Washington Area Total Rewards Association (WATRA) upcoming events

HRLF and WATRA Presents “Strategic Networking for HR Leaders" (April 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 19:30:00 GMT

About the Event:

Elevate your executive influence, strengthen your professional network, and build relationships that drive impact.

This interactive session equips CHROs and senior HR leaders with practical strategies to identify high-value connections, craft a compelling executive narrative, and build trust quickly with peers and business leaders.

Immediately following the training, apply these skills in a guided, hands-on reception, where you’ll deepen relationships, exchange insights, and turn learning into actionable connections. Note: You are asked to sign up for that separately.

Key Benefits:

Develop a strategic networking mindset for senior HR leaders
Practice real-world relationship-building skills
Leave with a personalized networking plan and immediate connections
Transform networking from transactional to high-impact leadership

Agenda:

3:30 - 4 pm Registration

4 - 5:30 pm Program

Location:

HUB International, 8300 Greensboro Dr, Tysons, VA 22102

Lower Level Conference Room

Note: Parking is not free

HRLF and WATRA Presents: Networking Reception (April 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:30:00 GMT

HR Leadership Forum (HRLF) and WATRA Presents:

Networking Reception

About the Event:

Join us for the Networking Reception, an evening designed to bring together HR and People leaders for meaningful connection, conversation, and community.

The Reception offers a welcoming and professional environment where practitioners across industries can expand their networks, exchange perspectives, and strengthen relationships within the HR community. Whether you are a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this gathering provides an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day and engage with peers who understand the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping our profession.

This is more than a networking event—it’s a space to build trusted connections, share ideas, and deepen your engagement with HRLF and the broader HR leadership community.

Why attend?

Connect with fellow HR professionals across the region
Engage in thoughtful, peer-driven conversation
Expand your professional network
Learn more about upcoming HRLF & WATRA programs and opportunities

Location:

HUB International, 8300 Greensboro Dr, Tysons, VA 22102

Lower Level Conference Room

Note: Parking is not free

Panel Discussion on AI in Compensation (May 13, 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 12:30:00 GMT

Panel discussion on AI in Compensation

Brought to us by Salary.com and WorldatWork

Agenda:

Breakfast & Networking: 8:30 am - 9 am

Presentation: 9 am - 10 am

Questions & Networking: 10 am - 10:30 am

Join us for an interactive panel discussion discussing the transformative impact of AI on the compensation and HR industries, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize everything from salary benchmarking and pay equity analysis to personalized benefits and predictive retention strategies.

Key topics include AI's ability to identify and mitigate biases in pay structures, forecast future compensation needs, and streamline administrative processes, ultimately freeing HR teams to focus on higher-value, human-centric initiatives and fostering a more equitable and efficient workplace. However, the discussion will also touch on the critical need for robust data governance, ethical AI implementation to prevent the perpetuation of existing biases, and the importance of upskilling HR professionals to leverage these new tools effectively.

Location:

Coming soon...

Panel:

Sean Lutijens, VP 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, AIRNC, and 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 total rewards, pay equity, globabl mobility, recruitment, compensation, and benefits methodology and trends, as well as merger and acquisition strategies. When not working, Sean can likely be found in the great outdoors, hitting the trails, climbing, or partaking in a triatholon; in general, attempting to not grow up.

WATRA/RCA Total Rewards Summit '26 (October 22, 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

WATRA & RCA (Richmond Compensation Association) Present:

Total Rewards Summit '26

*If you are an RCA member, please ensure you get the member code from RCA: info@richcomp.org

MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

Tentative Program Schedule:

8:30a - 9:15a Registration

9:15a - 10:15a Breakfast & Keynote Speaker: Scott Caywood, CEO WorldatWork

10:30a - 11:30a Concurrent Sessions 1A and 1B

11:45a - 12:45p Concurrent Sessions 2A and 2B

1p - 2p Lunch & Speaker/Panel

2:15p - 3:15p Concurrent Sessions 3A and 3B

3:30p - 4:30p Concurrent Sessions 4A and 4B

4:45p - 6:45p Happy Hour & Networking

Location:

SevaSpaces, 1604 Spring Hill Rd, Vienna, Virginia 22182

FREE parking

Right by Spring Hill Metro Stop