What are the Benefits Trends Driving Plan Renewal Decisions for 2027?

Cost

Free

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When

April 14, 2026

@ 2:00 p.m. ET

Where

Online

Webinar
Apr
14

About 

Webinar

What are the Benefits Trends Driving Plan Renewal Decisions for 2027?

The 2027 renewal cycle is already shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent years, and employers are asking the same critical question: How do we control the spend trend before it controls us?  

Join us for an insight-packed panel discussion as industry experts discuss the benefits trends driving plan renewal decisions. They will break down the 3 forces shaping healthcare spend in 2027: steerage & high-performance navigation, the exploding impact of medical-benefit specialty drugs (J-codes), and the rapidly evolving GLP-1 landscape. 

Our panel of experts will help participants…  

  • Recognize how steerage & high-performance navigation programs drive measurable savings. 
  • Gain clarity on the rapidly growing impact of J-codes & medical-benefit specialty drugs. 
  • Evaluate the evolving GLP-1 therapeutic landscape & employer ROI considerations. 
  • Understand the key cost drivers shaping 2027 renewals. 
  • Identify actionable strategies employers can implement immediately to reduce trend. 
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

Online

Approved for 1 CE credit.

SHRM
Recertification-Provider-Seal

This program is valid for PDC(s) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.

Corporate Synergies is a recognized provider of recertification credits. HR Certification Institute® pre-approved this activity for HR (General) recertification credit hour(s) toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification.

Presented by:
John-Crable-1

John Crable
Senior Vice President, RHU
Corporate Synergies

John Crable is a seasoned employee benefits consultant with more than three decades of industry experience. As a lead consultant, John advises a diverse portfolio of clients across private and public sector organizations, nonprofits, and associations. He specializes in the negotiation, design, implementation, and ongoing management of comprehensive employee benefits programs. Known for his strategic approach, John excels at reducing employer healthcare costs through effective carrier negotiations and innovative funding strategies, while ensuring organizations maintain high-quality, competitive benefits offerings.

Throughout his career, John has partnered with a wide range of prominent employers, including WebMD, RWJ Barnabas Health, H&M, The Barnes Foundation, Celgene, Sharp Electronics, Einstein Health System, IKEA, Wellpath, NVR Homes, and Carrington Mortgage.
Paige Hallett headshot | Corporate Synergies

Paige Hallet
Vice President, Benefits Consultant
Corporate Synergies

Paige Hallett is a strategic benefits leader with two decades of human resources expertise, including extensive experience directing total rewards for major organizations. At Corporate Synergies, she partners with employers to design health and welfare plans that drive cost efficiency, strengthen employee wellbeing, and support enterprise objectives. With a career spent inside corporate HR, Paige delivers solutions aligned with the practical needs of employers, guided by a strong client-focused mindset.
eric-brewer-2

Eric Brewer
Senior Benefits Consultant
Corporate Synergies

Eric Brewer is an accomplished healthcare professional with over a decade of experience helping employers navigate the cost pressure, regulatory compliance and administrative challenges of group benefits programs.

Eric’s knowledge of self-funding, pharmacy benefit carve-outs, reference-based pricing and population health management help him guide his clients based on each employers’ unique needs and circumstances.

Eric takes pride in being innovative and disruptive, with a long-term strategic focus to help his clients’ combat constant market pressures. Throughout his career, Eric has managed benefit programs for employer groups ranging from 250 to 25,000 employees.

Out of the office, Eric is a proud husband and a father of two boys. Eric can often be found fishing or golfing when he’s not in the office. Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. Eric served as defensive captain of the Brown Football team and was proudly part of Brown’s 2005 Ivy League Championship team.

Moderated by: Harrison Newman, Corporate Synergies

Corporate Synergies is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.

HR Certification Institute’s® (www.HRCI.org) official seal confirms that Corporate Synergies meets the criteria for pre-approved recertification credit(s) for any of HRCI’s eight credentials, including SPHR® and PHR®.

Event Registration

What are the Benefits Trends Driving Plan Renewal Decisions for 2027?

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
2:00
p.m.

—

3:00
p.m.
ET

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

As a pharmacist by background, Dr. Sullivan is a seasoned managed healthcare executive with extensive experience in employer group strategy, drug pricing, pharmacy benefit management and network operations. He is an expert at leading high-impact pharmacy programs balancing affordability, access, and clinical value for health plans, employers and patients. Dr. Sullivan helped craft competitive offerings across the spectrum of fully insured to large self-funded employers, and everything in between. Having held leadership roles in the health insurance and pharmacy benefit space for over 15 years, currently, Dr. Sullivan leads the Pharmacy Advisory Services for Optum Advisory as Managing Director. 


Nicole Crowley

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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.