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30 Years of Community
Do you know when HERO officially formed? 1996 - 30 years ago! HERO lore paints the picture of a dimly lit conference room in a hotel basement, while others speak of a posh hotel suite at the Art & Science conference. The reality may have been both or somewhere in the middle. If you’re curious to hear Mark Dundon and David Anderson describe how the name and logo were birthed, check out this blog post.
In 1996, the healthcare landscape underwent a massive transformation with the passage of HIPAA and the Mental Health Parity Act. A new focus on global health surveillance was sparked by the landmark report from the World Health Organization warning of new and re-emerging infectious diseases. The first Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity was released, linking regular physical activity to major health benefits, catalyzing workplace wellness.
I took a walk down memory lane in the HERO archives recently. What I found was illuminating and encouraging: an organization that has grown, stretched, and evolved, producing critical research and insights along the way. In future Briefs, I will use this space to highlight many of the milestones and achievements we’ve accomplished together, and this month I choose to celebrate the HERO community.
The original Articles of Incorporation stated HERO’s purpose: “To engage in the organization and coordination of efforts to develop and conduct health promotion, disease prevention and productivity research.” For the first 10 years or so, the Form 990 described HERO’s program/service as “development of a database which identifies and cross-matches members with common health promotion and demand management research interests and objectives.”
I think it’s fair to say that we’ve exceeded the founders’ expectations! Through Think Tanks and committees, Summits and Forums, LinkedIn and this monthly newsletter, the HERO community has grown into a powerhouse of more than 31,000 individuals committed to a shared desire to positively impact the health and well-being of employees in the U.S. and globally.
The HERO community coordinates and collaborates often with the assistance of technology (e.g., email, Zoom, phone, social media apps), but in-person opportunities provide the human connection that cannot be fully AI-replicated. That's why I hope you’ll join us in person for the HERO convenings in Florida on Nov. 8th (CMO Summit), Nov. 9th (Fall Think Tank), and Nov. 10th (Healthcare Summit), and we can celebrate 30 years together!
With gratitude to co-founders Bill Whitmer and Mark Dundon for acting on the vision that has created the HERO community!
Together,
Karen
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