Raising the Bar in Benefits and Leadership: Highlights from the Accelerent Breakfast

This morning at the Accelerent Breakfast, Benefit Commerce Group was proud to be represented by Stacy Ketcham, Vice President and Senior Client Executive, who addressed a crowd of over 500 business leaders and professionals. She shared highlights from our 12th Annual Employee Benefits Benchmarking & HR Symposium, along with timely market updates that are shaping the benefits landscape in 2025.

MARKET UPDATE: Key Drivers of Health Plan Cost Increases

• Pharmacy costs and newly marketed specialty drugs remain top cost drivers.
• Medical inflation in 2025 is the highest in the last 13 years.
• 70% of doctors are now employed by hospitals, private equity, or insurance companies—changing care dynamics and impacting costs.
• Continued cost shifting from Medicare and Medicaid is putting pressure on employer plans.
• Chronic conditions, mental health, and substance use services are contributing to higher utilization.
• Emerging treatments, therapies, and technologies are adding to overall expenses.
• It’s not too late to get a personalized employee benefits benchmarking analysis for your business.

Visit our website to learn more and take the first step in building a smarter, more strategic benefits program.

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Keynote Inspiration: Raise the Bar and Lead with Purpose – Dan Clark

The event’s keynote, Dan Clark, Hall of Fame speaker, bestselling author, and global expert on leadership, delivered an unforgettable message, all without a single slide. 

His storytelling moved the audience and centered on a powerful truth:

"Emotion leads to action."

Dan encouraged attendees to examine their beliefs, not just their behaviors, and posed a compelling question:

“What do you do to make everybody around you leave saying, ‘I like me best when I’m with you—and I want to see you again’?”

He emphasized that expectations motivate, but we often set the bar too low. Through a vivid analogy involving a gifted athlete only jumping as high as the coach asked, despite being capable of much more, he challenged the audience:

“How high is your bar? Everyone sees where you set it—but only you know how high it should really be.”

He reminded us that competitive advantage isn't about doing more, it’s about doing what others aren’t willing to do. That includes leading with service, helping people believe in something bigger than themselves, and demanding excellence not just from others, but from ourselves.

Save the Date!
The next Accelerent Breakfast is coming up on September 26, featuring keynote speaker Chris Westfall, author of Leadership Language and U.S. National Elevator Pitch Champion. You won’t want to miss his insights on powerful communication and leadership presence.