We’re excited to connect with you
Use the calendar below to schedule time with our executive or account management team during the conference. All meetings will be taking place at the Payscale booth (#243) located in the expo hall.
Other ways to connect
Attend the official Welcome Reception sponsored by Payscale!
Where: The Expo hall – your first look!
When: Sunday, April 19 | 6:00-8:00pm CT
(Immediately following the main stage opening)
Join Diamond Sponsor, Payscale, at Trusaic’s Texas Takeover!
Where: 1902 Nightclub (view map)
When: Tuesday, April 21 | 6:30-9:30pm CT
Enjoy live country music and line dancing, capture the moment at our western-themed photo booth, and indulge in authentic Texas BBQ alongside signature cocktails. This isn’t just a party—it’s a fully immersive experience, complete with a few surprises along the way
Don’t miss our featured sessions at WaWTR ‘26
From silos to strategy: Connecting compensation across the business
Presented by:
Ruth Thomas - Chief Compensation Strategist, Payscale
Philip Watson – Chief Financial Officer, Payscale
Ilissa May – Director of Global Comp, Corpay
Daniel Mealo – Manager of Compensation Data, Orlando Health
Rajashree Campbell – Head of Compensation, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Pay is no longer a back-office function—it’s a strategic lever driving engagement, performance, and growth. Yet many compensation teams still rely on spreadsheets and disconnected data while talent expectations evolve rapidly. In this session, Payscale’s Chief Compensation Strategist and Comp & Coffee host Ruth Thomas shares how organizations align pay decisions with business outcomes through better compensation intelligence.
Pay for performance that actually pays off
Presented by:
Lauren Hein – Director, Total Rewards - Payscale
Marc Mullis - Compensation Strategy and Executive Advisor - Payformance Partners
Ira Finn – Vice President, Total Rewards – Ryan Specialty Group
Brittany Vogel – Director of People Operations, Leapfrog Brands
Many organizations say they do pay-for-performance but increases often end up spread evenly regardless of contribution — the "peanut butter approach." Payscale's 2026 Compensation Best Practices Report found 44% of organizations are considering or already giving across-the-board increases this year. The problem? High performers notice, and when the job market opens back up, they're the first to leave.
Join this session to explore how to use the full total rewards toolkit — merit, variable pay, equity, promotions, and market adjustments — to build compensation strategies that genuinely reward performance and learn why manager enablement and clear communication are what make or break execution.
From compensation management to compensation intelligence: Turning pay into a strategic advantage
Presented by:
Alicia Nogrady – Director, Product - Payscale
Sara Hillenmeyer – Vice President, Data Science, Payscale
Compensation has evolved, but many systems and decision models haven’t. Organizations still operate with fragmented data and reactive pay strategies that struggle to keep up with the pace of change.
This session explores the shift from Compensation Management to Compensation Intelligence—a practical approach that connects trusted data, adaptive workflows, and real-time insights across the compensation lifecycle. Learn how organizations are enabling faster, more confident, and more defensible pay decisions that strengthen talent competitiveness and business performance.
Let’s connect at the conference
Book time with our executive or account management team to dive into your priorities and see what’s possible together.