April 22, 2026
The Healthiest State Conference provides a dynamic space for learning, collaboration, and innovation in health and wellness.
Designed for HR professionals, wellness coordinators, and organizational leaders, the conference offers educational opportunities to advance workplace and community well-being. Attendees will gain insights into the latest wellness initiatives, connect with industry professionals, and access tools to drive meaningful change.
2026 Speaker Lineup
The Healthiest State Conference is packed with keynotes and breakout rooms covering a variety of important topics including health and well-being in the workplace, community health and equity, mental health, cancer in Iowa, and burnout.
2026 Conference Sessions
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Nico Pronk - President of the HealthPartners Institute and Chief Science Officer at HealthPartners
Integrating movement into the workplace is a strategic imperative that enhances cardiovascular, metabolic, and brain health of workers and may significantly boost organizational performance. Research indicates that physically active employees demonstrate higher work performance and lower absenteeism. Furthermore, movement serves as a productivity catalyst by reducing presenteeism and improving work ability through increased physiological resilience. Ultimately, by applying best-practice design principles and making movement simple, social, and rewarding, companies can deliberately transform physical activity from a secondary program into a core cultural value.
As a result of these presentation, attendees will be able to:
Recognize what is meant by the physical activity health paradox.
Realize that movement can be leveraged as a catalyst for both worker and organizational performance.
Identify critical design features for effective programs that implement movement as an integral part of work.
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Attendees will select only one presentation to attend during this breakout session.
Elevating Education by Investing in Employee Wellbeing - Jim Barclay & Lindsay Waechter
If You Think This Is a ‘Gen Z Problem’, It's Probably You... - Ali Payne
An Inspiring Environment for Neurodivergent Employees - Kate Thompson
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Attendees will select only one presentation to attend during this breakout session.
Cancer in Iowa: Community and Workplace Strategies - Mary Charlton & Kelly Wells Sittig
Supporting Employee Financial Well-Being Across the Risk Continuum - Diana Kremzar
Driving Engagement Through Culture and Communication: Building a Robust Wellness Ambassador Network and Strategic Messaging - Melanie Cuchna, Erica Blaha & Dawn Whitehill
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Riz Vazir, Founder and CEO - Scroll By Choice
You wake up and check your phone. 6 out of 10 people do. A TikTok clip. An Instagram scroll. A news headline. Between each, a Slack ping or email pulls you back. By the time you start your first task, your focus is already fractured. For many, the only uninterrupted attention comes while doomscrolling.
Office workers lose 2+ hours a day to digital distraction. Poor digital habits come in the way of networking, learning, side projects and more. The total estimated cost of excessive, unmanaged screentime may be as high as $10K–$20K annually.
Drawing on digital wellness research, this session explores how tech habits affect focus and professional judgment and equips leaders to address digital overwhelm as both a wellness and performance lever.
Attendees will be learn to:
Identify when poor digital habits may be eroding focus, engagement, and team effectiveness.
Evaluate how organizational norms and communication practices contribute to digital overload.
Lead by example modeling digital balance as a core element of leadership effectiveness and employee well-being.
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Attendees will select only one presentation to attend during this breakout session.
Beyond the Scale: Realistic and Sustainable Well-Being Approaches Without the Weight Focus - Alison St. Germain
Reflective Supervision as a Wellness Strategy: Supporting the Humans Behind the Work - Emma Harding
Whole-Person Health: Addressing Root Causes Through the Gut–Mind Connection - Caitlin Larson & Elsey Strube
The 2026 Healthiest State Conference is presented by:

