Members and guests of the Southcoast Worksite Health & Wellness Collaborative met at the UMass-Dartmouth Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on May 12, 2016 for the Seventh Annual Conference. The event featured Keynote Speaker Mari Ryan MBA, MHP, CWWPC, CWP, CEO of Advancing Wellness who brought participants up-to-date on the Working on Wellness Program of the Mass. Department of Public Health. Her presentation was followed by a presentation on trends in worksite wellness by Julie Jennings of Sylvia Insurance Company, a wellness break with Jessica Webb of Anchor Yoga and Meditation, and a presentation on healthy vending policy development by Gina Deluca of the RI Department of Health. Click here for a  57-minute video of Mari Ryan's presentation, here for a 37-minute video of Julie Jenning's presentation, here for a 17-minute video of Jessica Webb's presentation, and here for a 35-minute video of Gina Deluca's presentation. The monthly Collaborative meetings, often held at the  headquarters on Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth, offer presentations on a number of topics related to worksite wellness. Past meetings have focused on healthy eating, stress in the workplace, ergonomics, CPR, and on substance abuse. Anyone planning to attend the monthly meetings is asked to RSVP Chairperson Angela Bras at 774-400-4466.

(Top row) Julie Jennings of Sylvia Insurance Company talks with Partners Worksite Wellness Coordinator and Collaborative Chairperson Angela Bras before she welcomes the participants for the morning. (Rows two, left and right) American Heart Association Heart Walk Director Andrea Larocque reminds people of the upcoming walk before Elaine Couto of Joseph Abboud Manufacturing introduces herself. (Row three) Conference participants introduce themselves. (Row four) Keynote Speaker Mari Ryan MBA, MHP, CWWPC, CWP, CEO of Advancing Wellness brings participants up-to-date on the Working on Wellness Program. (Row five) Julie Jennings of Sylvia Insurance Company talks about trends in worksite wellness. (Row six) Jessica Webb of.Anchor Yoga and Meditation leads the group in some yoga and meditation on a stretch break. (Bottom row) Gina Deluca of the RI Department of Health describes their work with improving vending machine nutrition before Susan Shepardson. poses a question.