Total Rewards in Action: Building a Culture of Recognition with Victoria Beale & Jennifer Walkowiak
Program Note
This Lunch & Learn is part of a 3-part series on Total Rewards in Action: A Practical Series for the HR Generalist. Our virtual events are free for our members to attend.
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
Time: 12:00 to 1:15 PM EST
Virtual meetings: Zoom link will be provided when you register
Approved for 1.25 SHRM PDCs and 1.25 HRCI General Credits
Total Rewards in Action: A Practical Series for the HR Generalist- Building a Culture of Recognition
SUMMARY
Recognition is one of the most impactful — yet often overlooked — components of Total Rewards. While compensation and benefits form the foundation of the employee experience, recognition creates the emotional connection that drives engagement, performance, and retention. Many HR professionals in small and mid-sized organizations, however, struggle to build recognition programs that are consistent, meaningful, and aligned with business goals, especially with limited budgets and resources. This session, co-presented with Jann Walkowiak, Business Development professional at Rewards Builder, is designed for HR generalists and HR teams of one seeking practical strategies to create a culture of appreciation that supports organizational success. The presenters will blend HR strategy with industry insight into how recognition programs are effectively implemented across organizations.
KEY OBJECTIVES
- Develop a strategic recognition framework that aligns appreciation practices with organizational values, culture, and leadership goals to strengthen engagement, retention, and overall workforce performance.
- Evaluate and apply practical recognition strategies that managers and HR leaders can implement in small and mid-sized organizations to improve employee experience, reinforce desired behaviors, and support organizational mission and business outcomes.
- Measure the impact of recognition initiatives using participation, sentiment, and engagement indicators to inform leadership decisions and ensure recognition programs contribute to long-term talent strategy and organizational effectiveness.
SPEAKERS
Victoria Beale, SHRM-CP, is a Total Rewards Strategist and storyteller with a passion for connecting data, strategy, and human experience to build workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. With a foundation in Human Resources Management (B.S.), SHRM-CP certification, and progress toward the Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation, she has built her career around helping organizations design reward programs that drive engagement, equity, and performance.
Throughout her career, Victoria has worked at the intersection of benefits, compensation, and employee experience, partnering with leaders to align total rewards with business goals and advising HR teams on how to make rewards more meaningful and measurable. She believes every organization has a story to tell through its rewards, and she is committed to helping shape it.
Jenn Walkowiak is a seasoned business development professional with nearly two decades of experience supporting HR leaders with their employee engagement programs. A proud alumna of York College of Pennsylvania, Jenn holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Marketing. The foundation of her career began as Corporate Partnership Manager at HERSHEY Entertainment and Resorts. There she recognized the significant impact that employee engagement can have on business success, fueling her passion for supporting leaders with recognizing excellence in the workplace.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR
Contact: Jennifer Walkowiak
Tickets
$0.00 Member Ticket
$10.00 Non-Member Ticket
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This is a donation, not an event ticket.
$40.00
This is a donation, not an event ticket.
