HFMA Leadership Training Conference veterans Benway and Sabal emphasize career advancement and networking

Two Leadership Training Conference (LTC) veterans discuss the benefits of attending the 2020 event, which will draw more than 600 Chapter leaders from across the country on April 26-28 in Austin, Texas.

Dayton Benway, managing principal of Baker Newman Noyes, Portland, Maine, and Peter Sabal, FHFMA, vice president, network contracting at OptumCare in Las Vegas, share input in a Q&A. Benway has been involved in LTC since 2005 as a member of the Maine and Massachusetts-Rhode Island Chapters. Sabal is an incoming Chair on the Chapter Advancement Team (CAT) and has attended LTC off and on since the mid-1990s.

Why did you get involved in LTC and what appealed to you throughout the years?

Benway: I first got involved in LTC because I was asked to accept a leadership position by the President of the Maine Chapter Joe Wood. I only missed a couple LTC’s since then and attended every LTC since 2012 as my HFMA career progressed through [different leadership roles]. I stayed involved because of the people.

Sabal: I  have attended LTC numerous times over the past 20-plus years to support the Nevada Chapter and my National Advisory Council and CAT positions.

How has being involved in LTC impacted your career?

Benway: HFMA and LTC allowed me to learn and try leadership skills in real-life circumstances. [Both] offer a unique opportunity to lead peers in a collaborative atmosphere that supports learning and career development.

Sabal: From a networking perspective, attending LTC has been instrumental in meeting [other professionals] and developing long-lasting relationships in healthcare and beyond.

What are some benefits from attending LTC?

Benway: The most compelling reasons I could share would be the chance to visit some great cities, while connecting with amazing professionals in our industry, the opportunity to learn practical leadership skills and the possibilities to expand your network to help with both HFMA and day-job questions. It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Sabal: LTC is the meeting where all the dots get connected. As a volunteer, there are many roads to travel in HFMA. For me, I always see LTC as a road map to the future of healthcare.