Meet Daryl Zernick, OnSite Health’s Chief Development Officer. After helping scale icons like GameStop, Computer City, Samsung, and LG, Daryl returned to South Bend and, inspired by CEO Connie Bryan’s mission, joined OnSite Health in 2013. Today he drives sustainable growth and aligns multiple departments to deliver accessible workplace care. From biometric screenings to on-campus primary care, Daryl is helping employees become healthier and happier while employers see meaningful, measurable results.
What is Your Educational and Career Background?
I attended Richland College in Dallas TX, studying Business Administration when an opportunity came to work for a startup company in 1986 by the name of Babbage’s Software. Today, you’d know it as GameStop. I spent 5 years as a buyer growing our business there from a handful of stores to over 800.
I was then on the ground floor as one of 3 buyers at the time for another startup called Computer City. It became the fastest growing retailer in U.S. history in 1994. After, I was asked to come back to GameStop. For my second run, I worked with them just over a year, making a few key acquisitions and adding 100’s of more stores. In 1995 I stayed within the consumer electronics industry moving into VP positions in sales and marketing for various multi-billion-dollar companies such as Samsung and LG. I also started my own consulting company before joining OnSite Health in 2013 as it’s Chief Development Officer.
Why Did You Choose to Work for OnSite Health?
After my grandfather passed away in 2008, I moved back to my hometown of South Bend to help my grandmother. I met Connie Bryan, CEO of OnSite Health, while consulting for another local healthcare company. Connie explained the mission of OnSite Health: to create a substantial positive impact on employee health, leading to increased productivity and decreased annual health costs for employers. This seemed to be an incredibly powerful service and niche within the healthcare industry; a place where I could apply my background in high growth businesses.
As a CDO, what Does an Average Day for You Look Like?
As the Chief Development Officer at OnSite Health, my role is all about driving sustainable growth while ensuring our support functions (IT, HR, Marketing, Sales, and Accounting) operate like a well-oiled machine. An average day for me is dynamic, blending strategic oversight, team collaboration, and a bit of firefighting, but it’s always focused on aligning these departments to support our mission of making healthcare accessible at the workplace.
Since Working at OnSite Health, what are the benefits you’ve seen for employers and employees?
To me, the primary benefit we bring is happiness. If you move from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthy one, you are naturally happier. And to me, the primary goal in life is to be happy. Of course, empowering people to be healthier has many positive effects for both the employee and the employer.
When employees become healthier, they experience significant personal and professional gains, including:
- Improved physical, mental, and emotional well-being: Healthier employees report better overall health, which supports optimal performance and daily functioning.
- Reduced stress and increased energy: Wellness improvements lead to lower stress levels, enhanced focus, and higher energy, making work and life more manageable.
- Greater happiness and morale: Healthier habits foster a sense of fulfillment, boosting job satisfaction, and personal happiness.
- Long-term health outcomes: Employees face fewer chronic issues, leading to a higher quality of life outside of work.
Healthier employees directly contribute to organizational success by driving efficiency and cost savings, such as:
- Lower healthcare costs: Reduced illness means fewer medical claims and insurance expenses for the company.
- Higher productivity and performance: Energized and focused workers deliver better output and efficiency.
- Decreased absenteeism and presenteeism: Fewer sick days and higher attendance improve workflow and team reliability.
- Enhanced retention and talent attraction: A focus on health boosts engagement, morale, and loyalty, making it easier to attract top talent.
What is Your Favorite Aspect of the Healthcare Industry?
Being able to bring our unique, tried, and true way of affecting positive healthcare transformations versus traditional healthcare efforts. We have seen a 633% increase in chronic disease over the past 100 years. This only continues to grow, costing the U.S. economy over $1 trillion annually in healthcare and lost productivity.
What Do You Like to Do in Your Free Time?
Recharging for me includes long walks with my 3-and-a-half-year-old miniature schnauzer and lake-time with my long-time friends.
