Bernie Knobbe

Vice President, Global Benefits, AECOM

Bernie is currently Vice President, Global Benefits with AECOM, a global provider of both professional technical and management support services offering planning, consulting, architectural and engineering design, and program and construction management. AECOM has nearly 100,000 employees in 150 countries worldwide. He is responsible for the Global Benefits COE including all health care, retirement, financial, lifestyle and wellness/well-being benefit plans, benefits communications and M&A.

Previously, he was Sr. Director, Global Benefits & Mobility with Yahoo!, in Sunnyvale, CA and Vice President, Strategic Benefits with ACS, A Xerox Company, in Dallas, TX, He was also Senior Director, Global Benefits with Hilton Hotels and Senior Vice President, Benefits with Countrywide Financial/Bank of America, both headquartered in Los Angeles, CA. Bernie was also Senior Director, Global Benefits/Total Rewards with Gap Inc. headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Previously, he was Senior Manager, Global Benefits with Accenture, headquartered in Chicago, IL. Prior to that, held Benefits Leadership positions with Morton International, CT&T, Continental Bank and AM International all located in Chicago, IL.

He has been the Chair of The Corporate Board of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) and has attained his Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation. He is on the Board of the Council on Employee Benefits (CEB) and a member of the Annual Conference Planning Committee. He was a faculty member for World at Work and has attained his Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation. He was elected to both the Council on International Compensation and Benefits and the Council on Employee Benefits of The Conference Board and has been a Speaker at many of their sponsored Conferences on Health Care, Benefits Communications and Executive Compensation.

He has been a judge for both the Pensions & Investments Eddy Awards and the Business Insurance EBC Awards and has been a Speaker and Moderator at several of their sponsored Defined Contribution Conferences. He has served on Employer Councils for the NCQA and the HR Policy Association and on Advisory Councils for United Healthcare, Aetna, and American Express. He has acted as a Moderator, Speaker and Panelist at sponsored Defined Contribution and Defined Benefit Conferences managed by Euromoney/Institutional Investors, both in the U.S. and Europe (UK, Spain, and Italy), and the Canada Pensions Benefits National Forum in Canada. He was a Speaker at the Mobile Health Conference 2012 at Stanford University, and several Workshops at the CEB Annual Conferences. He has also presented at the Watson Wyatt and Towers Watson Client Conferences, and the Employee Benefits News Annual Benefits Conference. He also serves as Co-Chair for the McDermott, Will & Emery Benefits Innovator Roundtable events.

He holds a BS in Accounting from Truman State College and served an internship with the US Department of the Treasury, IRS.

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®!