LAAHU Symposium
Speakers

Anoop Kumar, MD

Anoop Kumar, MD, MMgmt is a leading voice for health and healthcare transformation, bringing clarity to the full spectrum of clinical medicine, mind-body integration, and human potential.
He is Co-founder of Health Revolution, a company building a complete ecosystem for healing, beginning with the 4-week Health Jumpstart program and the Healing is Possible podcast.
Dr. Kumar is Board-Certified in Emergency Medicine, has training in Lifestyle Medicine, and holds a Master's degree in Management with a focus in Health Leadership.
He is a front-line emergency physician, public speaker, and author of Michelangelo's Medicine and Is This a Dream?, as well as of numerous articles integrating mind-body perspectives. 

Dr. Eric Derovanessian

Dr. Eric Derovanessian is a dentist in Bellevue, Washington. He provides advice on proper brushing, flossing, cleaning, healthy gums, and other dental care.

Nelson L. Griswold

Chief Evangelist

Author and professional speaker Nelson Griswold is Chief Evangelist of the Benefits Revolution, a grass-roots movement that is slashing a company’s benefit costs by 20-40 percent in just the first year by changing the way employers buy healthcare for their employees.
Nelson has been called “one of the most dynamic speakers in insurance” by Billy Farmer of Aflac. As a popular keynote presenter and speaker, he has spoken to more than 4,300 brokers and advisors in over 40 states.
He is the author of the #1 bestseller, BREAKING THROUGH THE STATUS QUO: How Innovative Companies Are Changing the Benefits Game to Help Their Employees AND Boost Their Bottom Line, as well as the industry bestselling book, DO OR DIE: Reinventing Your Benefits Agency for Post-Reform Success.
Nelson has been called “visionary” by Art Dammers of Anthem, “a well-recognized industry thought leader” by Ron Leopold of MetLife, and “an authority on consultative selling” by Employee Benefit Adviser magazine. The Voluntary Benefits Association has honored Nelson with its prestigious Industry Leadership Award, for his “professional accomplishments that drive the voluntary benefits industry forward.”
A nationally-known agency reinvention and growth expert, Nelson is president of Bottom Line Solutions, Inc., which consults with employee benefit firms across the country, from local agencies to national firms such as Aon Hewitt and HUB.
He serves as Managing Director of the NextGen Benefits Mastermind Partnership, a national executive peer-exchange network for non-competing, progressive leaders of independent benefits firms who collaborate and cooperate to identify proven growth strategies and best practices.
Nelson is also a leading strategic consultant to insurance companies and other vendors on broker distribution & activation, voluntary benefits, and next-generation engagement & enrollment strategies.
Nelson writes a monthly column for Employee Benefit Adviser magazine; has written for Benefits Selling, Producers eSource and other leading industry publications. Nelson is an in-demand keynote presenter and speaker at industry conferences. He is a board member and serves on the executive committee of both the Workplace Benefits Association & the Voluntary Benefits Association.  

Michael Patton

President

President – Excel HealthPlans
You’re probably curious about how that’s even possible.

By providing guaranteed patients to the best doctors, we are able to reduce the costs while also improving the care because the providers know they’re getting a consistent flow of new patients.

This allows your employees to get $100,000 knee replacements for $25k with no copays and no deductible.

This saves you a huge amount of money, gets your employees better care, and gives security to the doctors.

Is it worth 10 minutes to you to save your company $100k+?
If so, let’s chat. 

Julian Lago

Julian entered the insurance industry as a college agent with New England Life and shortly after graduation moved to Florida and became a consultant with Northwestern Mutual Life.
In 2003 he co-found and organized the Florida Hospitality Association and managed an exclusive insurance program statewide. After significant growth and a success exit the program was consolidated and he became the Practice Leader at a regional Property and Casualty agency.  
After moving from personal production to consulting he continued to serve in an advisory roll to a variety of companies in the healthcare field including, TPA's, Direct Primary Care Providers, Advocacy, Telemedicine, Credentialing, and Provider Relations.
In 2015 he created Benezon LLC a nationwide healthcare technology company with integrated advocacy provider and member navigation.
In 2021 Benezon - was recognized by INC Magazine 5000, - it’s most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies in America.
Over the past several years he has become a sought after speaker for multiple agent organizations and regional gatherings on the subjects of Transparency, Member engagement within the self funding and reference based pricing space. He has spoken at National, Regional and at State events including providing sworn testimony before the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
 He is the Past President of the Palm Coast Chapter of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) and served as the 2009-2010 State President of the Florida Association of Health Underwriters (FAHU). Julian served two terms as Region 5 Vice President and member of the NABIP Board of Trustees.
When he is not at work he enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and four children. His hobbies include golfing, fishing and a good cigar while playing dominoes.

Edwidge Ligonde

I love to dig into the problems and concerns in which clients have and solve them with modern technology and strategies. I love to roll up my sleeves and show our clients we leave no stone unturned when it comes to managing the employee experience. I love to win, but helping the team win brings me greater joy. The level of excitement I have when I find a great strategy or incredible savings for a client is equivalent to how my kids act when I tell them they get to have ice cream.

 I am a true listener and work hard to hear your story, understand the pain points and come up with attainable solutions to meet your needs. It is my goal to be a partner to my clients to help them shine and also bring an employee advocacy program to help employees navigate their plans. Employees spend day in and day out at "work", might as well make it the best experience possible!

Allow me share some of my beliefs with you.

 I believe in helping employers enhance the experience of their #1 asset – their employees.
 I believe ‘employee benefits’ are more than just insurance, rather the benefit of being an employee
 I believe in challenging the status quo of traditional healthcare from both the employee & employer perspectives.
 I believe in building and leading a team of diverse, hard-working business professionals who exude attributes of initiative, creativity and accountability to take care of our clients.
 I believe in building a business that is a true partner and advocate for clients rather than a reactive and transactional relationship.
 I believe in leveraging technology to not replace human interaction, yet enhance accessibility, education, communication and administration.
 I believe in building strong, strategic and long-term plans with our clients and our community.
 I believe in constant learning and never settling.
 I believe you get to choose what lens you view life through.
 I believe we can all change healthcare for the better – together. 

Kimberly Ruth Petrick

Kaiser Permanente

Not your average physician; Board certified in Family Medicine with a continued zeal for her former successes in the entertainment and business arenas; Dr. Kimberly Petrick is a versatile physician with a knack for a microphone but precision in her medical acumen. She enjoys balancing her medical practice with a gregarious outlet as the Lead Physician Marketing Ambassador for Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles as well as for National accounts of Southern California Permanente. She also serves as a public figure and medical motivator with media and community presence. Her former pre-medical endeavors were lead by a bachelors in communication and successes in pharmaceutical and durable medical equipment sales, master of ceremonies for various community events and television broadcasting- bringing a synergy of charisma between her old and new worlds.   

Elisabeth Mack

Elisabeth founded Holistic Caring in 2016 to bridge the gap between traditional and cannabis medicine through education, guidance, and supportive care for patients. An educational provider for the California Board of Registered Nursing, she professionalizes medical cannabis by equipping healthcare providers to have necessary conversations with patients and to approach cannabis by emphasizing holistic and functional medicine.
 Her background includes a decade working in hospitals where she specialized in psychiatry, diabetes and medical units. Prior to starting Holistic Caring, Elisabeth spent 20 years in operations and sales management of several health insurance carriers (including RSM of Anthem Blue Cross). She believes cannabinoid medicines offer a chance at healing, comfort and wholeness in a more holistic, economical and empowering way.
Elisabeth earned her MBA in Healthcare Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She is also a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians and serves on the boards of the American Cannabis Nurses Association (ACNA), Los Angeles NORML, and the San Diego Cannabis Chamber of Commerce. 

Margaret "Maggie" Stedt

Stedt Insurance Services

President California Health Underwriters (2020-2021)
Past President of the Orange County Health Underwriters Association 2016 - 2018
VP of Membership, California Health Underwriters Association 2017-2019
Region 8 Membership Chairperson 2014-2018
Regional Medicare Chair 2014-20
Member of National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals' (NABIP) Medicare Advisory Committee (2016-2020)
Member of NABIP's Leading Producers Roundtable (LPRT) at Soaring Eagle Level Distinguished Toastmaster Member of NABIP Speakers Bureau