MESSAGE FROM JERRY NOYCE

Welcome to summer edition of HERO on Health.

To begin, our sincere appreciation to John Harris who has completed his term as chair of the HERO board of directors. HERO has made great progress during John’s tenure. Thank you also to David Ballard (American Psychological Association), Andy Crighton (Prudential Financial), Ron Loeppke (US Preventive Health), and Bob Soroosh (Affinia Group) as they completed their service to HERO as members of the board.

Congratulations to the new officers of the HERO board. LaVaughn Palma-Davis (University of Michigan) begins her term as board chair, Ron Goetzel (Truven Health Analytics) becomes the board vice chair, Lilly Wyttenbach (Goldman Sachs) is the new board secretary, Kristine Holbrook (MediFit Corporate Services) assumes the role of board treasurer and John Harris (Peform pH) moves to immediate past chair. Welcome also to new board members Josh Glynn (Google), Dan Krick (Lincoln Industries), Betty-Jo Saenz (ADT Services), and Laurie Whitsel (American Heart Association).

HERO study committees are doing important work in the development and understanding of how to create a culture of health in an organization; the relationship between employee health, worker performance and its impact on business productivity; and the business case for employers to take a leadership role in improving the health of communities in which they are located. See the Committees Report for information on their work.

More than 40 members of HERO have been involved over the past 12 months in the creation of the next version of the HERO Employee Health Management Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer. The HERO Scorecard Version 4 will be released in June and will be available at that time on the HERO website, www.the-hero.org. Version 4 incorporates the most recent research and identified best practices based on analysis of the Version 3. data. I encourage you to complete Version 4upon its release to benchmark your health management program to current best practices and, at the same time, help to build the Version 4database that will be used to develop our understanding of the association between program practices and desired outcomes. An overview of version 4 is included in this newsletter.

Since its inception in 1996, HERO has focused on the creation of evidence-based employee health management programs in America. During that time, we have been asked by many organizations to also address employee health issues for workers globally. This fall, on September 29, at the site of the 2014 HERO Forum, HERO and the Global Healthy Workplace Awards organization will host a seminar focused on global worker health issues. Fik Isaac from Johnson & Johnson and Andy Crighton from Prudential Financial will co-chair this first HERO-sponsored gathering on global health. This session is open to everyone. If this subject is important to your work, please join us for the Global Health Seminar. Registration is available here.

Speaking of the Forum, the HERO Forum for Employee Health Management Solutions, will visit the west coast for the first time. Attendees at the HERO Forum will gather at the Westin San Diego on September 30^ththrough October 2^nd, to hear from experts in the field, share best practices and network together. The Forum is always open to everyone. Take a minute to read more about the HERO Forum.

Finally, HERO members are invited to attend the annual HERO Research Meeting, July 15^th in Chicago. This is a full day of discussion about recent health management research and the identification and prioritization of future study in the field. HERO members may register now.

Enjoy your summer,

Jerry

CEO & President

HERO