Conferences & Webinars
Virtual Conference
Event Overview
Couldn’t make the in-person 2025 DMEC Annual Conference? We’ve got you covered.
We’ve removed the barriers so you don’t miss out on the most valuable content of the year. On Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, DMEC is bringing the best of our in-person conference directly to you with a can’t-miss virtual event.
It’s a full day packed with the four highest-rated sessions from our main conference. You’ll get exclusive access to cutting-edge content and powerful strategies, all from the comfort of your desk. Plus, you’ll have dedicated virtual networking opportunities to connect with peers and expand your professional circle.
Don’t worry about missing a moment. All sessions will be recorded and available on-demand for one full year, so you can revisit key takeaways whenever you need them.
Gain a competitive edge and stay ahead of the curve with the latest insights and tips from leave management experts, all without leaving your home or office.
Agenda
11:00-11:15 am ET
Welcome & Overview
Speaker
Kristin Jones, CLMS, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director, Education Programs, DMEC
11:15 am-12:15 pm ET
Absence Eras Tour
Explore leave of absence laws and workplace accommodations through the lens of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Just as Taylor evolves through different phases of her career, employees experience various “eras” in their lives, such as dealing with illness, caregiving, or postpartum recovery. Leave laws protect their right to navigate these transitions without job loss. This session will equip employers with the tools to balance employee well-being and legal compliance during life’s transformative moments. It will provide an overview of legal frameworks that employers must follow to support life transitions, highlighting key laws like the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the expanding Paid Family and Medical Leave landscape. Other topics will include compliance risks, legislative trends, and the benefits workers are entitled to during times of change.
Speakers
Kristy Helkenn, CLMS, HIA, DIA, DHP, Head of Absence and Disability Practices, Absence Management/Group Benefits, Guardian
Christine Hinnerichs, PHR, Client Services Manager, The Partners Group
Marissa Hawkins, CPDM, Senior Account Manager, The Partners Group
12:15-12:30 pm ET
Break
12:30-1:30 pm ET
Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Employee Expectations and Employer Obligations
Approximately 20% of the population is considered neurodiverse, and they experience and understand the world in unique ways. Neurodiversity includes a wide range of mental health and substance use conditions, as well as some neurological issues. In today’s competitive business environment, employers must create an inclusive workplace where all employees can thrive. But, managing neurodiverse employees comes with its own set of challenges. In this session, explore practical ways to accommodate neurodiverse individuals, helping them to excel and contribute to the success of your organization. Also learn effective strategies for recruiting and retaining neurodiverse talent, removing the stigma associated with cognitive disabilities and ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act requirements.
Speakers
Ronald Boudreau Jr., MS, CRC, Workplace Possibilities Program Coordinator, The Standard
Dan Jolivet, PhD, Workplace Possibilities Practice Consultant, The Standard
1:30 - 2:00 pm ET
Break
2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
What to Do When Employees Boggle Your Mind — Mental Health in the Workplace
Since one in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, there is a high probability that some of your employees have a mental health impairment. This presentation will engage attendees through an interactive discussion addressing disability benefits, performance management, and absence policies as they relate to your employees’ mental health. Learn how to navigate employee safety issues and direct threat situations. And, most importantly, receive guidance on how to avoid legal pitfalls. This presentation will provide you with practical guidance as it relates to real-world situations and mental health in the workplace.
Speakers
David Mohl, JD, Principal, Jackson Lewis PC
Katharine Weber, JD, Principal, Jackson Lewis PC
3:00 - 3:15 pm ET
Break
3:15 - 4:15 pm ET
Next Gen Leave: What True Technology Disruption Could Look Like
Given the stunning acceleration of artificial intelligence, are employer and employee leave experiences lagging? And if they are, why? In this session, speakers who are immersed in building and deploying leave technologies will discuss the state of leave technology and regulatory, technical, and practical barriers to product acceleration, all with an eye toward helping you determine whether we are demanding enough of ourselves and providers.
Speakers
Matt Ceurvels, Head of Absence, Product and Digital Offerings, Group Benefits, Guardian
Mahima Chawla, CEO and Co-founder, Cocoon
Isabel Izquierdo, Vice President, ADP Ventures
Moderator
Frank Alvarez, Principal Compliance Architect & Counsel, Cocoon
4:15 - 4:30 pm ET
Break
4:30 - 5:00 pm ET
Unscripted: An Open Conversation with DMEC Speakers
Go beyond the presentations and join some of today’s most insightful DMEC speakers for an unscripted, unfiltered conversation. This is your chance to get direct answers to your most pressing questions and dive deeper into the topics that matter to you. Don’t miss this opportunity to get your questions answered. Join the conversation!
BONUS EDUCATION
Colorado and Connecticut PFML: What’s Worked, What Hasn’t, What’s Next (Pre-recorded session)
In Connecticut, paid family and medical leave (PFML) contributions began in 2021 and benefits in 2022. In Colorado, contributions started in 2023 and benefits in 2024. This session will begin with a brief statistical introduction and comparison of Connecticut’s and Colorado’s benefits programs (e.g., the number and types of claims filed, benefits paid, leave lengths, approvals and denials, and number of private plans). The discussion will also examine the demographics of claimants and assess whether these plans are reaching marginalized employee groups. Additional topics will include the experience of both programs with affinity claims; leave stacking; fraudulent claims; private plan reporting, renewals, audits, and carrier changes; the legislative and regulatory landscape; and what’s next on the horizon.
Speakers:
Michael Cisar, Esq, General Counsel, CT Paid Leave Authority
Shelby Felton, Esq, Director & Product Compliance Counsel, Reliance Matrix
Rebecca Ford, Esq, Director of Statutory Paid Leave Products, Reliance Matrix
David Gallivan, Compliance and Appeals Branch Manager, Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance
Register Today
We are offering a single registration option that allows access to all live sessions, the bonus recorded session, and networking as well as on-demand access to the session recordings post-event. Registration closes at 9:00 am ET on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Registration Fees
$229 – Member
$289 – Nonmember
DMEC members receive discounted pricing for the event. Not sure if your organization is a member? Follow these steps to add your company affiliation and verify your DMEC membership status. Or contact us at info@dmec.org or 800.789.3632, ex. 101.
If you are not currently a DMEC member, you can sign up for a membership before registering for the event, or you can add a membership to your cart, along with the conference registration, to receive the member pricing.
Continuing Education
The DMEC Virtual Annual Conference offers the opportunity to earn up to four (4) continuing education hours. DMEC has applied for recertification CEUs for the following certifications and professional designations:
- ADMS (Associate Disability Management Specialist)
- CA-BRN (California Board of Registered Nursing (and reciprocal states)
- CCM (Certified Case Manager)
- CDMS (Certified Disability Management Specialist)
- CLMS (Certified Leave Management Specialist)
- CPDM (Certified Professional in Disability Management)
- PHR/SPHR (Professional/Senior Professional in HR)
- SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP (SHRM Certified Professional/Senior Certified Professional)
DMEC is a pre-approved provider of CEUs for the certifications above. In addition, DMEC conferences attendees are encouraged to download and submit their certificate of attendance to other certifying organizations for credit consideration. In most cases, DMEC’s conferences will be approved for continuing education credit.
LOOKING FOR CRC CREDITS THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON REHABILITATION COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION (CRCC)?
Download instructions on how to submit your certificate of attendance for credit consideration.
