2026 Texas Total Rewards Conference Agenda *Subject to Change

Sunday, 8/23/26

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Registration & Badge Pickup

3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Sponsor & Exhibitor Setup

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Opening Reception hosted by the TTRC Board of Directors

Monday, 8/24/26

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Registration & Badge Pickup

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Breakfast & Networking with our Sponsors

8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Opening Comments

8:15 AM - 9:15 AM Opening Keynote Session

Doing More with Less: Maximizing Reward and Payroll Impact Within Constrained Budgets

Speaker: Sean Luitjens, Vice President of Product Strategy, Salary.com

Many organizations face limited reward budgets while needing to deliver pay-for-performance, manage pay compression, and advance pay equity. This session explores practical strategies to prioritize funding giving you actionable insights to maximize payroll and reward impact, maintain fairness, and preserve employee trust even under budget constraints.

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM Break with our Sponsors

9:30 AM - 10:20 AM General Session 1

TBA

Speaker: Dr. Tony Bridwell, The Encompass Group  

10:20 AM - 10:40 AM World at Work

10:40 AM - 11:40 AM Vendor Showcases

11:40 AM - 12:30 PM Lunch, Networking & Roundtables

12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Breakout Session 1 (Track 1)

TBA

Speaker: David Cichelli

12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Breakout Session 1 (Track 2)

TBA

Speaker: TBA, Businessolver

12:30 PM - 1:20 PM Breakout Session 1 (Track 3)

TBA

Speaker: TBA

1:20 PM - 1:30 PM Break with our Sponsors

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM Breakout Session 2 (Track 1)

TBA

Speaker: TBA

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM Breakout Session 2 (Track 2)

Turning Claims Data into Action: A Roadmap for Cost Transparency & Population Health Strategy

Speakers: Traci McGinnis, Practice Leader for Health Insights, Benefitfocus
Miriam McKinney, Sr. HR Systems Analyst, University of Texas System

Discover how self‑insured employers are turning complex health claims data into meaningful insights that improve population health and lower costs. Leaders from Benefitfocus and the University of Texas System will share practical strategies for unlocking transparency and insights to guide population health initiatives.

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM Breakout Session 2 (Track 3)

TBA

Speaker: TBA

2:20 PM - 2:45 PM Break with our Sponsors

2:45 PM - 3:35 PM Breakout Session 3 (Track 1)

TBA

Speaker: TBA

2:45 PM - 3:35 PM Breakout Session 3 (Track 2)

TBA

Speaker: TBA

2:45 PM - 3:35 PM Breakout Session 3 (Track 3)

TBA

Speaker: TBA

3:35 PM - 4:00 PM Break with our Sponsors

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM General Session 2

TBA

Speaker: TBA, Obsidian

4:50 PM - 5:00 PM Day One Closing

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Monday Reception with our Sponsors

Tuesday, 8/25/26

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Breakfast & Networking with our Sponsors

8:00 AM - 8:50 AM General Session 3

TBA

Speaker: TBA

8:50 AM - 9:10 AM Break with our Sponsors

9:10 AM - 10:00 AM General Session 4

Stop Fixing Total Rewards After the Fact. Design the Organization Right First

Speakers: Stephanie Beach, ASA, MAAA, SVP, Benefits Consultant, Alliant
Mike Chalmers, SVP, Alliant Human Capital Practice Leader, Alliant

Total Rewards teams are often asked to solve problems they did not create. Rising benefit costs, pay and eligibility inequities, and post-merger complexity are often the result of upstream organizational design decisions. This session explores how job structure, spans, and leveling shape cost, eligibility, and equity outcomes, giving you a data-driven approach to identify issues earlier and reduce reactive redesign.

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM General Session 5

TBA

Speaker: TBA

10:50 AM - 11:10 AM Break with our Sponsors

11:10 AM - 12:00 PM General Session 6

TBA

Speaker: TBA

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Box Lunches and Closing Keynote Session

TBA

Speaker: TBA

1:30 PM Adjournment