LOS ANGELES — September 12, 2023 — The Employee Benefits News Excellence in Benefits program honors changemakers in the benefits and HR community, including employers with top benefits programs, innovators providing tech-driven solutions and leading advisers who connect the dots. Now in its third year, the annual initiative shines a spotlight on the community’s brightest, most forward-thinking leaders.

Michelle Hamilton, InStride’s VP of People & Talent, has earned a spot on this year’s list of HR/benefits leaders who are supporting employee needs through cutting-edge benefits while driving business forward. Michelle was InStride’s first HR hire, and has helped grow the InStride team from 35 staff to 165 in three years.

Michelle has helped InStride stand out with policies like a generous parental leave; programs like an employer-matched 401K; company-wide wellness days to ensure that InStriders are taking care of themselves; and a supplemental caregiver benefit that helps employees take care of their children and older family members who require assistance and supervision. 

“During a time of sweeping transformation in the HR and benefits landscape, these individuals are finding creative ways to build better employee experiences,” says Stephanie Schomer, Editor-in-Chief at Employee Benefit News. “They’re putting people first by creating better (and more affordable) benefits programs around healthcare and mental health, and changing the conversations around vital needs such as child care and financial wellness.”

This year, for the first time ever, the winners of the Excellence in Benefits Awards will be recognized live and in person at EBN's new BENEFITS AT WORK conference, Sept. 27-29 in San Diego. The dedicated luncheon at this premiere event will give the honorees a chance to celebrate their accomplishments and connect with other award recipients.

About Employee Benefit News

Employee Benefit News (EBN) is the primary media resource for decision makers in the worlds of employee benefits, human resources and workplace culture. As the dynamics of these spaces continue to shift and become increasingly complex, EBN delivers expert insights to allow business leaders to navigate their industries with agility. From helping benefits managers meet the challenges of reducing care costs and improving retirement plans to providing HR leaders with guidance on building a talented and diverse workforce, EBN drives the conversation and delivers the research and analysis to help readers support their companies’ objectives.