As we slowly emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, what will our new reality look like? That's one of the many themes we'll be discussing at the upcoming BenefitsPRO Broker Expo in San Diego, August 16-18th.

For Johnathan Coddington, working in the benefits industry isn't a job; it's a calling.

In our 'new normal,' what elements from the past year are brokers ready to toss, and what's going to stick around?

In last year's August cover story, "Long Hard Road," we spoke with various members of the industry about what they were seeing and their hopes and expectations for the future. We recently checked back in with Felipe Barganier and Desiree Coleman to get their perspectives on where things currently stand.

Despite making enormous leaps and bounds in recent years around technology, the benefits industry is still, at its core, all about people.

Evolution is a gradual process, says Risk Strategies' Robyn Tikia.

COVID-19 has changed our lives in countless ways, both subtle and earth-shattering, personal and societal.

Heather Bowers is president of Lone Star Benefits, brings a servant's heart to the benefits industry.