Risk & Resolve

Andy Long shares the fascinating journey from high school teacher to dealer principal of Royal Auto Group, weaving together family legacy, automotive industry insights, and personal growth across three generations of leadership. • Royal Auto Group began in 1969 when Andy's grandfather purchased a Chevrolet dealership in Bloomington, Indiana • The company now operates three locations with six...

Trevor Daer, President and Founder of Granite Peak Analytics, reveals the hidden complexities of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and why specialized consulting is crucial for self-funded health plans. He shares his journey from corporate burnout to creating a company that helps employers navigate the convoluted PBM landscape and avoid overpaying for prescription benefits. • PBM consulting helps b...

The Marshall Allen Project preserves the legacy of investigative healthcare reporter Marshall Allen through an AI clone trained with his expertise to help Americans navigate medical debt. Founded by his widow after his sudden passing, the nonprofit organization aims to give 100 million Americans struggling with healthcare costs the tools to make better decisions and fight unfair billing practices....

Brett Billups, CHRO of Marketplace Chaplains and author of Biblical HR, shares his 30-year journey in human resources and how he bridges his Christian faith with workplace challenges. • Stumbling into HR after seeing disconnects between management and employees at a manufacturing company • Writing Biblical HR as a personal guide before publishing it to help others apply faith to specific workplace...

In this NextGen Healthcare Summit episode with Steve Santangelo of Garner Health, he delves into healthcare costs heading toward an unsustainable threshold where nearly 9% of company revenue will go toward benefits packages—the same percentage that contributed to GM's financial crisis in 2008. Data analysis reveals that which individual doctor a patient sees has the greatest impact on healthc...

Brett Varvel shares his journey from creating backyard films to becoming an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker dedicated to faith-based storytelling. His creative foundations were shaped by growing up in an artistic household as the son of an internationally syndicated cartoonist, where exploration of various art forms was encouraged from an early age. • Growing up in a creative household with his carto...

AI isn't magical but mathematical, and understanding how it works removes mystery while helping make informed business decisions. We break down the fundamentals of AI in a way that demystifies its inner workings and explains why it's transformative for businesses. • Understanding how AI processes a simple request like "write a haiku about puppies" reveals its potential for busi...

Diana Miller, a Benefits Pro 2025 Advisor of the Year finalist, shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Bogotá, Colombia to becoming one of America's top five benefits advisors through grit, analytical thinking, and cultural perspective. • Benefits advising requires wearing multiple hats to serve employers, HR professionals, and employee populations • An advisor's true value is...

Nelson Griswold, founder and chairman of the NextGen Benefits Network, joins us to discuss his mission to revolutionize employer-sponsored benefits and protect America's private healthcare system through innovative supply chain management strategies. • Passionate about preserving private healthcare to maintain innovation and avoid government-run systems like those struggling in the UK and Can...

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way businesses operate, and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are at the forefront of this transformation. In his presentation at the NextGen Healthcare Summit , James Paden explored how AI-powered tools can enhance productivity, streamline decision-making, and create a competitive edge. Through this session, attendees gained valuable insights into...

Dave Neff, CEO of the Boilermaker Alliance, takes us through his career journey from sports administration to navigating the evolving NIL landscape at Purdue University. His experiences showcase how relationship-building became the foundation for career success while providing unique insights into how NIL is reshaping collegiate athletics. • Early career in Pacers ticket sales building a professio...

In this inaugural episode of Risk and Resolve , hosts Ben Conner and Todd Hufford share the personal and professional journeys that shaped them. From early-life challenges to navigating business ownership, Ben and Todd unpack why leadership, risk-taking, and resolve are cornerstones of their lives—and this podcast. They also share the deeper meaning behind the name “Risk and Resolve,” rooted in pe...

Adam Weber shares his journey from pastor to entrepreneur to executive coach, demonstrating how personal insecurities and desire for meaningful work drove his transformation through multiple successful businesses. • Building BlueRidge and Amplify through multiple pivots while growing to millions in recurring revenue • Identifying the common growth barrier businesses hit at 35-50 employees when fou...

Welcome to Risk and Resolve , the podcast where leadership, business, and risk management intersect. In this episode, your hosts, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford set the tone for what’s ahead—honest conversations, sharp insights, and practical strategies designed to help you confidently lead, navigate challenges, and drive success. What You’ll Hear On The Podcast: • A no-nonsense approach to leadershi...