Session Descriptions
Thursday, October 10th, 2024
General Session – The Safari Way to Greater Happiness – Steve Fredlund
Life can feel like an African safari, an ongoing experience of ups & downs, high & lows, knowns & unknowns; where excitement and tension run side by side. As we learn to apply the same principles that make safaris epic, we become more engaged, less burnt out, and happier in life, work and leadership.
Is it possible to be successful and still be happy? Or do we have to choose? Is there a way to have both? Through his career experience and research, Steve “Safari Dude” Fredlund has uncovered the “Big 5” drivers of success and happiness – and they are the same factors that make an African safari incredible.
Steve uses compelling stories from the savannah to invite us into The Safari Way by choosing our experience, getting the right peeps in our Jeeps, doing the unright thing, taking in the view and embracing the adventure. Join Steve on this epic adventure to approach life, work, and leadership the Safari Way.
Session 1 - Recession-Proof your Payroll Professional Position – Brian Slowik, rapid!
In times of economic uncertainty, securing your payroll professional position is crucial. In this session you will learn seven key strategies to recession-proof your role. Enhance your skills and stay updated on industry trends to remain indispensable. Discover how expanding your responsibilities and building strong professional relationships can solidify your position. Embrace technology to streamline processes and demonstrate cost-saving initiatives to showcase your value. Finally, show initiative and adaptability to navigate through challenging times effectively. This presentation provides actionable insights and expert advice to help you thrive in any economic climate. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to safeguard your career.
Session 2 - Mergers & Acquisitions – Thomas Towson, Equifax
When anticipating a merger, acquisition, or internal reorganization, there are several key federal, state, and other local employment tax issues that should be addressed including external reporting requirements and internal payroll considerations. This session will provide insight regarding the potential financial impacts of these transactions from an employment tax perspective.
Session 3 – Management of Change – Linda Obertin & Joe Ranzau, PayrollOrg
Session 4 - Emerging Issues in State Unemployment - Matthew Kaufer, Thomas & Company
Beginning with an overview of the unemployment tax system, we will progress to discussing the unemployment tax rating system, savings opportunities, compliance issues, and touch on the ramifications that occur when companies move employees between entities. We will also discuss FUTA, and look at legislation, and how this is affecting the industry. Examples are as follows: Summary of UI system / Unemployment Tax Rate Calculations / Methods to Control Unemployment Costs / Compliance Responsibilities / Federal & State Legislation Updates
Session 5 – Fraud Prevention – Bryan Kingston, Green Dot
Fraud is an ever-growing and ever-changing problem for consumers and businesses alike. It impacts everyone, with consumers reporting billions of dollars lost to fraud and scams annually. In addition to growth in traditional fraud channels, payroll fraud is quickly on the rise but is often overlooked. Companies cannot afford to be unprepared. This session will help attendees understand payroll fraud in its many forms and how to properly mitigate the risk. Fraud can be a complicated topic and most companies do not have the ability or desire to hire dedicated anti-fraud professionals. This session will help you create a fraud risk program that prevents, detects, and responds to fraud events quickly and effectively to minimize exposure and keep your business moving forward.
Friday, October 11th, 2024
Session 6: Paid FMLA & Paid Sick Leave – Penny Phillips, Felhaber Larson
There have been several new laws implemented this past year which impact Minnesota employers and payroll professionals. This includes statewide paid FMLA leave and statewide paid safe and sick leave. This session will cover the new laws and provide guidance on what steps employers must take to ensure that they comply with them.
Session 7: Payroll on the Cutting Edge: Leveraging AI for Smarter Work – Matt Baker, Dayforce
In this session we'll explore the evolution of AI, Ways to leverage existing data for better analysis, discuss and share how A.I. can be strategically implemented in payroll, and the various ways it can empower payroll professionals to work smarter, not harder.
Session 8: IRS Changes, Tax Laws, and Guidance – Alan Gregerson, IRS
This session will cover Inflation Reduction Tax Topics, Tax Updates, Tax Tips, and Processing Updates as the Payroll Professional prepares for 2024-year end. The IRS will cover questions that payroll professionals and practitioners have asked over the years, that are useful for information returns, payroll returns and year end knowledge.
Session 9: Payroll Strategies for Success – Linda Obertin & Joe Ranzau, PayrollOrg
Session 10: Legal Panel on Hot Topics in Employment Law – Randi Winter, Spencer Fane /Scott Blake, Felhaber Larson/ Brian Rochel, Kitzer Rochel
This session consists of a legal panel with 3 attorneys from 3 different firms. We will include questions that we receive from our participants prior to the conference along with the following topics:
- FLSA Legal Update (OT changes, Audits, etc)
- MN Pay Statement Requirements
- Employee Misclassification
General Session: The Intangible It – Jack Stahlman
Jack’s longest standing keynote, The Intangible It, examines the "it" quality movie stars possess that you can't quite put your finger on… or can you? By sharing humorous tales of his Tinseltown adventures, Jack breaks down the "it" factor that makes certain actors’ superstars and how to use those lessons to become a star in your profession.
You’ll learn about The Gift and how to channel your inner-Clooney to make everyone you encounter feel important. We’ll examine The Shift by exploring the secret that has given Tom Hanks such career longevity. And with The Connect we will dive into ways you can be more memorable to anyone you meet – and it might be as simple as wearing a Dolly Parton tee shirt. Really.
This presentation is the spoonful of sugar with the medicine because it delivers the fun and humor you want with the takeaways that you just might need.