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Professional Development Programs & Events

WATRA offers engaging and informative in-person and on-line professional development programs on a regular basis throughout the year. 

Whether provided by consultants and technical experts or academic faculty from a local university, our professional development programs provide critical technical knowledge and issue exploration. These are truly design to be continuing education and help forward the science of total rewards.

​In addition, WATRA is a local partner of WorldatWork and supports its training and certification programming. WATRA will host in-person certification programs in the future but you can view WorldatWork's online catalog here: WorldatWork Certification Courses.


Upcoming Programs

    • August 14, 2025
    • 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
    • HUB International Office, 8300 Greensboro Dr, Tysons, VA 22102
    Register

    About the Event:

    Escape the summer sizzle and chill out with WATRA at a breezy, laid-back happy hour filled with Italian flair!  ✨ (FREE Event - Bring a friend)

    We’re serving up crisp prosecco, delicious Italian wines, and mouthwatering bites straight from the old country – all you have to do is show up and unwind. Mingle with fellow members, show off your cornhole and ping pong skills (or cheer from the sidelines with a drink in hand), and enjoy a rare chance to relax and connect with your community.  No speeches, no pressure – just good vibes, great company, and plenty of reasons to toast.

    Come for the networking, stay for the fun!

    Location:

    HUB International Office, 8300 Greensboro Dr, Tysons, VA 22102

    Lobby Level Tenant Lounge

    Weather permitting, we will be on the lovely patio with the garage door open to the inside as well. 

    Parking Information:

    The P4 Parking Deck is located behind the HUB building

    Garage Rates:

    0-2 hours: $6.00

    2+ hours: $13.00

    • September 17, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • 8300 Greensboro Dr, Lower-Level Conference Training Room, Tysons, VA 22012
    Register

    About the Event

    In today’s competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent requires more than just traditional benefits. This interactive presentation delves into how Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) and other progressive benefit programs can be pivotal in enhancing employee satisfaction and engagement. We’ll explore various innovative benefits options, including wellness stipends, professional development funds, and flexible perks that align with modern employee needs and preferences. Learn how to tailor these programs to your organization’s culture, maximize their impact, and gain insights into implementing these benefits effectively to stay ahead of the competition.

    Stay until the end to enter the raffle to win a prize!

    Location

    8300 Greensboro Dr.

    Lower-Level Conference Training Room

    Tysons, VA 22012


    Paid parking located behind the building.

    Agenda:

    • 8:30 am - 9 am: Breakfast and Networking
    • 9 am - 10 am: Presentation
    • 10 am - 10:30 am: Questions and Networking

    Speakers

    (Moderator) Matthew Roberts, HUB International, Director of Group Benefits

    With nearly 30 years of expertise in the employee benefits industry, Matthew brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role as Director of Group Benefits. His career began at MetLife in Chicago, where he served as an underwriter with a focus on innovative product development. Transitioning to the brokerage side, Matthew has worked in various regions across the U.S., including Rochester, NY, Albuquerque, NM, and Washington, D.C.

    Matthew is known for his data-driven approach to reducing employee benefit costs and improving retention. He partners with clients to design tailored solutions that enhance employee engagement and address key organizational challenges. His areas of specialization include alternative funding arrangements, compliance, strategic planning, and workforce engagement strategies.

    Brian McCauley, Director, Sales, OCA

    Brian is responsible for implementing sales strategies and processes that allow OCA to grow without sacrificing its current clients’ needs.   With 15 years of benefit technology and TPA experience, Brian is uniquely situated to understand how the ever-changing marketplace creates opportunity to generate growth and a positive experience for everyone who trusts OCA. Prior to joining OCA in 2015, Brian was the Northeast Director of Sales for HealthConnect Systems, where he was responsible for the growth and development of their core quoting platform and new product initiatives.

    Ross Honig, President, OCA

    Ross oversees all aspects of OCA’s business operations, product development, and business growth. Ross grew up in the family business and officially joined OCA upon graduation from Towson University in 2009. Ross has been committed to spearheading innovative solutions that continually deliver outcomes and experiences that matter most to OCA’s clients and partners.

    CEUs

    This SHRM continuing education course qualifies you for 1.5 CEUs toward your recertification. Attendance will be recorded and the code will be provided to you after the program.

    This WorldatWork continuing education course qualifies you for .25 CEUs toward your recertification. After attending this education program, you will self-report these credits to WaW.

    • October 28, 2025
    • 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • HUB International, 8300 Greensboro Drive, Tysons, VA 22102
    Register

    About the Event:

    Our panelists will unpack the meaning of “wicked” in this context and dive into a dynamic discussion on pay transparency — its evolution, impact, and actionable steps organizations are taking on their journey toward greater transparency.

    The discussion will focus on:

    • Best practices for developing a strategy for budgeting adjustments, communicating and developing an ongoing process
    • Evaluating strategies around the drivers of pay, how you’re comparing employees and how to make adjustments over time
    • How to transition from how you pay in practice today to your future state of how you WANT to pay

    Agenda:

    • 8:30 am - 9 am: Breakfast and Networking
    • 9 am - 10 am: Presentation
    • 10 am - 10:30 am: Questions and Networking

    Location:

    8300 Greensboro Dr.

    Tysons, VA 22012

    Paid parking located behind the building.

    Speakers:

    Sean Luitjens is the Vice President of Product Strategy at Salary.com

    Sean has an extensive background working in strategic roles across organizations holding positions in Product Development, System Architecture, Global Sales, Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Benchmarking, and M&A. 

    Prior to Salary.com, Sean held leadership positions at Visier, Korn Ferry, AIRINC, and a Principal at Mercer, where he managed the global benefits benchmarking business.  His background also includes Monster as the Director of Product Strategy,  and a Product Development for the interactive businesses of Fidelity Capital. Additionally, Sean also serves on the board of directors for two additional non-profit organizations.

    Sean has worked with clients and partners as well as spoken on a wide range of topics including but not limited to total rewards, pay equity, global mobility, recruitment, compensation and benefits methodology and trends, as well as merger & acquisition strategies.  When not working, Sean can likely be found in the great outdoors hitting the trails, climbing, or partaking in a triathlon.

    Donna Moreno currently serves on the WATRA Board and was their Program Chair for the past 4 years. As a Lead Compensation Analyst with The Washington Post, she is responsible for defining the salary structures, new roles, and conducting analysis associated with the job architecture project. Prior to this, she was a manager with Verizon for 34 years. Donna served as a company spokesperson, representing Verizon at numerous industry conferences, investor relations events and with governmental leaders.

    Donna was an active member of the Verizon Speaker’s Bureau program. She has served on several boards at the local, state, national and international organization levels and received numerous awards for her volunteer service. 

    Donna attended college at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell where she received her BS, Mathematics and MBA, Operations Management.

    Nancy Romanyshyn is the Senior Director, Total Rewards Strategy and Solutions at Syndio. Nancy is a fair pay thought leader, speaker, and compensation expert. Nancy joined Syndio 4 years ago after 25+ years as a Rewards consultant in Willis Towers Watson's Metro NY Executive Compensation and Rewards practice working with F500 companies on global compensation frameworks. She led WTW's North America Fair Pay Team and was a key member of the Global Fair Pay Team. Prior to joining WTW, she stood up the compensation function at Mikasa and led compensation management for 6 years.

    • December 10, 2025


Past Programs

July 17, 2025 Global Compensation Design: Balancing Global Consistency and Local Business Need
June 12, 2025 Legal Update: State Law Compliance
May 20, 2025 Optimizing Executive Rewards for Business Growth
April 16, 2025 Understanding the Secure 2.0 Act
February 26, 2025 Meeting Global Regulatory Standards through Compensation Analysis
January 16, 2025 Trends and Issues in Sales Compensation
December 05, 2024 Holiday Happy Hour
October 09, 2024 World at Work Total Rewards Summit Series: Arlington ’24
September 16, 2024 Pay Equity 101
August 22, 2024 Empower Your Workforce with Family-Friendly Policies
July 18, 2024 Aligning Total Rewards Strategies with Financial Goals: A Total Rewards and CFO Collaboration
June 11, 2024 Legacy Planning: Wills, Estates and Trusts
May 15, 2024 The Future of Total Rewards: Challenges Employers Face and Implication for Future Total Rewards Approach
April 25, 2024 Leveraging Survey Data to Flex Your Benefits
March 20, 2024 Financial Wellness Strategies: Nurturing Prosperity and Well-being in the Workplace
February 21, 2024 Mastering Hybrid Work: The Compensation Professional's Guide to Boosting Retention, Enhancing Productivity, and Minimizing Costs
January 23, 2024 Leveraging AI in Today’s Total Rewards
December 14, 2023 Holiday Happy Hour
November 15, 2023 Pain Points around New Regulations/Pay Transparency and Leave Plans
October 18, 2023 Current Trends in Compensation Structure Design and Practices
September 21, 2023 M&A and Total Rewards: Achieving Synergy Through Strategic Alignment
September 19, 2023 WaW Affiliates Event: Mini Mastermind: Well-Being Meets AI
August 09, 2023 People Analytics: Understanding Best Practices and How It Can Enhance Your Workforce Strategy
July 13, 2023 Pay Transparency: The Benefits, Challenges, and Legal Requirements
June 21, 2023 The Ultimate Benefits Upgrade! How to Maximize Your Existing Offering and Take Advantage of Recent Exciting Changes
May 17, 2023 Keeping the Momentum on DEI
April 13, 2023 Lifestyle Benefits: How to Use Non-Salary Benefits To Improve The Lives of Employees
March 22, 2023 WaW Affiliates Day: Salary Structure & Compensation Trends
March 09, 2023 Sales Compensation Formula Mysteries Solved!
February 08, 2023 Mental Health Awareness and Education
December 07, 2022 Washington Area Employer Total Rewards Trends
October 20, 2022 Compensation Basics Series: Working with Market Survey
September 14, 2022 The Washington Metropolitan Area Economic Performance and Outlook: Uncertainty, Resilience, Opportunities
June 22, 2022 CHRO's Biggest Reward Challenges of Today
May 24, 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Employee Benefit Plans

WATRA

P.O. Box 4313

Arlington, VA  22204


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