SPEAKER
PRESENTATION SUMMARY
In today’s rapidly evolving business and economic environment, it’s essential for organizations to design strategies that directly support the organization’s growth and long-term success. Compensation is no different. By integrating key economic factors into total rewards and talent-based decisions, CompEnomics offers a strategic, evidence-based approach to discerning and developing total compensation and talent strategies designed to enable organizations to attract, foster, pay, and grow their talent base. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
SPEAKER BIO
Kevin Cartwright is the Vice President of Intelligent Compensation, LLC, an experienced compensation and business advisory consulting firm out of Austin, Texas. Since joining the consulting firm back in 2016, Kevin has developed nearly a decade of experience delivering strategic consulting solutions to clients across the United States and internationally. Kevin’s expertise spans a wide range of compensation and organizational consulting services including base and total cash market studies, the development of pay structures and incentive compensation plans, executive and total compensation analyses, and comprehensive organizational reviews.
Outside of Intelligent Compensation, LLC, Kevin volunteers on the Board of WilcoHR, where he previously served as President, and now serves as 2026 Treasurer. He also previously served on the Board of Austin SHRM as VP of Emerging Professionals where he assisted Central Texas Universities and local businesses with improving the professional development of their students and young professionals.
Kevin earned his B.A. from Sam Houston State University. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two young children, coaching sports and working with high school students at his church.
CANCELLATION POLICY
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
USE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES
JOHNNY C. TAYLOR, JR. (opening keynote)
Fireside chat to discuss Civility in the Workplace
DR. VIJAY PENDAKUR
Disruption-Proof Teams: Everyday Behaviors That Drive Resilience, Agility, and Performance
In today’s workplaces, disruption isn’t a temporary storm — it’s the new normal. HR leaders know the costs: rising burnout, eroding engagement, and teams that stall under pressure. But resilience isn’t built through slogans or one-off campaigns; it grows from the everyday behaviors leaders and teams practice together.
In this keynote, Dr. Vijay Pendakur — former C-level leader at Zynga, VMware, and Dropbox and author of The Alchemy of Talent — unpacks the formula for teams that win consistently, even in endless uncertainty. You’ll see how small, science-backed behavior shifts flatten the disruption “dip,” protect performance, and sustain energy across your workforce.
Attendees will leave with practical tools to bring back to their organizations — not grand gestures, but repeatable behaviors that HR can champion and scale to help teams thrive in uncertainty, adapt faster, and deliver extraordinary results.
Learning Outcomes:
CHERRON CASTILLO
Psychological Safety at Work
Every organization says they want people to “speak up,” but few create the conditions that make it safe to do so. In this interactive session, participants explore how psychological safety fuels innovation, trust, and performance. Through insights, reflection, and real-time exercises, they will uncover the subtle behaviors that either invite or silence voices at work. This session goes beyond theory, offering professionals practical tools and micro-scripts to model curiosity, reduce fear, and build workplaces where candor and respect can coexist. Whether an emerging leader, L&D professional, or seasoned manager, this session will help create a culture where people thrive, starting with self.
CRAIG FISHER
The Future is Bright: Staying Human in an AI-Driven World of Work
Between AI headlines, economic uncertainty, and nonstop change, it’s easy for HR and talent leaders to feel like the future of work is something to fear—or simply survive. But the reality is more hopeful—and more human—than the headlines suggest. In this session, Craig Fisher reframes today’s disruption through a practical, optimistic lens. Drawing on real-world examples, research, and lessons from his books Hiring Humans and Paint Your Store, Craig explores how organizations can embrace technology without losing empathy, purpose, or trust. Rather than treating AI as a replacement for people, this talk focuses on how human judgment, curiosity, and connection are becoming more valuable—not less. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where automation helps, where humans still matter most, and how HR leaders can confidently guide their teams forward. This is not a hype session or a doom-and-gloom warning—it’s a grounded, future-forward conversation about building resilient, human-centered workplaces in a rapidly evolving world. Key takeaways include:
DR. TONY BRIDWELL (closing keynote)
Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: Looking Beyond the Leader
To deliver a dynamic keynote titled Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future: Looking Beyond the Leader, which challenges traditional leadership paradigms by embracing a balanced approach grounded in followership, culture, and learning. This transformative session provides actionable frameworks and insights to inspire immediate action while fostering long-term growth. Participants will gain practical tools to deepen client relationships, enhance performance, and build a courageous culture of learning through meaningful storytelling and value-driven principles.
COMING SOON
This session will help HR professionals and business leaders reframe upskilling as a preventive maintenance strategy, one that improves engagement, reduces turnover and builds internal capability in an increasingly volatile and uncertain environment. The discussion will be practical, applicable across industries and grounded in real operating experience.
Matt Eichmann is the founder of Catalyst Point Leadership Advisors, where he helps organizations build leadership capability that drives results.
With more than 25 years of experience across commercial, industrial, and operational environments, Matt has led global teams as a Business General Manager, Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer, and earlier as a Marine Corps Officer. Throughout his career, he saw a consistent challenge: capable people are often promoted into leadership roles without being prepared for the shift.
His work is grounded in three core beliefs: clarity beats complexity, trust is operational, and performance improves when friction is removed. Today, Matt partners with HR leaders, executives, and owner-led businesses to develop leaders who think clearly, communicate effectively, and take purposeful action—turning better leadership into measurable performance.
Employer branding isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a strategic advantage. In today’s competitive talent market, organizations of all sizes need to stand out authentically. This session will explore practical ways to create and communicate a compelling employer brand that resonates with diverse audiences, including veterans and underrepresented groups. We’ll cover how recruitment marketing and inclusive messaging can strengthen your talent pipeline and drive business success—without falling into token gestures.
Key Takeaways:
Alex is a global employer brand storyteller, currently residing in Austin, TX, and enjoys all things employer branding, recruitment marketing, and candidate experience. Outside of work, he's also a founder of CommonThread (global community for EB/Comms/Candidate Experience), does public speaking, and provides mentoring advice to fellow practitioners. When he's not working he enjoys traveling, being with family, music, karaoke, movies, podcasts, and mentoring others.
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