Upcoming Webinars

The HERO Learning Series provides industry professionals with educational opportunities to enhance their performance in the workplace.

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From Awareness to Action: Pairing Smarter Messaging with Social Connection to Drive Physical Activity

June 3, 2026 12:00 pm Central | Register

Guest Panelists:

Tyler Prochnow, PhD

Emily Mailey, PhD

Most workplace physical activity programs focus on what to offer. The real opportunity is in how you talk about it and who you build it around. This webinar gives wellness professionals and organizational leaders a practical framework for two of the most underutilized drivers of physical activity at work: messaging and social connection. You’ll learn why reframing movement around immediate benefits (e.g., energy, mood, stress relief, belonging) outperforms traditional health-risk messaging, and how strategically leveraging workplace social networks transforms physical activity from a solo obligation into a shared experience. The result is programming that doesn’t just move people physically, but strengthens the relational fabric of your organization. Walk away with actionable strategies you can apply immediately.

Learning objectives:

Identify evidence-based communication strategies that reframe physical activity around immediate benefits to increase motivation and engagement.
Describe how social networks, peer support, and social connection function as practical levers for physical activity promotion and organizational belonging.

SPEAKERS

Tyler Prochnow, PhD is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University. His research interests include the social dynamics which drive health behavior. Tyler has done work with local Boys & Girls Clubs, health districts, gaming communities, and other research projects to better understand how social connections impact physical activity and mental health.

Emily Mailey, PhD, is an associate professor in the School of Health Sciences at Kansas State University. Her research focuses on physical activity promotion through applied interventions and optimizing physical activity communication and messaging. She has expertise in practical application of behavior change approaches in real-world settings and is currently working with mental health providers to integrate physical activity in therapy.

HOST:

Paul Terry, PhD, is a Senior Fellow at HERO where he leads our learning agenda. Paul is also Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Health Promotion. His prior positions were president and CEO at HERO, president and CEO at StayWell Health Management, and president and CEO at The Park Nicollet Institute. Paul is the author of four books and over 200 research and professional papers. A study he led won the C. Everett Koop National Health Award. He was awarded two Fulbright Senior Scholarships and served on advisory councils for The National Academy of Sciences, the American Heart Association, the CDC, the University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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