Events

Start your morning with breakfast and a coffee bar, while connecting with fellow Total Rewards professionals at our next ATX Total Rewards educational event. Plus, all attendees will be entered for a chance to win a complimentary registration to the 2026 Texas Total Rewards Conference in Austin.

Join us for our annual Employee Benefits Panel featuring industry experts from Pareto, Healthee, and Garner as they explore the latest trends shaping employee benefits and healthcare. Through practical insights and real-world examples, our panelists will discuss:

 Healthcare funding models and innovative plan designs
 Cost-containment strategies to help organizations manage rising healthcare expenses
 The role of employee education, advocacy, and benefits navigation in improving engagement and outcomes
 Emerging approaches employers can leverage to maximize the value of their benefits programs

Whether you are preparing for renewal season, evaluating your current strategy, or looking for new ideas to better support your employees, this session will provide valuable takeaways and opportunities to learn from industry leaders and peers.

 Event Schedule

• Networking, breakfast, and coffee bar: 8:30–9:00 AM
• Panel presentation: 9:00–10:00 AM

Location:

1250 S. Capital of Texas Highway, Building 2

Our Panelist include:

Daniel Risen is Senior Director of Consultant Relations at Garner Health, where he partners with leading national brokerage firms to bring a data-driven approach to healthcare benefits. He works with brokers and employers to help employees find high-quality providers while cutting unnecessary spend, pairing better care with lower cost. Before Garner, Daniel spent his career in employee benefits consulting, advising organizations on plan design, vendor strategy, and cost containment, working closely with CFOs and HR leaders to simplify complex decisions. He's known for turning complex healthcare data into clear, actionable strategy and for building the kind of long-term broker relationships that actually move the needle for clients. On this panel, Daniel will bring a cost-containment and provider-quality lens to the conversation, sharing what's actually working for employers as they head into renewal season.

Debbie Walker is the Director of Sales at Healthee, where she partners with employers to simplify one of the most complicated and expensive decisions they face: choosing the right employee benefits

Before Healthee, Debbie spent over four years at Jellyvision in progressively senior channel sales and strategic advisory roles, partnering with brokers and HR teams to bring AI, data analytics, and behavioral science to benefits decision-making. Earlier in her career, she served as a strategic and operating partner to executive leadership at National Instruments and VMware, supporting M&A evaluation, global sales strategy, and enterprise execution.

Debbie lives in Round Rock, Texas, with her husband, Charles; together they have three daughters and a granddaughter. 

Matt Perry is a Regional Vice President at ParetoHealth, where he focuses on new business development and educating the market on innovative approaches to risk financing in healthcare. With 19 years of experience in employee benefits sales, Matt brings a deep understanding of the industry and a passion for helping employers and advisors navigate an evolving healthcare landscape. Since joining ParetoHealth in 2022, he has partnered with organizations to deliver sustainable healthcare solutions and drive meaningful conversations around cost containment and employee health benefits. Matt lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and their three children.

We look forward to seeing you there for a morning of networking, collaboration, and meaningful conversations around the future of employee benefits.

You’re Invited to the Reveal!

Big news deserves a big celebration— CTCBA is now ATX Total Rewards!

Join us as we unveil our new name, reflecting our evolving mission, new energy, and continued commitment to advancing Total Rewards practices across our Austin community.

Enjoy great drinks, tasty food, door prizes, exclusive swag, and even better company as we celebrate this exciting new chapter with you! Same great organization. Bold new identity!

Pinthouse Brewing

2201 E. Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78741

June 24, 2026 

⏰ 5:30 – 8:00 PM

Don't miss out as we celebrate growth, innovation, and the future of Total Rewards in Austin. ATX Total Rewards - Connecting, Learning, and Leading the Future of Work.

Free admission • Free parking • Drink tickets • Light appetizers

Networking on Lady Bird Lake!

CTCBA invites you to an unforgettable evening of networking, connection, and community — all while cruising the scenic waters of Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin.

This special event, chartered by Capital Cruises, offers a relaxed and unique atmosphere to engage with fellow Compensation & Benefits professionals, share ideas, and expand your network.

https://www.facebook.com/CapitalCruises/videos/the-ultimate-austin-experience/26624764047184914/

✨ Enjoy:
✔️ Light refreshments with great conversation
✔️ Door prizes and giveaways
✔️ Stunning sunset views of the Austin skyline

Where: Hyatt Regency Boat Dock, 208 Barton Springs Rd.
When: Thursday, May 21st | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

⚡ Space is limited — RSVP early to secure your spot! We can’t wait to see you aboard!

Parking available close by... https://capitalcruises.com/map-directions/

Compensation as a Performance Engine: Designing People Investment Programs that Drive Business Results

We’re excited to invite you to an insightful and timely session with Hannah Hargrave of Herron Palmer: Compensation is more than pay, it’s a strategic tool that can shape culture, attract the right talent, and drive organizational success. Join us as we explore how thoughtful people investment programs can become a true performance engine for your business.

Topics include:
✨ Designing a vision for the talent you want
✨ Meeting modern employee expectations head-on
✨Individualization without inequity
✨ Turning compensation into a story leaders can understand
✨ Governance that supports long-term success

This is a session you won’t want to miss if you’re looking to strengthen your organization’s compensation strategy and better align people programs with business results.

About Our Speaker:

Hannah Hargrave

Hannah Hargrave is a Consultant and Compensation Project Manager at Herron Palmer in Colorado. She leads projects across compensation and total rewards, with expertise in market research, internal equity, external competitiveness, compliance, and the development of practical tools that support effective compensation administration.

With a professional background spanning research, higher education, and healthcare, Hannah brings a unique and evidence-based perspective to complex organizational challenges. She is known for delivering thoughtful, individualized solutions and for her passion for education, development, and change management. Hannah thrives on using data and analytics to drive informed decisions and enjoys partnering with organizations to create impactful, people-centered strategies.

 Come join us for great conversation, valuable insights, and a chance to connect with fellow professionals over lunch!

Event sponsored by:

Join us! Follow the link to register

CTCBA is excited to launch our 2026 educational series with our Annual Legal Update! Start your morning with a coffee bar and breakfast and create your own custom coffee drink served in a CTCBA stainless steel coffee mug you’ll take home with you. 

Join us for a timely and practical discussion on the most critical employment law developments employers need to know for 2026. 

Collin Brodrick, Partner with Fisher & Phillips LLP, a leading international labor and employment law firm, will share insights on emerging risks, compliance priorities, and proactive strategies to help employers navigate today’s evolving workplace. 

Key topics for 2026 include: 

• State and federal enforcement of trade secret and non-competition agreements
• Federal immigration enforcement, H1-B visas, and I-9 audits
• Changes in state and federal legalization of cannabis
•  Federal and state regulatory changes impacting employers
• Pay transparency, wage & hour and classification developments
• AI and technology in hiring and employment decisions
• Shifting enforcement trend related to DEI, discrimination and harassment
• Updates to leave laws, accommodations ad workplace flexibility

Collin Brodrick assists employers in responding to employee complaints filed with various federal and state agencies, including the Texas Workforce Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor. Collin also regularly advises and trains managers, HR professionals, and in-house counsel regarding Texas and multistate compliance with federal and state employment laws and numerous workplace issues, including discrimination and harassment prevention, internal investigations, family and medical leave, disability, pregnancy, military leave and reinstatement rights, wage advancements and deductions, terminations, RIFS and furloughs, and overtime pay. Collin frequently assists clients in preparing employment policies and handbooks and has considerable experience in drafting non-competition agreements and evaluating their enforceability.

 Join us! Follow the link to register

CTCBA Total Rewards Roundtable 2026
“What’s Working, What Isn’t, and What Matters Most in 2026”

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming CTCBA Total Rewards Roundtable—a highly interactive session focused on the hottest topics shaping Total Rewards as we move into 2026. This conversation will bring together HR, Benefits, Compensation, and Total Rewards professionals to explore what’s working, what isn’t, and what you need to know in the year ahead. 

Date: December 4th
Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Location:
1250 S. Capital of Texas Highway
Lobby, Cielo Center Building 2
Austin, TX 78746

What to Expect

This roundtable is designed to spark real, practical dialogue. Together, we’ll explore:
• Rising medical and pharmacy trends
• Evolving compensation pressures and pay equity
• Mental health and holistic wellbeing priorities
• Financial wellbeing and Secure Act 2.0 impacts
• Innovations in insurance, stop-loss, and cost management
• What organizations plan to change—or must change—for 2026

Attendees will rotate through topic tables, share insights, and hear what peers across Central Texas are experiencing in real time.

Why Attend?

The Total Rewards landscape is shifting rapidly. This roundtable will help you:
• Understand emerging trends
• Benchmark what others are doing
• Identify strategies that are delivering ROI
• Gain practical insights to bring back to your organization immediately

This is our favorite annual CTCBA event! Join us! Follow the link to register

Join us! Follow the link to register