WELCOA 2.0 – A note from Ryan Picarella, President

It’s a new day for WELCOA and an exciting milestone in our 30-year history. For three decades WELCOA has had the great privilege of working with some of the best organizations around the globe. We are humbled that you have allowed us to be a catalyst in shaping the health promotion industry over the years. We are proud that WELCOA’s 7 Benchmarks have helped thousands of health promotion practitioners build some of the most well-respected, results-oriented wellness programs in the nation. It has been an incredible journey, and through the loyalty, respect and dedication of our Members, the WELCOA Nation has grown to over 5,000 Members who touch the lives of millions of working people around the globe. The story doesn’t end there—actually, quite the opposite—today marks a new chapter in WELCOA’s rich history.

It is my great privilege and honor to introduce you to the new face and expanded purpose of WELCOA.

It is my great privilege and honor to introduce you, as a valued reader, Member or WELCOA partner, to the new face and expanded purpose of WELCOA. This change is not just about a new color palette or a fresh logo; it’s about an evolution of purpose. Our commitment to providing our Members with the very best information, training, resources and products has never been so impassioned.

WELCOA 2.0 was born out of the notion that we should celebrate the accomplishments of the past while recognizing that the future holds more possibilities and new opportunities to improve the health and well-being of all working people across the nation and the globe. We believe that all organizational systems must work in concert to create optimal conditions for people to be successful in achieving their health and wellness goals. Health and wellness strategies can no longer exist in isolation. For real and lasting change to occur, our strategies have to both spark a desire in people to set wellness goals as well as create environments that help people achieve them.

So, say hello to the new WELCOA, a brand that harnesses the imagery of nature to tell a happy, holistic and hopeful story:

• happiness because it is a tacitly shared value that can be the catalyst for embracing wellness,
• holistic because we need to create resources that address the total person and their many needs for achieving well-being, and
• hope because it keeps us moving forward and provides a canvas for us to express our better selves.

Thank you for the work you have done to improve the lives of working people everywhere. I look forward to re-shaping the wellness paradigm together as our journey continues.