The Health & Voluntary Benefits Association® (HVBA) brought together brokers, consultants, industry leaders, innovators and strategic partners in Tampa for the 2026 HVBA Innovation Summit, delivering two days filled with meaningful conversations, timely education, relationship-building and plenty of fun.

The experience began Wednesday evening with an exclusive VIP Dinner for HVBA Board Members and invited guests, creating an intimate setting for industry leaders to connect before the Summit officially began. The private event was held by invitation from HVBA Chairman & CEO Robert S. Shestack and gave attendees an opportunity to strengthen existing relationships, welcome new faces and begin conversations that continued throughout the following day.

That spirit of connection carried directly into Thursday’s Innovation Summit at Hotel Alba Tampa, where attendees heard from an impressive lineup of speakers addressing some of the most important issues affecting employers, brokers and the benefits industry today.

Mike Hirshberg, Division Sales Manager with MassMutual, welcomed attendees and moderated the afternoon’s educational programming.

Chris McLellan, PMP, Vice President of Operations at MedWatch, opened the educational content with “Transforming GLP-1 Coverage Through a Sustainable Carve-Out Model: A MedWatch Employee Population Case Study,” bringing a real-world perspective to one of the most pressing cost and coverage issues facing employer-sponsored health plans.

Cambria Smith, CEO of Aevitas, and Rick Solofsky, President and published author with Solofsky Financial Group, LLC, tackled “The Retirement-Medicare Crossroads: Helping Employers and Employees Navigate What Comes Next.” Their conversation focused on the growing challenges employers face as more employees work beyond age 65, including Medicare eligibility, compliance, workforce transitions and the need for stronger employee education.

David Sherman, Director of Channel and Partnerships at PTO Exchange, showed attendees how employers can rethink a benefit they already fund by transforming unused paid time off into greater financial flexibility for employees. His session demonstrated how innovation does not always require adding another benefit—it can also mean finding more value in the benefits already available.

Lee Stokes, CEO of Fidelity Enrollment Services, addressed “The Use of AI During the Enrollment Process for a Multi-generational Workforce,” exploring how technology and artificial intelligence can help improve communication and enrollment experiences across generations.

The afternoon continued with Jon O’Toole, Chief Revenue Officer of Recuro Health, sharing “Recuro Health Built Intentionally to Serve — A Success Story,” highlighting the importance of intentionally designing healthcare solutions around service, partnerships and measurable value.

One of the day’s most spirited conversations came during “What the Health?? Rx Costs Shouldn’t Be Hell,” featuring Jake Velie, Vice Chair & President of HVBA and Chairman & CEO of National Integrative Health; Rachel Strauss, Founder & CEO of PBM Princess; and Chris McLellan of MedWatch. The discussion brought together different perspectives on the rising cost and complexity of prescription drugs and challenged attendees to continue asking harder questions about how healthcare dollars are being spent.

Bill Viszt, Consultant with Smart Scan, also introduced attendees to “Smart Scan: Prevent Heart Attacks and Detect Cancer Before It Spreads,” highlighting another example of innovation focused on earlier identification and better health outcomes.

But the HVBA Innovation Summit was never intended to be an event where attendees simply listened to presentations and went home.

At 4:00 p.m., the educational sessions transitioned immediately into an upscale Casino Night Networking Reception, complete with a premium open bar, heavy butlered hors d’oeuvres, casino gaming, giveaways and raffle prizes.

The ballroom came alive as attendees moved from table to table, played casino games, laughed, competed and—most importantly—continued the conversations that had started during the Summit. The casino format was intentionally designed to keep people circulating throughout the room, helping brokers, solution providers and industry professionals connect with people they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.

For HVBA, that is what makes the Innovation Summit experience different.

The goal is not simply to collect business cards. It is to create an environment where meaningful introductions can become partnerships, partnerships can become business, and new ideas can ultimately help brokers and employers better serve the people depending on their benefit programs.

“The energy in Tampa was incredible,” said Robert S. Shestack, Chairman & CEO of HVBA. “From our private VIP Dinner Wednesday night to the educational sessions and then Casino Night, people were talking, laughing, learning and doing business. That is exactly what we want an HVBA event to accomplish. We want people to leave with new ideas, new relationships and real opportunities—not simply another stack of business cards.”

The Tampa Innovation Summit continued HVBA’s longstanding mission of bringing together leaders from across the health and voluntary benefits industry to exchange practical insights, discover emerging solutions and build relationships capable of moving the industry forward.

And if the laughter, conversations and packed casino tables were any indication, Tampa delivered.

About the Health & Voluntary Benefits Association®

The Health & Voluntary Benefits Association® (HVBA) is an industry organization focused on education, innovation, networking and professional development throughout the health and voluntary benefits marketplace. Since 2008, HVBA events have helped brokers, consultants, carriers, TPAs, solution providers and HR professionals better understand the evolving benefits landscape while connecting with organizations and leaders capable of helping their businesses grow.