Speakers
Meet the 2026 OCPP Speakers
Learn from payroll, HR, compliance, workforce management, and leadership experts from across the industry at the 2026 Ohio Conference for Payroll Professionals.
Andrew Berding, CPP
Founder, PayEdge Academy
Session Title: The Paycheck is A Promise: Building Trust Through Payroll Excellence
Session Description
The first paycheck is more than a payment. It is often an employee's first experience with an organization's commitment to accuracy, communication, and trust.
In this session, attendees will explore how payroll professionals can strengthen the employee experience through proactive communication, educational resources, and payroll practices that build confidence from day one. Participants will learn practical strategies for reducing payroll confusion, improving employee understanding, and positioning payroll as a trusted partner within the organization.
Learning Objectives:
- Prepare employees for their first paycheck using practical communication tools and resources.
- Identify common sources of payroll confusion and develop strategies to address them proactively.
- Transform payroll from a transactional function into a trust-building experience that supports employee engagement and organizational success.
About the Speaker
Andrew Berding, CPP, is the Payroll Manager at Perfetti Van Melle, where he leads payroll operations for the United States and Canada. With more than 18 years of payroll experience, he has worked across a variety of payroll functions and is passionate about driving payroll excellence through process improvement, compliance, and employee-focused payroll practices.
Andrew is an active contributor to the payroll profession through speaking engagements, professional development initiatives, and knowledge sharing within the payroll community. In 2026, he launched PayEdge Academy, an online learning platform providing PayrollOrg recertification credit (RCH) approved education designed to support payroll professionals in their career growth and development.
Brian Barnett
Senior Account Executive, ValeU Group, Inc
Session Title: Unemployment Tax and Claims
About the Speaker
Brian has over 30 years of experience in corporate consulting with Payroll, HR, Tax and Finance. He uses that knowledge to improve the operating procedures and lower the SUI tax cost burden for his clients, through proactive consulting.
Brian assists companies in auditing their SUI tax rate calculations and quarterly contribution filings. The audit identifies tax refunds, incorrect rate calculations, penalty tax rates, M&A compliance issues, etc. He also assists companies in streamlining the administrative burden of the SUI claims process, including separation notices and unemployment hearings.
Brian started his Corporate Consulting career in 1990 as one of the founding members of Barnett Associates, Inc. Barnett Associates was acquired by Equifax in 2017 and shortly after Brian joined ValeU Group, Inc., which was started in 2010 by Jared Vale. Brian and Jared had worked together for 20 years at Barnett Associates, so it was a natural fit.
Brian Blasko
Motivational Speaker
Session Title: Recipe For Success
About the Session
Five Ingredients for a Well-Balanced Life: Creating a well-balanced lifestyle doesn’t come easily in the “instant gratification” society we live in today. From instant mashed potatoes to microwave popcorn, life can sometimes seem like we’re in one big hurry! The five ingredients served up during this program have all been mixed, marinated and cooked to perfection to create the perfect recipe for success, showing how to live your life to its fullest potential.
In his motivating and entertaining keynote, Brian gets the audience to relax, laugh and learn useful life-lessons that promotes positive personal development.
Nichelle Gray, Internal Revenue Service
Session Title: Payroll Tax and OBBBA
Kari Mercer
Community Engagement & HSA Growth Specialist, CME Credit Union
Session Title: Health Savings Accounts (Pre-Tax)
About the Speaker
Kari Mercer has been a dedicated team member of CME Federal Credit Union for over six years, beginning her journey as a seasonal, part-time employee assisting members in the branches. For the past year and a half, she has served as CME’s Community Engagement & HSA Growth Specialist. In this role, Kari focuses on strengthening the credit union’s presence both in the community and across its branch network. She leads educational presentations, meetings, and outreach initiatives centered on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), while also collaborating closely with internal specialists to develop and maintain current HSA materials. Additionally, Kari serves as the primary point of contact for new employer groups interested in partnering with CME to offer HSA-compatible benefits. She remains an active community partner, representing CME FCU at enrollment and benefits fairs and supporting organizations through HSA education and engagement efforts.
Danielle Calderon
Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division
Session Title: FLSA, FMLA, and Self Audit
Kylene Zenk, SHRM-CP, MBA
Senior Principal on the Human Insights Team, UKG
Session Title: The Strategic Future of Payroll & Compliance: How Modern Organizations Elevate Pay, Compliance, and the Employee Experience
Payroll is evolving rapidly, shifting from transactional tasks to strategic drivers of trust, fairness, and organizational agility. As regulations grow more complex and workforce expectations accelerate, leaders must embrace a proactive, insight‑driven approach to managing pay and compliance. This session explores the trends reshaping payroll and compensation today, and how technology, transparency, and cross‑functional collaboration empower organizations to strengthen compliance, enhance equity, and deliver a more trusted employee experience.
About the Speaker
Kylene Zenk, SHRM-CP, MBA, is a Senior Principal on the Human Insights Team at UKG, a leading global AI platform for HR, payroll, and workforce management. In her role, she analyzes the trends reshaping today’s employment landscape and translates them into clear, actionable insights for organizations focused on building resilient, people-centered workplaces.
Kylene brings deep expertise in the frontline workforce, and the critical role payroll plays in the employee experience. She helps leaders strengthen trust, improve retention, and drive performance by designing more connected, consistent experiences across the workforce.
Steve Renie
Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Brian DeGroft
Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Session Title: Fiduciary Best Practices and SECURE Act 2.0
About the Session
Retirement plan regulations continue to evolve, creating new opportunities and responsibilities for employers. Brian DeGroft and Steve Renie will provide an overview of fiduciary best practices for 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans, along with the latest SECURE 2.0 updates and their impact on plan administration, compliance, and employee benefits.
About the Speaker: Steve Renie
Stephen Renie, C(k)P®, CIMA®, is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Wealth Management. With more than 35 years of experience in financial services, Steve works with individuals, organizations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans to help support long-term financial and retirement goals. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) and Certified 401(k) Professional® (C(k)P®) designations and has been recognized nationally for his work in retirement plan advising.
About the Speaker: Brian DeGroft
J. Brian DeGroft, CIMA®, CPFA®, is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Wealth Management. He brings more than 35 years of experience helping individuals and organizations navigate retirement planning, investment management, and fiduciary responsibilities. Brian holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®) designations and specializes in working with employer-sponsored retirement plans and employee financial wellness programs.
