2026 KPERS Employer Conference
Sponsored by KPERS 457
Conference In the Books
The KPERS Employer Conference was held October 30, 2026, in Manhattan's Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center with about 300 Designated Agents and other KPERS Employer Contacts in attendance.
The conference sponsor, KPERS 457, helped make this year's conference a success. Retirement Plan Advisors and other KPERS 457 representatives were there to greet employers from around Kansas. Partners like Quest529, The Standard and Empower were there to answer questions at their booths, as well as the KPERS Employer Audit and KPERS Training and Education teams.
We'd love your feedback, please consider filling out the 2026 Post-Employer Conference Survey.
Presentations (PDFs) from the 2026 KPERS Employer Conference Breakout Sessions
- 12:45 - 1:30 p.m. | Breakout Session A
- KPERS 3 (Justin Quick, Senior Benefit Education Rep & Matt Renyer, Benefits Analyst)
- Working After Retirement (Heather McHardie, Deputy Benefits Officer & Laurie McKinnon, General Counsel)
- KPERS 101 (Ciera Seele, Benefits Analyst & Alley Salmon, Benefit Education Representative)
- Disability (Elaine Gaer, Administrative Officer, Marais Johnson-Herl, Benefits Manager, and Alex Foster, Benefits Analyst)
- KP&F DROP (Teresa Ryan, Benefits Manager)
- 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. | Breakout Session B
- Adjustments/Certifications (Hallie Shermoen, Sr. Employer Reporting Analyst, Rhonda Shumway, Lead Employer Reporting Analyst, Teresa Ryan, Benefits Manager, Billie-Jo Gerisch & Matt Renyer Benefits Analysts)
- Pay Reporting (Justin Quick, Sr. Benefit Education Representative, Brecken Stadler, Sr. Employer Reporting Analyst & Lanette Wagner, Manager of Employer Reporting)
- General KPERS Q&A (Marla Rivares & Shauna Johnston, Benefits Analysts & Jackie VandeVelde, Benefits Manager)
- Employer Auditing (Kelly Alexander, Sr. Auditor & Jamie Rose, Lead Auditor)
- KPERS 457 Updates (Affiliated) (Arlen Zentner, Deferred Comp Plan Officer & Becky Dekat, Deferred Comp Plan Administrator)
- 2:45 - 3:30 p.m. | Breakout Session C
- Retirement 101 (Brittany Hulse, April Martinez & Alex Foster, Benefits Analysts)
- Benefits Estimates (Jackie VandeVelde, Benefits Manager & Billie-Jo Gerisch, Benefits Analyst)
- Optional Life Insurance (Jalyn Dillon, Account Specialist from The Standard, Melissa Findlay, Sr. Employer Reporting Analyst, KPERS & Bree Briggs, Benefits Analyst, KPERS)
- Notification of Death (Marais Johnson-Herl, Benefits Manager & Kelsea Watts, Benefits Analyst)
- Enrollments Q&A (Kristy Lewis & Marsha Stafford, Benefits Analysts)
- KPERS 457 (Not Affiliated) (Len Lehmann, New Employer Specialist, Empower)
Clear your calendars for next fall as we look forward to the 2027 KPERS Employer Conference!
Big Thanks!
KPERS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan for making the conference possible.
Venue staff at Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan for outstanding service and accomodations.
Staff at Visit Manhattan for help with specific details and coordination.
The Manhattan High School Orchestra (Director, Cody Toll) for lunchtime music.
The K-State ROTC for posting our colors.
Quest529, Empower and The Standard
For more about the 2026 KPERS Employer Conference, email us at [email protected].
