Kentucky Worksite Wellness Conference - Speakers


Vitale Buford Hardin, CEO, The Hardin Group
Vitale is a top leadership consultant, architect of corporate culture, and believes that “who we are is how we lead.” She brings her training and concepts to life in a fun and relatable way, empowering teams and companies to transform the way they work, produce, and relate. Vitale is an iPEC-certified executive coach, trainer, award-winning speaker, and author. Featured in The New York Times, she is the author of the book, Addicted to Perfect, detailing her struggle with perfectionism and how she overcame it. Vitale considers herself a change agent – working with organizations and leaders to transform their workplace cultures and leadership environments. She does this through intensive team trainings, strategic advisory, workshops, keynotes, culture change initiatives, and leadership coaching. Before starting her own business, Vitale spent 14 years impacting culture change and working in marketing and business development for a variety of industries and professional service organizations. Vitale loves traveling, Fleetwood Mac, morning walks, and lives in Kentucky with her husband, son, and dog.

Jackie Carroll, Health Coach, UK Health and Wellness
Jackie has a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a master’s in Health Promotion. Jackie has over 20 years’ experience in the wellness field including worksite and corporate wellness. She holds multiple certifications related to fitness and holistic health. Jackie’s passion is to encourage people to see and live in their truest essence as it relates to health and well-being. She encourages people to nourish body, mind and spirit and to live freely and lightly as our souls were meant to live.

Stephanie Clouser, Sr. Director, Data Management & Innovation, Kentuckiana Health Collaborative
Stephanie Clouser is the Senior Director, Data Management and Innovation for Kentuckiana Health Collaborative, a non-profit organization that works with key healthcare stakeholders in the community for better health outcomes and delivery in Louisville, Southern Indiana and Kentucky. In her current role, Stephanie fulfills the data needs of KHC, including completing regional and statewide physician quality measurement reports, which KHC has distributed to physicians since 2006 and publicly reported since 2012. Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and communication from Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2010. In 2015, she completed her master’s in analytics, also from Bellarmine. While working on her master’s, Stephanie held an internship at Norton Healthcare, which sparked her interest in healthcare and eventually led to her position at KHC.

Megan Cole, Area Director, Suicide Prevention, AFSP Kentucky
Megan Cole is the Kentucky Chapter Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). In this role she works to drive the chapter’s programming in prevention education, loss and healing and advocacy, as well as drive fundraising and volunteer development. Prior to working with AFSP, she was an Occupational Therapist specializing in Mental Health and Acquired Brain Injury. She started volunteering with AFSP in grad school after losing her aunt to suicide and transitioned to a staff role in 2019.

Curt Dame, Vice President, Aon Health Solutions
Curt is a Vice President in Aon’s Health Solutions Practice and is based in our Louisville, Kentucky office. His primary responsibilities include managing the day to day operations of the Louisville office staff as well as assisting clients with strategic planning, financial cost management, benefit plan management, data analytics analysis and delivering account management services to clients. Since joining Aon, Curt has led Aon team members in the management of benefit programs for private corporations and public-sector entities that include institutions such as Teachers Retirement System of Kentucky (TRS), University of Kentucky, Brown Forman Co., Know Your Rx Coalition, Owensboro Hospital System, University of Louisville, UPS and FedEx Pilots Associations among others.

Michael Dees, President and CEO, Blumine Health, LLC
Michael is the President and CEO of BluMine Health. He has been with BluMine since 2014. He is a forward-thinking executive with 28-year record of driving needed change in healthcare entrepreneurship and development to boost operations and meet changing demands. Equipped to transform teams at all levels to maintain responsiveness and meet operational challenges head-on. Born connector and tactical leader with diplomatic nature and tenacious approach. Michael is performance-oriented and accomplished healthcare executive offering proven operations management and strategic planning expertise honed in startup environments. Successful background building and leading results-driven teams to meeting and exceed business targets. Solid human resources and business management expertise.

Amanda Faulkner, Corporate Health & Wellness Coordinator, LG&E and KU
Amanda has been an HR professional for over a decade. Her expertise includes benefit administration and design, wellness programing and population health management. In addition to leading LG&E and KU’s Healthy for Life program and onsite clinics, Amanda has managed the Family Assistance Program, statewide health fairs and biometric screenings, numerous wellness incentives, tobacco-cessation programs, and population health model. Amanda also holds extensive experience in long-term health and wellness strategy and integration. She works closely with the company’s safety specialists to ensure the safety, health and wellness culture is incorporated throughout the organization. Amanda has led multiple health and wellness RFPs that help LG&E and KU continue to grow its best-practice health and wellness program.

Winston Griffin, Chairman of the Board/CEO, Laurel Grocery Company
Founded in 1922, Laurel Grocery supplies independent grocery stores in Kentucky and surrounding states. Winston is past Chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  He also serves on the board of the National Grocers Association, Northern Kentucky University Visitors Board, the University of the Cumberlands Visitors Board as well as Cumberland Valley National Bank. Winston graduated from the University of Kentucky and earned his JD at Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University.  After a clerkship with Hon. Eugene Siler of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Winston received his MBA from Vanderbilt University. Winston has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board of University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health.  This association began after a SOAR presentation featuring Laurel Grocery Company’s onsite health clinic.  He was also invited to give the presentation at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta due to Laurel Grocery’s aggressive approach to long-term employee health.

DeAnna Hall, Corporate Health and Well-being Manager, LG&E and KU Energy LLC
DeAnna Hall has been with LG&E and KU Energy since January of 2014. DeAnna has more than 25 years of nursing and health management experience. Her health and wellness management work includes developing and overseeing programs for employee disease management, vaccination, counseling and wellness at Jewish Hospital and St. Mary Healthcare, as well as statewide for KentuckyOne Health. With DeAnna’s leadership, LG&E and KU Energy has moved from a participation-based wellness program into an integrated population health and well-being program. DeAnna has been involved with the Louisville Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Wellness Committee and continues to serve on the Executive Board for the KHC and on the Anthem Client Advisory Board. In addition, she is a founding member of the American Heart Association Mission Committee and member of LG&E-KU’s Safety and Health Governance Council.

Colleen Hekkanen, LCSW, CCM, Chief Clinical Services Officer, SentryHealth
With more than 10 years of experience in clinical operations, Colleen leads SentryHealth’s clinical programs and services. She is passionate about connecting people to quality, affordable health care and believes in taking a psychosocial approach to care for the whole person. Colleen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Certification in Case Management (CCM). She holds a MS in Social Work from the University of South Florida and a BS with a focus on psychology and sociology from the University of Florida, where she graduated summa cum laude. Colleen has extensive experience in providing direct patient care, including care for children and adolescents, and has published a therapeutic technique in the book Assessment and Treatment Activities for Children, Adolescents, and Families: Practitioners Share Their Most Effective Techniques, Volume Two.

Karen Helmerich, HR Benefits Manager, Owensboro Health
Karen serves as Human Resources Benefits Manager for Owensboro Health, which is a regional health system comprised of 37 facilities including three hospitals.  She has experience in all HR disciplines and project management.  During her career, she has led the implementation of numerous nationwide cross-functional projects such as Total Rewards Survey, benefits implementations for Health & Welfare and Retirement plans, employee relations, and employee onboarding. Karen spent the most recent 16 years of her career focused on health & welfare, 401k and pension benefits.  She enjoys working on strategic benefits design that will align the programs to fit the strategy of the organization. She has been on the board of directors for the Tri-State Business Group on Health and holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in business and classical music.

Annetta Hunter, Owner & Founder, WellNow Consultants, LLC
Annetta L. Hunter, Owner and Founder of Hunter Coaching and Consulting, LLC, (wellnowconsultants.com) is a Certified Corporate Wellness Coach, Speaker and Author.  She has a multi-faceted entrepreneurial business background of over 30 years. She studied Architecture at the Boston Architectural College in Boston, MA where she enjoyed her dream career as an Architectural Designer until she was blessed with twin boys, Christian and Taylor who are 14.  After relocating to Kentucky in 2006, she became a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapy Practitioner and presently pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., specializing in Holistic Life Counseling.    Annetta has been Program Co-Chair for Worksite Wellness Council of Louisville and joined LSHRM’s Board serving as  Wellness Director.   Annetta made history when she became the first African American President of the Business and Professional Women's Organization of Glasgow, KY.  She has committed her life to serve others in many capacities and recently became an Ordained Minister!

Robert Lemon, Professional Speaker, Believe Your Dreams Inc.
For years thousands have been touched Robert Lemon's keynotes and trainings.Robert was selected by Legacy Magazine , published in the Miami Herald honored as one of "South Florida's Most Powerful and Influential  Business Leaders" of 2018.  In 2017, he was presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition.U S Representative Frederica S. Wilson. Florida's 24 Congressional District recognized his outstanding and invaluable service to the community. Dr. Lemon shares his empowerment principles with numerous local and national organizations . Robert is a best selling and co-author of the book "Multiple Streams of Inspiration" with other celebrity authors including Jack Canfield "Chicken Soup for the Soul"with forewords by Les Brown and Zig Ziglar. Robert is the author of his newest book,"Now Is Your Time" with foreword written by Les Brown and testimonial by Willie Jolley, and is now in print.  In 2011, Robert was selected as the "Author of the Year" by Advantage Media / Forbes Books from a field of 1500 corporate authors. In 2013 Robert earned his Doctorate Degree in Religious Education. Robert has been recognized for achieving and surpassing goals in customer service , sales, and has over 35 years of corporate experience from the US Postal Service and leadership  from the US Airforce.USF Corporate Training and Professional Education.He earned a University of South Florida Muma College of Business for Diversity Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate .  Experience the Passion, Feel the Power, Live the Purpose with Dr. Robert Lemon

Ryan Mason, PhD, CSCS, Exercise Specialist, UK Health and Wellness
Ryan has worked in the fitness industry since 2010 and with UK Health and Wellness since 2012. He received a Doctor of Philosophy in Exercise Science degree with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology from UK. Ryan has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2014. His area of focus is in strength and conditioning and he loves teaching people about core bracing and resistance training. Ryan retired from a 13-year rugby career and now enjoys playing golf, hiking, biking, camping, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Angie McCorkle Buckler, JD, Attorney, Acting Managing Director, Commonwealth Theatre Center
Angie drives businesses forward at the intersection of strategy, culture, and talent optimization. People are her passion. She has served as Associate General Counsel and Interim General Counsel at two of the state’s largest financial services institutions, Republic Bank and Farm Credit Mid-America, a $23 billion agricultural lender. Before entering the financial services industry, she was Labor & Employment counsel for Atria Senior Living, an assisted living organization with over 16,000 employees in the US and Canada. Prior to embarking on her in-house career, Angie practiced employment law and litigation as a Partner with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, where she served on the firm’s Hiring and Recruiting Committee, Diversity Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. She also had her own legal and HR consulting practice and is trained as a mediator by the American Arbitration Association. Angie is a lifelong learner and holds a certificate of Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University, certificates in Talent Optimization, Team Performance, Leadership & Management, Business Strategy, Product Strategy, and Brand Strategy. She has completed the Stanford University Business Leadership Series and is Dare to Lead™ trained. Angie currently serves as Past-President of the Louisville Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Louisville Bar Association, as Vice-President of Commonwealth Theatre Center’s Board of Directors, and as Acting Managing Director of Commonwealth Theatre Center. Previously, she served as Chair of the Louisville Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Section and President of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Jefferson County. Angie is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and holds an AV (highest) rating in Martindale-Hubbell. She has been recognized in Woodward/White’s Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Employment Law Management and Labor & Employment Litigation, Best Lawyers in Kentucky, Louisville Top Lawyer, Benchmark Litigation, and was a member of the 2017 Kentucky Law Department of the Year for the Association of Corporate Counsel. She also participated in Leadership Louisville, an organization with which she continues to be active. Angie was recognized as a Forty Under 40 professional and is a recipient of the Outstanding Member of the Year award from the Women Lawyers Association of Jefferson County. Angie graduated from The Brandeis School of Law in 1998 where she served as Editor of the Journal of Law & Education and as a contributing member of the Journal of Family Law. She attended Central High School and graduated in the first class of the Law & Government Magnet program. Angie is active in the community, serving on several non-profit boards and dedicating time to causes such as Legal Aid, homelessness, education, DEIB efforts, and the arts. Her most important role, however, is raising her two fabulously outspoken and independent tween daughters.  

Doug McSwain, Partner, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
Douglas McSwain is a member of the Firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Service Team.  He has been a litigator, legal advisor, speaker, and writer for more than 30 years.  He concentrates his practice in constitutional law, business, professional, employment, civil rights, data privacy & security, and trade law. Mr. McSwain also has experience in health care, administrative and equine law.  Mr. McSwain has handled numerous multi-party wage and hour cases both administratively and in litigation.  He has conducted auditing and investigative cases involving the U.S. Department of Labor and the Kentucky Labor Cabinet, as well as multi-Plaintiff cases individually suing or class and collective actions.  

Julie Miller, Director of Sales and Marketing, BluMine Health
Julie Miller is Director of Sales and Marketing for BluMine Health serving Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and Ohio. Since 2015, she has educated companies on the value of on-site and shared-site clinics that provide primary care, wellness, OCC med assessment, pharmacy savings, and pre-employment screening for employer groups. Her goal is to provide healthcare as it should be – affordable, accessible, and based on a relationship between you and BluMine’s medical staff unchained to insurance companies empowering members to make informed decisions about their care. Previously, Julie served for more than 20 years in Sales & Leadership roles for the talent acquisition and insurance industries.  She has conducted Section 125 enrollments and provided guidance on supplemental benefits. She has had the opportunity to staff 200+ seat call centers, manufacturing plants in the food & beverage industry, distribution centers for internet retailers, and enough suppliers to the automotive industry to build a vehicle. Julie cares about the employer, what makes them unique from others in the industry, and how she can help achieve their business goals.  Building strong relationships is essential to success.  Julie gives her clients the reassurance that she will be there when called upon and develops the trust foundational to lasting partnerships. One of the greatest lessons Julie has learned in her career is that companies are loyal to people with honest business practices and proven processes. She prides herself on learning what customers need and delivering on what is promised.

Anne-Tyler Mogan, Member, McBrayer, PLLC
Anne-Tyler Morgan's practice primarily focuses in the area of healthcare regulatory and administrative law; politics, elections, and campaign finance; and nonprofit and government institutions and associations. As an experienced attorney and state policymaker, she is uniquely situated to advocate for clients to provide the most effective and efficient solutions to their needs.  She has represented such institutions such as health benefit firms, hospitals and other healthcare providers, trade associations, and state regulatory agencies, including but not limited to the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services, the Kentucky Board of EMS, the Kentucky Fire Commission, the Kentucky Medical Association, the Kentucky Coal Association, the Kentucky Distillers Association, Lextran, and the Kentucky Board of Architects. In her spare time, Anne-Tyler serves on a number of Boards of Directors, including the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Industrial Authority and Economic Development Investment Board, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, the Kentucky Medical Advisory Council overseeing Kentucky Medicaid, the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate serving Kentucky children who have been abused or neglected.

Sherry Porter, Partner, Wyatt Tarrant & Combs
Sherry Porter has more than twenty years of experience in the employee benefits field.  She began her legal career as an investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, where she conducted investigations to ensure compliance with ERISA and related laws and negotiated compliance agreements to correct violations.  Ms. Porter regularly advises clients on legislation affecting employee benefit plans, such as HIPAA privacy and security rules and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She concentrates her law practice in the areas of employee benefits, including retirement plans, health and welfare plans, Employee Stock Ownership Plans, and executive compensation arrangements.  Ms. Porter also has extensive experience in handling and negotiating benefits issues in corporate and transactional matters.   

Victoria Reid, CMP, CMM, RYT, Founder, EventWell Collective
Victoria Reid is an event expert and founder of EventWell Collective™. Known as the Logistical Gangsta, Victoria has thrived in the meeting and event industry for 20 years fueled by her love of creating something from nothing. Her speciality is curating experiences that attendees walk away from as better human beings, feeling informed, educated, and motivated. Through EventWell Collective™, organizers are able to incorporate wellness, inclusivity, and sustainability into their events, through movement, healthy food options, limited waste, cultural diversity, and more. As a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) who holds an International Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM), Victoria combines the goals of events with the well-being of those attending to deliver an unconventional experience where everyone feels seen, heard, and nourished. Victoria has a bachelors in communication and is the director of education for the Kentucky Bluegrass Chapter of Meeting Professionals International. She focuses on her own wellbeing as a registered yoga teacher (RYT) who also loves hiking, cycling, and tennis. Victoria views traveling as an important part of her personal growth and has trekked Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu, and is currently training for the Himalayas. When she’s not hard at work, you can find her spending time with her family, putting her motorcycle and sailing licenses to use.

Al Roehl, CEO, Founder, The Neuro-Fitness Center
Al Roehl helps people achieve "full-potential prosperity."   What is "full potential prosperity?" It is the level of professional achievement and personal fulfillment that includes the mental, emotional, physical, and financial aspects of our lives.  As a former CEO, he now an executive advisor, leadership coach, trainer, author, and keynote speaker.   He has advised senior executives from start-ups to top global companies, including Procter & Gamble, Kellogg, Kimberly-Clark, and Toyota.  His passion is to develop talent and high-performing teams. Realizing that a "winning mindset" was more important than talent alone, he discovered neuroscience as a "secret weapon" to develop critical behavioral skills and inspire sustainable behavioral change.   With certifications in Applied Neuroscience, Brain Health, and Brain-Based Leadership Coaching, he founded The Neuro-Fitness Center where companies and individuals can do some "brain-lifting" to improve their productivity and happiness. His Neuro-Fitness Program, Neuro-Workshops, and Neuro-Coaching have proven effective to a wide range of individuals, from C-Suite executives to those starting a career.

Kate Shanks, Sr. Vice President of Public Affairs, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Kate Shanks has been with the Chamber for more than five years and focuses her work on energy, environment, small business, and competitiveness issues. She is a lifelong resident of Kentucky and earned both a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation and Management and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kentucky. Prior to joining the Chamber, Kate spent nearly 12 years working for state agencies focused on energy and environmental policy and regulation and has held multiple positions relating to communications, outreach, policy analysis and design, and legislative affairs.

Jamie Swaim, SPHR, Founder, Parcel, LLC
Jamie has focused her career in all areas of Human Resources with an emphasis on improving the customer, candidate, and employee experience from pre-hire to retire. Using what she’s learned in 20+ years of HR experiences from start-ups to small business to Fortune 100, she spends her days co-creating valuable solutions for clients in HR Augmentation, Project Outsourcing, and retained Employee Relations services. Previously, Jamie led HR teams for Amazon, Gap, and Farm Credit Mid-America.

Sherri Williams, Founder & CEO, Health Maintenance Advantage
Sherri Williams is the founder & CEO of Health Maintenance Advantage. Sherri brings 28 years of experience as a Registered Nurse & is Board Certified in the field of Case Management. Sherri’s has spent the past 15 years with a focus on Chronic Care and Disease Management. Sherri believes that early interventions of health challenges & the evaluation of barriers that may impede positive outcomes are paramount in achieving better qualities of life both mentally and physically. Although a native of Kentucky, Sherri has lived in Orange County California for most of her adult life. She has returned to her native state to reunite with the love of her life, husband & high school sweetheart with whom she shares a family of 2 sons, 1 daughter, and 4 grandchildren.

Peggy West, CEBS; ISCEBS Fellow, Owner, Benefit Plan Diagnostics (BPD), LLC                           
Following a successful career as a Director of Compensation & Benefits in the manufacturing industry, Peggy started BPD, LLC with the goal of helping employers analyze benefit cost to determine where benefit dollars go and if they could be applied differently to meet employer goals. She is skilled in benefits administration, design and management, including qualified retirement plans, pension plans, non-qualified deferred compensation, health & welfare programs, statutory benefits, human resource information systems, talent management, deferred compensation, communication, and new hire orientations. Peggy is a past and current Board Member of the Greater Cincinnati/Dayton Certified Employee Benefits Specialist Chapter and CEBS graduate of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Foundation through The Wharton School.  She has also earned the ISCEBS Fellow designation.  Peggy has strong human resources experience with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) focused in Public Administration from Miami University.

Laura Wood, SHRM-CP, PHR, President/Owner, Out of the Woods HR
Laura Wood has been a collaborative HR Leader and has over 27 years’ experience in a variety of work settings. Laura ’s proficiency and passion covers many areas from talent acquisition, employee onboarding and retention, staff recognition, training and development, and is a firm believer in the importance of Compassion in the Workplace. Laura hold a BS in Business with an emphasis in Human Resources Management. She is a Business Owner, Speaker, Author, Trainer, HR Consultant. Laura’s passion is her family, friends and her church. She and her husband have five adult children and seven grandchildren.