Speaker: Cara Kirsch, Matthew Klemme, Gallagher
Date: March 14, 2023
Time: 8am-9am, note: announcements and breakfast at 7:45, HR Roundtable immediately after at 9am.
Location: Mt Mercy University
Speaker Biography
Cara Kirsch, Area Vice President, Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc.
Cara Kirsch is a seasoned employee benefits expert with more than 20 years of experience. Her passion is helping employers of all sizes build employee benefit plans that employees find valuable while still adhering to the company’s bottom line.
In her role as Area Vice President, Cara is responsible for business development as well as consulting her clients. Cara has specific experience with developing provider networks, using direct primary care strategies and managing self-funded plans. The combination of her keen eye for detail and her ability to navigate the complicated employee benefit vendor arena gives her an arsenal of solutions to deliver huge results.
Cara is community oriented with a focus on the needs of women and families. She currently sits on the Executive Board of the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and is the treasurer for the Nebraska Association of Health Underwriters. Cara was a Midlands Business Journal 40 under 40 winner and is a graduate of Leadership Nebraska Class X. Cara created the annual conference “Ignite! Women in Insurance” in 2018 to establish a place for over 200 women in insurance to feel empowered and supported as they learn and develop in their work. She also authors articles that have been published in various employee benefit magazines such as BenefitsPRO.
Cara lives in Bellevue, Nebraska, and spends her time reading, cooking and enjoying time with her three children, Mariyah, TJ and Sean. She loves the outdoors and her favorite season is summer. Sunday family dinners with her children have become one of her favorite parts of the week, and she loves taking her dog Oliver for walks.
Matthew Klemme, Employee Benefits Consultant, Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc.
Matthew specializes in providing benefits & HR consulting services for mid-market
employers. He is responsible for providing risk management support while assisting his
clients with controlling and minimizing the total cost of risk. He believes our job as a
consultant is truly to understand the client, and the needs or gaps in the current programs to
provide the right recommendations to support business growth.
Experience
Matthew began his career in commercial banking as a credit analyst and ended up joining
Gallagher in 2019. He brings a foundation of business and financial underwriting that
translates into helping employers evaluate their risk as it relates to insurance.
Matthew began his career in the insurance industry as a member of Gallagher’s Career
Advancement Program. This is a program designed for young leaders wanting to reinvent the
world of insurance. His team-oriented philosophy aligns well with the Gallagher Way and has
helped him contribute to a results-driven, Des Moines team. Matthew is dedicated to serving,
and loving our clients.
Matthew obtained his B.S. in Business Administration from Morningside University. He was a
scholar athlete at Morningside balancing academics and basketball. Matthew has a passion
for nonprofits and early education and is an active board member for Polk County Early
Childhood of Iowa, as well as an Alumni of the Greater Des Moines Community Connect
Program. Matthew resides in West Des Moines, Iowa and enjoys spending quality time with
his wife Miranda and dog Maizy.
E: matthew_klemme@ajg.com | M:712.363.0623
4200 Corporate Drive, STE 160, West Des Moines, IA 50266
Title of Presentation
Pills…People…Perspectives
Summary of Presentation
Culture is the center of your workforce. But, with inflation and compensation needs, how are you protecting your people from rising healthcare costs? Over the next 2-5 years, healthcare costs are expected to rise at an increased rate. From inpatient hospital care to the cost of prescription medications, employers will be looking for new and innovative ways to deliver affordable coverage to employees while maintaining their budget. Join us for a discussion around the ongoing dilemma and how you can build something new.
Learning Objectives
Participants should gain an increased awareness and understanding of:
(1) Update on medical and prescription trends
(2) Review of employer strategies that support a culture of health.
(3) Discussion of the prescription drug pipeline and what employers can expect, specifically in the area of genetic therapies. Case study that demonstrates how innovative can help employers build sustainable healthcare.
**At the end of each EIHRA Membership meeting, our goal would be to send the presentation to all registered members. Please let us know if you are not in agreement with this.