Program Description:

In today’s labor market, employee expectations around benefits are higher and more varied than ever. For many organizations—especially small businesses—benefits have become a critical differentiator in attracting and retaining talent. At the same time, in larger or more competitive markets, comprehensive benefits are no longer a differentiator at all, but an expectation. Without clear insight into how their offerings compare, organizations risk misalignment: investing in benefits employees don’t value or falling behind peers in areas that matter most to the workforce.

SHRM/HRCI Learning Objective:

• Understand what is driving healthcare costs in 2026 , and what it means for your bottom line. Examine the national and regional trends shaping employer healthcare spend, including the forces behind cost increases and what small and mid-size employers can realistically do to mitigate them.
• See where Hampton Roads employers stand and where you stand within that landscape. Review the 2026 USI Benefits Benchmarking results to understand how local employers compare on plan design, cost-sharing, employee contributions, pharmacy strategy, and retirement readiness. Whether you participated in the survey or not, attendees will leave knowing their reference point.
• Identify strategies to manage benefits costs without sacrificing competitiveness. Explore practical, employer-tested approaches to controlling spend while maintaining a benefits package that attracts and retains talent — with specific application for small and mid-size organizations.
• Develop or refine a benefits strategy grounded in current market data. Apply benchmarking insights to evaluate current offerings, identify gaps or opportunities, and build a clear picture of next steps.
• Walk away equipped to lead the benefits conversation — whatever their role. Whether a sole proprietor building knowledge, an HR professional advising leadership, or a business owner looking to optimize spend, every attendee will leave with the language, data, and frameworks to engage in informed, confident conversations — with their team, their broker, or their prospective clients.

Speakers: 

Brian Obal -  Practice Leader, USI Insurance Services
Brian joined USI Insurance Services in July of 2002 bringing over 22 years of experience in Benefits Consulting. Brian is the Employee Benefits President for Virginia. As part of the Employee Benefits team at USI, Brian is offering clients an in-depth knowledge of managed health systems using detailed claims utilization and cost trend projection analysis on both insured and self-insured funding arrangements. Brian uses detailed analytics to innovate, implement and execute enhanced risk financing alternatives in the areas of stop loss funding arrangements based on emerging trends and industry best practices. Brian is responsible for creative provider network discount brokering with insurance companies for both private and public-sector organizations. He counsels clients on benefit legislation, government regulations and compliance surrounding ACA, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA and HIPAA. He is recognized for developing strategic financial solutions for mid and large size employers, mitigating the impact of escalating healthcare costs.
Brian received the USI Peak award from 2014 through 2022. The Peak award is an USI Corporate recognition based upon excellence in sales and production. Brian has been asked to speak for many organizations around Hampton Roads, including the Hampton Road Association of Finance Professionals, Association of Legal Administrators and the Peninsula Human Resources Association. Brian has a BA in Business Administration from Old Dominion University. Brian lives in Suffolk, Virginia with his wife and daughter. Outside of USI, he is a Children’s Ministry Leader at Believers Church and serves on the Old Dominion University Alumni Board.

Robin Clukey, SPHR – Founder & Principal Talent Strategist, IGNITE BRILLIANCE
Robin Clukey is the Founder and Principal Talent Strategist of IGNITE BRILLIANCE, where she helps organizations ignite strategy and align talent, processes, and systems to optimize performance and accelerate growth. With deep expertise shaped by work
across Fortune 100 companies and midmarket firms, she partners with leaders to remove people‑related barriers, strengthen workforce capability, and build the conditions where employees can do their best work. Robin’s approach enhances organizational effectiveness across the full employee journey. She aligns leadership behaviors, workforce practices, total rewards strategies, and organizational systems so they reinforce one another—improving the employee experience, elevating performance, and driving meaningful business outcomes. Robin holds an M.S. in Human Resources and Organizational Development from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Webster University. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and an active board member of Peninsula SHRM. She lives in Smithfield, Virginia with her family.

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Meeting Agenda:

11:30am - Doors Open for Lunch & Networking 

11:40am - Chapter Announcements

11:50am - Sponsor Announcement

12:00pm - Presentation begins

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Thank you to our sponsor!