RISE has confirmed the first two speakers for the annual event, which will take place August 28-30 at the Omni PGA Frisco in Dallas.
Office of Inspector General (OIG) Chief of Staff Megan Tinker and NFL legend Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson will be featured speakers at RISE West in August.
Both keynote sessions will feature a fireside chat format to allow for a more intimate atmosphere to hear updates, inspirational stories, and respond to audience questions.
Tinker will discuss the OIG’s approach to understanding risks and opportunities associated with managed care and how that informs the watchdog’s oversight and enforcement associated with Medicare Advantage (MA). She’ll also review the coordination between OIG and MA plans on key issues in combatting health care fraud, waste, and abuse.
Tomlinson will join RISE for a talk that covers lessons in perseverance, discipline, and selflessness for elite achievement. The Hall of Fame running back currently serves as a studio analyst for the NFL Network as well as a special advisor to the owner of the Los Angeles Chargers.
The NFL legend was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. His football credentials consist of being the 2006 League MVP, a five-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All Pro team member, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2006, Associated Press’ Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, and the recipient of the Doak Walker Award for best college running back in 2000.
Known for not ever looking behind him but looking for what’s next, Tomlinson’s goal is not to be known as a football player. He is the founder and chairman of Tomlinson Ventures, which is uniquely focused on providing funding, mentoring, and coaching in low socioeconomic communities and schools through cross sector partnerships with the Tomlinson Center for Leadership, T Hill Media, 3SIXT Software, LT 21 Sports, and partners like Albertsons, Disabled American Veterans, US Marine Corps, and Tomlinson’s Touching Lives Foundation. His most valued platforms are veterans, education, and community engagement, which inspired his role as an ambassador for the Disabled American Veterans, TCU Trustee.
About the speakers
Megan Tinker is the chief of staff of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), OIG. She works closely with the inspector general to develop and support a high-level vision, enhance OIG’s oversight, and promote the efforts of OIG’s highly skilled workforce, including auditors, agents, attorneys, and evaluators. As the chief of staff, Tinker serves as the deputy inspector general for OIG’s Immediate Office, where she oversees OIG’s Office of Congressional Affairs, Office of Communications, and Office of Operations. Under her leadership, OIG builds and strengthens relationships with legislative partners, amplifies OIG’s impact through constructive collaboration with the media, and ensures consistent levels of excellence in its internal processes and delivery of oversight products. Additionally, Tinker represents OIG leadership in cross-cutting efforts involving HHS, OIG partners, other government agencies, and external stakeholders.
Tinker joined OIG in 2004 as a senior associate counsel in the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General (OCIG). During her tenure with OCIG, she assumed increasingly important leadership responsibilities, including a role as the senior advisor for Legal Affairs from 2016 to 2020. From 2021 to 2023, Tinker served in the Office of Audit Services as an assistant inspector general, where she conceived and spearheaded innovative, collaborative, and high impact work for OIG and the IG community. Prior to OIG, Ms. Tinker was in the private practice of law and worked for several years as a congressional oversight staffer. She graduated cum laude from American University Washington College of Law and with honors from the University of Richmond.
LaDainian Tomlinson, or "L.T.", has achieved iconic status both on and off the field while overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds along his journey of success; despite being overlooked for factors like size, durability, and collegiate level competition, he persevered to become a triple Hall-of-Famer in college and the NFL, an NFL MVP recipient, and 2006 Walter Payton Man of The Year Award winner.
His compassion is evident in founding the Touching Lives Foundation in 2004, which works tirelessly for those less fortunate across numerous civic initiatives—from awarding scholarship money through grants to creating cultural awareness programs with US veterans’ organizations.
Tomlinson’s work ethic even extends into social entrepreneurship where he leads many successful ventures such as the Tomlinson Center, 3SIXT Culture Management Software, and LT21 Sports aimed at developing high production cultures within low socio-economic school districts via leadership development and mentor coaching sessions with students and staff that ultimately improved attendance by 12 percent, reduced recidivism rates by 61 percent, and boosted academic performance scores by 18 percent.
RISE West 2023 will take place August 28-30 at the Omni PGA Frisco in Dallas. Additional speakers will soon be announced. Click here for more information.