The Million-Dollar Problem — A Dallas Executive Dinner
By Invitation Only | February 19, 2026 | Monarch, Dallas
Most organizations have invested heavily in modernizing the back office — yet the people doing the work on the front lines are still forced to navigate disconnected systems, manual processes, and outdated access models.
The result isn’t just inefficiency. It’s stalled transformation, overwhelmed IT and operations teams, and frontline employees who disengage not because they don’t care — but because the tools don’t work on their terms.
Join a curated group of senior professionals from frontline-heavy industries for an off-the-record dinner exploring how to close the gap between enterprise strategy and frontline reality — without adding more complexity or change fatigue.
Lessons from the Inside: Chris Mate
Principal at Clario Advisors and former CIO of Elara Caring
Hear from Chris Mate as he shares how his team at Elara Caring used a single “digital front door” to turn a highly mobile, deskless workforce into a foundation for broader transformation — not another adoption problem.
Chris will reflect on how Elara:
- Reduced operational drag: Cutting 3,000+ monthly password resets by rethinking access, not retraining
- Improved frontline responsiveness: Moving from hours of manual outreach to filling open shifts in minutes
- Stabilized a critical workforce: Addressing a 65% annual turnover rate by removing friction from daily work — not adding more programs
- Enabled change at scale: Achieving a 9/10 ease-of-use rating among employees who don’t sit at desks, don’t use email, and don’t have time for complexity
More importantly, Chris will share what didn’t work, what surprised him, and why this approach became the beachhead for digital transformation across the organization — lessons that translate well beyond healthcare.
The Evening Agenda
5:45 – 6:15 PM | Cocktails & Networking
Connect with peers on the 49th floor of the Monarch, overlooking Dallas.
6:15 – 6:30 PM | Frontline Insight
Chris Mate shares the decisions, tradeoffs, and mindset shifts that turned employee experience from an HR initiative into an operational advantage.
6:30 – 8:30 PM | 5-Course Modern Italian Dinner
No slides. No pitches. Just raw, peer-level dialogue on what actually works in 2026.
Secure Your Seat at the Table
Participation is intentionally limited to ~20 leaders to preserve a high-quality discussion
