Members of the Southcoast Worksite Health & Wellness Collaborative held its second annual conference, entitled "Worksite Wellness: The Future Is Now!" on May 6, 2011 at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center. More than forty representatives of local employers and others came together for the morning session to hear keynote presenter Rajiv Kumar, Chief Medical Officer of Shape up the Nation talk about the importance of social support in getting and keeping employee participation in wellness activities at the worksite. Julie Jennings, Chairperson of the Collaborative and vice-president of employee benefits at Sylvia Group of Insurance Agencies, emceed the event and invited representatives of Blue Cross of MA, Tufts Health Plan, Fallon Community Health Plan, and United Healthcare to share their experiences in encouraging participation in wellness programs. Mini workshops on nutrition and cycling at the workplace were then offered before Tim Keneally of Foley and Foley spoke about the legalities of wellness plans and Lisa Erck of Mass In Motion and Carol Nagle, CEO of Family Service Association wrapped up the morning with their perspectives on making wellness work for employees. Click here for a link to YouTube videos from the conference. Click here for photos of last year's conference. For more information, contact Julia Jennings at 508-742-9234

(Top row, left) Julie Jennings welcomes participants to the conference at the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center on Martine Street. (Top row, center) Todd Souza of Friends in Motion chats with Southcoast Hospitals Group Occupational Health Director Janet Hathaway. (Top row, right) Julie Jennings greets keynote speaker Rajiv Kumar and colleague Justin Reid at the start of the conference. (Middle row) Yoga instructor Susan Spano Piacenti of the Southcoast YMCA leads the group in some stretches during the break. (Bottom row, left) Town of Dartmouth Board of Health director Wendy Henderson offers suggestions to employers who want to encourage employees to bicycle to work. (Bottom row, center) UMass-Dartmouth nutritionist Danielle Shargorodsky makes recommendations for improving nutrition at the worksite. (Bottom row, right) Tim Keneally, Esq. of Foley & Foley PC chats with Todd Souza during a break.