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Beyond the Cost of Care: Board Oversight of Healthcare Benefits, Workforce Strategy and Long-Term Value

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September 15, 2026 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EDT Webinar

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New Jersey Events / Beyond the Cost of Care
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NACD New Jersey
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Gina Barberio
Chapter Coordinator
NACD New Jersey Chapter
293 Route 18 South, Suite D 313
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
ginabarberio@comcast.net
732-698-7771

Kristin Hassan
Executive Director
NACD New Jersey Chapter
kristin.hassan@outlook.com

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About The Event

Member Price: Complimentary

Non Member Price: Complimentary

Credits: 1 NACD Credit

Healthcare benefits are among the largest workforce-related expenses, but their impact extends far beyond cost. They can influence employee well-being, absenteeism, productivity, resilience, equity, and the ability to attract and retain talent. Plan to Join NACD New Jersey on September 15 for a virtual discussion on how boards can oversee healthcare costs and benefits as a key component of workforce strategy and long-term value creation. Panelists will explore the forces driving healthcare costs, emerging approaches to value-based benefits as well as the growing importance of mental health, health equity and transparency. Importantly the discussion will also address the information boards should receive to assess workforce health and resilience as well as the questions directors should ask—while maintaining the appropriate distinction between board oversight and management responsibility. Participants will leave with practical governance insights for connecting healthcare investment with human capital performance, enterprise risk, and sustainable growth.

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This event is proudly hosted in partnership with HINJ (HealthCare Institute of New Jersey).

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Speakers

Rich Bagger

Partner and Executive Director, Christie 55 Solutions

Rich Bagger is a Partner and Executive Director of Christie 55 Solutions, a New Jersey based consulting firm that provides strategic counsel to assist clients with business strategies and opportunities and with complex public policy and regulatory challenges...

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Mary Ann Czarcinski

Mary Ann Czarcinski is a Benefits and Compensation professional with over 40 years of experience. After graduating from Lehigh University, she started her career as a Group Underwriter, later advancing to design and consult on Employee Benefit Programs in the Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries...

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Amadou Diarra, Ph.D.

Independent Board Director

Amadou Diarra brings over three decades of global expertise in healthcare innovation, P&L management, market access, policy, government affairs, patient advocacy, philanthropy, and strategic governance. His career spans executive and board leadership, with a track record of delivering sustainable growth and leading policy-driven transformation, underscored by a commitment to health equity..

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Kim Thiboldeaux

CEO, Northeast Business Group on Health

Kim Thiboldeaux is a nationally-recognized healthcare leader, patient advocate, author, and film producer with experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as CEO of the Northeast Business Group on Health (NEBGH), a nonprofit, employer led coalition committed to driving healthcare value and improving outcomes for employees and their families...

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Jennifer Velez

EVP, Health & Network Solutions, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Jennifer Velez is the Executive Vice President of Health & Network Solutions at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ). In that role, she has responsibility for several teams across the enterprise, including provider network management, quality and health equity, behavioral health, population health management, pharmacy, payment integrity, and clinical operations...

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Additional speakers to be announced.

NACD New Jersey
Contact Us

Gina Barberio
Chapter Coordinator
NACD New Jersey Chapter
293 Route 18 South, Suite D 313
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
ginabarberio@comcast.net
732-698-7771

Kristin Hassan
Executive Director
NACD New Jersey Chapter
kristin.hassan@outlook.com

Find a Chapter

Final Days to Save $1,000 on NACD Directors Summit® 2026 Registration 

Register by Monday, August 31 to take advantage of this exclusive discounted pricing. 

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By registering for an NACD or NACD Chapter Network event, you agree to the following Code of Conduct.

NACD and the NACD Chapter Network organizations (NACD) are non-partisan, nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing directors with the opportunity to discuss timely governance oversight practices. The views of the speakers and audience are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NACD.