Working Well Conference

Encouraging Wichita employers to value and prioritize employee health and wellness

Speakers & Sessions  |  Lodging  |  Sponsors  |  Register

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April 10, 2026 8am-4pm at The Drury Hotel

The Working Well Conference is one of a kind in the state of Kansas, bringing together the top health promotion experts to focus on what works in worksite wellness. The Health & Wellness Coalition of Wichita began organizing the conference twenty years ago to help worksites better understand the value of wellness programs and provide tools necessary to make their programs successful. The mission is to promote physical activity and healthy eating through people, programs, and policies.

The goal is for individuals to leave the conference with a renewed focus and energy to make a positive impact on the health and well-being of each organization’s most important resource – their people. A focus of this year’s conference, in particular, is to help those who attend create a workplace where innovation and well-being thrive.

Agenda

Time Session
8:00-9:00 Registration & Vendor Time
9:00-12:15 Conference Opening & Welcome, Keynote: Dr. Corey Martin, Vendor Break, Breakout Session
12:15-1:00 Lunch, Vendor Time & Activities
1:00-4:00 Awards, Keynote: Matt Marasco, Strength in Bloom: flash talks to help you thrive and Conference Closing

HRCI and SHRM Credits

HRCI HR credits

This program has been pre-approved for 4.75 credit hours (HR – general) toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). The content of the program submitted has met the criteria for Recertification Provider Program.

SHRM credits

This program has been pre-approved for 4.75 credit hours for SHRM.

FREE Pre-conference: School Wellness

KSDE Child Nutrition & Wellness will be offering a pre-conference session on Thursday, April 9 from 1 to 4 pm at 245 N. Waco. The pre-conference session is free and will focus on school wellness policies and Farm to Plate. Attendees will learn about the importance of local school wellness policies and the related state and federal requirements. Resources, tools, and best practices for meeting wellness policy requirements will be reviewed, and the Wellness Impact Tool will be demonstrated. Attendees will also learn how Farm to Plate can be an impactful strategy for supporting student health and wellness. Kansas Farm to Plate initiatives and opportunities will be discussed. If you are interested in growing wellness efforts and local food use in your community, this pre-conference is for you! Opportunities to implement wellness practices and Farm to Plate initiatives will be discussed.

Keynote Speakers

Corey Martin

Corey Martin is a Yale-trained family physician driven to change the delivery of healthcare and improve the mental and physical health of our communities.  He is a founder of Innovations in Resilience and Bounce Travels (www.innovationsinresilience.com), practicing physician, former Chief Medical Officer, Bush Fellow, and consultant to many healthcare and educational organizations in their response to burnout and moral injury.  

Driven to do this work by the loss of two colleagues and friends, Corey strives to create an environment of opportunity in which all of us can do the deep, heartfelt work of changing the way we show up and interact in each other’s lives.  One of the ways he does this is by facilitating wellbeing retreats across the United States and throughout the world.  He is a Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, Center for Courage and Renewal Facilitator, and facilitates workshops based on the work of Brené Brown and Parker Palmer.

In his free time, he enjoys working on his farm.  He and his three girls live in Maple Lake, MN.  He is a recovering perfectionist and an aspiring “good enoughist”.

Session Title: Moving from Surviving to Thriving

Modern life pulls us in a dozen directions at once, and most of us have become experts at “powering through.” But there’s a difference between getting by and actually living well. Moving from Surviving to Thriving brings together the science of gratitude, the power of relationships, and the impact of mindset into one accessible, evidence-based session designed to strengthen wellbeing from the inside out.

Drawing on research from neuroscience, psychology, medicine, and long-term human development studies, Dr. Corey Martin explores how small, intentional shifts—in perspective, connection, and daily practice—can improve health, increase resilience, and deepen our sense of meaning. Through stories, science, and simple tools you can use immediately, participants will learn how to cultivate habits that support longevity, joy, and genuine human connection.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the relationship between gratitude, social connection, mindset, and long-term health.
  2. Recognize how mindset shapes stress responses and emotional wellbeing.
  3. Describe the health and happiness benefits of strong relationships.
  4. Integrate simple gratitude practices.
  5. Identify the role of “4am friends” and supportive relationships.
  6. Apply techniques that strengthen both connection and perspective.

Matt Marasco

Matt Marasco is the Director of Player and Staff Engagement for the Kansas City Royals, spending the last ten years leading within the organization. He leads the Royals’ leadership and organizational development efforts, overseeing programs designed to strengthen the growth, performance, and culture of players, coaches, and staff. In this role, Matt provides strategic leadership across Baseball Operations, helping teams build clarity, alignment, and processes that support both people and performance.

Matt’s work centers on developing healthy, high-trust & high-performing environments and equipping individuals with the tools to lead themselves and others well.

A former collegiate baseball player, Matt played at Kansas State University and Emporia State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Health & Human Performance.

Matt and his wife, Jenn, live in Kansas City with their four children.

Session Title: Covering the Bases: Leading with Trust, Connection, and Impact

Leadership impact isn’t measured by position—it’s measured by influence. And influence is built on trust, relationships, and the ability to create genuine buy-in. Using lessons learned from ten years of leading within a professional baseball organization, Matt will share how leaders can create environments where people feel valued, engaged, and motivated to contribute at their highest level. In a setting where results matter, failure is public, and teams are constantly evolving, the principles of trust and connection prove to be a competitive advantage.

This session will help leaders:

  • Understand the behaviors that earn trust over time
  • Strengthen relationships that drive alignment and accountability
  • Create buy-in by connecting individual roles to shared purpose
  • Foster engagement by building a culture of appreciation and belonging
  • Lead in a way that positively impacts people long after results are recorded

Breakout Sessions (morning):

Scrolling Ourselves Apart

In this age of technology, we have seen transformations in connectivity, communication, and digital consumption. We are constantly connected, yet we are seeing alarming levels of isolation, distractedness, and well-being. Learn how to build intentional employee engagement to foster a team culture of belonging and collaboration.

Speaker: Becca Barnhouse, MS, Training and Employee Development Manager, empac

Becca is the Training and Employee Development Manager at empac. She received her Master of Educational Psychology from Wichita State University in 2023 and became a certified Mental Health Coach in 2024. Before empac, Becca worked in the Maize School District for eight years teaching dual-credit Psychology and Sociology courses through WSU Tech. As a trainer and coach, Becca is excited to continue educating individuals and organizations about mental health and wellness strategies so everyone can be their best selves.

Say Less, Mean More

Leaders will witness confusion, misalignment, frustration when their message comes across as vague or overexplained to their employees. Learn how to navigate common miscommunication barriers by speaking clearly, confidently, and with purpose. By saying less, participants will reinforce trust and results within their teams.

Speaker: Heather Wiley, MBA, CCP, Director of Business Development empac

Heather began her career in child welfare as she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Wichita State University, and served children and families in the foster care system for 18 years. Eager to continue her interest in learning, Heather obtained her Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Change Management from Friends University in 2017. This ignited her passion for learning about organizations inside and out. Heather spent several years of her career dedicated to Human Resources assisting organizations to invest in their greatest asset, their employees. Ultimately recognizing that a healthy workplace culture is the key to success in any industry, Heather became a Certified Coach Practitioner in 2022.

Strength in Bloom: flash talks to help you thrive (afternoon):

Upward Mobility Tools for Worksites

This session will introduce practical strategies employers can use to strengthen financial stability and career pathways for their workforce. Participants will learn about ALICE at Work, a nationwide program of United Way that helps businesses better understand and support workers who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The session will also explore the CLIFF Dashboard, an interactive tool that illustrates how increases in income can unintentionally trigger benefit losses—and how employers can plan those transitions. Attendees will leave with actionable resources and data-driven insights to build workplaces where employees can truly get ahead, not just get by.

Speaker: Sarah Crick Milligan, Director of Community Impact, United Way of the Plains

Sarah Crick Milligan is a Director of Community Impact at United Way of the Plains, where she supports efforts across the community to create healthy communities, financial security, youth opportunities, and community resiliency across southcentral Kansas. In her role, she collaborates with community partners and stakeholders to drive strategic initiatives and strengthen local programs that help neighbors achieve lasting well-being. With deep experience in community service and program leadership, Sarah is a passionate advocate for building equitable pathways to opportunity and long-term success for individuals and families.

Childcare benefits that fit your workforce and your budget

It’s hard to find and keep great employees, especially early in their careers. Learn about a surprisingly affordable and impactful win-win-win solution for employers, employees, and their children. Shared Cost Childcare™ Benefits provide a powerful recruiting/retention tool and strong return of investment without additional administrative burden for employers, and life-changing savings on childcare for employees.

Speaker: Brent Lewis, Executive Director, OneCOMMUNITY

Brent Lewis is the Executive Director of oneCOMMUNITY, a nonprofit focused on expanding affordable, employer-supported childcare solutions like the Shared Cost Childcare™ benefit for working families and businesses. In this role, he works with employers and community partners to design and implement innovative childcare benefits that help attract and retain employees while supporting family stability. Brent’s leadership advances oneCOMMUNITY’s mission to create accessible childcare that strengthens both workforce outcomes and community well-being.

Guest Room Booking

Coming from out of town? Book a room at The Drury Hotel using the group number below.

Presenting Sponsor

Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas

www.bcbsks.com/health-and-wellness/worksite-wellness

Mark Thompson

PRESENTATION: Change Management 101

BCBSKS Enterprise Change Management

Additional Sponsors

MidAmerican Credit Union

https://www.midamerican.coop/benefit

Isabelle Jantz

Carrie Herman

PRESENTATION

MACU Slides

Kansas Health Foundation logo

https://kansashealth.org/

Sarah Jane Crespo

Delta Dental of Kansas

https://deltadentalks.com/

Employers Healthcare Alliance

https://www.employershealthcarealliance.com/

benefitbay (together with Ambetter Health)

https://www.benefitbay.com/

UnitedHealthcare

https://www.uhc.com/

Vendors

Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Inc.
The Converse Team
Bike Walk Wichita
HeadQuarters Kansas
WorkSafe Physical Therapy
The Little Clinic
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging
KDHE Injury and Violence Prevention Essentials for Childhood
The Phoenix
EMPAC
Howden US Specialty LLC
Natural Grocers
Unity Yoga Studio
Marsh McLennan Agency
KDHE Working Healthy
KDHE Bureau of Health Promotion
Grand Canyon University
Work Connected
HealthWorks, Inc.
The Becoming Company
Premier Food Service
Greater Wichita YMCA
School Nutrition Association of Kansas
Valley Hope
National Kidney Foundation
Health Wellness Coalition Wichita - Working Well Conference 2025

Working Well 2025 Conference Summary

Thank you to the conference planning committee, the sponsors, vendors, and speakers for making the following possible:

  • 120 unique organizations attended
  • Conference reach from unduplicated worksites of paid attendees = 33,955
  • 175 paid attendees, 251 total attendees
  • 94 attendees were from Sedgwick County, 66 from across the state of KS
  • 111 new contacts to the Health & Wellness Coalition monthly newsletter
  • 96 registrants represented Beyond worksites (6+ years experience in Worksite Wellness), 21 Bold (3-5 years), 38 Beginning (1-2 years)
  • Most represented industry – Education (33), Job Title – Human Resources (37)
  • 97.7% of the evaluation respondents said that they felt the information learned at the conference equipped them to implement new ideas in their workplace.
    • Most valuable takeaway: “Making cultural changes to make impactful positive change as a leader.”
  • 9 sponsors or vendors responded to the evaluation and scored the conference experience as 5 = excellent.
    • “Great communication and community support! As a vendor we felt all needs were taken care of and we hope to attend next year once again.

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Airele Campbell Hunter Health, Amanda Schuster Gallagher Benefits, Angela Breer Dot Strategies, Fern McGehee Project Access, Lea Aunins Empac, Juliane Walker WSU Center for Public Health Initiatives, Kendra Moody The Thread & Restore Health Coaching, Malaika Bell Fidelity Bank, Mark Thompson BlueCross BlueShield KS, Matt Thibault Health ICT,  Michele Davis Kansas Legal Services, Shelley Rich Medical Society of Sedgwick County, Tammy Tipton BCBSKS, Tia McBride WSU Tech, Valerie Turner Kansas Health Foundation