Risk & Resolve

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Erik Braden, Managing Partner of Braden Business Systems , to discuss family business, technology, growth, and leadership. Erik shares his journey from cold-calling his way onto Wall Street to returning home to help grow his family business through acquisitions, innovation, and a people-first culture. From managed pri...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, a healthcare leader from the Employers’ Forum of Indiana (EFI) breaks down why employers—not the system—must drive healthcare reform. Drawing from decades in HR and benefits at Ford, this conversation dives into rising healthcare costs, hospital price transparency, and the policy changes reshaping Indiana’s healthcare landscape. From RAND pricing studies to f...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Don Palmer and Greg Enas , co-founders of Citizen 7, to discuss male friendship, leadership, generosity, mentorship, and building movements instead of organizations. From entrepreneurship and business leadership to faith, community, and legacy, this conversation explores what it means to build men who build others. M...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Thompson, founder of Nice Healthcare, shares a powerful story of tackling one of the hardest problems in modern society: healthcare. From his background in statistics to building a care model that delivers healthcare directly into patients’ homes, Thompson breaks down why the system is broken—and how simplicity, access, and aligned incentives can fix it. This...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Tom Shevlot to explore a career shaped by leadership, risk, public service, and faith-driven impact. From senior roles at AT&T to serving on the Lawrence City Council, leading Life Centers, and joining the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Foundation Board, Tom shares how one act of generosity early in life...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , industry leaders from Hancock Health and Conner Insurance explore a bold, community-driven healthcare model that aligns employers, providers, and patients around better outcomes and lower costs. Moving beyond the broken, fragmented system, this conversation dives into total cost of care, direct-to-employer partnerships, and how local innovation can transform...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with scholar, author, historian, and Museum of the Bible founding scholar Jerry Pattengale. Jerry shares his journey from poverty and homelessness to faith, scholarship, publishing, film, and global work preserving biblical history. From ancient manuscripts and the Museum of the Bible to the Life Wedge principle and findin...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ricky Hancart and a panel of healthcare innovators unpack why employers feel stuck in a “pay and pray” system—and what it takes to break free. Featuring leaders across underwriting, pharmacy, surgical care, and finance, the conversation explores how strategic partnerships, data transparency, and aligned incentives can transform employer health plans. From sky...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Marcus Hall, President and Partner of California Closets Midwest , to explore his journey from small-town Indiana to entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a values-driven business. Marcus shares lessons from failed ventures, what he learned from sports, software, and mentorship, and how Threefold and California...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , it breaks down the exploding cost of GLP-1 medications and why many organizations are spending millions on diabetes care—with little improvement in health outcomes. Featuring leaders from American Senior Communities and Northwind, this conversation explores a bold, mandatory program that combines medication, coaching, and accountability to drive real health...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Dr. Burrer, founder of Valor Direct Primary Care , to unpack what’s broken in modern healthcare—and how direct primary care (DPC) offers a radically different approach. From his journey through corporate medicine to building a patient-first practice, Dr. Burrer shares insights on insurance-driven care, physician burn...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Randy Otto —internationally recognized Winston Churchill portrayer , keynote speaker, and Churchill historian—to explore how one man’s lifelong passion became a calling. Randy shares the childhood moment that first connected him to Churchill, the mentor who shaped his path, and the actor who helped him transform admi...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Brent Yeagy, President and CEO of Wabash , to explore his journey from small-town Indiana to the U.S. Navy submarine force and ultimately to leading one of America’s largest transportation equipment manufacturers. Brent shares how military pressure shaped his leadership, what it took to guide Wabash through COVID, wh...

In this special in-person episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Jim Conner —second-generation insurance entrepreneur and former president of Conner Insurance—to unpack five decades of risk-taking, family business, faith-driven leadership, and hard-earned lessons. From buying the agency at age 22 with a $50,000 note to navigating acquisitions, expansion failures,...

In this powerful episode of Risk and Resolve , Wendell Potter shares his journey from health insurance executive at Cigna and Humana to becoming one of the most prominent whistleblowers in American healthcare reform. After decades inside the system, Wendell reveals how corporate priorities, shareholder pressure, and political influence shaped the modern insurance landscape—and why he ultimately ch...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Erik Coope r, a leader whose career path moved from music to accounting to ministry—and back into the marketplace with a mission. Erik shares how CRF (Community Reinvestment Foundation) leverages affordable housing and assisted living to generate profits that fund global missions through The Stone Table. They unpack...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith to explore his journey from ministry and agriculture into statewide leadership. Beckwith shares why he believes faith and politics are inseparable, how grassroots organizing reshaped Indiana’s lieutenant governor race, and why rural communities and agriculture are central to...

Growth comes from clear values, brave creativity, and showing up for clients when it matters most. In this episode, we sit down with Chance Benbow, CEO of JDA Worldwide , to explore how a client-first mindset and faith-informed leadership drive measurable results across brand, digital, PR, and media. We dig into how courageous creativity, face-to-face trust, and service orientation turned a Midwes...

Cyber Risk Isn’t Just Tech—It’s Business Continuity Cyber threats aren’t just a tech problem—they’re a business problem. In this episode, we bring together a CISO and a senior cyber broker to show how organizations can prepare, protect, and recover when ransomware, email compromise, or vendor outages hit at the worst possible moment. You’ll learn: What the latest FBI numbers really mean and why hu...

In this powerful episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Chris Deacon—former New Jersey Treasury official, whistleblower, and author of The Great American Healthcare Heist . Chris shares how she uncovered widespread fraud and manipulation in one of the country’s largest public health plans, why she walked away from her role, and the moral, personal, and profession...

In this forward-looking episode of Risk & Resolve , Ben Conner and Todd Hufford share predictions for 2026 across interest rates, employment trends, healthcare innovation, and the rising costs of insurance. They discuss the economic forces driving employer benefits strategy, how drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro are reshaping budgets, and why some employers may start treating healthcare like a...

Insurance sounds straightforward—until markets tighten, umbrellas shrink, and carriers pull back. In this episode, we sit down with Steve Duff , CEO of the Big “I” of Indiana, to unpack what’s really shaping the future of independent agencies. From rising premiums and courtroom pressures to capital, consolidation, and community, Steve brings clarity to the forces colliding across the industry—and...

What if the most valuable benefit in your company isn’t a perk, but a person? In this episode, we sit down with Marcus Schrader—president and CEO of Workforce Chaplains—to explore how confidential, relational care inside the workplace is addressing the emotional and spiritual needs that traditional EAPs and wellness programs often miss. From shop floors to corporate offices, Marcus reveals why mor...

In this episode, Ben and Todd sit down with Dr. Chad Nowlin , a Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Energy Physio. Dr. Chad shares his journey out of the traditional corporate physical therapy model and unveils his cash-pay approach focused on root cause pain relief. He opens up about the limitations of diagnosis-based care, the power of preventative MSK strategies for employers, and his dis...

In this episode, Ben and Todd sit down with Michael Klein, Executive Vice President of Personal Insurance at Travelers. Michael shares his 35-year journey through the industry from actuary to executive leader and opens up about setbacks, leadership, early career talent, digitization, and why insurance is one of the most misunderstood but meaningful careers in America. Main Talking Points  • Michae...