The National Wellness Institute is based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Each July since 1977, the Institute has produced North America's most prominent wellness conference, drawing up to 1800 participants to interact with approximately 100 of the most sought-after health and wellness speakers.

Below you'll find the Directors of the National Wellness Institute. Leaders in their field, they are valuable resources as speakers and consultants.

BILL HETTLER, MD A driving force in the wellness movement, Dr. Hettler originated the highly successful National Wellness Conference and co-founded the National Wellness Institute. His highly entertaining and inspiring overview of wellness includes personal and global concerns. Your audience will share his energy and enthusiasm.

JUDD ALLEN, PhD A sense of community, a shared vision and a positive outlook are essential to health and productivity. Author of the 2007 release Not Alone:Healthy Habits, Helpful Friends, Dr. Allen examines these work climate factors in organizational life. Learn how to assess work climate and how wellness programs can play a key role in supporting a sense of community, a shared vision and a positive outlook at the workplace.

WILLIAM B. BAUN, EPD William Baun has more than 20 years of experience in worksite health promotion management and programming. Between 1996-1999, he worked as a health and productivity consultant and provided strategic and evaluation services for many large and small companies. He was a member of the startup wellness team at Tenneco (1981) and managed the program until 1996. While at Tenneco he planned and initiated more than 25 health promotion/fitness programs in a variety of white and blue collar settings. In the early 1990's he teamed up with Dr. Nell Gottlieb at the University of Texas at Austin to develop a remote site health promotion model. This model was used by Tenneco to implement the Pipeline to Health program at 110 gas compressor sites, and by the American Cancer Society’s Worksite Team to implement more than 1,500 health promotion programs in Texas. Currently Baun serves on the Executive Committee of the Mayor's Wellness Council of Houston.

DENNIS ELSENRATH, EdD A licensed psychologist, Dr. Elsenrath is on the Board of the National Wellness Institute and advises executive stress management programs in the U.S. and Japan. He presents both keynotes and full-day seminars on motivation: how to encourage and sustain people in a wellness program or lifestyle.

BARBARA HARRIS, MA Editorial director for SHAPE, Natural Health, and Fit Pregnancy.

MEG JORDAN, PhD, RN A registered nurse with a doctorate in medical anthropology, Dr. Jordan's newest presentation is titled "Adventures of a Global Medicine Hunter." She teaches what she has learned in her search for healing remedies around the world. She is also an award-winning national journalist, author of The Fitness Instinct, and founder of American Fitness magazine. Dr. Jordan is a “national trendspotter” according to USA Today and among a new breed of futurists according to Newsweek. Her vital keynotes are on the topics of healing, fitness, career, and empowerment.

AHNNA LAKE, MD The healer must also be healed. Dr. Lake is a respected advocate for not only physicians, but also other professionals who experience high stress. Her refreshing and exuberant outlook on life moves her audiences to positive action. She conveys high optimism and teaches practical and effective strategies.

KENNETH RENTMEESTER, MPH President of Rentmeester and Associates, an organization that provides program design, management, planning, and contract negotiation services to health care, managed care, and government agencies.  Mr. Rentmeester is a nationally known speaker and consultant on HMOs, IPAs, and managed health care organizations.  He has authored several articles on cost-effective health care and prevention in the workplace.  He helped establish the Center for Health Policy and Program Evaluation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continues to assist in the center’s development.  Additionally, Mr. Rentmeester teaches managed care courses in the Administrative Medicine Program and Programs in Health Management, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.  He has also served as the State Health Officer for Wisconsin.

ELAINE SULLIVAN, MEd Her presentations on self-esteem, relationship building, gender issues and developing awareness of the inner child are so popular that they are “standing room only” at the National Wellness Conference. In great demand as a speaker to corporations and hospitals, Elaine’s positive attitude, caring and sense of fun are contagious.

CRAIG WASHINGTON, EdD Educated at Indiana State University, the University of Massachusetts, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard, Dr. Washington is former President of Olive-Harvey College in Chicago. He has also served as Executive Director of the National Wellness Institute. An ever-popular, warm and caring presenter, his topics include counseling psychology, multicultural counseling and teaching, men’s issues, wellness and group dynamics.