

Thu, May 28
|HUB International
Beyond Benefits: Wellness that Makes Work Better
Organizations are investing in benefits, expanding offerings, and responding to growing expectations around mental health. Yet utilization remains low, burnout continues to rise, and many leaders are left wondering what’s missing.
Time & Location
May 28, 2026, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
HUB International, 1591 Galbraith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA
About the event
Event Experience
This Collaborative Café is designed to be both insightful and interactive.
Attend in person:
Join us for a live, in-person experience that includes time to connect with peers and industry experts. Doors open at 8:30 for networking and refreshments, giving you space to build relationships and start or continue the conversation. Register at no-cost here.
Attend virtually:
Prefer to join remotely? A virtual attendance option is available here, allowing you to participate in the discussion and gain the same valuable insights from wherever you are. Register at no-cost to attend virtually here.
Event Description
Wellness doesn’t fail because organizations don’t care.
It fails when it isn’t integrated into the way work actually happens.
This Collaborative Café brings together HR and benefits experts to unpack how organizations can move from offering wellness benefits to building a culture where those benefits are understood, used, and valued.
Together, we’ll explore how to normalize mental health in the workplace, design programs that resonate across a multi-generational workforce, and connect wellness efforts to measurable business outcomes like retention, engagement, and performance.
Whether you’re refining an existing program or starting from scratch, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can apply right away.
Register for the virtual event here.
Event Summary | What You'll Learn
How to design a holistic wellness strategy that aligns with your people and your business
Where wellness programs commonly fall short and how to close the gap
Ways to support mental health while reducing stigma in the workplace
How to create programs that resonate across multiple generations
Strategies to increase utilization and embed wellness into your culture
How to measure impact and communicate ROI to leadership and boards
Meet the Panelists

Sarah Zevalkink | HR Consultant, HR Collaborative
Sarah brings a leadership and organizational design lens to wellness, focusing on how culture, communication, and manager enablement impact whether programs actually gain traction.
She’ll share how organizations can move beyond offering benefits to embedding wellness into day-to-day operations and aligning it with broader business goals.
Read More about Sarah's Experience
Sarah Zevalkink is a strategic HR leader who helps organizations build cultures where people and performance can thrive. With more than a decade of experience across nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, she brings expertise in organizational design, leadership coaching, and aligning people strategies with business outcomes.
In the context of workplace wellness, Sarah focuses on a common challenge: strong benefit offerings with limited engagement. She works with leaders to embed wellness into culture, improving communication, manager enablement, and accountability so programs are not just offered, but actually used.
Sarah has led transformational people strategies at organizations such as the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, John Ball Zoo, and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. She is known for strengthening HR foundations and guiding teams through changes that improve engagement and retention.
She holds degrees from Ferris State University and Central Michigan University, and serves on the board of the Human Resources Group of West Michigan.

Meghan Wilson | Health & Performance Consultant, HUB International
Meghan brings a data-driven benefits perspective, helping organizations design wellness strategies that reflect their unique workforce and drive engagement across generations.
She’ll share what’s working right now to increase utilization, tailor programs to employee needs, and connect wellness offerings to measurable outcomes.
Learn More about Meghan's Career
Meghan Wilson is a Health & Performance Consultant who partners with organizations to design wellness strategies that drive real engagement and impact. With more than a decade of experience, she brings a data-informed, people-centered approach to helping employers move beyond one-size-fits-all programs.
In the context of workplace wellness, Meghan focuses on turning strategy into action. She works with organizations to understand their employee population, align wellness initiatives with business goals, and increase utilization across a multi-generational workforce. Her approach integrates data, leadership priorities, and industry best practices to ensure programs are not just offered, but adopted.
Before joining HUB International, Meghan worked at Cigna as a Health Engagement Consultant and has experience supporting employees directly as a health coach. She holds both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Texas at Arlington.

Dr. Shazia Siddiqi | Founder & CEO, Let's Art About It
Dr. Siddiqi brings a behavioral and psychological lens to the conversation, focusing on how emotional intelligence, belonging, and burnout prevention influence employee wellbeing.
She’ll help unpack why employees don’t always engage with available resources and what leaders can do to create environments where people feel supported and motivated to participate.
Learn More about Dr. Shazia Siddiqi
Dr. Shazia Siddiqi is a Business Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Board Certified Art Therapist who helps organizations build cultures that support both wellbeing and performance. Her work focuses on strengthening emotional intelligence, preventing burnout, and creating environments where employees feel supported, connected, and able to thrive.
In the context of workplace wellness, Dr. Siddiqi brings a deeper lens into the human side of the conversation. She helps leaders understand how psychological safety, belonging, and emotional intelligence directly influence engagement, utilization, and overall wellbeing. Her approach translates research and behavioral insight into practical strategies leaders can apply to better support their teams.
She has partnered with organizations including Amazon, Google, and Deloitte, and is the CEO of Let’s Art About It and co-creator of the Employee Support Styles Assessment framework.

Jean Holthaus | Southwest Regional Director, Pine Rest
Jean brings a clinical and operational perspective to workplace wellness, grounded in real-world experience supporting employees through EAP and behavioral health services.
She’ll share insights into how employees are actually engaging with mental health resources, common barriers to access, and what organizations can do to normalize support and increase utilization.
See How Jean Supports Employee Wellbeing
Jean Holthaus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Southwest Regional Director at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, where she leads multiple clinical services including Employee Assistance Programs, telehealth, and outpatient care. With nearly three decades of experience in mental health, she brings a practical, clinical perspective to supporting employee wellbeing.
In the context of workplace wellness, Jean focuses on helping organizations move from reactive support to proactive mental health strategies. She works closely with leaders to better understand how employees access care, what barriers exist, and how to create environments where seeking support is normalized. Her experience with EAP utilization and behavioral health trends gives her a grounded view into what employees actually need and use.
Jean is also an author and experienced speaker who is passionate about equipping individuals and organizations with the tools to address mental health with clarity, confidence, and compassion.
