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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

    • April 16, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    • Webinar
    Register

    About the Event

    Are you prepared for the changes SECURE 2.0 brings to retirement planning and administration? In this virtual session, Jennifer Crowe, Senior Director of Product Management at TIAA, will provide an in-depth look at the key provisions of SECURE 2.0 and what they mean for employers, employees, and plan administrators.

    With over 20 years of experience in financial education and retirement plan consulting, Jennifer will share actionable insights on how to navigate the new requirements, optimize your retirement plans, and ensure compliance while supporting your employees’ financial well-being.

    Speaker

    Jen Crowe is a Senior Director in the Retirement Solutions organization and is one of the leaders of the cross-functional SECURE Act readiness team at TIAA. She provides subject matter expertise on TIAA’s institutional product portfolio with a focus on Enhanced Recordkeeping Services, including Sole Recordkeeping and Multi-Vendor Coordinator services, to TIAA’s institutional clients. Jen joined TIAA in 1999 and has held a variety of roles in the Retirement Solutions organization.

    Jen has a B.A. in Spanish and Economics from Temple University.

    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.

    • May 20, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
    • Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), 1000 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209
    Register

    About the Event

    In today's fast-paced and competitive landscape, aligning rewards strategies with business objectives is essential for driving growth. Join a dynamic panel of four CHROs as they share their insights and experiences on optimizing executive compensation, designing impactful total rewards programs, and effectively influencing board-level decisions to support organizational success.

    This engaging in-person session will explore how to balance attracting and retaining top talent with fiscal responsibility, align compensation strategies with corporate goals, and navigate boardroom dynamics to secure buy-in for critical rewards initiatives.

    Agenda:

    8:30 am - 9 am: Breakfast and Networking

    9 am - 10 am: Presentation

    10 am - 10:30 am: Questions and Networking

    Speakers

    Daphne B. Latimore is an accomplished organizational strategist and human capital expert with over 30 years of experience in transforming workplace cultures and enhancing workforce engagement. As the Managing Partner of DB Latimore Professional Services Group, she specializes in HR consulting, talent development, and leadership coaching, offering strategic insights that empower organizations to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing work landscape.

    Certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Daphne excels in behavioral measurement, culture transformation, and organizational development. Her innovative strategies have guided leaders across industries—including Chief Human Resources Officers, Chief Diversity Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, and Chief Operating Officers—in achieving operational excellence and fostering inclusion.  She serves as a trusted thought partner to multiple Chief Executive Officers, providing strategic counsel on aligning leadership behaviors with organizational goals to drive performance and foster inclusion.

    With a focus on experiential learning, Daphne is dedicated to equipping individuals and teams with actionable insights that maximize their potential. Her work seamlessly integrates data-driven strategies with human-centered practices, ensuring sustainable growth for the organizations she serves. She is deeply committed to aligning organizational goals with leadership behaviors to drive sustainable growth and employee well-being.

    As a thought leader, Daphne frequently writes about the role of behavioral drivers in advancing organizational culture and the critical balance between leadership, strategy, and engagement.

    Ray Khuo is the Chief Human Capital Officer at Tria Federal. Ray is a strategic human capital business leader with 30 years of experience successfully aligning the direction of human resources and talent acquisition with corporate missions and objectives. Before joining Tria, Ray held various strategic positions in large and small organizations, most recently serving as the Chief Human Capital Officer at BlueHalo, where he helped successfully execute 13 merger and acquisition transactions and 20 company integrations.   At BlueHalo, Ray was responsible for delivering human capital strategy and operational execution of human resources, talent acquisition, personnel security, DE&I, training and development, and events and Community Service. He also managed multiple infrastructure projects and was recognized for his leadership in representing BlueHalo, including receiving a CHRO of the Year award from HRO Today.

    Ray received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Mason University, belongs to the Society for Human Resources Management, and is a contributor on the WashingtonExec Strategic Human Capital and Critical Talent Council.

    Maliek Ferebee is the Chief Human Capital Officer at BlueHalo, where he leads the company’s human resources strategy, driving talent development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, performance management, compensation, benefits, and overall workforce excellence. With a passion for building high-performing teams, he ensures that BlueHalo attracts, retains, and empowers top talent to fuel the company’s mission and growth.

    Before joining BlueHalo, Maliek served as CHCO at DLH Corporation, where he transformed the human capital function into a strategic, service-driven operation. He spearheaded the company’s Integration Management Office (IMO), successfully uniting diverse workstreams and fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and industry-leading value creation for employees, clients, stakeholders, and partners.

    A forward-thinking executive, Maliek is known for translating business vision into actionable strategies that enhance performance, profitability, and employee engagement. His ability to cultivate talent and unlock potential has made a lasting impact throughout his career. He was recognized as one of WashingtonExec’s ‘Top 10 HR Executives to Watch’ for his leadership, innovation, and contributions to the field.

    Maliek holds an MBA with a concentration in human resource management and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He has also completed executive development programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School and leadership management training at UCLA’s Anderson Business School. Actively engaged in the business community, he serves as a board member for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and is a member of the Washington Executive Human Resources Council.

    Beyond his professional commitments, Maliek is deeply involved in mentorship and community service. He volunteers as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and serves as a mediator at the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Maryland. His dedication to leadership—both in business and the community—exemplifies his commitment to creating meaningful impact.

    Lisa Anderson is the Chief HR Officer (CHRO) for Sev1Tech, LLC, a technology company. She is a strategic HR executive, leadership coach, author, and speaker with over 25 years of experience. She has gained deep expertise in HR strategy, mergers and acquisitions, cultural integration, and leadership development. She’s dedicated to helping organizations with strategic and operational aspects of HR so that they can take care of their most valuable asset, their people.

    Lisa holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University and a BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) degree from James Madison University. She holds several senior HR certifications (SPHR, SHRM-SCP). She is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and a member of the prestigious John Maxwell Team of speakers and trainers.

    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.

    • June 12, 2025
    • Jackson Lewis P.C., 10701 Parkridge Blvd, Suite 300, Reston, VA 20191

    About the Event

    Coming soon...

    Speakers

    Alyssa Testo, Attorney at Law, Jackson Lewis P.C.

    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.

    • August 13, 2025
    • TBD

    About the Event:

    Coming soon...

    Location:

    TBD

    • October 15, 2025
    • TBD

    About the Event:

    Coming soon...

    Location:

    TBD

    • December 10, 2025


Past Programs

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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