2026 San Diego Cluster

2026 San Diego Cluster Faculty

• 

  Florence L. Di Benedetto, JD

  Speaker

  <p>&nbsp;</p> Florence L. &#8220;Flo&#8221; Di Benedetto is the President and CEO of Di Benedetto Solutions, Inc. (DBS) which offers leadership development training, executive coaching, assessments of team culture and effectiveness and reputation management, including crisis communications. Di Benedetto speaks across the country on a variety of topics including values driven, accountable leadership, team management, culture, diversity and resilience. Di Benedetto also provides advice and counsel to governing boards, interim and fractional executive leadership and general counsel services as well as complex litigation strategy and management. She serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, a mediator for alternative dispute resolution and has extensive experience as a medical staff hearing officer.<br /> <div>Before forming DBS, Di Benedetto served for over 14 years as a strategic business adviser to the president and CEO and other members of senior leadership as the senior vice president and general counsel for Sutter Health, a $15 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with 55,000 employees, more than 12,000 affiliated physicians and multiple hospitals and ambulatory care sites. Di Benedetto had accountability for the office of the general counsel, which included legal services, risk services, Sutter Health Emergency Management System and privacy, information and cyber security. Di Benedetto also provided primary advice and counsel to the Sutter Health board and board committees, including finance, audit and compliance, governance and compensation.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Additionally, Di Benedetto served as the executive sponsor for both the Leadership Academy, a 10-month intensive leadership development program for senior leaders and the administrative fellow and summer intern programs.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> Di Benedetto earned her bachelor&#8217;s degree in international relations from Georgetown University and studied economics and economic planning at London University and the Central School of Planning and Statistics in Warsaw, Poland. She earned her law degree from the University of San Francisco and her MBA in health services management from Golden Gate University.<br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

  Read more about Florence L. Di Benedetto, JD

  About Florence L. Di Benedetto, JD
  President and CEO
  Di Benedetto Solutions, Inc.
  
• 

  Meredith C. Inniger, FACHE

  Author

  <div>Meredith Inniger is a manager with Veralon Partners Inc., in Philadelphia, a national healthcare consulting firm with expertise in strategy, mergers and transactions, clinical transformation and network integration and valuation. Ms. Inniger brings over 10 years of experience in academic and community health system operations to provide focused and actionable strategies for her clients. She advises healthcare leaders on strategic planning for service lines and ambulatory care, with an additional emphasis on strategies for population health. She holds a master&#8217;s degree in health administration and a bachelor&#8217;s degree, both from The Ohio State University.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Ms. Inniger serves as faculty for the following ACHE seminars:</div><div><ul><li>Advanced Strategic Planning to Transform Your Organization&nbsp;</li></ul></div>

  Read more about Meredith C. Inniger, FACHE

  About Meredith C. Inniger, FACHE
  Principal
  VMG Health
  
• 

  Karen Johnson, MSL

  <p>Karen Johnson is a seasoned leadership advisor and executive coach with more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in the healthcare and software industries. She partners with organizations and their leaders to unlock potential through strategic vision, culture transformation and team development. Johnson advises executives on personal and professional growth while guiding organizations through meaningful, results-driven change. </p> <p>Over the past two decades, Johnson has built and led high-performing teams, delivering innovative post-sales solutions and generating over $500 million in annual revenue. She has played a pivotal role in identifying, developing and placing leaders across all levels, with a particular focus on cultivating strong organizational cultures. Her deep belief in the power of culture as a driver of success shapes her approach to leadership and organizational development. </p> <p>Johnson is widely recognized for her ability to meet stakeholder expectations and deliver sustainable results through trusted leadership, clear communication, strategic negotiation and sound decision-making. Her areas of expertise include strategic leadership, organizational design, career pathing and retention, employee engagement, executive coaching, team building, culture facilitation, leading in virtual environments and strategic planning. </p> <p>Johnson’s mission is to empower leaders and teams to create positive, lasting change in their organizations and communities. Drawing on her expertise in leadership development, culture transformation and organizational strategy, she delivers customized solutions that improve performance, elevate satisfaction and enhance impact. </p> <p>Johnson holds a master’s degree in strategic leadership and has completed advanced leadership programs through Harvard University, the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and the American Management Association. She is also a certified Everything DiSC® Practitioner and teaches at Indiana University’s O’Neill School. Beyond her professional work, she actively gives back to her community as chair of the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund, a nonprofit supporting women’s access to healthcare. </p>

  Read more about Karen Johnson, MSL

  About Karen Johnson, MSL
  Leadership Advisor and Executive Coach
  
• 

  Sara M. Johnson, FACHE

  <p>Sara Johnson is dedicated to helping leaders and organizations unlock their full potential through strategic vision, culture transformation and leadership development. As a leadership advisor and executive coach, she collaborates with executives and teams to strengthen leadership effectiveness, drive organizational change and foster environments where individuals thrive. </p> <p>With a background as a clinical professional and administrative leader in the healthcare industry as well as most recently, director of Indiana University Executive Education, Johnson has guided organizations in building leadership capacity, enhancing team effectiveness and improving organizational outcomes. She shares her expertise to enhance executive leadership, organizational behavior, healthcare, nonprofit leadership and in state and federal government, equipping leaders with the skills needed to navigate complex challenges. </p> <p>Johnson remains committed to developing future leaders as an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University, where she teaches graduate and executive education courses on executive leadership and organizational effectiveness. She is a Fellow of ACHE and has served as the Indiana Regent for ACHE and on the ACHE Board of Governors. Johnson is a sought-after speaker on the topic of effective leadership and creating a leadershp legacy throughout one’s career. </p> <p>Her work extends beyond the classroom and boardroom through certifications in DiSC Workstyle, DiSC Management and DiSC Agile EQ, helping individuals and teams build stronger relationships and improve performance. She has been recognized with multiple teaching and professional achievement awards, a testament to her commitment to empowering others. </p> <p>Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science in health services management and a Master of Health Administration from Indiana University, with additional doctoral studies at Trinity Seminary. </p>

  Read more about Sara M. Johnson, FACHE

  About Sara M. Johnson, FACHE
  Leadership Advisor and Executive Coach
  
• 

  Anna R. Steelman, DBA, FACHE

  Speaker

  <p>Dr. Annie Steelman is Senior Vice President, System Strategy at RWJBarnabas Health, a 12-hospital academic health care system affiliated with Rutgers Health. She is a skilled strategic planner with 20 years of experience in the health care industry, including work with community hospitals, children’s hospitals, integrated health systems, and academic medical centers. Before joining RWJBarnabas in 2014, Annie was a consultant with Health Strategies &amp; Solutions, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Annie holds a Doctorate in Business Administration degree from Drexel University. Her dissertation focused on organizational behavior and examined the role of empowering leadership in strategy implementation. She received her Master of Business Administration/Master of Science degree in Healthcare Management/Healthcare Financial Management from Temple University and her Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Joseph’s University in Interdisciplinary Health Services. Annie is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member and past-president of the Healthcare Planning and Marketing Society of New Jersey (a SHSMD chapter). Annie is also a Fellow of the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).</p>

  Read more about Anna R. Steelman, DBA, FACHE

  About Anna R. Steelman, DBA, FACHE
  SVP System Strategy
  RWJBarnabas Health