John Harris is a nationally recognized expert in employee benefits and insurance with over 30 years of experience. As a leader at CU Benefits Alliance, John drives innovative strategies that empower credit union executives to control healthcare costs and create competitive benefits programs to attract and retain top talent.

His distinguished career includes founding his first retail insurance agency at the age of 23, spearheading a start-up insurance operation for a major community bank, and serving as Vice President of Agency Development at HUB International, where he specialized in tailored insurance solutions for financial institutions. Today, John continues to deliver forward-thinking strategies that position credit unions for success.

He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from The University of Texas at Austin.

In his free time, John stays active by playing guitar in his classic rock band, working out, fishing, golfing, and traveling.

Leslie Draper is a Benefits Consultant with CU Benefits Alliance, bringing nearly two decades of experience supporting self-funded, multi-state clients. She works closely with credit union leaders to simplify complex benefits topics, offering thoughtful guidance and creative solutions that support both the organization and its employees.

With a background in communications and strategic planning, Leslie is skilled at building trusted relationships with both clients and vendors. Her proactive approach ensures smooth plan management and positive outcomes across every phase of the benefits lifecycle.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, graduating with honors. Leslie is a licensed Life and Health Producer and is certified in Mental Health First Aid USA.

Outside of work, Leslie enjoys wine tasting, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two young children.

Barbra Freeman is an experienced underwriter with over 38 years in the insurance industry. At CU Benefits Alliance, she works closely with CFOs, HR leaders, and finance teams to help them understand and manage the financial performance of their health plan, providing critical insights that inform budgeting, claims projections, and strategic plan decisions.

Barbra’s background includes roles with a Blue plan, HealthNet, and a regional HMO, giving her deep expertise in vendor pricing and plan funding methodologies. She specializes in health plan financial reporting, rate and reserve development, and cost benchmarking for both self-funded and fully insured clients.

Barbra spends time with her husband working on their small hobby farm and enjoys adventuring around the Cascade mountains.

Samantha Sardella is a Benefits Consultant with CU Benefits Alliance, bringing more than 25 years of experience in employee benefits consulting and healthcare. She partners with credit unions to develop strategic, cost-effective benefits programs that support organizational goals and enhance employee well-being. Samantha’s expertise includes benefits strategy, plan design, account management, and employee communications. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Portland State University, the Group Benefits Disability Specialist (GBDS) designation, and Oregon Life and Health Insurance licenses. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.

Andrya is an employee benefits consultant with more than 20 years of experience in the health insurance industry. She began her career on the carrier side with Regence BlueShield and has since spent more than a decade on the broker and consulting side. Her experience includes working with fully insured, level-funded, and self-funded health plans, as well as supporting clients with renewals, plan design, carrier negotiations, employee communications, and ongoing benefit strategy. Andrya is passionate about building strong client relationships and helping employers understand their benefit options so they can make informed decisions for their organizations and employees.