AI isn't magical but mathematical, and understanding how it works removes mystery while helping make informed business decisions. We break down the fundamentals of AI in a way that demystifies its inner workings and explains why it's transformative for businesses.

• Understanding how AI processes a simple request like "write a haiku about puppies" reveals its potential for business applications
• AI converts language into mathematical vectors to find relationships between words and concepts
• Context windows limit how much an AI can "remember" in a conversation, similar to human short-term memory
• Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) allows businesses to prioritize their own data when generating AI responses
• AI agents can perceive environments, make decisions, and take actions toward specific goals like searching and organizing data
• New business models like "service as software" are emerging, where AI handles operations behind traditional services
• Four principles for effective AI: treat it like a human, include it in brainstorming, expect continuous improvement, and keep humans in oversight roles

Diana Miller, a Benefits Pro 2025 Advisor of the Year finalist, shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Bogotá, Colombia to becoming one of America's top five benefits advisors through grit, analytical thinking, and cultural perspective.

• Benefits advising requires wearing multiple hats to serve employers, HR professionals, and employee populations
• An advisor's true value is revealed during challenging times when problems need solving
• Diana's "secret sauce" includes grit developed through childhood adversity, strong analytical skills, and cultural empathy
• Growing up in Bogotá during the drug cartel wars required constant security protection from armed guards
• Attended an English immersion school that prepared her for global opportunities
• Earned a scholarship to study in the US, choosing Dubuque, Iowa primarily based on weather expectations
• Experienced culture shock including a memorable incident trying to bribe a police officer
• Transitioned from marketing representative to advisor by going beyond expectations and providing strategic input
• Frustrated by seeing employees walk out of enrollment meetings due to poor benefits, sought better healthcare solutions
• Motivated by creating positive healthcare experiences for her community and designing better systems for future generations

Nelson Griswold, founder and chairman of the NextGen Benefits Network, joins us to discuss his mission to revolutionize employer-sponsored benefits and protect America's private healthcare system through innovative supply chain management strategies.

• Passionate about preserving private healthcare to maintain innovation and avoid government-run systems like those struggling in the UK and Canada
• Helping employers manage their healthcare supply chain by steering employees to highest quality providers
• Counterintuitively, highest quality care often costs less because good surgeons don't make mistakes requiring additional procedures
• Many NextGen plans eliminate out-of-pocket costs for employees who use recommended high-quality providers
• Transitioning from selling insurance to managing healthcare risks, just like employers manage other business expenses
• Creating an "open source" collaborative environment where advisors share strategies and innovations
• Emphasizing the importance of population health management to address health risks before they become serious conditions
• Challenging the traditional broker model that's incentivized to place business with insurance companies rather than lower costs
• Combining the triple approach of skill set, tool set, and mindset to create meaningful healthcare change

Visit NextGenBenefits.com to learn more about our mission to make the highest quality healthcare accessible and affordable for all Americans, starting with the employees of our clients.

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the way businesses operate, and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are at the forefront of this transformation. In his presentation at the NextGen Healthcare Summit, James Paden explored how AI-powered tools can enhance productivity, streamline decision-making, and create a competitive edge.

Through this session, attendees gained valuable insights into how organizations can effectively integrate AI—starting with understanding the strategic risks and opportunities, and then evaluating the best approach to adoption: whether buying off-the-shelf solutions, building custom tools in-house, or partnering with AI specialists.

Key points from James’s talk include:

• AI is Your New Competitive Advantage – LLMs like ChatGPT are more than just tools; they act as highly skilled digital assistants, capable of research, writing, and decision-making.
• Adoption Strategies Matter – Choosing the right path—buy, build, or partner—can determine the success of your AI journey.
• Data Drives Success – The success of AI depends heavily on data availability, quality, security, and compliance.
• Learn from the Past – Just as the internet and smartphones transformed industries, AI is poised to do the same. Companies that fail to adapt risk being left behind.
• Infrastructure & Security – A strong technical foundation, privacy safeguards, and access controls are essential for responsible AI implementation.

This audio clip captures the highlights of James’s forward-thinking approach to AI in business—delivering a powerful message about the importance of embracing AI now to stay competitive in the future.

Dave Neff, CEO of the Boilermaker Alliance, takes us through his career journey from sports administration to navigating the evolving NIL landscape at Purdue University. His experiences showcase how relationship-building became the foundation for career success while providing unique insights into how NIL is reshaping collegiate athletics.

• Early career in Pacers ticket sales building a professional network and work ethic
• Transition from sports to tech at ExactTarget/Salesforce through leveraging relationships
• Taking career risk to lead Edge Mentoring, teaching valuable leadership lessons
• Current role managing Purdue's NIL collective while balancing legal requirements
• Boilermaker Alliance requires athletes to serve nonprofits and promote charitable causes
• Challenges of adapting to rapidly changing regulations and court decisions in NIL
• Personal commitment to maintaining balance as a leader, husband and father of four
• Purdue's development-focused approach compared to transaction-heavy programs

Adam Weber shares his journey from pastor to entrepreneur to executive coach, demonstrating how personal insecurities and desire for meaningful work drove his transformation through multiple successful businesses.

• Building BlueRidge and Amplify through multiple pivots while growing to millions in recurring revenue
• Identifying the common growth barrier businesses hit at 35-50 employees when founder-centric culture breaks down
• Creating space for leaders to realize they have more choices than they think they do
• Understanding how board members and investors have less context than you as the business leader
• Recognizing that loneliness and decision paralysis are common challenges for executives
• Transitioning from a sales identity to finding authentic leadership style
• Helping leaders maintain high performance standards while remaining true to themselves

If you're interested in learning more about Adam's coaching practice or connecting with him, you can find him through his website or reach out directly through LinkedIn.

In this inaugural episode of Risk and Resolve, hosts Ben Conner and Todd Hufford share the personal and professional journeys that shaped them. From early-life challenges to navigating business ownership, Ben and Todd unpack why leadership, risk-taking, and resolve are cornerstones of their lives—and this podcast. They also share the deeper meaning behind the name “Risk and Resolve,” rooted in personal family history and life-changing events. Plus, get a preview of the stories and guests to come, all designed to inspire you to face risk with confidence and resolve.

Key Takeaways:

• Introduction to Risk & Resolve: Ben and Todd kick off the series by sharing the vision behind the podcast—where leadership, business, and risk management intersect.

• Todd’s Story of Early Adulthood: Todd shares his formative years marked by responsibility at a young age, caring for his sick mother and grandmother, and how that built his resilience and leadership mindset.

• Ben’s Family Legacy: Ben explains the significance of the word “Resolve,” tying it to his grandfather’s survival story during WWII and how that legacy influences his approach to business and leadership.

• Risk as a Growth Catalyst: Both hosts emphasize that stepping into risk is necessary for personal and professional growth, whether it’s starting a business, taking on leadership roles, or making life-changing decisions.

• The Power of Relationships: Todd highlights that their agency’s success is largely built on relationships passed down through generations and how those connections continue to shape their business today.

• A Preview of Future Guests: The hosts preview that the podcast will feature a range of voices—from business owners who bootstrapped companies to executives navigating risky ventures.

• Leadership Lessons from the Valleys: Todd reflects that most leadership lessons and growth happen during challenging times, not on the peaks.

• Balancing Business & Family: Ben shares his personal resolve to balance business success with being present and intentional with his family.

• Commitment to Continuous Growth: Todd publicly commits to finishing his instrument rating as a pilot—an example of personal resolve to complete unfinished goals.

Welcome to Risk and Resolve, the podcast where leadership, business, and risk management intersect. In this episode, your hosts, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford set the tone for what’s ahead—honest conversations, sharp insights, and practical strategies designed to help you confidently lead, navigate challenges, and drive success.

What You’ll Hear On The Podcast:

• A no-nonsense approach to leadership and business

• How risk management plays a critical role in decision-making

• Actionable insights to help you and your organization thrive

Tune in and get ready to lead with clarity and resolve.