Join us for a coffee chat as we unpack the biggest takeaways from 2025 in the world of benefits and compensation. From evolving employee expectations to bold new strategies, come and share what worked, what didn’t, and what’s shaping the future. Whether you're curious, inspired, or just want to connect—this is your space to learn, reflect, and spark ideas for what’s next.

Let’s talk wins, challenges, and what we’re carrying forward into 2026.

No slides. No pressure. Just good coffee and great conversation.

Emerging Professionals Program – Total Rewards KC

Are you an emerging HR professional with an interest in Total Rewards? Do you have a newer team member who’s eager to grow their knowledge and experience in this area? Total Rewards KC is excited to offer a year-long Emerging Professionals Program designed to build skills, confidence, and professional connections.

Program Highlights

• Quarterly in-person learning sessions focused on Benefits, Compensation, and Total Rewards - February 11, May 13, August 15, and November 18

• Networking with peers who are early in their Total Rewards careers

• Practical insights and mentorship from experienced Total Rewards professionals in the Kansas City area

• Food and beverages provided at all in-person sessions

• Virtual networking coffee chats between in-person meetings

Registration Fees

• $150 annually for Total Rewards KC members

• $275 annually for non-members

This program is a valuable investment in professional development and engagement for emerging HR and Total Rewards professionals. Space is limited—register early to secure your spot.

Join us for an engaging panel session focused on how Talent Acquisition and Total Rewards work together to strengthen hiring outcomes. We’ll explore how compensation and benefits strategy directly influence time-to-offer, offer acceptance, and early retention.

This live session features a moderated two-person panel discussion, followed by interactive Q&A.

Moderator & Panelists:

• Moderator - Cori McClish - Director of Human Resources - BRR Architecture
• Panelist - Stephanie Dalrymple, Human Resources Manager, BlueScope
• Panelist - Kelly O'Connor, Intern Program Administrator, Garmin International

Discussion Topics:

• How to align compensation and benefits to reduce time-to-offer and improve acceptance rates
• Practical design levers that influence candidate decisions (pay structure, signing bonuses, benefits bundling)
• How to measure the ROI of benefits in Talent Acquisition (acceptance rates, retention, cost per hire)
• Key legal and operational considerations (geo-pay, state benefits, remote work requirements)

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast): 

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

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

A special thank you to this month's sponsor!

Join the Total Rewards KC board and membership as we volunteer at Happy Bottoms and then head over to KC Bier for a refreshing drink! 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.

IMPORTANT: Please sign up with Happy Bottoms here: https://cerv.is/0291gNNJ8Tr.

In today’s talent market, one-size-fits-all benefits no longer cut it. This panel explores how organizations are tailoring Total Rewards strategies to reflect their unique cultures, values, and workforce needs. Hear from leaders who have successfully aligned benefits with culture to drive engagement, support diverse employee groups, and strengthen employer brand.

Registration Fees (includes boxed lunch): 

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

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

A special thank you to this month's sponsor: 

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, 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.

Join us for this interative session presented by Learie Hercules, Fouder of Heft IQ. Learie is a technology leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience in AI, analytics, and platform development. At Heft IQ, he helps organizations turn complex data into clear, actionable insights through AI-powered analytics and decision-support tools.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast): 

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

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

Handed a salty & sour merit budget? Sounds like Margaritas to me! How much of a merit increase would you consider sour enough to create a salty cycle for your company? Given that organizations consider themselves lucky to get a merit cycle in the 3-4% range, what happens when you are given 2%, the proverbial limes, and asked to deliver pay for performance, deal with compression, plus evaluate and tackle pay equity issues? Of course, all while dealing with the specific needs of teams; do they need it frozen or on the rocks? We won't disagree that the best option for a great Margarita might be to quickly head to Mexico for some "research and planning." Still upon your rested and recharged return, our panel's goal is to give you and your team insights and examples surrounding how organizations can start with some limes and a salty budget but create a top shelf beverage. Our panel will explore practical ways to reward top performers with plenty of well-aged agave, while keeping an eye on compression, and begin to evaluate and tackle pay equity issues during the compensation planning cycle - all while squeezing the most out of your budget. Most importantly, there will be time at the end for attendees' questions so that we can align the panel's thoughts with your real-world situations.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast): 

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

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

Join us for an engaging conversation exploring the rapidly evolving leave law landscape. We’ll dive into the latest developments in paid family and medical leave programs, shifting state- and local-level mandates, and key emerging trends nationwide. Gain valuable insights from Alliant’s extensive experience working with employers across industries – helping you stay informed, compliant, and ahead of the curve.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast): 

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

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.

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.

Registration Fees (includes beverages and breakfast): 

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

NOTE: This session will qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credit; however, participants must manually enter the activity into their certification portal to receive credit.