Jonathan So

Senior Director, Healthcare Initiatives, Detroit Regional Chamber

Jonathan So is the Senior Director of Healthcare Initiatives at the Detroit Regional Chamber. In this role, he manages HealthForward, a collaborative of employers and other healthcare purchasers to drive greater health value and consumer engagement. HealthForward is comprised of over 50 employers representing over 2 million covered lives. Jonathan develops various educational programs, solutions, and interventions to promote greater health, increase consumer decision making, and advance innovative and disruptive changes to the market.

Jonathan is also the founder of Solera Strategies, a consulting firm focused on market entry and business development strategies for health care startups as well as advisory services for established health organizations and health purchasers.

Jonathan is currently engaged in research on the consumer behaviors of high deductible health plan enrollees in efforts to identify, measure, and cultivate value-added patient behaviors and tools. He is a 2015 Health Policy Fellow the Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation. In this capacity, he advises health service researchers and state policy makers on the effects of health care legislation to the business community. He was also a 2015 Detroit Urban Research Scholar through the University of Michigan where he studied community-based participatory public health research. Jonathan currently serves on the Automotive Industry Action Group’s Health Value Task Force, the Southeast Michigan Med/Health Industry Cluster Planning Committee, and the Medical Main Street Advisory Council. He is also a Certified Health Care Reform Specialist.

Jonathan been a featured healthcare speaker on behalf of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan and the Detroit Regional Chamber and appeared at various national health and benefits conferences. His presentations focus on employee engagement including influencing the millennial cohort, health spending containment strategies and benefit design, and market innovation and disruption.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time running, playing the ukulele and riding bikes with his wife, Celeste.

Jonathan has been or is an upcoming featured speaker or panelist at the following events:

2015 Michigan HR Day
2015 Michigan Health Purchasers Alliance Annual Conference
2015 Pittsburgh Business Group on Health Annual Meeting
2015 Employer Health and Benefits Congress
2015 Employer Benefits News Expo and Forum
2015 Institute for Health Consumerism West Forum
2016 World Congress Annual Health Plan Innovation Through Consumerism
2016 World Congress Inaugural Forum on Employer Health Care Reform Strategies
2016 Institute for Health Consumerism East Forum
2016 Employer Health and Benefits Congress

What they think?

“I have been involved in the healthcare industry for over 20 years and have seen the growth and evolution of corporate wellness programs. After exploring the curriculum for the Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist® and attending the annual conference I realized how much there is to learn and how valuable this program is for anyone supporting corporate wellness programs. The course provided insight into the ever changing legal and regulatory environment in addition to providing me with an opportunity to meet and network with leaders in the industry.”

Daphne Bascom

Chief Medical Officer, Cerner

“I have decided to make the Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist® a job requirement for our Business Development Managers”

Jeff Thoms

Former AVP of Healthworks Division at Atrium Health

“After diving into the curriculum for the Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®, I realized how valuable the program is to anyone in a corporate wellness position. Best practices, legal issues, population health, standards and learning about how top programs have structured their wellness programs was invaluable to me!”

Carrie Kass

Partner, Wellness Data Solutions, LLC

“The realm of Healthy Wellbeing and Wellness is ever changing and by going through the CCWS program and obtaining certification it has given me the knowledge and additional expertise to take our internal and external programming to the next level. Healthy Wellbeing is not a “one size fits all” and obtaining certification has provided our organization and myself a skill set and “brand-ability” to assist our employee’s and the community we serve to be the best form of “you” they can be”

Stefanie Knisley

Wellness Outreach Specialist, Berger Health System

“It’s important to me to have the opportunity to obtain my Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist® because it put me in a good light with my peers and the marketplace. It also adds to the credentials of the individuals at our organization, so when we go into the boardroom of prospective clients, they understand that we know what we’re talking about.”

Alison Sugg

Strategic Solutions Consultant, Viverae, Inc

“I have a strong passion to learn and a desire to help people whenever possible. This certification provides me with a sense of accomplishment in my pursuit to be a lifelong learner and a feeling of confidence to design a wellness program that can improve the well-being of others.”

Eleni Levins

Human Resources Administrative Assistance, Universal Technical Resources Services, Inc

“Health and Wellness has always been a big part of who I am in both my personal life and wellness focused career. Taking the CCWS® course has provided me not only security and ability to grow in my personal life and career, but the knowledge and confidence needed to assist my organization and its employees in our mission of overall well-being for ourselves and the communities we serve. I look forward to continued growth through Corporate Health and Wellness Association in the ever changing world of wellness.”

Dawn Gillispie

Coordinator, Wellness Programs at Beacon Health System

“I made a presentation yesterday to a large corporation. When I told them that I was a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist® they said, ‘We want to do business with you because you know what you’re talking about’.”

Alex Hixon

VP of Business Development, The Physicians Weigh

“I highly recommend the Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist® Course to anyone and everyone involved in corporate health and wellness, from Exercise Physiologists to Personal Trainers to HR management. The course videos are robust with information, as is the ‘Engaging Wellness’ book and course summary workbook. The exam is certainly not easy, but the course and the book will prepare you appropriately.”

Jennifer White

Fitness Center Coordinator, Health Fitness Corporation

“In the ever growing, ever developing field of corporate wellness it’s important to stay relevant, knowledgeable and credible, which is what the CCWS® has done for me. Being recognized with the CCWS® qualification ensures I’m on top of best practices and understand customized wellness programs, which further provides confidence to fulfill my responsibilities and support our employees on their path to overall well-being.”

Katy Keene

Manager of Employee Programs, Crowley Maritime Corporation

“I decided to pursue my CCWS certification after several years of assisting with our wellness program and I decided it was time to take ownership of the program and move into more of a leadership position. The certification allows others to see how personally invested I am in this role and dedicated to bringing them the most current information in the field of wellness.”

Bailey Duke

Health & Wellness Coordinator, Southern Pipe & Supply Co.

“I was very excited for the opportunity to go through the CCWS online certification. I have other wellness certifications and I think there is always more to learn, because things are always changing. It was valuable to hear real examples from others in the field on what they are doing, what’s worked and what hasn’t, and being able to apply key takeaways to your own programs.”

Missy Jenson

MS, CWWPM Senior Wellness Consultant, Erin P. Collins & Associates Inc.

Become a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®!