We’ve designed a Skill Building Session for the extraordinary thinkers called The Inspirers, Explorers, and Creators. It’s a fast-paced and fun learning environment to highlight inspirational, perspective shifting, and innovative ideas regarding workplace wellbeing. For the last month we’ve been diligently evaluating speaker submissions. There was an intense competition for speaking slots, and we’ve had to turn away many strong proposals. We take this as an exciting signal of the growing thought leaders our industry has in Wisconsin!
That being said, we’re thrilled to announce our 5 extraordinary thinkers who will be sharing the stage for one of our last Skill Building Session:
Barbra Fagan, MS, RCEP, MFAACVPR | Director Workforce Health Business Development, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Workforce Health
Barbra Fagan has more than 30 years of experience in wellness, prevention and care management and is a pioneer in applying the concepts of “population management.” Barb is an experienced leader, having begun her career with Menomonee Falls Community Memorial Hospital and previously leading both the Cardia and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Workforce Health programs. Barb is also a recognized expert in wellness and prevention, having served on local and national association boards, and was President of the AACVPR in 2014. Outside of work, she lives what she teaches; constantly reaching for ever changing goals. She has competed in over 50 marathons, 15 Ironman triathlons, multiple ultra-marathons, including a 100-mile run, and recently competing in CrossFit. Barb has lived her passion in the constant pursuit of excellence, to be the very best in all she does, in life and in leadership.
Matthew Vandre, MS HES, CFEI | Money Advisor, Francis Investment Counsel
Matthew works as an adult financial education project manager, money adviser, and e-Learning program manager with the MoneyAdvice@Work® Team for Francis Investment Counsel. As an ERISA fiduciary his primary responsibilities include working with corporate plan sponsors and local area site managers to create and deliver engaging adult financial education events, provide holistic family financial planning and coaching services, and manage the firm’s distance learning relationships and remote applications technologies program nationwide. Active in his community, he is a published member of the Financial Therapy Association (FTA), is a contributing member of the National Financial Educators Council-Personal Finance Speakers Association, volunteers for SecureFutures; providing financial education and coaching to area at risk high school students, is the student ministries program manager and a Bible teacher for Waukesha Bible Church, and is a Veteran of the historic Wisconsin Army National Guard 32nd “Red Arrow” Brigade. An avid learner, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee having earned an interdisciplinary baccalaureate degree in economics, sociology, and communications before continuing on to the University of Alabama’s School of Human Environmental Sciences where he earned a Master of Science degree in family financial planning and behavioral counseling. Additionally, he holds a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) designation form the National Financial Educators Council and is a candidate for the CFP® designation. Although his work takes him across the country, he calls Waukesha, WI home where he resides with his wife 5 children.
Jason Morgan | Global Health and Wellbeing Lead, Mars Inc.
Jason Morgan is a Global Health and Wellness leader with broad expertise in Strategic Design, Program Implementation, Business Development and Account Management. Jason has a distinguished track record of developing, delivering, enhancing and managing global and domestic employee wellness initiatives in Fortune 500 companies as well as serving as a subject matter expert for corporate health & wellness consulting.
Within his roles of creating strategic direction for corporate wellness programs, he has the unique skill set of establishing the global corporate strategy and delivering employee wellness programs worldwide at Mars, Inc. Given his natural ability with people and his confident, energetic, and outgoing nature, he has built and managed highly effective teams, mentored numerous colleagues and clients, and established a solid reputation as an industry leader. Jason seeks to transform the approach to corporate health & wellness by empowering and inspiring individuals and organizations to take action with effective strategies that will look not just at health, but overall happiness as well.
Debra Lafler | Wellness and EAP Manager, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Debra is a locally well-known wellness consultant and moving motivational speaker. She has delivered seminars at team meetings, trainings, and conferences. She’s been in the wellness field for over 20 years, and worked in private and public sectors. Currently, she works as the State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ Wellness and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Manager, where she aims to inspire 6,000 employees state-wide. She also teaches online as an Adjust Professor for the University of Wisconsin’s Health and Wellness Management (HWM) degree programs. And, she also has a private personal business, Personal Wellness Development, LLC, where she can provide coaching, consulting, or motivational speaking.
Academically, Debra has earned a Doctorate in Divinity (DDiv), and a Doctorate in Spiritual Studies (DSS) degree from The Emerson Theological Institute, a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Health & Behavior Studies with a focus in Health Education from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Communication with Certificates in Wellness and Coaching from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. She has additional training in worksite wellness, yoga, meditation, Reiki, grief support, and holistic stress management.
Debra’s approach provides an integrated body-mind-spirit perspective, emphasizing the importance of the spiritual component. She believes that “wellness is a life-long process of self-discovery and self-improvement. This process is about progress, and not perfection.” Her mission is to help others foster their own personal wellbeing through awareness, curiosity and self-compassion; and her hope is that this will have a well-being ripple effect outward.
Marissa Kalkman, MS, MCHES | Executive Director, WCWI
Marissa is the Executive Director at WCWI, and leads with the mindset that wellbeing in the workplace is good business and the right thing to do, with resounding positive effects on the employee experience, engagement, retention, recruitment, productivity, and overall health. Marissa is determined to support WCWI members with her results-focused drive to bring exceptional service, expert consultation and unparalleled connection to the Wisconsin employers in our network.
Marissa has a wide-ranging skillset in workplace well-being gathered from her experience as a consultant, program manager, health educator and coach. She has a robust education and training background in health promotion, health behavior and psychology and feels an aligned personal and professional responsibility to inspire and empower others to live healthful and fulfilling lives. When she’s not at work, you will most often find her spending time with her family (husband Dan, daughter Aliza and rescue pup, Nora), exercising and trying a variety of intense workouts (CrossFit is a favorite), enjoying the outdoors (especially hiking and camping) and listening to Podcasts.