Insurance commissioner on panel

BOULDER – Marcy Morrison, Colorado’s commissioner of insurance, will be on a panel discussing how health-care reform affects Boulder Valley employers at the Boulder County Business Report’s annual event, Pulse: The State of Health Care, set for Thursday, Sept. 23.

The program features panels of health-care experts discussing issues facing the industry, and an awards ceremony and cocktail reception honoring Health-Care Heroes in the Boulder Valley.

Joining Morrison on the first panel about how health-care reform will affect a company’s bottom line – and that of its employees, are Matt Anderson, director of group benefits, Volk & Bell Benefits LLC; Jessica Hergenreter, PHR director, ESG Colorado human resources consultant; and John Sackett, CEO, Avista Adventist Hospital;

The second panel discussion focuses on how to create a culture of health within a company. Panelists include Jenny Lavey, senior human resources representative, Hunter Douglas Window Fashions; Christina L. Torizzo, senior wellness consultant, Kaiser Permanente; Neil Waldron, chief marketing officer and vice president of strategic initiatives, Rocky Mountain Health Plans; Chad Zechiel, vice president, sales and account management, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado.

Tickets for the event are $59 per person and $500 for a table of 10.

To register, go online at http://www.regonline.com/pulse2010.

This year’s Health-Care Heroes were selected by the Business Report’s editorial staff from more than 80 nominations. They are:

Business Award – Honors an organization or business for a wellness program, healthy work environment, ergonomics program or other health-related activities.

Honorees: LiveWell Longmont led by Leslie Feuerborn and LiveWell Broomfield led by Michelle Harris.

Community Service Award – Honors a person or organization for leadership by focusing on a particular health-care issue.

Honoree: Dr. Greg Keene, Keene Smiles, in Lafayette.

Distinguished Service Award – Honors a health-care professional for at least 20 years service in health care.

Honoree: Dr. Joel R. Montbriand, Gastroenterology of the Rockies, with operations in Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette and Longmont.

Emergency Services Award – Honors a person or organization that has gone above and beyond the call of duty in a life-saving endeavor.

Honoree: Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, a nonprofit organization based in Boulder.

Professional Award – Honors a health-care administrator who has displayed excellence within his or her organization.

Honoree: Mitch Carson, president and chief executive, Longmont United Hospital.

Support Services Award – Honors a person in medical support services for outstanding contributions to the health-care profession.

Honoree: Merylee Appel, nurse practitioner, Women’s Health, Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, with clinics in Boulder and Longmont.

Volunteer Award – Honors a person or organization for leadership by focusing on a particular health-care issue, in a volunteer capacity.

Honoree: Deb Spence, dental hygienist, Smile Logic, in Broomfield.

on Facebook on LinkedIn