2026 TOPICS & SPEAKERS
We have an incredible lineup of speakers to drive crucial change needed for your organization in 2026.
2026 TOPICS & SPEAKERS
We have an incredible lineup of speakers to drive crucial change needed for your organization in 2026.
THE
AGENDA
7:30-8:00 AM
Networking breakfast
8:00-8:15 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:15-9:00 AM
Save Your Company: Don't Feed the Beast
9:00-9:30 AM
Latest Pharmacy Strategies for Cost Containment
9:30-10:00 AM
Not the Way It's Always Been Done: How Direct Primary Care Changes Lives
10:00-10:15 AM
Break
10:15-10:45 AM
Direct Care Purchasing for Surgeries and Other Procedures
10:45-11:45 AM
Employer Forum -There is No Silver Budget
11:45-12:00 PM
Final Networking
OUR
SPEAKERS
MATT OHRT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FREE MARKET MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Matt Ohrt is a nationally recognized healthcare leader and reform advocate currently serving as the National Executive Director of the Free Market Medical Association, where he advances market-based healthcare solutions and employer-driven reform across the U.S. He also leads DFTB Consulting, advising employers and organizations on high-performing, sustainable health plan strategies.
Ohrt is the co-founder of Self Fund Health, the fastest-growing employer health plan in the Midwest, and a co-founder of RiseUp Health, a Texas-based employer health plan launching in 2026 with plans to scale nationally. His work has helped position Wisconsin as a model state for direct-care healthcare.
An author and thought leader, Ohrt has written multiple books on employer-sponsored healthcare, including Save Your Company: Don’t Feed the Beast and Good Care Feels Different. With more than 25 years of executive HR leadership experience, he brings a practical, employer-focused perspective to healthcare transformation and continues to champion innovative solutions that improve outcomes while lowering costs.
SAVE YOUR COMPANY: DON'T FEED THE BEAST
Matt Ohrt will provide a clear, employer-focused overview of the forces driving today’s healthcare crisis and why continuing with the status quo is no longer sustainable. His session will examine the incentives, cost drivers, and purchasing behaviors that quietly fuel rising healthcare spend while delivering inconsistent outcomes for employers and employees alike. By exposing the mechanisms that reward opacity and inefficiency, Ohrt will establish a strong foundation for understanding how employers can take back control through transparency, direct care, and accountable healthcare purchasing. Attendees will leave with a sharper understanding of the system’s underlying challenges and practical insight into how organizations can adopt a more intentional, value-driven approach to healthcare.
WES HARTIG
CEO, MEDONE
Wes Hartig is the Chief Executive Officer of MedOne Pharmacy Benefit Solutions, a role he has held since 2016. MedOne is a nationally recognized pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) committed to delivering transparent, cost-effective prescription benefit solutions to employers and health plans across the country. Under Hartig’s leadership, MedOne has experienced exceptional growth, achieving a compounded annual growth rate of 45% over the past seven years. He has driven the company’s innovation and expansion strategy, focusing on aligning incentives, improving access to medications, and providing superior service. As CEO, Hartig is responsible for setting MedOne’s vision, overseeing operations, managing profit and loss, and cultivating a workplace culture centered on employee engagement and retention. Hartig’s leadership at MedOne builds on a strong foundation of experience in healthcare finance and technology. Prior to MedOne, he was part of Martin Ventures, a healthcare-focused venture capital firm, where he developed investment strategies and supported early-stage companies working to modernize healthcare delivery and decision-making.
LATEST PHARMACY STRATEGIES FOR COST CONTAINMENT
Wes Hartig will unpack how rethinking pharmacy benefit structures can be a game-changer for organizations looking to align quality care with financial sustainability. He’ll explore the hidden costs embedded in traditional PBM models and explain how transparency and pass-through pricing create better outcomes for both employers and employees. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how smarter pharmacy strategies not only reduce wasteful spending but also improve medication access and adherence—driving healthier populations and better financial performance.
CARL BEHNE
HY-VEE HEALTH EXEMPLAR CARE
Carl serves as President and Chief Strategy Officer at Hy-Vee Health | Exemplar Care. He brings over 15 years of executive healthcare experience in both rural hospital and health system settings where he was a system VP and a rural hospital CEO. In 2023 Exemplar Care became owners in Aplos Health Plans where it leads the focus to continue the commitment to making healthcare delivery better. Behne is passionate about healthcare access, transparency, and patient experience. In 2013 he was named the Iowa Hospital Association Young Executive of the Year, and has been awarded the IHA Grassroots Advocacy Award, to name a few accomplishments.
HOW DIRECT PRIMARY CARE CHANGES LIVES
Carl Behne will demonstrate how direct primary care can serve as a cornerstone for both cost control and quality improvement. By removing the barriers of traditional fee-for-service models, Exemplar Care is delivering better patient outcomes through more time with providers, proactive care, and seamless coordination. Attendees will see how integrating direct care models into a benefits plan not only improves employee satisfaction but also significantly reduces downstream costs like ER visits, hospitalizations, and unmanaged chronic conditions.
DR. JOSHUA JOHNSTON
RENOVO HEALTH
Dr. Josh Johnston is an anesthesiologist, co-founder and chief of operations at Renovo Health, a direct pay surgery, endoscopy, and infusion center that is transforming the specialty health care experience for patients and businesses across the upper Midwest. Prior to founding Renovo he presided over a solo anesthesia practice, worked as an employee in a large health system, a partner in an independent anesthesia group, and as a flight surgeon in the Air Force. He is a director on the Wisconsin Society of Anesthesiologists’ Board and a member of the Free Market Medical Association. He resides in Green Bay, WI along with his wife and some of their children.
DIRECT CARE PURCHASING FOR PROCEDURES
Dr. Joshua Johnston will highlight how organizations can create a more efficient and effective care experience by prioritizing guided access to high-value providers and early intervention. He’ll showcase how Renovo’s approach—centered on care navigation and accountability—helps reduce unnecessary procedures, hospitalizations, and delays in care. The result: measurable improvements in employee health and significant reductions in medical spend. His insights will challenge attendees to think differently about how they direct and manage care within their benefits strategy.
APRIL MOLDENHAUER
RAINBO OIL
April is a dedicated HR professional with a heart for helping others. She found herself drawn to the world of employee benefits, recognizing how they shape the well-being, financial security, and overall trust in an organization. Over the past year, April has expanded her expertise, working to create a workplace where employees feel genuinely supported and empowered. Understanding the financial difficulties many face with health benefits, she and her team actively listened, learned, and pushed for meaningful changes to their offerings. This process has been a continuous journey of learning, where both employees and leadership have embraced new insights and adaptions along the way. April has a strong commitment to ensure employees have access to the right support, tools, and education to navigate these changes effectively.
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY OWNED HEALTH PLAN
April Moldenhauer, Scott Sabol, Tony Oberman, and Lynette Montez will share firsthand how employers can successfully implement benefits strategies that prioritize quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Their stories will highlight real-world outcomes from putting employees at the center of benefit design—whether that’s through direct care relationships, smarter pharmacy management, or more transparent healthcare partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations of any size can drive better health outcomes, boost employee engagement, and bend the cost curve—proving that aligning values with strategy is both possible and powerful.
SCOTT SABOL, PHD
WISCONSIN RURAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Dr. Sabol is a dedicated leader in K-12 education, serving as a veteran District Administrator for Wisconsin’s rural public schools since 2010. With a Ph.D. in Leadership and a Master’s in Education, he blends academic expertise with practical leadership to drive innovation and student success. Under his leadership, his district achieved its highest school report card performance and passed a $24.5 million referendum, transforming learning spaces. He also led a comprehensive COVID-19 reopening plan, strengthened community engagement, and enhanced district transparency through a strategic improvement plan. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Dr. Sabol manages a $14.5 million budget and secures grants for school safety and efficiency. He previously facilitated a historic three-district consolidation, showcasing his strategic planning skills. Passionate about student-centered learning, he champions PBIS, mental health services, and intervention models while advocating for the arts in education. Dr. Sabol remains committed to fostering growth, innovation, and excellence in education.
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY OWNED HEALTH PLAN
April Moldenhauer, Scott Sabol, Tony Oberman, and Lynette Montez will share firsthand how employers can successfully implement benefits strategies that prioritize quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Their stories will highlight real-world outcomes from putting employees at the center of benefit design—whether that’s through direct care relationships, smarter pharmacy management, or more transparent healthcare partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations of any size can drive better health outcomes, boost employee engagement, and bend the cost curve—proving that aligning values with strategy is both possible and powerful.
TONY OBERMAN
1-800-TSHIRTS
Tony is a seasoned business and operations leader with over 20 years of experience driving growth, efficiency, and customer-focused innovation in the branded apparel, graphics, and promotional products industry. He currently serves as the Director of Operations at 1-800-TSHIRTS, a full-service provider of custom apparel and promotional products solutions, where he is focused on scaling the business, strengthening operations, and positioning the company as a strategic branding partner for its clients. Prior to 1-800-TSHIRTS, Tony spent more than 16 years with The Vernon Company, where he served as Vice President of Graphic Operations. In this role, he led three independent business units across Newton, IA; Unionville, MO; and Carlstadt, NJ, with full P&L responsibility. He oversaw all aspects of sales, production, HR, and on-time delivery, while driving key initiatives in cost reduction, revenue growth, and capital investment.
At 1-800-TSHIRTS, Tony leverages this experience to modernize operations, implement scalable systems, and build a high-performance culture across both office and production teams. He is passionate about helping clients bring their brands to life through high-quality custom apparel and promotional products, backed by strong service, reliability, and strategic insight.
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY OWNED HEALTH PLAN
April Moldenhauer, Scott Sabol, Tony Oberman, and Lynette Montez will share firsthand how employers can successfully implement benefits strategies that prioritize quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Their stories will highlight real-world outcomes from putting employees at the center of benefit design—whether that’s through direct care relationships, smarter pharmacy management, or more transparent healthcare partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations of any size can drive better health outcomes, boost employee engagement, and bend the cost curve—proving that aligning values with strategy is both possible and powerful.
LYNETTE MONTES
1-800-TSHIRTS
Lynette Montes is the HR and Accounting Manager at 1-800-TSHIRTS, where she has served for the past five years. In her role, Lynette manages the team member lifecycle and some of the accounting responsibilities. Lynette dedicates much of her time to supporting the team members, ensuring they feel heard, valued, and supported. She enjoys contributing to a positive workplace culture while advocating for 1-800-TSHIRTS as they assist clients in elevating their brands and telling their stories through custom branded products.
SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY OWNED HEALTH PLAN
April Moldenhauer, Scott Sabol, Tony Oberman, and Lynette Montez will share firsthand how employers can successfully implement benefits strategies that prioritize quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Their stories will highlight real-world outcomes from putting employees at the center of benefit design—whether that’s through direct care relationships, smarter pharmacy management, or more transparent healthcare partnerships. Attendees will gain practical insights into how organizations of any size can drive better health outcomes, boost employee engagement, and bend the cost curve—proving that aligning values with strategy is both possible and powerful.
OUR TITLE SPONSOR
NEXTGEN HEALTHCARE SUMMIT
