Meet Our Thought Leaders

Dynamic, Engaging Leaders and Experts Contribute Knowledge and Spark Change

Nielsen Benefits Group (NBG) has been managing employer medical plans and benefits since 1954. As full-service employee benefits specialists, NBG combines medical and insurance expertise to “reset benefits” and increase each employer’s competitive advantage.

  • Healthier, more productive workforce
  • Superior Coverage at Lower Cost
  • Quality Healthcare Experience
  • Reduced Benefits Workload

NBG provides management services and worksite support with offices in Salt Lake City, UT, Westlake Village, CA and Knoxville, TN. NBG is a “service driven” firm. Our client retention rate is 96%. NBG’s mission is to increase employer’s competitive advantage.

The NBG Leadership Team

The NBG team includes leading experts in health care delivery, insurance, actuary/underwriting, medicine, pharmacy, health statistics, human resources, corporate health promotion and legal/compliance. Our goal is to maximize the value of benefits by increasing employee health, productivity and satisfaction while managing costs. With a national perspective, the NBG team identifies innovations and best practices that have proven successful and then provides these services to our clients. Members of the NBG team include:

Steven E. Nielsen, MHA, FACHE, RHU, President

Steven has spent his career working at the intersection of health care providers and employer purchasers.  After graduation from Washington University at St. Louis in healthcare management he held executive positions with Intermountain Healthcare and Community Medical Centers of Central California.

He founded the Western Business Group on Health, an employer purchasing coalition.  He served on the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalition’s Board of Directors and he is a founder of NBG Group.  He works to bring innovative healthcare solutions to employers including EMR, patient-centered medical home, concierge practice, value-based delivery and most recently value measures and prospective health risk assessment.

Steve participated as an employer representative at the 2017 Regional Network for Healthcare Improvement’s Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national conference in Washington, DC, to address the problem of low value healthcare.  He is a member of the Utah State Health Department’s Transparency Advisory Group and member of the Utah Partnership for Health Care Value.  He is currently Co-Chairman of the Utah Health Underwriters Association Legislative Committee.  He received the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and Registered Health Underwriter designations.

Michael Jennings, MD, Medical Advisor

Dr. Jennings’ work supports medical provider and employer purchaser transformation to value-based delivery and reimbursement.  He has pioneered patient-centered strategy and care management practices.  His experience includes both large medical group and direct concierge practices models.

Dr. Jennings is the Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Care Direct, LLC.  He has held positions in professional associations and is an active national leader in innovative health care delivery models.  He is a Board Certified Family Physician.  He received his Medical Degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

John Price, FCA, MAAA, Actuary

John, of Axene Actuaries, has extensive experience with both self-funded and fully insured plans.  Has held executive level positions with Intermountain Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna and United Healthcare.  Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, Fellow in the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, and Actuarial Standards Board Health Committee.

Meri Erickson, B.S. ACSM-CEP

Meri helps clients on a number of business-health issues including the use of medical grade prospective health risk assessments and care coordination to improve corporate worksite wellness programs and primary care physician practice.  She received her Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Utah in Exercise Sport Science.  She is a Certified American College of Sports Medicine Specialist.

Jonathan K. Driggs, J.D.

Jonathon advises clients on matters of employment law and helps them navigate the ever-changing terrain of federal and state regulations.  He teaches a series of employment law seminars for managers and supervisors.  He received his Juris Doctorate from J. Ruben Clarke Law School at Brigham Young University.