The New Landscape of Association Compensation
How are associations rethinking pay, benefits, and total rewards in a changing talent market? Join Kim Keating, Founder & Principal, Kim Keating Consulting, and Karen A. Kralios, SPHR, MBA, Director of Human Resources at American Water Works Association, for a candid roundtable on current compensation trends, equity and transparency, and how smart pay strategies can help you attract and retain top association talent.

Open to all members, and included in memberships.  $25 for non-member association professionals.

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Join all professionals from across Colorado on Thursday, January 8 for CSAE’s Professionals Roundtable: The New Landscape of Association Compensation, a focused, peer-level conversation designed specifically for anyone involved in compensation, hiring, retention and HR.
In the association talent market, compensation systems are no longer just HR issues—they’re strategic levers that shape culture, retention, and your association’s ability to deliver on its mission. And, because Colorado associations are constantly faced with real budgets, lean resources and high standards and goals, we know that you need as much information and insight as possible.

That’s why we are delighted to have both of our presenters who bring decades of experience to share.
Kim Keating, Founder & Principal, Kim Keating Consulting, and Karen A. Kralios, SPHR, MBA, Director of Human Resources at American Water Works Association, will lead a candid discussion on how associations are:
• Applying trends that will define the 2026 compensation landscape
• Utilizing labor market data and Colorado compliance regulations
• Transforming talent management approaches
• Aligning compensation with culture, performance, and career paths
This roundtable is built as a high-trust, conversation-driven session—not a lecture—where you can compare approaches, pressure-test ideas, and leave with practical strategies you can take back to your board and leadership team.
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Learning Takeaways (Aligned with ASAE’s CAE Competencies)
By participating, you will be able to:
• Link compensation strategy to organizational strategy and culture to better support mission delivery and long-term sustainability.
o (CAE Domain 1: Strategic Management; Domain 4: Operations)
• Evaluate and refine your total rewards approach—including salary structure, benefits, recognition, flexibility, and professional development—to attract and retain key association talent.
o (CAE Domain 4: Operations; Domain 6: Business Development)
• Strengthen your approach to pay equity and transparency, including how you communicate with staff and work with your board on sensitive compensation decisions.
o (CAE Domain 2: Governance; Domain 4: Operations)

This session is ideal for top decision-makers who are responsible for or significantly influence compensation and talent strategy in their associations and want a forward-looking, practical conversation with peers facing similar pressures.

Register Today

More About Our Co-Facilitators:
Kim Keating
Principle Consultant
Kim Keating Consulting

  Kim Keating is a strategic HR consultant with over 20 years of experience helping executive teams and boards design data-driven people strategies that enhance organizational effectiveness, deliver results, and create lasting impact.She has held senior HR leadership roles in global, mission-driven organizations, including serving as Chief People Officer at Conservation International and Mercy Corps, where she led international teams and implemented enterprise-wide talent management frameworks. Earlier in her career, Kim founded Keating Advisors, a boutique consulting firm known for its quantitative approach to compensation and talent alignment, which was acquired in 2022.A trusted advisor, speaker, and published author, Kim is widely recognized for her expertise in compensation strategy, executive leadership, and talent alignment. Her insights have been featured in outlets such as USA Today, The Today Show, and The Huffington Post. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University.

Karen Kralios
Director of Human Resources
American Water Works Association

Karen Kralios is an organizational effectiveness and human resources leader with deep expertise in designing talent strategies that empower people and strengthen organizational performance. She is passionate about creating cultures where employees have the motivation, ability, and resources to do their best work every day.
Karen has held senior HR leadership roles in global, technology-driven organizations, including Level 3 Communications, DMC Global, and MAXAR Technologies. She has led enterprise-wide initiatives in organizational design, culture transformation, and talent management, and guided complex M&A integrations to align structures and cultures for long-term success. Earlier in her career, Karen worked with leading consultancies Deloitte and Accenture and founded Chrysalis Consulting, advising organizations across industries such as high-tech, healthcare, consumer goods, government, and non-profit.
A trusted advisor and certified executive coach, Karen is recognized for her expertise in organizational effectiveness, leadership development, DEIB, and change management. She holds a BA in Psychology from Wellesley College and an MBA in Organizational Behavior and Operations Management from Boston University, and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources.

CSAE is a registered provider for CAE credits through ASAE.  This program will be submitted for one CAE credit.