San Antonio, TX — May 2026 — The Health & Voluntary Benefits Association (HVBA) officially kicked off its 2026 Innovation Summit in San Antonio with a full strategic board meeting, setting the tone for a high-impact event focused on leadership, innovation, meaningful networking, and partnership development across the health and voluntary benefits industry.

The San Antonio Innovation Summit brought together HVBA board members, sponsors, brokers, carriers, solution providers, and industry leaders for a curated experience designed to move beyond traditional conference networking. The event created an environment where attendees could engage in real conversations, explore case studies, ask thoughtful questions, and identify new opportunities to bring innovative benefit solutions to employers and their employees.

“HVBA events are intentionally designed to bring the right people into the room,” said Rob Shestack, President and CEO of HVBA. “Our goal is not just attendance. Our goal is connection, collaboration, and business outcomes. In San Antonio, we saw exactly that — meaningful introductions, strategic discussions, and partnerships already taking shape.”

Throughout the event, attendees participated in focused conversations around industry trends, benefit innovation, broker differentiation, and solutions that can be bundled, expanded, or offered as stand-alone opportunities. The summit highlighted how important it is for benefits professionals to hear real case studies, review data, and understand offerings in a way that supports stronger strategic decisions for brokers and their employer clients.

A key highlight of the event was the strength of the networking experience. Attendees left with more than business cards — they left with actionable next steps, new connections, and opportunities for future collaboration. HVBA’s curated format once again proved that smaller, high-value events can generate powerful results for attendees and sponsors alike.

The event also featured strong sponsor and speaker engagement, giving attendees direct access to companies and leaders bringing new ideas to the voluntary benefits and health benefits marketplace. The energy in the room reflected HVBA’s core mission: to create space where education, innovation, and relationship-building lead to real business growth.

With the success of San Antonio, excitement is already building for the next HVBA Innovation Summit, taking place Thursday, August 20, 2026, in Tampa, Florida. Attendees, sponsors, and partners from San Antonio are already looking ahead to continuing the conversations, expanding the partnerships, and building on the momentum created at this powerful event.

“Everyone left San Antonio energized,” Shestack added. “The conversations were strong, the connections were meaningful, and the business opportunities were real. We are thrilled that so many of our attendees and partners will be joining us again in Tampa.”

The HVBA Innovation Summit series continues to serve as a premier gathering place for professionals across the health, voluntary benefits, employee benefits, broker, carrier, and solution provider communities. Through strategic networking, education, sponsorship visibility, and curated access to decision-makers, HVBA remains committed to helping its members and partners grow, differentiate, and succeed.

About HVBA
The Health & Voluntary Benefits Association is dedicated to advancing education, innovation, networking, and strategic collaboration within the health and voluntary benefits industry. Through curated events, research, thought leadership, certification, and partnership opportunities, HVBA connects industry professionals with the insights and relationships needed to drive meaningful business growth.

Media Contact:
Jenny Jenkins
Health & Voluntary Benefits Association
jjenkins@vbassociation.com
www.vbassociation.com