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
Director, PayEdge Academy
Session Title: The Paycheck is A Promise
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
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.
