HR Roundtable 2026

  Presentation: HR Policy & Compliance Landscape

Abby Warren, Partner, Robinson & Cole

Keeping up with evolving workplace regulations and compliance requirements is critical for HR leaders in today’s changing environment. This session will provide an overview of key policy updates, emerging compliance considerations, and best practices for ensuring organizations remain prepared and aligned. Attendees will discuss how to proactively manage risk, communicate changes effectively, and support consistent application of policies across the workforce. 

Presentation: Mental Health, Burnout, and Employee Well-Being in Manufacturing 

Dr. Tassany Henderson

Manufacturing professionals are navigating increasing demands, workforce challenges, and changing expectations around employee support. This session will explore how HR leaders can recognize signs of burnout, address mental health challenges, and create workplace strategies that support employee well-being while maintaining a strong, engaged workforce. Attendees will discuss practical approaches to building a culture of care, improving retention, and supporting employees across all levels of the organization.

  Roundtable: AI in HR: Practical Applications, Risks, and Governance 

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way HR teams approach recruiting, employee engagement, workforce planning, and everyday processes. This session will explore practical ways HR professionals can leverage AI tools to improve efficiency and decision-making while navigating key considerations around privacy, bias, security, and responsible use. Attendees will discuss real-world applications, potential risks, and strategies for developing thoughtful AI governance within their organizations.

 Roundtable: Turning Employee Benefits into a Competitive Advantage in Manufacturing 

Colin Monnier, Partner | Vice President Employee Benefits, USI

Kelly Chillingsworth - Managing Partner - IntegrityRx, USI

Tyler Vanderpool - Regional Sales Executive - UGS TPA, USI

Manufacturers face distinct workforce and cost pressures which are driving a shift towards more strategic data-driven benefit approaches. In this session we'll cover how manufacturers can evaluate unbundling key components of their health plan to control costs, access data, and make informed decisions. Without exploring this approach, they may be missing meaningful opportunities to optimize their benefit program's cost and quality of benefits offer to employees.