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UPCOMING EVENTS

Attending our professional development opportunities is an invaluable investment for HR and total rewards professionals seeking to enhance their expertise and impact. Our expertly designed regular programs, insightful webinars, and coffee chats provide cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills tailored to the evolving demands of the industry. By participating, you'll not only stay current with the latest trends and best practices but also gain actionable insights that can drive your organization’s success. Moreover, these events offer prime networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with thought leaders and peers, fostering professional growth and opening doors to new career opportunities.  Regular programs are typically held on the second Thursday of each month with the exception of July and December, when meetings are not held. Coffee chats, webinars and community support projects vary. 

    • March 13, 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM
    • Happy Bottoms, 303 W. 79th Street, Kansas City, MO
    Register


    Join the Total Rewards KC board and membership as we volunteer at Happy Bottoms from 1:00 - 3:00 pm, and then head over to KC Bier Co. (310 W. 79th Street, Kansas City, MO) for a refreshing beverage!

    Did you know that nearly 1 in 2 families with young children struggle to provide enough diapers to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy? Since 2009, Happy Bottoms has been bridging the "diaper gap" by providing families with the diapers they need each month. Come support this amazing agency and network with Total Rewards KC.

    To register, please sign up with Happy Bottoms here: https://cerv.is/0291ghZsMpT.



    • March 27, 2025
    • 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
    • Virtual by Zoom - Login provided with registration confirmation
    Register

    Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us for an engaging and interactive discussion on tackling the evolving total rewards challenges in 2025. This virtual session offers a relaxed and collaborative space for HR professionals to exchange ideas, share strategies, and gain insights on navigating compensation, benefits, and employee recognition in a rapidly changing workplace. Whether you're looking for innovative solutions or simply seeking to network with peers, this session is your opportunity to connect and prepare for the year ahead.

    • April 10, 2025
    • 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
    • IMA, 11350 Switzer Rd., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS
    Register

    AI is revolutionizing compensation and benefits, offering HR professionals powerful tools to cut costs, streamline administrative tasks, and enhance the employee experience. By leveraging AI-driven analytics, automation, and predictive modeling, organizations can optimize salary structures, personalize benefits offerings, and ensure competitive, data-driven decision-making. In this session, we’ll explore practical AI applications that not only improve efficiency but also create a more engaging and equitable workplace. 

    Agenda: 

    • Welcome & Reframing AI
    • Three Tactical AI Wins for Comp & Benefits Teams
    • Your 30 day AI Starter Plan
    • Real-World Success Stories
    • Managing AI Risks
    • How to Get Buy-In for AI Initiatives
    • Action Challenge
    • Q&A


    Learie “Herc” Hercules bridges deep technical expertise with strategic leadership, helping organizations navigate the fast-evolving world of AI and digital transformation. With over 20 years of experience leading innovative technology teams, Herc specializes in building AI-driven products, advising executive teams, and unlocking new business models through emerging technologies.

    As the Founder and CEO of Heft IQ, an AI-focused analytics firm, and former CTO of Smart Warehousing, Herc has driven operational innovation at scale. He has designed award-winning AI systems for Fortune 10 companies, holds a patent in AI, and works closely with CEOs through Vistage Worldwide on crafting competitive generative AI strategies.

    Herc also serves on the Board of Advisors for UMKC's Analytics program and is a recognized voice in the tech and VC communities, sharing insights on AI, big data, and business growth.

    Registration Fees:

    • $35 Members
    • $60 Non-Members/Guests


      A special thank you to our sponsor!





          • June 26, 2025
          • 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
          • Virtual by Zoom - Login provided with registration confirmation
          Register


          "Who, Where, What, When and How" will provide a general overview on Global Insurance and Assistance/Risk programs. Now more than ever, multinational corporations (MNCs) face constant challenges as they globalize and expand their diverse and international workforce.   Learn how multinational corporations (MNCs) can better support the health and safety of international talent as they expand and globalize operations.

          This presentation will offer insight into the evolution of global benefits supporting those employees that live, work, and travel outside of their home country. Topics covered will include:

          ·       The multiplicative factors of global benefit package:

          o   who’s covered,
          o   who’s building the programs,
          o   what benefits are offered
          o   how exactly are these programs are implemented

          ·      Valuable health and safety insights that may impact assignment success rates and organizational reputation. 

          ·       Tools to help discover if an organization is offering the right global benefits

          ·       Key factors that should be included in a global benefits package

          o   Is my organization offering the right global benefits?
          o   What are the gaps in coverage?
          o   How do we even get started offering global benefits?

          Susan Di Chesere brings more than 21 years of healthcare experience in domestic and international employee benefits strategy, to her role as Vice President of Client Development for UnitedHealthcare Global.


          • July 10, 2025
          • 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
          • IMA, 11350 Switzer Rd., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS
          Register

          The rise of specialty medications and GLP-1 drugs is transforming the healthcare landscape—bringing several challenges for employers. In this expert-led panel discussion, we’ll dive into the latest trends, cost implications, and strategies for managing these high-cost therapies within employer-sponsored health plans. Gain insights into how these medications impact workforce health, productivity, and benefits strategy, and walk away with actionable approaches to navigate this evolving space.

          Panelists & Moderator:

          Registration Fees: 

          • $35 Members
          • $60 Non-Members/Guests



            • September 11, 2025
            • 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
            • IMA, 11350 Switzer Rd., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS
            Register


            Join us for an engaging and collaborative roundtable event designed exclusively for Total Rewards professionals! This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and share insights on the most pressing challenges and emerging trends in the world of Total Rewards.

            This roundtable is all about you—your challenges, your priorities, and your questions. To ensure the conversation is both valuable and relevant, we want to hear from you! Send us topics that matter most to you and your organization, whether it’s innovative rewards strategies, DE&I initiatives, employee well-being, or any other area of interest to admin@totalrewardskc.org

            Attention Vendors/Carriers/Consultants: We are limiting the number of non-practitioners attending this event so that Total Rewards professionals can collaborate with their peers in a comfortable setting. Please consider joining another event in the future!

            Registration Fees: 

            $35 - Total Rewards KC Members
            $60 - Non-Members/Guests

            A special THANK YOU to our generous sponsor: 



            • September 16, 2025
            • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
            • 927 S 7th St, Kansas City, KS 66105


            Join the Total Rewards KC Board of Directors and membership as we volunteer at Giving the Basics, a wonderful organization dedicated to providing essential hygiene products to individuals and families in need. By volunteering, you will be helping sort and package hygiene products.

            Come support this incredible organization and network with Total Rewards KC!

            To register, please sign up with Giving the Basics by clicking HERE or cut/paste this link: https://app.vomo.org/opportunity/67858198555f4


            • September 25, 2025
            • 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
            • Virtual by Zoom - Login provided with registration confirmation
            Register

            Grab your favorite cup of coffee and join us for an engaging and interactive discussion on tackling the evolving total rewards challenges in 2025. This virtual session offers a relaxed and collaborative space for HR professionals to exchange ideas, share strategies, and gain insights on navigating compensation, benefits, and employee recognition in a rapidly changing workplace. Whether you're looking for innovative solutions or simply seeking to network with peers, this session is your opportunity to connect and prepare for the year ahead.

            • October 09, 2025
            • 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
            • IMA, 11350 Switzer Rd., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS
            Register


            Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring honorees from the Kansas City Business Journal’s Best Places to Work awards. This year’s honorees stand out for their innovative approaches to employee well-being and career development, offering unique perks like employee ownership, miscarriage leave, in-house chefs, and even a dream coach to help team members achieve personal and professional goals. Many also feature profit-sharing programs that align individual success with company growth. 

            Our panel will explore how these organizations are committed to investing in their employees' futures by prioritizing continuing education, leadership development, and opportunities for career advancement. While collaboration is highly valued in the workplace, these companies also recognize the importance of work-life balance, offering flexible and hybrid work options to meet the evolving needs of their teams.

            Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from some of the top companies in Kansas City about what it takes to create a workplace culture that supports growth, work-life harmony, and employee satisfaction.

            Panelists & Moderator:

            • H&R Block - Melissa Holthaus, Vice President, Total Rewards and P&C Operations (Panelist)
            • Holmes Murphy - Jeff Spencer, SVP, EB/Shareholder (Panelist)
            • NorthPoint Development - Lara Anderson, Director of People & Talent (Panelist)
            • Terracon Consultants, Inc. - Angela Kennedy, Senior Organizational Development Specialist (Moderator)


            Registration Fees: 

            • $35 Members
            • $60 Non-Members/Guests



          THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 BUSINESS PARTNERS!






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