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Summer Newsletter
July 16, 2026
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Message from the President
It's been a busy and exciting summer at MBGH driven by our commitment to support our valued members. In this bi-annual newsletter, we're pleased to share updates on the latest programs, resources, and initiatives designed to help you navigate today's healthcare challenges.
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Below, you’ll find information about:
- Must-not-miss educational programs
- New employer action briefs
- New employer members & board members
- Employer member tools & resources
- Highlights from the 46th Annual Conference
- 2026 programs to date
- … and more
| | Thank you for your continued partnership and engagement. We welcome your questions, ideas and feedback, and encourage you to connect with me or any member of the MBGH team. We are committed to helping you tackle today's challenges and prepare for what's next. | | On behalf of all of us at MBGH, we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! | | Cheryl Larson, President & CEO | | Upcoming Educational Programs | | MBGH offers no-cost or low-cost programs providing opportunities to learn from health benefits professionals and industry experts while enjoying peer-to-peer networking and gaining access to innovative resources. Join us! | | |
Webinar
September 1, 2026
The Burden of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD):
How Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Impact Workforce Health, Productivity and Total Cost of Care
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Full-Day Forum
September 30, 2026
The Price
Transparency Effect: Data Access,
Fiduciary Duty &
Lost Dollars
| | | MBGH 47th Annual Conference May 4-5, 2027 | | Watch for announcements and check the events webpage periodically to view educational programs as they are added to the schedule. | | Monthly MBGH Orientation Meetings | | If you are employed by an MBGH member organization or are interested in learning more about the benefits of MBGH membership, join us at a virtual monthly orientation meeting from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM to learn more. | | MBGH 2027 Event Sponsorship Preview - September 16 | | Partners: We invite you to join us to explore MBGH's 2027 events, sponsorship opportunities, and the benefits of partnering with MBGH. | | | Newly Released Employer Action Briefs | | MBGH has developed six new Employer Action Briefs this year, all available to the public. Click the images below to access each brief, and stay tuned for additional resources coming soon! | | | New MBGH Employer Members | | MBGH is proud to welcome 18 new employer member organizations since the start of the year. | We create meaningful value for every member by sharing best practices and learning from one another. Our diverse membership is one of MBGH's greatest strengths. That's the Power of MBGH! | | | |
Agero
Allstate
Aspen Group, The
Caliber Collision
Chicago Public Schools
City of Springfield
Employers COA on Health
JP Morgan Chase
Minerallac Company
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Moog
Northern Trust
Perficient
Phifer Inc.
Richards Building Supply
Sanofi
Schneider Electric
Sidecar Health
Thomson Reuters
| | | Newly Elected MBGH Board of Directors Members | | MBGH is honored to welcome five new members to our Board of Directors. Their expertise, leadership, and commitment will help guide our organization and strengthen the value we deliver to our members. | | |
Frank Jancecek
Senior Director, Benefits
Fortune Brands Innovations
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Sue Letang
Sr. Manager Health & Welfare Plans
US Foods
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Erin Penland
Benefits Manager
Designer Brands, Inc.
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Rosemary Sams
Senior Manager
Employee Benefits
Univar Solutions
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Steven Schlange
Vice President
Employee Benefits and Services
Mutual of Omaha
| | Employer Member Tools & Resources | | Employer Connect, MBGH's member sharing portal, continues to provide a collaborative space for employer members to exchange best practices, share insights, and seek input from their peers. | | | Midwest Health Purchasers Collaborative | | Through the Midwest Health Purchasers Collaborative, MBGH members have access to a suite of health benefit services at reduced and competitive prices with our vetted partners. | NEWS: MBGH recently added three pharmacy benefits-focused organizations to our employer purchasing marketplace. View the press release. | | | For more than 46 years, MBGH has been committed to supporting community health initiatives by bringing together members of the business, hospital, physician, health plan, government, consumer and voluntary association sectors to support improved health and quality of care for all populations. | | Another benefit of MBGH membership includes access to resources and discounted programs available through our strategic partners. | | | In addition to the many resources developed by MBGH, our partner members and non-profit organizations provide valuable topic-specific resources to support the needs of our employer members. Each resource is thoroughly vetted, catalogued and posted on the MBGH Partner Resources webpage. | | | MBGH 46th Annual Conference | We hope you were able to attend this year's MBGH 46th Annual Conference where more than 450 participants gathered to learn and network, and left the conference with innovative insights and fresh, new ideas. | We are proud to share your feedback: | | |
- I’ve been coming to MBGH conferences for 20+ years and this was the best one yet!
- I love how fun and easy-going this conference felt!
- Can’t wait to get back to the office to try out new ideas.
- It was engaging, energizing and motivating.
- Always a must-do conference!
| | It was fantastic to see many of you at the event. If you weren't able to attend, watch the slideshow to view highlights. MBGH members may view summaries on the Past Conferences webpage. | | | Educational Programs & Webinars To Date | | In addition to the Annual Conference, MBGH conducted three full-day educational forums, five webinars, five employer-only well-being cohort meetings and one employer-only workshop on high-cost cancer claims. | | |
Thank you for providing feedback after our programs, including:
- I learned so much today and walked away with great ideas.
- I'm leaving with actionable items I can use right away.
- MBGH programs are excellent!
| | Check out the many articles this year highlighting MBGH staff, events and initiatives. View press releases, news (and more) on the MBGH News webpage. | | |
The MBGH staff wish you a wonderful summer!
Please reach out to us anytime with your thoughts, ideas and feedback.
Front Row: Erin Pataky, Cheryl Larson, Mark Pfleger
Back Row: Allison Larsen, Samantha Clark, John Butler, Paula Sheehan, Lori Hurtt, Mindy McBee
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