00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds
September 24-26, 2025 Kalahari, Sandusky, OH

On-Site Schedule


Click a date to view the schedule for each day of the conference.

Sessions
7:00 AM
Registration Opens
7:00 AM
Location: Registration Booth
8:00 AM
PreCon Workshop (Separate Registration Charge): Mapping Your Blueprint: Moving From Current To Future State in HR

Speaker: Benjamin McCall

8:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: New Conference Attendee Orientation

Speaker: Meghan Hensley

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
9:15 AM
Session: Elevating Performance through Targeted Skill Development

Speaker: Cathleen Snyder

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Creating A Culture of True Wellbeing

Speaker: Meghan Hensley

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Nile
Credits: TBD
Beyond Market Rate: The New Model for Equitable and Strategic Pay

Speaker: Nicole Armstrong

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: Employee Health & Benefits Trends: Shaping Our Evolving Workforc

Speaker: Nick Bellanca

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
HSA & 401(k), Better Together

Speaker: Jack Towarnicky

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBD
Executive Track Session: Think Big, Speak Bold: 8 Steps to Communicate at the Executive Level

Val Grubb

8:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
10:15 AM
Doors open to the Ballroom
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits n/a
10:45 PM
Keynote Session: "The Difference Maker Leader: How to Unlock your Personal & Team Potential"

Speaker: Austin J Franklin

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits TBD
12:00 PM
Lunch (Buffet)
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
1:30 PM
Session: Medicare, COBRA, HSAs and More - Welcome to the Viper's Nest

Speaker: Melinda A. Caughill, CSA

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Done Right, Nepotism Is A Happy Word

Speaker: Jeff Ahola

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Humor Me: Leadership with Connectivity

Speaker: Jennifer Payne

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Think Fast, Lead Smart: Decisive Leadership in Action

Speaker: Barb Utrup

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: HR Reworked: The Right Tools. The Right Solutions.

Speaker: Tekay Brown

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: HR Escape: Crack the Code on Employment Law

Speaker: Casey Webster

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBA
Session: Executive Track - Architects of Impact: Elevating HR's Role in Business Strategy Execution

Speaker: Julie Doyle

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
2:30 PM
Break
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Location: NA
2:45 PM
Session: Neurodiverse: Managing, Training, and Leveraging Your Team's Strengths

Speaker: Samantha Kelly

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Elevating Performance Through Targeted Skill Development

Speaker: Cathleen Snyder

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Creating A Culture of True Wellbeing

Speaker: Meghan Hensley

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session:
Beyond Market Rate: The New Model for Equitable and Strategic Pay

Speaker: Nicole Armstrong

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: Employee Health & Benefit Trends Shaping Our Evolving Workforce

Speaker: Nick Bellanca

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: HSA & 401(k), Better Together

Speaker: Jack Towarnicky

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBA
Session: Executive Track - Think Like a "C"- Maximizing Your Executive Presence

Speaker: Jason Lawson

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
3:45 PM
Break
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: NA
4:00 PM
Session: Medicare, COBRA, HSAs and More - Welcome to the Viper's Nest

Speaker: Melinda A. Caughill, CSA

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Done Right, Nepotism Is A Happy Word

Speaker: Jeff Ahola

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Humor Me: Leadership with Connectivity

Speaker: Jennifer Payne

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Think Fast, Lead Smart: Decisive Leadership in Action

Speaker: Barb Utrup

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: HR Reworked: The Right Tools. The Right Solutions

Speaker: Tekay Brown

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: HR Escape: Crack the Code on Employment Law

Speaker:Casey Webster

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBD
5:00 PM
Grand Opening of Exhibitor Hall - Open House (Heavy Hors D'Oeuvres)
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Exhibit Hall
7:30 PM
Huts - Visit our sponsors!
7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
TBA
7:30 PM
Bar / Karaoke - TBD
7:30 PM - 11:30 PM
TBA
Sessions
7:00 AM
Session: Early Bird: Win the Day: 7 Habits to Maximize Productivity, Address Burnout, and Achieve Optimal Mental Health

Speaker: Michael Towers

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Why Current Performance, Retention, and Engagement Strategies Aren't Working

Speaker: Jon Antonucci

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Avoiding FLSA Pitfals: Wage and Hour Compliance in 2025

Speaker: Tom Green

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Desk on Fire? Emails Blowing Up? Covering Hot Topics On Your Desk

Speaker: Lee Geiger and Laura Caty AM

Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: Leading With Authenticity

Speaker: George Sample

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: Is It Bigger Than Diversity? Why Inclusion Matters?

Speaker: Chiquita Hall-Jackson

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood / Zebrawood
Credits TBD
Session: Open

Speaker: TBD

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
7:45 AM
Doors open to the Ballroom
7:45 AM - 8:15 AM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits n/a
8:15 AM
Keynote Session: Leading the Future of Work: HR's Playbook for Staying Ahead

Speaker: Valerie Grubb

8:15 AM - 9:45 AM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits TBD
9:45 AM
Exhibit Hall - Snacks / Visit our Exhibitors and Enjoy our Smart Stage Sessions!
Smart Stage Session: 9:45 AM - 10:05 AM - (Rocco Pangallo - HUB - "Healthcare Cost Stability Through Captives")
Smart Stage Session: 10:10 AM - 10:35 AM - (Tim Hudec - Justifacts - "Tailoring your Organization's Background Check Package & Adverse Action")
Smart Stage Session: 10:40 AM - 11.00 AM- (Ricca Racadio - Mercer - "Strategic Outlook: Survey on Health & Benefit Strategies for 2026")
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall
Credits n/a
11:00 AM
Session: Hire A Hero: Unlock Skills, Discipline, and Leadership

Speaker: Gregg Modd

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: The Busy Business Leader: 3 Keys to Take Inventory of Your Mental Health

Speaker: Terah L. Davis-Heanderson, PhD, LPC, NCC

11:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Activate Your Superpower: Crafting Your Personal Brand For Greater Impact

Speaker: Jamie Lewis Smith, PhD

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Bottom Line HR: Achieving Business Success by Empowering People

Speaker: John Bernatovicz

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: The History of HR - Understanding the Laws That Shaped the Workplace

Speaker: Thomas Mobley, SHRM-SCP

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: Charting HR's Course: Navigating the Boardroom for Success

Speaker: Julie Doyle

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBA
Session: Emerging Professionals Panel

Speaker: Emerging Professionals Panel

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
11:45 AM
Doors open to the Ballroom
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits n/a
12:00 PM
Lunch (Buffet)
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Location: Kilimangaro (Exhibit Hall)
12:45 PM
Keynote Session: From Kitchen To Culture: The Secret to Serve Your Workplace

Speaker: Aarti Sequiera

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits TBD
2:00 PM
Exhibit Hall / Visit our Exhibitors and Enjoy our Smart Stage Sessions!
Smart Stage Session: 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM - (Joe Rotella - Delphia Consulting - "Say More: 5 Chats That Drive Results")
Smart Stage Session: 2:25 PM - 2:45 PM - (Aidan Donahue - Amazon One Medical - "A Modern Approach to Primary Care")
Snacks and Raffle Giveaways: 2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Exhibit Hall
Credits n/a
3:00 PM
Session: Win the Day: 7 Habits to Maximize Productivity, Address Burnout, and Achieve Optimal Mental Health

Speaker: Michael Towers

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Why Current Performance, Retention, and Engagement Strategies Aren't Working

Speaker: Jon Antonucci

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Avoiding FLSA Pitfals: Wage and Hour Compliance in 2025

Speaker: Tom Green

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Desk on Fire? Emails Blowing Up? Covering Hot Topics On Your Desk

Speaker: Lee Geiger and Laura Caty

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: Leading With Authenticity

Speaker: George Sample

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: Is It Bigger Than Diversity? Why Inclusion Matters?

Speaker: Chiquita Hall-Jackson

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBD
Session: Neurodiverse: Managing, Training, and Leveraging Your Team's Strengths

Speaker: Samantha Kelley

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBD
4:00 PM
Break
4:00 PM -4:15 PM
Location: NA
4:15 PM
Session: Hire A Hero: Unlock Skills, Discipline, and Leadership

Speaker: Gregg Modd

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: The Busy Business Leader: 3 Keys to Take Inventory of Your Mental Health

Speaker: Terah L. Davis-Heanderson, PhD, LPC, NCC

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Activate Your Superpower: Crafting Your Personal Brand for Greater Impact

Speaker: Jamie Lewis Smith, PhD

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Bottom Line HR: Achieving Business Success by Empowering People

Speaker: John Bernatovicz

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: The History of HR - Understanding the Laws That Shaped the Workplace

Speaker: Tom Mobley

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: Charting HR's Course: Navigating the Boardroom for Success

Speaker: Julie Doyle

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBA
Session: Open Session

Speaker: TBD

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
5:30 PM
Happy Hour
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: NA
6:30 PM
Outdoor Dinner Stations / Entertainment (Live Band) / Huts
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
TBA
9:00 PM
Baobab Social (formerly Marrekesh) - DJ/Entertainment
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM
TBA
Sessions
7:30 AM
Doors open to the Ballroom
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Location: NA
8:00 AM
Keynote Session: Mental Health & Wellbeing

Speaker: Blake Leeper

8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Location: Kalahaari Ballroom
Credits TBD
9:15 AM
Break
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: NA
9:30 AM
Session: Evaluating Your Blueprint: What's At Stake to be Future Ready for HR in 2026

Speaker: Benjamin McCall

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Pathfinders: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

Speaker: Pete Schramm

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Culture and Retention

Speaker: Michele Baker-Cuthbert

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Cybersecurity Starts with HR: Safeguarding Data, People, and Reputations

Speaker: Matthew Ritzman

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: Masterclass in Ethics for Human Resources

Speaker: Karl Alhrichs, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CSP

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: Open Session

Speaker: TBD

9:30 AM -10:30 AM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBA
Session: Open Session

Speaker: TBD

9:30 AM -10:30 AM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Location: NA
10:45 AM
Session: Evaluating Your Blueprint: What's At Stake to be Future Ready for HR in 2026

Speaker: Benjamin McCall

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Indigo Bay
Credits TBD
Session: Pathfinders: Navigating Your Career Map with a Personal Board of Advisors

Speaker: Pete Schramm

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Orange
Credits TBD
Session: Culture and Retention

Speaker: Michele Baker-Cuthbert

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Nile
Credits TBD
Session: Cybersecurity Starts with HR: Safeguarding Data, People, and Reputations

Speaker: Matthew Ritzman

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Zambezi
Credits TBD
Session: Masterclass in Ethics for Human Resources

Speaker: Karl Alhrichs, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CSP

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Leopardwood / Rosewood
Credits TBD
Session: Open Session

Speaker: TBD

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Sagewood / Zebrawood
Credits TBA
Session: Open Session

Speaker: TBD

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Location: Cypress
Credits TBA
11:45 AM
Doors open to the Ballroom
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: NA
12:00 PM
Lunch (Buffet)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location: TBA
1:00 PM
Keynote Session: Embracing Radical Resilience - Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

Speaker: Erika Obando

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Location: Kalahari Ballroom
Credits: TBD

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