September Chapter Meeting - The Benefits Playbook with Cottingham & Butler (Wednesday, September 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Featured Topic: The Benefits Playbook Nobody Showed You – How Healthcare Really Works and What Employers Can Do About It

Healthcare costs have nearly doubled over the past two decades, yet many employers still make benefits decisions without understanding the forces driving those increases. This session takes HR leaders behind the curtain to explore the incentives influencing carriers, PBMs, hospitals, and pharmaceutical manufacturers; why renewal increases often have little to do with trend; and the strategies employers are using to regain control. Attendees will leave with practical insights, better questions to ask, and a fresh perspective on benefits strategy.

Speaker: Heather Acerra, Employee Benefits Consultant, Cottingham & Butler

Heather Acerra is an Employee Benefits Consultant with Cottingham & Butler and a former HR executive with more than 25 years of experience in human resources, total rewards, and employee benefits strategy. Having sat on both sides of the table as an HR leader and advisor, Heather helps organizations cut through healthcare complexity and make smarter benefits decisions. Her presentations combine practical HR experience with an insider's understanding of the forces driving healthcare costs, giving audiences an honest look at how the benefits system works and what employers can do to regain control. Heather serves on the Illinois SHRM State Council and the Board of Directors for the HRA of Greater Oak Brook and is a frequent speaker on benefits, wellbeing, and workforce strategy.

Meeting Agenda:

-11:30-11:50 Check-in & Networking

-11:50-12:00 Chapter Announcements & Speaker Introduction

-12:00-1:00 Presentation, Q&A

Guests:

-Member: $30

-Non-Member: $40

-First-time guests can join for free - reach out to Allison Gottwald at agottwald@eastersealsci.com for more information.

Registration Deadline: Monday, September 7 @ 5pm

Location:

-The Warehouse on State: 736 SW Washington St Peoria, IL

Heart of Illinois SHRM upcoming events

September Chapter Meeting - The Benefits Playbook with Cottingham & Butler (Wednesday, September 09, 2026)