Conference Tracks

    Explore our four focused tracks and find the right fit for your session.

    Day-of Schedule

    A look at how the day flows across all four tracks.

    Conference Map

    Where to find the main stage, breakout rooms, and exhibitor hall.

    Headwaters Rewards Conference venue floor map showing the main stage, breakout rooms, exhibitor hall, and registration area

    Exhibitor Key

    Find our Trusted Partners around the venue.

    1
    Howden
    Presenting sponsor, two tables
    2
    Syndio
    Networking & happy hour
    3
    Mercer
    Breakfast sponsor
    4
    SmithRx
    Benefits track
    5
    InnoVyne
    Sales comp track
    6
    HyperEquity
    Broad-based comp track · west leg
    7
    Bettercomp
    Exhibiting · west leg
    8
    DailyPay
    Exhibiting
    9
    Computershare
    Exhibiting
    10
    Dayforce
    Exhibiting
    11
    Versique
    Exhibiting
    12
    Robert Half
    Exhibiting
    13
    MNSaves 529
    Exhibiting
    14
    Betr
    Exhibiting
    15
    Paylocity
    Exhibiting
    Reg
    Registration
    Attendee check-in, at the front

    Session Format

    45-minute sessions
    5 practitioner + 1 sponsored per track
    Practical, actionable content
    Broad-Based

    Broad-Based Compensation

    Strategies and practices for designing, implementing, and managing compensation programs for the general employee population.

    Good Fits

    • Pay structure design and job architecture
    • Market pricing and compensation benchmarking
    • Pay equity analysis and remediation
    • Total rewards strategy development
    • Variable pay and bonus program design
    • Compensation communication strategies

    Not a Fit

    • Product demos or vendor sales pitches
    • Generic 'why compensation matters' talks
    • Heavily promotional content for specific tools
    • Executive-only or sales-only compensation topics

    Example Session Titles

    "Building a Pay Equity Framework That Actually Works"
    "Job Architecture Redesign: A 12-Month Case Study"
    "Communicating Pay Decisions in a Transparent Workplace"
    "Benchmarking Beyond the Median: Advanced Market Pricing"
    "From Annual Reviews to Continuous Compensation"
    "Designing Variable Pay That Drives the Right Behaviors"
    "Remote Work and Geographic Pay: Lessons Learned"
    "Skills-Based Pay: Hype vs. Reality"
    Sales Comp

    Sales Compensation

    Design, implementation, and optimization of incentive compensation programs for sales teams and revenue-generating roles.

    Good Fits

    • Incentive plan design and quota setting
    • Sales performance management
    • Territory and account alignment
    • SPM technology implementation
    • Sales compensation governance
    • Plan modeling and cost analysis

    Not a Fit

    • Product demos for SPM tools (use sponsored slot)
    • Sales training or enablement (not comp-focused)
    • Generic motivation talks
    • Heavily vendor-specific content

    Example Session Titles

    "Quota Setting in Uncertain Markets"
    "From Spreadsheets to SPM: A Migration Story"
    "Balancing Hunter vs. Farmer Incentives"
    "Multi-Year Deal Compensation: Avoiding the Pitfalls"
    "Channel Partner Compensation Alignment"
    "Measuring What Matters: Beyond Revenue Metrics"
    "Handling Mid-Year Compensation Changes"
    "Sales Comp Governance: Building the Right Cadence"
    Exec Comp

    Executive Compensation

    Compensation strategies for C-suite, board, and senior leadership, including governance, disclosure, and long-term incentives.

    Good Fits

    • Long-term incentive plan design
    • Proxy disclosure and Say-on-Pay
    • Board and committee governance
    • Performance metric selection
    • Peer group analysis
    • CEO succession and compensation

    Not a Fit

    • Product demos or consulting firm pitches
    • Content without clear executive focus
    • Overly technical accounting/tax content (limited appeal)
    • Broad-based comp topics mislabeled as exec comp

    Example Session Titles

    "Say-on-Pay: Recovering from a Failed Vote"
    "ESG Metrics in Executive Incentives"
    "Peer Group Construction: Art and Science"
    "Private Company Executive Compensation Trends"
    "Board Education on Compensation Matters"
    "Retention Through Transition: M&A Considerations"
    "Relative TSR: Design Choices That Matter"
    "CEO Pay Ratio: Beyond Compliance"
    Benefits

    Benefits

    Employee benefits strategy, design, and administration including health, wellness, retirement, and emerging benefit offerings.

    Good Fits

    • Health plan design and cost management
    • Retirement plan strategy and governance
    • Mental health and well-being programs
    • Benefits communication and enrollment
    • Leave policies and flexible benefits
    • Benefits technology implementation

    Not a Fit

    • Product demos for benefits platforms (use sponsored slot)
    • Broker/carrier sales presentations
    • Overly technical compliance-only content
    • Generic wellness talks without benefits lens

    Example Session Titles

    "GLP-1 Drugs: Managing Cost and Access"
    "Designing a Mental Health Benefits Strategy"
    "Open Enrollment Reimagined: Boosting Engagement"
    "Fertility and Family-Forming Benefits Design"
    "Retirement Plan Governance Best Practices"
    "Benefits for a Multigenerational Workforce"
    "Self-Funded vs. Fully Insured: Making the Switch"
    "Financial Wellness: What Actually Works"