CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) recently welcomed employers, community leaders and healthcare partners to our office in Columbia, Maryland for the CareFirst Howard County Wellness at Work forum—a conversation focused on how employee well being, community conditions and local collaboration intersect.
Rather than offering a single solution, the forum created space for honest dialogue about what employers and communities are experiencing right now and how shared learning can lead to more meaningful, sustainable impact across Howard County and the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
The issues we’re talking about live at the intersection of health, business and community—and no one sector owns this alone. Today is meant to be a conversation where listening and learning matter just as much as the ideas we share.
—Ja’Ron Bridges,
EVP and Chief Financial Officer, CareFirst
Howard County is often recognized for its strengths, including access to employment and educational opportunities. At the same time, rising costs of living, growing mental health needs, and gaps in access to care and information continue to affect employees and families across the county.
In opening remarks, Ja’Ron Bridges emphasized that these pressures increasingly show up in the workplace through burnout, engagement challenges and competing demands. The conversation reinforced a key reality: Workplace well being doesn’t stop at the office door. Health at work and health in the community are deeply connected.
That local context was further grounded by remarks from County Executive Calvin B. Ball III, Ed.D., who reflected on Howard County’s progress alongside its ongoing responsibilities. His comments underscored the importance of celebrating what’s working while staying accountable to residents who may still be facing barriers to health and stability.
We don’t just want to be a healthy community. We want to be the healthiest community—and that means shared commitment and shared action.
—County Executive
Dr. Calvin Ball
The keynote conversation, led by Nikki Highsmith Vernick, MPA, President and CEO of the Horizon Foundation, invited attendees to think about health beyond healthcare alone. She noted that well being is shaped by affordability, connection, trust and access—factors that influence whether people can truly thrive. For employers, that perspective highlighted the importance of understanding the broader community conditions employees navigate every day.
The discussion then turned to practical experience inside organizations. Moderated by Gabriella Gold, Vice President of Commercial Markets 1,000+ at CareFirst, the panel featured leaders from across the region including Monica McMellon Ajayi of Columbia Association, Nasrene Mirjafary of the Howard County Public School System, Kevin Darrell of Tenable, Nina Wolf of Enterprise Community Partners and Carrie Greene of CareFirst.
Panelists spoke candidly about engagement, trust, accessibility and the role leadership plays in shaping workplace culture. Rather than presenting polished answers, they shared lessons learned—what’s working, what’s been challenging and how their organizations continue to adapt. A consistent theme emerged: Progress comes from listening, flexibility and staying closely connected to employee needs.
Sometimes employees think of CareFirst as just insurance. Part of the work is helping people understand that these calls and resources are actually there to help them manage their health, not add another task to their day.
—Kevin Darrell,
Director of Benefits, Tenable
In closing remarks, Ricardo Johnson, CareFirst’s Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, reflected on the openness of the conversation and the value of shared learning. When organizations are willing to learn from one another—sharing both successes and challenges—ideas spread, partnerships form and progress becomes more attainable.
Progress is not perfection. Progress is showing up, getting it wrong sometimes and learning together. The shared learning we had here today matters for what we all do when we walk out these doors.
—Ricardo Johnson,
EVP and Chief Growth Officer, CareFirst
Convening the Howard County Wellness at Work forum reflects CareFirst’s broader commitment to being an engaged local partner—listening to communities, investing locally and working alongside employers and leaders to support the conditions that help people thrive.
The forum was designed as part of an ongoing conversation, not a one time event. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and shared their perspectives and we look forward to continuing this work together as we strengthen workplace well being and community health across the region.
To learn more about our efforts to transform healthcare, check out our 2025 Impact Report.
