Over the last 20 years, study after study has found that job stress “is far and away the major source of stress for American adults,” according to the American Institute of Stress.

The upcoming 2017 Wellness Works Conference in Aurora is focusing on workplace stress, and will provide employers large and small with information on how they can reduce stress and help their employees lead healthier lives. The speakers and panel members for the Sept. 15 conference will offer wide-ranging backgrounds and areas of expertise involving stress on the job.

Recent studies on workplace stress have found:

• One-fourth of employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives.
• Three-fourths of employees believe the worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago.
• Problems at work are more strongly associated with health complaints than are with any other life stressor – even more so than even financial problems or family problems.

But studies also have found that improved employee health translates into less absenteeism, increased productivity and a decrease in health insurance claims.

Sponsored by the Healthy Living Council of Greater Aurora, Wellness Works 2017 will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora.

Speakers for the conference will include:

Sgt. Bill Rowley of the Aurora Police Department.

Rowley has been a police officer with the City of Aurora since 1999, and a sergeant for the last 11 years. In addition to his regular duties as a patrol supervisor, Rowley supervises Aurora’s Crisis/Hostage Negotiation Team and is a Field Training Program supervisor, helping mentor newly hired police applicants into police work. He is a certified Crisis Intervention Officer and has formed the Aurora Police Department’s first Peer Support and Critical Incident Stress Management programs.

Dr. Gaurav Shah, an interventional cardiologist at Rush-Copley Cardiovascular.

Dr. Shah cares for his patients mind, body and spirit and communicates with them on how to live a full, healthy life.

Dr. Shah earned his medical degree from Des Moines University and completed his residency at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. Dr. Shah serves both Rush-Copley Medical Center and Presence Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.

Marianna Renner, a professional development coach.

Renner has provided team-building and leadership programs for hundreds of leaders in health-care, local government, and for-profit businesses.

She has worked as a marketing and public relations professional and has served as a Lean process improvement practitioner. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Simply Destinee youth suicide prevention program in Aurora and the True Eagle Beauty youth mentoring program.

Taking part in a panel discussion focusing on workplace stress will be:

Brett Meier of the Vaughan Athletic Center of the Fox Valley Park District.

Meier has been with the Vaughan Center since 2005, working his way up from personal trainer to Fitness Operations Manager.

His areas of specialty are general fitness and weight training, weight loss, and sport specific training and sports conditioning. He is an N.F.P.T. Certified Personal Trainer, I.S.S.A. Sports Conditioning Specialist, has 15 years of experience as a Certified Trainer and is a member and athlete of USA weightlifting.

Jacqueline Runnberg, Old Second Wealth Management.

Runnberg brings more than 20 years of Trust and Investment experience to Old Second National Bank in Aurora and serves as an advisor to high net worth individuals, families and business owners. A Certified Financial Planner Professional, she earned a BA from Michigan State University and completed the Certificate Program in Financial Planning from DePaul University.

She is a member of the Financial Planning Association and the Fox Valley Estate Planning Council.

Brian Stumm of Stumm Insurance.

In 2007, Stumm and his three brothers launched an employee benefit consulting firm.  Now with 26 employees, Stumm Insurance’s expertise in financial modeling, compliance and the employee experience has brought benefit consulting to a new level for their more than 350 clients.  He will speak about the impact a wellness program in the workplace has on health insurance costs.

Laura Coulton, American Heart Association.

Coulton, Corporate Health Engagement Director for the American Heart Association, assists individuals, organizations and communities in creating innovative, personalized and meaningful workplace health engagement strategies. Her background is in Community Health Education and Promotion and she is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist with 11 years of experience practicing workplace health.

Zaida Rodriquez, Community Relations and Outreach Coordinator at Rush-Copley in Aurora.

Rodriquez leads the Rush-Copley Community Walking Club. She is a member of the medical center’s healthy weight committee and partners with healthcare organizations and volunteers on committees that focus on health-related issues and events.

The registration fee for Wellness Works 2017 is $25 – and includes a tasty, healthy lunch. Employers may register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellness-works-2017-tickets-36165198081.

Exhibitors wanting to take part in the program should contact Zaida Rodriguez at Rush-Copley Medical Center, zaida.rodriguez@rushcopley.com. Ticket prices go up to $30 after Sept. 10.

For information on Wellness Works 2017, contact Alexis Katzenbach at KatzenbachAlexis@co.kane.il.us, or Michael Isaacson, IsaacsonMichael@countyofkane.org, at the Kane County Health Department.

SOURCE: city of Aurora news release