Meeting Information

Meeting/Event Information

WHRMA 2026 Annual Conference | The Power of the People - Fueling Strategy Through Talent: People as the Engine of Business Performance

September 18, 2026
9:00 AM EDT - 5:00 PM EDT
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Reid Castle at Manhattanville University
2900 Purchase Street
Purchase, NY 10577
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WHRMA 2026 Annual Conference

The Power of People

Fueling Strategy Through Talent: People as the Engine of Business Performance

Join Westchester Human Resource Management Association for our 2026 Annual Conference — a full day dedicated to the ideas, strategies, and connections that move our profession forward.

This year’s theme puts HR’s most important work front and center: building the human foundation that drives organizational success.

EVENT OVERVIEW

✽ Morning Keynote by Rich Kuepper, Founder of LEAD USA ✽

The Connected Organization: How Human Readiness Fuels Strategy

Strategy doesn't stall because of bad plans. It stalls because people aren't connected, aligned, or ready to move together. In this dynamic 50-minute keynote, HR professionals will experience firsthand why connection isn't a soft prerequisite to performance; it is foundational. Through a series of experiential activities and storytelling, participants will challenge their assumptions about organizational readiness, discover what separates thriving teams from surviving ones, and leave with a sharper understanding of how to activate people as a genuine driver of business results.

✽ Panel Discussion: Voices of Gen Z – A Real Conversation About Expectations, Culture, and the Future of Work ✽

A moderated panel discussion that brings together Gen Z employees and HR/Business leaders to engage in an open, candid discussion about the evolving workplace. The panel will include:

Structured discussion segments (e.g., expectations, communication, and career paths)
Audience Q&A and live polling to increase interaction
Exploration of what “good” culture looks like across generations
Dialogue on flexibility, technology, values, and the future of work
Practical ideas for bridging generational gaps within organizations

✽ Legislative Update with Jeffrey Kimmel and Tracey Levy ✽

Learn the latest legislative news and employment law updates to ensure your organization is ready and in compliance.

✽ Networking Lunch ✽

Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow attendees. Take time to explore our incredible sponsor partners and visit the headshot booth.

✽ Breakout Sessions ✽

With two session rotations, you will have the opportunity to attend two breakout tracks throughout the afternoon.

Powering Leadership — Strategic Empathy: Pairing Empathy with Outcomes to Create Leadership Advantage with Risa Seelenfreund, President at Lightspark Leadership
Many leaders struggle with expressing empathy at work. The good news? Empathy is a skill leaders can develop, & it becomes a strategic strength when paired with strong leadership practices.

In this interactive, application-focused session, participants learn:
- Why empathy matters
- Strategies to demonstrate empathy
- Strategies to pair empathy with other leadership skills to create strategic advantage

Powering Performance — Reskilling Talent in Era of AI with Carol Hirsch, Founder and Principal of Dynamic Workforce Solutions

The organizations that will win in the AI era aren't just investing in technology, they're reskilling the people who have to work alongside it. This session equips HR leaders with a data-driven framework for building the business case, identifying the right roles, and designing reskilling pathways that make HR and Finance the partners that move the enterprise forward.

Powering YOU (Mentally & Personally) — Holistic Wellness: Making Healthy Choices Across Several Dimensions of Life with Jim Marx, Partner, Retirement Plan Advisor & Managing Director at Prime Capital Financial

Wellness goes beyond physical health - It's about creating balance across the areas that shape a fulfilling life. This session will explore financial, professional, and physical wellness, sharing practical tools and strategies to help participants manage challenges, build resilience, and increase peace, balance, and satisfaction in everyday life.

Powering Culture & Belonging — Building Sustainable Work through Transformational Leadership with Peter Rutigliano, PhD, Partner, MercerWell Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Lead & Sustainability Architect at Mercer

Transformational leadership is an environment where people are authentic, can take risks without fear, and feel respected and valued by leadership. This is where people are engaged and committed to the organization but feel a true partnership with co-workers and leaders alike. We will discuss creating physically and mentally sustainable work paying attention to the impact to business outcomes as well as savings through decreased medical costs, EAP costs, missed work and turnover.

Powering Your Competitive Advantage — Total Rewards as a Strategic Asset to Drive Performance with Gayle McCulloch, Senior Vice President - Practice Leader at Aon

In this fireside chat, hear from a Senior Benefits & Total Rewards executive on using rewards as a strategic asset. We'll explore how benefits and rewards can drive business performance, support priorities, and strengthen people risk governance. The session links total rewards choices to talent attraction, retention, engagement, and long term value creation for the modern workforce.

✽ Business Partner Showcase ✽

Connect with top solution providers in the HR space and explore the tools and resources shaping the future of our organizations.

✽ Afternoon Keynote by Prudence Pitter, Founder/CEO of PEARRM Services ✽

Sustainable High Performance: Leading Without Burning Out the People Who Power Your Organization

Organizations cannot fuel strategy through talent if their talent is running on empty. Drawing on the Wellbeing Architecture framework, this keynote moves beyond burnout awareness into actionable strategy. Attendees will explore how leadership behaviors and people strategy either deplete or replenish human capital. This is not a self-care session. This is a strategy session.

✽ Networking Social ✽

Recap the day with dedicated time to connect, reconnect, and build relationships with fellow attendees.

Throughout the event you'll also enjoy:

Continental breakfast, full lunch, and snacks — Stay fueled throughout the day with plenty of food and beverage options.
Earn Recertification Credits — Attendees earn PDC credits for HRCI and SHRM.
Professional Headshots — Walk away with an updated headshot to refresh your professional brand.
Raffle Prizes — Several chances to win some fun prizes.
Networking — Connect with local HR and business professionals and leaders throughout our region and build your network.

Register today and join us for what promises to be our most impactful conference yet!

By registering for this event, you agree to share your contact information with event sponsors and you approve WHRMA's use of photography/video during the event for promotional purposes.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

★ PLATINUM SPONSORS ★