begin the Journey
12:00 – 1:00 PM
1:00 – 1:15 pm
1:15 – 2:15 pM
REGISTRATION & NETWORKING
WELCOME
GENERAL SESSION
TBA
Celeste A ballroom
2:15 – 2:30 PM
2:30 – 3:30 pm
BREAK
BENEFITS JOURNEY
Benefit Eligibility Basics
This session is intended to provide Benefit Partners with the basics about TAMUS benefits eligibility, including best practices and Benefit Partner resources.
Jessica Palacios, PHR, SHRM-CP, MSHRM
Associate Director, System Benefits Administration
The Texas A&M University System
Wellness JOurney
Wellness Event Tools and Resources
This session informs Wellness Champions about the available BCBSTX tools and resources that inform event planning. Resources and tools reviewed during this session include Wellness Initiatives Informed by Data, Pulse Check Surveys, and Be Well Challenges.
Cindy Quinn
Wellness Coordinator
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
CELESTE A BALLROOM
LUNA
3:30 – 3:45 PM
3:45 – 4:45 pm
BREAK
BENEFITS JOURNEY
Navigating the World of ORP and TDA Retirement Plan Limits
The presentation provides an overview of retirement savings plans (ORP and TDA), outlines the IRS-mandated contribution limits for 2026 (including 401(a)(17), 402(g), and 415(c)), and explains their impact on retirement contributions. The content includes example scenarios, shows how the limits interact, addresses what happens if limits are exceeded, and emphasizes the importance of monitoring compliance to avoid IRS penalties. The presentation is designed to help benefits staff understand plan rules, ensure compliance, and support employees effectively.
Lisa Barron
Senior Employee Benefits Representative II
The Texas A&M University System
Wellness JOurney
High Impact Programming with a Small Wellness Team:P Balancing Claims Data, Engagement, and Human Centered Wellness
Small wellness teams are often asked to improve claims outcomes, increase engagement, and meet diverse employee needs, without additional staff or resources. This session introduces a practical planning framework that helps wellness leaders prioritize programs at the intersection of claims data, employee engagement, and team capacity. Participants will learn how to translate high-level benefits data into meaningful, human-centered programming while protecting team bandwidth and avoiding burnout. Through real-world examples and guided application, attendees will leave with a clear, repeatable approach they can implement immediately within their own organizations.
Kourtney Bassett, MS, CHES®
Assistant Director, Employee Wellness
Texas A&M University
CELESTE A BALLROOM
LUNA
4:45 PM
Day 1 Concludes — DISCOVER THE JOURNEY Tomorrow
DISCOVER the Journey
8:00 – 9:00 AM
9:00 – 9:15 AM
breakfast
WELCOME & Opening Remarks
Ryan Griffin
Vice Chancellor & Chief Financial Officer
The Texas A&M University System
TBA
CELESTE A BALLROOM
9:15 – 10:15 AM
KEYNOTE
TBA
CELESTE A BALLROOM
10:15 – 10:30 AM
Recharge & Connect: Vendor Networking Break
AURORA
10:30 – 11:30 AM
The Five Myths of Exercise
As obesity care evolves, human behavior remains the key driver of long-term success. This session explores why behavior change and skill building are the foundation of sustainable health—supporting outcomes across exercise, weight management, and overall well-being, even as treatment options continue to advance.
CELESTE A BALLROOM
Dr. Tim Church, MD, MPH, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Wondr Health
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
LUNCH, RECOGNITION & AWARDS
cELESTE B, C BALLROOM
1:15 – 2:15 PM
TBA
CELESTE A BALLROOM
2:15 – 2:30 pm
BREAK
2:30 – 3:30 PM
BENEFITS JOURNEY
Medicare Stars and You!
Overview of Medicare Stars and how TAMUS Benefit Specialists can help drive better outcomes for your retirees.
Mandy Sharp-Sarber
Sr. Account Executive, Group Retiree Services
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas
CELESTE A BALLROOM
WELLNESS JOURNEY
The Wellness Connection:
Turning Healthy Habits into Workplace Results
As wellness leaders, we understand that lifestyle choices influence engagement, productivity, and overall well-being. This session will explore how everyday habits affects the brain, body, and behavior, and how positive lifestyle changes can enhance physical, mental and emotional health. Heather Reynolds, TAMUS Wellness Coordinator, will guide Wellness Champions through practical strategies for identifying and implementing wellness activities that support multiple dimensions of well-being, helping employees thrive both at work and in their personal lives.
Heather Reynolds, LPC-S, FMCHC
Wellness Coordinator
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas
AURORA
3:30 – 3:45 PM
break
3:45 – 4:45 PM
Benefits journey
TBA
wellness journey
Is Your Wellness Event a Rose, Thorn or Bud?
Wellness Champions will focus on planning low- or no-cost wellness events for their workstations using insights from their most recent medical data. Planning efforts will include establishing a budget, prioritizing grant funding, defining event expectations, and gathering participant feedback. Wellness Champions will also share their most impactful low- or no-cost wellness event, along with the outcomes and benefits achieved through the initiative.
Cindy Quinn
Wellness Coordinator
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas
Heather Reynolds, LPC-S, FMCHC
Wellness Coordinator
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas
celeste a ballroom
aurora
4:45 PM
Day 2 Concludes — The Journey Continues Tomorrow
5:00 PM
CONNECTIONS HAPPY HOUR
sPONSORED BY:
