it and fix it. From applying technology to solve business problems to working with plan sponsors to untangle complicated situations, he thrives on finding efficient and effective solutions.

Andrew oversees the operations of Advus, translating the firm’s vision and objectives into actionable processes. His responsibilities encompass technology solutions, business processes, service standards and human resources. He also is directly responsible for the retirement plan division and setting its strategic direction.

Hugh O’Toole
CEO
Innovu

Currently, as CEO of Innovu, O’Toole is focused on transforming advisor and consultant practice models from their traditional, siloed approach—separating Health & Welfare, Retirement, and Property & Casualty—into a holistic Human Capital Risk Management model. By leveraging data aggregation, data science and analytics, and behavioral finance, he aims to drive greater industry impact through the convergence of data and benefits disciplines. Innovu helps advisors utilize clean data to identify specific interventions and preventative solutions that save employers money and support the well-being of American workers.

 

Diana Lee
Principal
CHRO Strategies LLC

Diana Lee is the Principal of CHRO Strategies LLC, providing HR consulting services drawing on her global senior human resources executive experience in Fortune 100, mid-cap, PE-backed, start-up, and non-profit environments across multiple industries. She has extensive expertise in managing organizational change, working in cross-cultural environments, attracting, developing, and retaining top talent, and advising corporate, private, and non-profit boards.

Diana started CHRO Strategies LLC in 2024, following her departure from Sesame Workshop as its first-ever CHRO, a role she assumed in 2015 when then-CEO Jeff Dunn tapped her as part of the executive leadership team charged with turning around the non-profit educational organization. Diana defined the HR mission and built the infrastructure to support the organization’s dramatic transformation, culminating in a five-year 19.2% annual growth rate and a 140% increase in revenues.

Bob Dietzel
ARM, CIC
KMRD, a Foundation Risk Partners company

Bob is a Co-Founder and the Principal of KMRD Partners and is responsible for the design and management of the firm’s unique servicing model and policy forms analysis.

Bob consults with companies on identifying, mitigating, and transferring risks in an economical way. Prior to founding KMRD IN 2005, Bob spent eleven years with a top 50 property & casualty insurance consulting and brokerage firm where he acted as his clients’ outsource risk manager managing a portfolio of commercial clients with assets across the globe.

Bob also has experience as a commercial banker where he used his accounting, cash flow and credit training to develop a portfolio of working capital/asset-based loans for large commercial clients. He was also involved with acquisition due diligence and the design of workflows and automation tools to perform collateral audits and cross selling initiatives more efficiently.

Kevin McPoyle
CIC, RPLU, CPLP
KMRD, a Foundation Risk Partners company

Kevin is a Co-Founder and the President of KMRD Partners and uses his background in engineering, management, and marketing to provide the agency’s client focused vision.

Prior to KMRD, Kevin spent eleven years with a top 50 Property and Casualty insurance consulting and brokerage firm, establishing a portfolio of clients in diverse industries with a worldwide footprint.

Following a successful military career as a former attack helicopter pilot, Kevin worked for Air Products where he developed the plan and processes to enable one division to earn an ISO9001 certification. He also served a Director of Safety and maintained a worldwide client base for sales of precision equipment.

Thomas Leek
Chief Legal Officer & EVP
Foundation Risk Partners

Tom Leek has more than 25 years of experience in Complex Commercial litigation and Labor and Employment matters, and also served as Managing Partner of the largest law firm in East Central Florida prior to joining FRP. Additionally, in 2016 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, overseeing the state’s $112+ billion-dollar budget. Tom quickly rose through the ranks of the Legislature, and served on the Leadership Teams of three consecutive Speakers of the House, including that of the current Speaker. 

John McManus
Senior Managing Director
Innovu

As Senior Managing Director at Innovu, John McManus leverages his extensive expertise in employee benefit planning, design, and implementation to forge strong partnerships within the benefits consulting and brokerage communities. His primary focus is on integrating client data across all benefits and risk programs, enabling organizations to gain comprehensive insights into how decisions in one area impact others and identifying trends that affect overall population health.​

With a career spanning over a decade, John has demonstrated a collaborative approach and a deep understanding of strategic benefits planning. His commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and his proven work ethic have established him as a trusted partner among clients and stakeholders alike.

Steve Santangelo
Chief Revenue Officer
Garner Health

Steve Santangelo (CRO): As Chief Revenue Officer, Steve has overall accountability for the sales, distribution, and retention of Garner Health’s offerings for employers, health plans, and other partnerships. Prior to joining Garner Health, Steve held a wide variety of sales and leadership roles during his 10+ year career at United Healthcare. His most recent position at UHC was the Vice President of Specialty Sales, for the Northeast Region. Overall, Steve is an experienced sales leader with strong market knowledge and vast experience across many commercial insurance products and segments.

Joel Kopperud
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers instead

Joel Kopperud is Senior Vice President, Government Affairs. He represents Council member firms and their political interests on Capitol Hill, working closely with Members of Congress and their staff on issues impacting the commercial insurance brokerage industry. This includes issues impacting the employer-provided benefits market, property/casualty insurance regulation, and federal natural catastrophe policies. Specifically, Kopperud is working to reform the Affordable Care Act and was instrumental in The Council’s successful efforts to guide legislation through Congress that renewed TRIA and created a national broker licensing regime. He previously worked at Global USA, Inc., where he directed the group’s political, legislative and regulatory work on international trade and export control issues. Kopperud also lobbied at the Financial Services Roundtable, where he worked on a number of policy initiatives and legislative campaigns relating to insurance and financial services. Kopperud is a 2001 graduate of American University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Dan Kuperstein
Senior Vice President, Compliance
Corporate Synergies

Dan is an attorney with experience in a broad array of sophisticated employee benefits and labor and employment matters, including ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, HIPAA and GINA compliance. His experience includes representation of both public and private companies, as well as health and pension plans.

Tim Sullivan
PharmD, MBA VP, Network Strategy
PerformRx

As a pharmacist by background, Dr. Sullivan has held leadership roles in the health insurance and pharmacy benefit space for over 15 years. His focus on employer group and commercial benefit strategy has been a hallmark of his career, having helped craft competitive offerings across the spectrum of fully-insured to large self-funded and everything in between. Currently Tim leads network, rebate, and pricing strategy for PerformRx, helping drive growth and innovation while levering a transparent and high touch approach. He resides in the Chicago suburbs, loves spending time with his wife and three young boys, and can be found golfing/cycling/skiing/cooking on those rare instances when free time opens up.   

Ashelen Vicuña
Associate
Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Ashelen Vicuña advises clients on health care policy, insurance, and financial services matters She has experience on a broad range of federal health care regulatory issues, including Medicaid financing, Medicare reimbursement, the sale and marketing of Medicare Advantage plans, mental health parity and transparency rules, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Recently, she has focused on the promotion of transparency and prevention of anticompetitive business practices in the pharmacy benefit management industry at both the state and federal levels. Prior to joining Steptoe, Ashelen assisted health care providers in developing and implementing federally compliant Medicaid payment programs and non-federal share financing mechanisms to support Medicaid payments. She has also counseled national and state hospital trade associations on their legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts.

While in law school, Ashelen served as vice president of George Washington University’s Student Health Law Association and was an editorial staff member of The GW Journal of Energy and Environmental Law. Ashelen also previously interned at the US Court of Federal Claims and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Suspension and Debarment.

Lenny Whitman
Senior Tax Partner
Witman Stadtmauer, P.A.

Leonard J. Witman is a nationally noted lecturer and author in the tax, estate and elder law planning and deferred compensation fields. He is the senior tax partner in the law firm of Witman Stadtmauer, P.A. located in Florham Park, New Jersey. Mr. Witman is a graduate of Rutgers College and New York Law School, and is a member of the New York and New Jersey Bars. He is the former New JerseyState Chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefit Counsel (ACEBC). He serves as an adjunct professor of law at Seton Hall Law School and Rutgers University Graduate Business School.

He is a Dean of the Mid-Atlantic Fellows Institute of ACTEC. He formerly was a tax law specialist, instructor and lecturer with the Internal Revenue Service in the Employee Plans and Exempt Organizations Division.
Mr. Witman is a former Chairman of the New Jersey State Bar Association Taxation Committee.
He has written extensively for many tax periodicals including the Journal of Taxation, CLU Journal, Medical Economics, Prentice Hall, and CCH and is the author of two books: A  Retirement Planning Techniques Book (10th Edition) and Roth IRAs. In addition, he is frequently quoted in financial columns in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC and on CBS News and is the recipient of the Dorothy G. Black Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the development of Trust and Estate Law in New Jersey.

John Robinson
National Absence Practice Lead
The Hartford

John Robinson is a trusted insurance professional with over 35 years of experience working in group benefits and property and casualty insurance. John specializes in assessing, building, and delivering insurance learning programs with a focus on absence. Helping educate and train employers and consultants on the importance of employee benefits in today’s competitive and compliance-based labor market.  John is a powerful force and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to better understand and succeed.  John is a Syracuse, NY native and a married father of 3.  He has a bachelor’s degree from St. John Fisher University and also holds the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation.

Jeffrey Boorjian
Vice President
Group Benefits Marketing

Jeffrey Boorjian is Vice President of Marketing for Group Benefits. As experts on the Workforce, Jeffrey and his team bring greater value to MetLife’s customers through industry-leading thought leadership, modern marketing and storytelling capabilities to driver greater employee benefits engagement.

Prior to joining MetLife Jeffrey was formerly the Vice President of Marketing for the world’s most diversified casino entertainment company, Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment). Jeffrey was responsible for influencing customer behavior resulting in increased revenue and profitability for multiple regions with revenues north of $1B. Jeffrey rapidly progressed to senior-level marketing leadership positions at Caesars in the Midwest, Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Prior to joining Caesars, Mr. Boorjian held positions at multiple advertising and branding firms leading projects across diverse industries including hospitality, consumer goods, automotive and healthcare.  Jeffrey earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and his Bachelor’s degree from Boston College.

 

Gary Cassidy
Director, Employee Education, Communication and Wellness 
Corporate Synergies

Gary Cassidy and the Corporate Synergies’ internal creative team generate professional, branded programs that support clients, and engage, and educate their employees. As Director of Employee Education, Communication and Wellness, he draws upon his 25 years of extensive insurance industry and employee benefits experience and design and communications background, to deliver targeted communication campaigns and wellness programs in support of client goals. These award-winning programs (APEX, iCOMM and carrier) engender heightened literacy for employees, enabling them to properly enroll in, understand and use their benefits. He works closely with Corporate Synergies’ account management teams to develop and implement strategies designed to drive positive changes in workforce behavior and help clients control benefit costs.

Tammy Smith
Education Consultant
The Hartford

With 20+ years in the insurance industry, Tammy has seized the opportunity to drive results within claims, sales, service, underwriting, and learning organizations. With a learner-centric mindset, she empowers Clients and Brokers in the ever-changing world of Group Benefits through highly engaging education. Edutainment, if you will. Tammy currently calls North Carolina her home, but she grew up in San Diego (Go Aztecs). She has an amazing husband who has been putting up with her for the last 28 years, 6 awesome kids, and 1 adorable grandson.

Brian Feeley
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Corporate Synergies

Brian Feeley is an analytics-driven marketer and business developer who possesses a balance of vision, a consultative approach and the ability to execute tactically. His passion is delivering the message that Corporate Synergies is driving a very different benefits experience for employers and plan participants through the company’s unique ability to use data to develop unmatched customer intimacy.

He leads a skilled in-house marketing and communications team and uses quantitative data and deep experience to guide performance and decision-making. His expertise includes rebranding customer-facing communication vehicles, demand generation and lead management program development, marketing automation, campaign methodology, lead nurturing and scoring, team training and development, creative services management, and bid support.

His marketing acumen is reflected in the impact he had during his 23-year career at Canon Business Solutions. While there, he created and supported a marketing strategy and infrastructure that allowed the company to grow from a local Philadelphia subsidiary to a nationally recognized division with more than 80 offices nationwide and revenues of $800 million. During his tenure, he assumed sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility and served as National Senior Director, Corporate Communications and Marketing Services.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from Cabrini College, Radnor, Pennsylvania.

Meet Our Exhibitors

Bob Dietzel
ARM, CIC
KMRD, a Foundation Risk Partners company

Gary Cassidy
Director, Employee Education, Communication and Wellness 
Corporate Synergies

Luray Tobar

Luray Tobar
Client Solutions Director
Corporate Synergies

Yvette Benson
BenefitsVIP Team Lead
Corporate Synergies

Olga Cameron
BenefitsVIP Team Lead
Corporate Synergies

Kara Keenan
Project Specialist
Client Solutions

Melissa Loudon
BenefitsVIP Representative
Corporate Synergies

Stephanie Eisele
Employee Communication Supervisor
Corporate Synergies

Olga Cameron
BenefitsVIP Team Lead
Corporate Synergies

Kara Keenan
Project Specialist
Client Solutions

Melissa Loudon
BenefitsVIP Representative
Corporate Synergies

BenefitsVIP® ID Card Request

Amanda Freudenthal for workforce strategy for employers

Amanda Freudenthal

 Founder and Chief People Advisor
Trusted HR Synergies, LLC  

Amanda holds dual-Bachelor’s degrees in Human Resources  (HR)  Management and Computer Systems and has more than  20 years of HR practitioner experience in-house and as a consultant for the last ten years. Her consulting experience includes supporting start-ups to 500 employees, nationwide and internationally, across all industries and supporting everything from the day-to-day people functions to strategic advising for executives and Boards.

Amanda brings a strong passion for helping organizations streamline processes, remain compliant, and she takes pride in viewing all matters through the lens of all involved.  Amanda aims to place the “human” in Human Resources through her white glove approach. Understanding the why (a.k.a. “know”) versus providing “no” without a solution, is what sets her aside from other HR professionals.  

Jeff Litwin

Vice President, Finance – American Contracting and Environmental Services

Jeff Litwin has been with American Contracting & Environmental Services Inc. for over 17 years. During his tenure, he has held positions in estimating, preconstruction and has held his current role as VP of Finance for the last 3+ Years. In his current role, Jeff oversees all accounting and finance functions of the company, while still staying heavily involved in operations through his guidance in the preconstruction department. Jeff was a key contributor during ACE’s transition from a fully funded insurance model to self-funded in 2023 and maintains a strong interest in the company’s healthcare setup.

Alexis Holdcroft - workforce strategies for employers

Alexis Holdcroft

Senior Account Manager
Corporate Synergies

Alexis Holdcroft provides account management support and supervises day-to-day program deliverables for clients serviced by the Corporate Synergies Bethesda, Maryland, regional office.

She assists in the development of health and welfare benefits programs based on needs analysis, budget forecasting and detailed contract comparisons. She draws upon her human resources and account management background to deliver exceptional client service.

Prior to joining Corporate Synergies, she was an Account Executive for SET SEG, where she specialized in employee benefits for Michigan public schools. Previously she was an HR Coordinator for SET SEG Insurance Services Agency, where she handled benefits and ADP administration, recruitment, policy administration and new-hire orientation.

Alexis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources from Michigan State University. She holds a Life and Health Insurance license.

John Crable

RHU Senior Vice President 
Corporate Synergies

After initially launching his career with MetLife in 1993, John Crable soon joined the brokerage and consulting firm Corporate Dynamics, the predecessor to Corporate Synergies formally established in 2003. 

John is a lead consultant to a broad array of organizations across all industries from private and public sector companies to non-profit organizations and associations; expertly aiding in the negotiation, design, implementation and servicing of their employee benefits programs. He has a particular talent for reducing employer costs through diligent carrier negotiations and identifying creative funding strategies, while helping an organization maintain high- value, comprehensive healthcare solutions. Web MD, RWJ Barnabas Health, H&M, The Barnes Foundation, Celgene, Sharp Electronics, Einstein Health System, Rhodia, IKEA, Wellpath, NVR homes and Carrington Mortgage represent several of the employers John has partnered with over the years. 
John currently sits on the broker advisory board for Cigna. He is also proud to serve as Chair of the Corporate Executive Board of The Philadelphia Museum of Art and regularly volunteers as a mentor to at-risk youth at Urban Promise in Camden, New Jersey.

Raymond Kim

Regional Vice President of Account Management
Corporate Synergies

Ray has been with Corporate Synergies for over 15 years, serving in all roles within Account Management. Ray is responsible for leading a team of Account Managers with a primary objective of guiding employers in the design of benefit programs that emphasize cost control and higher value for the organization and the plan participant. He serves as an executive sponsor for clients and ensures the teams have the support and resources to successfully provide benefits and insurance consultation. Prior to joining Corporate Synergies in 2005, he was a Benefits Specialist with then Towers Perrin. Ray is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Communications.

Dr. Tim Sullivan

Managing Director, Pharmacy Advisory Services
Optum Advisory

Dr. Sullivan is a pharmacist by training and a seasoned managed healthcare executive with more than 15 years of leadership experience across health insurance and pharmacy benefit management. His expertise spans employer group strategy, drug pricing, PBM design, and pharmacy network operations.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sullivan has led the development and execution of high‑impact pharmacy programs that balance affordability, access, and clinical value for health plans, employers, and patients.

Currently, Dr. Sullivan serves as Managing Director and leads Pharmacy Advisory Services within Optum Advisory, where he partners with health plans, PBM’s, employers, and life science companies to navigate complex pharmacy and benefit strategy decisions.

Nicole Crowley

Coming Soon

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Matt McCuen

National Executive at Imagine360

Matt McCuen is an industry veteran, with over 30 years of experience in the self-funded space.  

As the National Marketing Executive for Imagine360, Matt works with self-funded employers across the nation to improve the benefits they offer to their employees and families. 

Imagine360 is the leading provider of employer-sponsored health plan solutions that deliver deep cost savings and concierge member support. Leveraging 50+ years of expertise, Imagine360’s solutions combine the financial benefits of reference-based pricing, best-in-class member support, and health plan administration.  

Greg Santulli

CEO of Rx Valet

Greg Santulli is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rx Valet, an industry leading Pharmacy Cost Savings company. Greg has over 30 years of experience in healthcare and pharmacy. His leadership has positioned Rx Valet as the one of the leading providers of Pharmacy Cost Containment, low-cost access to medications and a successful pharmacy benefit manager. His company’s approach is to engage all parties involved to provide unprecedented results. 

Mitch Lamoriello

VP Wealth Advisor at Advus Partners

Mitchell has innovation in his bones. He understands the unique challenges and circumstances clients face in their financial lives, and is passionate about discovering new ways his family firm can help serve a changing investor and investment marketplace.

As an investment specialist, Mitchell sits on the Advus’ investment committee. He also is responsible for assisting in the firm’s qualitative and quantitative due diligence process and contributing to the research on capital markets and global economic conditions. His knowledge base in investments provides him with a strong foundation to help answer client questions and navigate issues with their portfolio. As he spends more time with clients, Mitchell understands the importance of achieving goals and has expanded his knowledge, skills and approach beyond investments to encompass holistic financial planning.

andy rhea

Andy Rhea

President of Align Risk Solutions

Andy is the President of Align Risk Solutions. Prior to the formation of Align, Andy served as General Counsel to the Captive Insurance Division for the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. He began his legal career with the Mississippi Insurance Department and in private practice. He is a licensed attorney (in both Tennessee and Mississippi) and holds the Associate in Captive Insurance designation. Andy is very active in various captive insurance associations, currently serving as the President of the Tennessee Captive Insurance Association. Andy is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he received a BBA and MBA, and he earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi. During the feasibility and formation phases of Align’s process, Andy is involved in all regulatory, business plan and application functions. Ongoing, Andy is responsible for corporate governance, regulatory matters, and client relationships. 

Andrew Zito

President/CEO – Advus Fincancial Partners

Andrew has always been fascinated by complex things. The more complicated something is, the more he wants to understand it and fix it. From applying technology to solve business problems to working with plan sponsors to untangle complicated situations, he thrives on finding efficient and effective solutions.

Andrew oversees the operations of Advus, translating the firm’s vision and objectives into actionable processes. His responsibilities encompass technology solutions, business processes, service standards and human resources. He also is directly responsible for the retirement plan division and settingits strategic direction.

Andrew specializes in the qualified retirement plan aspect of the Advus business. Throughout his career, he has worked with retirement plans in a variety of different capacities. He began his career as an intern at Advus (formerly LAMCO Advisory Services, Inc.) assisting with compliance testing. He then spent several years working on platform conversions for retirement plans before moving into his present consulting role. Within the retirement plan space, he specializes in complex plan situations including plan mergers, spinoffs, complex regulatory audits, M&A activity and error corrections.