State and Local Government Benefits Association

The Linn Baker Lifetime Achievement Award was formally introduced and presented for the first time at the 2006 SALGBA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky to honor and recognize the 25th anniversary of The Association. The first award was appropriately presented to its namesake, Mr. Linn Baker, Executive Director, Utah Public Employees Health Program.

Linn J. Baker was one of the "founding fathers" of SALGBA. To the date of presentation, he had attended every national conference since the Association's inception. He had served in numerous capacities including, but not limited to, Officer, Board Member, Committee Chair, Committee Member, Moderator, Speaker, Presenter, as well as countless other duties on behalf of the organization.

Linn, an expert and leader in the field of public sector benefits, is respected by all who have the privilege of knowing him. He has mentored countless numbers of public entity employees, including many of his friends and colleagues who are SALGBA members.

Mr. Baker put his 31 years experience as Executive of the State of Utah’s Public Employee’s Health Program to work on behalf of SALGBA. He continued to share his talent with our members as he built his career. He was instrumental in developing the State’s self-administered Health, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability programs offered to state, school district, college and local government employees. In 1985, he implemented a statewide preferred provider network for public employees and organized two self-funded HMO networks offered to public employees in 1991.

Linn worked closely with the State Health Department in developing “Healthy Utah,” a health promotion program for employees who adopt healthier lifestyles. Over time, he served two terms as president of the National State and Local Government Benefits Association. He served on the National Advisory Committee for State Data Commissions and on the Executive Committee of the National Academy of State Health Policy. He has been active with the IFEBP (International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans), speaking at their conferences, publishing articles and serving on their Administrators and Public Employers Committees. Mr. Baker served as Treasurer, member of the Executive Committee, and Board member for UHIN (Utah Health Information Network), an electronic clearing house for medical transactions.

Mr. Baker is currently Chairman of the Board of Community Nursing Services, and Chairman of the Board for the Utah Health Policy Project. He serves on the Steering Committee for the HHS Community Value Exchange. He recently consulted for United Way of Utah, the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, working on comprehensive health reform for the State of Utah.

Linn J. Baker graduated from Weber State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and currently serves as a Healthcare Reform Consultant.

The State and Local Government Benefits Association was proud to honor Linn Baker for his lifetime of contributions to the organization. The Association is grateful to Linn for permitting his named to be associated with this prestigious award.

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