Wendy Sessoms
Greenville,NC
Summary
Results-driven corporate health and wellness professional with 15 years of experience developing and sustaining innovative data driven employer-sponsored wellness programs aimed at fostering a culture of well-being and reducing healthcare cost. Highly skilled in strategic planning, prioritizing workloads, creating effective presentations, vendor management, nurturing relationships, influencing others, coaching individuals to success and timely managing multiple projects in parallel with exceptional communication skills and follow-up. A passionate flexible self-starter with a can-do attitude.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Client and Customer Engagement Tri-South
Cigna Healthcare
03.2021 - 10.2023
- Managed staff of 7 health engagement consultants and benefit professionals responsible for delivering health engagement and benefit plan support to book of business
- Implemented performance recognition incentive program and additional team building opportunities during company reorg to increase morale and aid in retention
- Coordinate market wide large initiatives designed to increase utilization in preventive health screenings
- Oversee appropriate spend and accurate tracking of over 1 million dollars in wellness funds
- Support Sales with PG reporting, RFPs, external role at finalist, broker, and client meetings speaking to Cigna's Well-being solutions value proposition
- Strategic oversite for new business and retention of mid and select market clients for Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi book of business comprised of over 1 million lives
- Present Cigna’s capabilities at leadership forums with over 300 participants
- UTHSC Corporate Exchange Executive Steering Committee member with responsibilities for presenting market trends and positioning Cigna as a thought leader in local market
- Analyze complex market opportunities and developed creative solutions in partnership with sales, account management, underwriting, and product teams to solve wide variety of unique market problems.
Health Promotion Project Manager
Cigna Health & Life Insurance Company
11.2016 - 03.2021
- Develop global multi-year well-being engagement strategy customized to client's business goals and priorities impacting total well-being, employee consumerism and culture and facilitate tactical execution for over 10,000 employees
- Provide ongoing analysis and evaluation of communication/health/wellness strategies to determine effectiveness, penetration, and impact to client’s KPIs, total claims and utilization, biometric data, and employee engagement to support VOI
- Design, implement and ongoing management of Cigna and Virgin Pulse well-being platforms and incentives
- Develop global multifaceted global communication strategy and partner with various entities to ensure seamless creation of assets and delivery of programming and communications to employees
- Partnered with Customer Service team to overhaul escalation team process and resources resulting in 20% reduction in escalated tickets
- Design, implement and ongoing oversight for Global Be Well Ambassador network
- Collaborate with DEI engagement leads and Corporate Internal Comms/Brand for culture penetration initiatives and event support resulting in 40% higher brand recognition
- DEI leadership team member with responsibilities of formalizing program structure, ongoing engagement and creating learning module for aligned affinity group
Biometric Screener
Summit Health Inc.
02.2010 - 03.2017
- Lead screener overseeing clinic operations to ensure proficient administration, accurate data collection and submission, run quality controls and calibrations, schedule adherence, and professionalism
Director, Wellness Programs
Healthways, Inc.
09.2015 - 07.2016
- Develop multi-year enterprise well-being and onsite operational strategy for over 230,00 plan participants
- Oversee well-being network of 300+ volunteers who promote well-being initiatives and drive program engagement
- Managed team of 4 entry level and seasoned onsite coaches, wellness specialist, and engagement specialist
- Manage onsite operational program including product design, staffing structure, budget, vendor management, day-to-day direction to onsite personnel and management of onsite well-being center
- Collaborate with marketing team to manage deployment of US employee communications and engagement campaigns
- Coordinate staff participation in US benefit fairs, promotional events, and community events
- Redesigned reporting to consolidated monthly and quarterly KPIs comprised of specific insights needed for each Operating Companies leadership
Senior Onsite Program Manager
Healthways, Inc.
05.2014 - 09.2015
- Develop and oversee execution of strategic well-being engagement strategy, for over 230,000 plan participants, spearheading customer engagement initiatives, coordinating awareness and education activities and educating customers on being better consumers of healthcare
- Create well-being network framework including senior leadership, mid-level managers, and individual contributors consisting of over 300 members across client's enterprise
- Dotted line manager to 2 onsite well-being coaches who are responsible for delivering face-to-face coaching sessions and promotional initiatives and oversee Center operations
- Mentor and coach new 5 onsite Program Managers
- Organized automation of reporting program engagement and KPIs to decrease teams manual labor and meet client ongoing needs and expectations
- Oversee day-to-day operations of wellness center including staffing, purchasing, administrative responsibilities, data collection, and program evaluation
- Collaborate across heavily matrixed enterprise to provide timely and accurate resolution and responses to escalated wellness program inquires
Senior Onsite Program Manager
Healthways, Inc.
10.2011 - 05.2014
- Assess population risk factors through data analysis and formulate innovative program design and incentives that improves overall well-being for over 30,000 plan participants
- Coordination, implementation, and evaluation of innovative wellness programming with over 70% participation rate in core programs
- Lead team of 70 Well-Being Ambassadors dispersed throughout US and support program delivery across 140 locations
- Correspond with employees to answer program related inquires and determine proper course of action for escalated issues
- Mentor and coach 3 new Onsite Program Managers
Telephonic Lifestyle Management
Healthways Inc.
03.2010 - 09.2011
- Inbound and outbound program enrollment, educational support related to modifiable lifestyle risks, facilitating behavior change, developing personalized wellness plan for coached members, and providing support for company specific overall wellness program offerings and goals
- Spearhead planning, implementation, and evaluation of wellness program for Raleigh Call Center for employees
Biometric Screener
Interactive Health
09.2009 - 09.2011
- Lead screener overseeing clinic operations to ensure proficient administration, accurate data collection and submission, run quality controls and calibrations, schedule adherence, and professionalism
Education
Bachelor of Science - Health Education and Promotion, Worksite Health Promotion
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC05.2009
Skills
- Clear and concise written and oral communication
- Interpersonal Skills
- Strategy Development
- Client Account Management
- Strong Business Acumen
- Complex Problem-Solving
- Analytical Thinking
- People Management
- Conflict Resolution
Affiliations
- University of Tennessee Health & Science Center Corporate Exchange Committee, mbr since 2021
- National Wellness Institute (NWI), mbr since 2017
Timeline
Director, Client and Customer Engagement Tri-South
Cigna Healthcare
03.2021 - 10.2023
Health Promotion Project Manager
Cigna Health & Life Insurance Company
11.2016 - 03.2021
Director, Wellness Programs
Healthways, Inc.
09.2015 - 07.2016
Senior Onsite Program Manager
Healthways, Inc.
05.2014 - 09.2015
Senior Onsite Program Manager
Healthways, Inc.
10.2011 - 05.2014
Telephonic Lifestyle Management
Healthways Inc.
03.2010 - 09.2011
Biometric Screener
Summit Health Inc.
02.2010 - 03.2017
Biometric Screener
Interactive Health
09.2009 - 09.2011
Bachelor of Science - Health Education and Promotion, Worksite Health Promotion
East Carolina University
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