Wellness in the Workplace Conference

Presenter: Kelly Hirn, Leadership Coach

Description: This interactive session equips participants with practical tools to improve communication across generational, personality, and role-based differences. By increasing self-awareness and introducing clear communication frameworks, participants learn how to reduce friction, address resistance, and create alignment more effectively. The session emphasizes real-world application, helping leaders and employees immediately improve conversations that impact performance, collaboration, and change execution.

Presenter: Cheryl Denton, Wellness Specialist at Aspirus

Co-Presenters: Isabella Berg and Josh Zdroik

Description: This session explores what wellness truly means and the meaningful impact it has on workplace culture and performance. Participants will also gain insight into the range of services offered by Aspirus that support the whole person, equipping organizations with practical ways to foster environments where employees can thrive both personally and professionally.

Presenter: Marsha Bushman, Senior Account Executive at Carrot Fertility

Description: As workplace expectations evolve, benefits must move beyond traditional wellness models. In this session, Marsha Bushman of Carrot Fertility will discuss how organizations can leverage health technology and inclusive fertility and family-building benefits to create more supportive workplaces. The session will highlight practical frameworks for integrating modern wellness tools, using data to guide benefit strategy, and ensuring employees feel supported across critical life stages—from fertility and pregnancy to menopause and beyond.

Presenter: Samantha Diedrich, Business Development Executive at McClone Insurance

Description: Participants will explore how cultivating purpose and joy can transform employee engagement, innovation, and overall workplace wellbeing. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience in workplace wellness and insights from her book Joy Toolbox, Samantha Diedrich introduces practical “Joy Tools” grounded in positive psychology and behavior change. Attendees will learn how purpose, gratitude, resilience, and meaning-driven work can unlock greater creativity, stronger problem-solving, and higher job satisfaction, and will leave with actionable strategies to help themselves and their teams move beyond simply completing tasks to creating a culture where people perform at their best because they truly want to—not because they have to.

Presenter: Mallory Bryan, Business Services Consultant at Wisconsin DWD's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

Description: Join the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for a session that will highlight best practices for supporting mental health in the workplace and fostering productivity. This session discusses the prevalence of mental illness in the United States, dispels common myths and stereotypes, shares practical insights on creating supportive environments, and explores how fostering mental health awareness not only enhances employee well-being but also drives productivity and strengthens workplace culture.

Presenter: Kristie Egge, Supervisor of Strategic Initiatives at Wood County Health Department

Co-Presenter: Niki Lucht, Epidemiologist at Wood County Health Department

Description: Workplace policies play a critical role in shaping the social determinants of health that influence employee well-being, engagement, and long-term financial security. This session explores how flexible, wellness-focused workplace policies, such as telework, comp time, walking meetings, combined wellness breaks, and financial wellness programs, can create healthier, more resilient organizations. Using Wood County’s Community Health Improvement Plan as a case example, participants will learn how the Human Resources and Wellness Program partnered with Extension to implement Financial Wellness at Work, an initiative designed to improve employee financial security. The session will highlight Extension’s evidence-based resources that support employers in addressing financial wellness as a key component of overall health. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to align workplace policy, wellness programming, and community health goals to drive meaningful and lasting change.

Presenter: Rich Neumann, MS FMP, Culinary Arts Instructor at Mid-State Technical College

Description: This session discusses the foundations of healthy eating and lifestyle habits, emphasizing balanced macronutrients, nutrient‑dense foods, and the role of hydration. It highlights major diet‑related health risks, explains carbohydrate, protein, and lipid functions, and reviews credible nutrition resources. Explore weekly exercise recommendations, concerns with keto diets, and how GLP‑1 medications support weight management. The session blends practical nutrition science with real‑world tools to support informed, sustainable choices.