Events

Upcoming Events:

Dinner Meeting

The next dinner meeting for the Florida West Coast Employee Benefits Council 2023-2024 season will be on October 23, 2024; 5:30 PM; Maggiano’s at Westshore Plaza (203 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, FL).

Jody Simon from Transamerica will be presenting understanding ramifications on nondiscrimination testing rules is critical for retirement plan administrators and practitioners in the wake of the SECURE 2.

We are now accepting renewals and new members for the 2024-2025 season.

Workshop

Info coming soon.


Past Events

DateSpeakerTopicTitleCompanyContact
September 2024
Joe DeBello
Overview of fiduciary issues; both from litigation issues and best practices for plan sponsors and advisorsCaptrust
May 2023Patrick DelaneyPLANNING FOR THE REALITIES OF
HEALTH CARE COSTS IN RETIREMENT
T. Rowe Price
March 2023Alex SanchezCommon Retirement Plan Audit FindingsPension Assurance
February 2023Jonathan RickettsESG and the Future of WorkNatixis
January 2023John DoyleSECURE 2.0 Act of 2022American Funds
November 2022Danny CookPay(k)onnect
October 2022Hank PariseauRecession Risk and Retirement PlanningBernstein Private Wealth Management
September 2022Rod TroyanThe Fundementals of QDROsTroyan & Associates, P.A.
May 2022Christopher F. Terrigino and Dennis PalevedaAudit process for employee benefit plans Rivero, Gordimer & Company 
February 2022Glenn DialRetirement Income Options and employee considerations inside 401(k) plans American Century 
January 2022Buck BlantonWhat is the DOL looking for in an investigation. Pensionmark 
November 2021Chris Cavaliere2021 Employment Law Update (and How they Impact Your Benefits.) Partner Shumaker 
October 2021Lisa Ann ScaliaWhat happened to 2020 & 2021? How to prepare for 2022   
September 2021Tim ParkerHow Ransomware Works   
June 2020 Webcast: COVID-19 Market Impact Analysis: What Plan Sponsors Need To Know   
February 2020 Finding Fresh Business Models in Retirement   
January 2020 EBSA Investigations   
November 2019 How America Saves   
September 2019Bill KlineThe Future of Plan Governance   
April 2019David CowartReal Choices Employers Make; Watching ERISA Work   
March 2019Dannae DelanoInnovations in Welfare Plan Design The Wagner Law Group 
January 2019Paul VitchockCyber Threat LandscapeSupervisory Special AgentFBI 
November 2018Fred BarsteinUnderstanding DC Plan Mega Trends and DC Market DynamicsFounder & CEOThe Retirement Advisor University 
October 2018Phyllis C. BorziHealth Care Cost Challenges for Employer-Sponsored Plans While the ACA Is Under Attack   
September 2018Stacey TovrovThe Future of IndexingVice President and Investment Strategist BlackRock 
May 2018Paula CalimafdeLegislative Developments, Including Tax ReformPrincipalPaley Rothmancalimafd@paleyrothman.om
April 2018Annual Education Workshop
1. Rick GrafmeyerWashington UpdatePartnerCapitol Tax Partners 
2. Bruce J. McNeilA New Sheriff In Town (The Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and NQDC)PartnerThe Wagner Law Group 
3. Matthew JacksonCyber Liability Insurance: New Concerns and New ProtectionsSenior Vice PresidentSegal Select Insurance 
4. Russell L. HirschhornHow to Avoid ERISA LitigationPartnerProskauer 
5. Amber GriffithDeveloping a Compelling Experience for the Future of WorkPrincipalMercer 
March 2018Ted SchmelzleEmerging Liability of Recordkeeper Fee Arrangement Under New DOL RulesDirector of Plan Sponsor ServicesSecurian Financialtheodore.schmelzle@securian.com
February 2018Lisa GermanoWhat Is In An RFPPresident and General Council Lisa@ab-d.com
January 2018Linda R. MendelGroup Health Care ChallengesOf CounselVorys, Sater, Symour and Pease LLP 
October 2017Thomas E. Clark, Jr.Current Trends in ERISA LitigationPartnerThe Wagner Law Grouptclark@wagnerlawgroup.com
September 2017Steve KrausUpdate on the New Fiduciary RuleShareholderCarlton Fieldsskraus@carltonfields.com
May 2017 Michael J. DullaghanMillennial Money – Engaging the Millennial Participant PopulationInvestment Specialist, DC PlansPutnam InvestmentsMichael_Dullaghan@putnam.com
April 2017Annual Educational Workshop
 1. Chatrane Birbal1. The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration: The Washington Outlook for HR Public Policy1. Senior Advisor, Government Relations 1. Society for Human Resource Management 
 2. Tim Kastrinelis2. FMLA Administrative, Compliance & Workplace Productivity
Management
2. Senior Vice President 2. Liberty Mutual 
 3. Don Trone, GFS3. Behavioral Governance: Applying Neuroscience to Amplify Fiduciary Metrics”3. Co-founder & CEO3. 3ethos  
 4. Kelly Davis, AIP4. Wellness Rules and Regulations4. Benefit Client Advocate4. Bouchard Insurance 
 5. Felix Okwaning Jr., FSA, EA5. DC Optimization5. Vice President5. Prudential Financial 
March 2017    Brian McNultyHealth Plan Cost Containment Strategies and TrendsS.E. Region Employee Benefits Practice LeaderUSI Insurance Services, LLC 
February 2017Heidi LeMieur, C(k)PWashington Retirement Update:  Ahead of the TrendsDCIO Senior ConsultantRetirement Learning Center, LLC 
January 2017Kelly Davis, AIPThe Future of Health Insurance and ComplianceBenefit Client AdvocateBouchard Insurance 
December 2016MEMBER’S HOLIDAY PARTY
November 2016David N. LevineDOL Enforcement for Plan Providers and Plan Sponsors: Where Does it Go Next?PrincipalGroom Law Group 
October 2016Dr. Mark BushHealth and Welfare Issues Facing EmployersProgram Director for the Bachelor’s in Health Service AdministrationUniversity of Central Florida 
September 2016Gail BucknerSocial Security: Key Concepts & Sophisticated Strategies to Help Maximize Benefits.Vice President and National Financial Planning SpokespersonFranklin Templeton 
May 2016Lisa PowerCyber Liability – Network Security and PrivacyFlorida Branch ManagerAIGlisa.power@aig.com
April 2016Annual Educational Workshop 
Pam PerdueERISA and Employee Benefits 20 Years From Now – Laying the Groundwork TodayPartnerSummers Compton & Wells, LLC 
Heidi Braren-WalshWelfare & Fringe Benefit Plan CompliancePresidentBraren-Walsh & Associates, Inc. 
Michael RosenbaumBest Practices for Retirement Plan Committees and Potential Impact of Pending DOL Fiduciary RulesPartnerDrinker Biddle & Reath, LLP 
Jenifer A. Cromwell‘Everything Old is New Again’ or Why We’re Talking about HIPAA TodayPartnerBredhoff & Kaiser, P.L.L.C. 
Ann SchleckGet Credit for the Value You Deliver to Your Plan Sponsor ClientsPresidentAnn Schleck & Company 
March 2016Joan Neri2016 Fiduciary Hot TopicsCounselDrinker Biddle & Reath LLPjoan.neri@dbr.com
February 2016E. Thomas Foster Jr.Retirement Readiness & The Bottom LineNational SpokespersonMassMutual Retirement Servicestfoster@massmutual.com
January 2016Susan P. LuskinWelfare Benefit 5500 Filings – What’s New and How To ComplyPresidentDiversified Administration, Inc.susan@div125.com
December 2015MEMBER’S HOLIDAY PARTY
November 2015Glenn A. DialTarget Date Fund Glidepath Optimization: Creating Participant Income Reliability in RetirementManaging Director – Head of Retirement StrategyAllianz Global Investorsglenn.dial@allianzgi.com
October 2015Jean A. YoungHow America Saves 2015Senior Research AnalystVanguard Center for Retirement Researchjean_young@vanguard.com
September 2015Brian T. Kench, PhDEconomic Indicators to Watch:  October 2015 UpdateDean, College of BusinessUniversity of New Havenbkench@newhaven.edu
May 2015Brian Furgala, Esq., CPC, QPAIRS Correction Programs – Being the Plan’s MacGyverShareholder and Employee Benefits AttorneyGrayRobinson, PAbrian.furgala@gray-robinson.com
April 2015Annual Educational Workshop
1. Lawrence H. Thompson1. What to Expect in a DOL ERISA Investigation:  From Appointment to Closing1. Deputy Regional Director1. Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), United States Department of Labor (USDOL) 
2. Joel Bennett2. LeadWell, LiveWell:  The Key Role of Management in your Wellness Programs2. President2. Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS) 
3. Jeffrey M. Petrone, AIF3. Industry Trends and Best Practices for Retirement Plan Management3. Managing Director3. SageView Advisory Group 
4. Maxine J. Moore4. What to Expect From a Health Plan Investigation4. Senior Advisor – Health Investigations4. Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), United States Department of Labor (USDOL) 
5. Jason C. Roberts, Esq.5. Hiring Service Providers:  Tips & Traps for ERISA Plan Fiduciaries5. CEO of PRI; Partner of RLG5. Pension Resource Institute, LLC and Retirement Law Group, PC. 
March 2015Jason Block, MD, MPHWorking for Wellness:  From Cafeterias to Financial IncentivesGeneral Internal Medicine Physician/Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Obesity Prevention Program of the Department of Population MedicineHarvard Medical School/Harvard Poilgrim Health Care Institutejblock1@partners.org
February 2015Kent O. PetersonRetirement plan fiduciary issuesDirector of Investment Services & Senior Associate ActuarySecurian Financial Groupkent.peterson@securian.com
January 2015Jeremy StempienNo Portfolio is an IslandDirector of Investments – Retirement Solutions GroupMorningstar Investment Managementjeremy.stempien@morningstart.com
December 2014MEMBER’S HOLIDAY PARTY
November 2014Shelby C. George, JD, CEBS“A Holistic Approach to Benefits: Managing Plan Failure RiskPractice LeaderManning & Napiernhamblin@manning-napier.com(585) 325-6880
October 2014Don A. MazurskyHealth Care ReformFounder & Managing PartnerMazursky Constantine, LLCDMazursky@mazconlaw.com(404) 888-8840
September 2014Rennie WorsfoldHelp in DC PlansVP National Sales ManagerFinancial Engines 
May 2014Aleya HendersonWhat to Expect in an EBSA AuditSupervisory Beneftis AdvisorU.S. Department of Labor 
April 2014Nevin AdamsKey Note – A Retirement Crisis or a Crisis of ConfidenceDirector, Education & External Relations
Director ASEC, Co-Director EBRI CRI
EBRI Center for Research on Retirement Income(202) 775-6329 | Email
Travis KlavohnAn Inside Look into Health Care ConsumersDirector of Consumer Health SolutionsBenefit Wallet a Xerox Solution(770) 916-4152 | Email
David S RosnerThe Post-DOMA World – The Windor Decision’s Impact on Retirement Plans & Other Benefit Plans Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC(202) 263-0164 | Email
Kevin BrooksThe Role of an Effective Comminications Strategy in Driving Employee Engagement in Health and WellnessVP, Integrated Marketing – Consumers Solutions GroupOptum – Consumer Solutions GroupEmail
Gregory C BradenThe Latest and Greatest in ERISA LitigationPartnerMorgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP(202) 739-5217 | Email
March 2014 Steven G Schaffer ESOPs; A benefit plan that works for owners and employees AttorneySteven G. Schaffer, Bryan Cave LLP 
February 2014Janice WegesinForm 5500 and Other Filing UpdatesPresidentJMW Consulting 
January 2014Allison UllmanTax-advantaged Funding Vehicles under the Affordable Care Act CouncilCrowell & Moring LLP 
December 2014MEMBER’S HOLIDAY PARTY
November 2013Neil QuinnThe Employer’s New Clothes: Workplace Wellness in the 21st Century Vice President /DirectorThe Oswald Companies 
October 2013Brodie WoodCommitment to Outcome: New Realities in Not-for-Profit Retirement Benefits Vice PresidentTransamerica Retirement Solutions 
September 2013Rob Austin, FSA, EABehavorial Economics: How Irrational Decision Making Impacts Retirement FSA, EAAol Hewitt 
May 2013Fred StewartIndustry Update on Target Date Funds & the Latest Trends for Plan Sponsors Performance Evaluations, Inc. 
April 2013Annual Educational Workshop:Stephen Mason, President and CEOAndrea Powers, CounselBrian Pinheiro, PartnerBrian Kench, Professor and ConsultantDebbie Harrison, Senior Manager, Public Policy  Healthcare Industry and Healthcare ReformHelping Businesses Navigate thru Healthcare ReformFiduciary Best Practices in 401(k) and 403(b) PlansEconomic Indicators to Watch:  April 2013 UpdateEmployer-Sponsored Health Coverage and the Affordable Care Act:  Perspectives on Future Health Plan Design and Compliance Strategies Baycare Health SystemBaker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PCBallard Spahr, LLPThe University of TampaNational Business Group on Health 
April 2013Phyllis Borzi, Assistant Secretary of LaborWhat to Expect from the DOL:  Regulatory and Enforcement Priorities Affecting Pension and Health Plans Assistant Secretary of LaborEmployee Benefits Security Administration 
February 2013Glenn CarnathanA State of the Union on Retirement Readiness:  Why is the needle not moving? Regional Benefits ConsultantFinancial Soundings, LLC 
January 2013Linda MendelEmployer Pay or Play Penalties:  What’s Your Plan? CouncelVorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP 
November 2012Jean YoungHow America Saves – 2012 Senior Research AnalystVanguard’s Center for Retirement Research 
October 2012Janice McClendonHealthcare Reform and Election Implication Professor of LawStetson University of Law 
September 2012Andrew FergusonCash Balance Plan Design Alternatives:  Maximizing Pre-Tax Contributions FSA, EAAltman Cronin