2026 Annual Meeting & Conference (DEAMcon26)

April 15 – 17, 2026 • Indianapolis, IN

Catch up on all things DEAMcon26—photos, videos, and standout moments. Rediscover the connections and experiences that set DEAM apart.

Presentations

Venue

Westin Indianapolis exterior photo with landscaping

The Westin Indianapolis
241 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Located in the heart of downtown, The Westin Indianapolis offered unmatched convenience for DEAMcon26 attendees to recharge and connect. After a full day of sessions, guests unwound in modern, well-appointed rooms with expansive city views—or stepped outside to explore the city’s top restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.

Program

Pre • Tuesday, April 14, 2026

9:00 am • Board of Directors Meeting

4:00 pm • Early Check-in

4:00 pm • Underwriter Move-in

Day 1 • Wednesday, April 15, 2026

7:00 am • Check-in

7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast

8:00 am • General Session
Welcome & Annual Meeting: Celebrating 25 Years of Connection & Impact (G1)

8:15 am • General Session
Fireside Chat: A Conversation with Wage & Hour Division Administrator Andrew B. Rogers (G2)

9:00 am • General Session
OFCCP in the Second Trump Administration (G3)

10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

10:30 am • General Session
From Clicks to Candidates: Recruitment Marketing Strategies that Convert (G4)

11:00 am • General Session
AI in the Workplace: Legal, Statistical, & Real-World Strategies for a Rapidly Changing Landscape (G5)

12:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Lunch

1:00 pm • Concurrent Sessions

A – Smart Tools, Real Risks: Practical AI Considerations for Compliance & Implementation (C1A)
B – The Do’s, Don’ts, and Please Never Again’s of Career Sites (C1B)

2:00 pm • Concurrent Sessions

A – Career Readiness & Mentorship: Proven Pathways to Attract & Retain Veteran Talent (C2A)
B – Recruiting & Hiring Employees with Physical Disabilities: Inclusive Strategies that Work (C2B)

3:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

3:30 pm • General Session
A Year Into Executive Order 14173: Lessons Learned from Self-Audits of Employer DEI Programs (G6)

4:30 pm • General Session
KEYNOTE | Do Different Things Differently: Bolder Thinking for Better Results (G7)

6:00 pm • Networking Opportunity
Evening Social Event at The Hanger

Day 2 • Thursday, April 16, 2026

7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast

8:00 am • General Session
Spot the Lie: Defending Against AI-Enhanced Candidate Fraud (G8)

9:00 am • General Session
EEO Enforcement & Compliance: New Rules, Legal Changes, Enforcement Priorities, & Emerging Best Practices (G9)

10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

10:30 am • Concurrent Sessions

A – Trust but Verify: AI Readiness, Bias Monitoring, and Human Oversight in HR (C3A)
B – Leveraging Behavioral Science to Maximize Skills-Based Hiring Outcomes (C3B)

11:30 am • Concurrent Sessions

A – Measuring Impact: Using Engagement Surveys to Strengthen Disability Initiatives (C4A)
B – Would Your Exit Strategy Survive Going Viral? (C4B)

12:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Lunch

1:30 pm • Concurrent Sessions

A – Stronger Together: The Power of Collaboration for the Military Community (C5A)
B – Job Accommodations Boot Camp: Practical Solutions for Real-World Challenges (C5B)

2:30 pm • Concurrent Sessions

A – Building Compliant, Inclusive Talent Pipelines: Your Direct Connection to State VR Partnerships (C6A)
B – Recruiting Untapped Talent: Building Workforce and Revenue Opportunities Through Ticket to Work and WOTC (C6B)

3:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

4:00 pm • General Session
Unlocking the Power of Jobs Data: How the NLx Research Hub Empowers Employers (G10)

4:30 pm • General Session
KEYNOTE | Performing Under Pressure (G11)

5:30 pm • Networking Opportunity
Underwriter Reception

Day 3 • Friday, April 17, 2026

7:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Breakfast

8:00 am • General Session
Is Search Relevant In The World Of AI? (G12)

9:00 am • General Session
Decoding Pay Equity: Navigating Compliance, Risk, & Strategy in a Shifting Landscape (G13)

10:00 am • Networking Opportunity
Demo Hall Break

10:15 am • General Session
Getting your Jobs into ChatGPT (G14)

11:15 am • General Session
Charting the Course: Actionable Takeaways & Forward Focus for Government Contractors (G15)

12:15 pm • Conference Adjourns

Presenters

Keynote Speakers

Tucker Bryant, Nationally Renowned Poet
Christophe Fox, Award-Winning Mentalist

Member Speakers

Anita Maguet, Marketplace Inclusion Leader at TEKsystems
Samira Searcy, Sr I&D Strategist for Military Programs at TEKsystems
Fred Melkey, Director, EEO & HR Compliance at Emerson
John Whalin, National Vice President, Talent Attraction at American Heart Association
Jonathan Liepe, Human Resources Supervisor at Colorado Springs Utilities
Tiffany Daugherty, Head of Military & Veterans Affairs at Johnson & Johnson

Guest Speakers

Josh Anderson, Director of Assistive Technology at Easterseals Crossroads
April Baca, Business Outreach Coordinator at New Mexico Commission for the Blind
Matthew Barfield, Instructional Content Coordinator and Trainer at EmployReward Solutions, Inc. (ERS)
Shawanda Bell, Business Outreach Coordinator, Central Region at New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Chuck Bunch, VP, Strategic Partnerships at FourBlock
Tripp Carter, VP of Compliance & Special Projects at EmployReward Solutions, Inc. (ERS)
Anita Chandrasekhar, Global Head of Talent Strategy and Operationsat Zapier
Peter Cline, Head of Growth at Service to Success
Leslie Coffey, Vice President, Military Engagement at American Corporate Partners (ACP)
Paul Daniels, Senior Manager, NLx Research Hub at NASWA
Nicole Dhanraj, Chief Operating Officer at ACT Now Education
Michelle Duncan, Principal Attorney at Silberman Law PC
Brian Fink, Managing Partner at The ReWork Group
Mira Greenland, Chief Revenue Officer at INTOO
Meredith Gregston, Of Counsel at DLA Piper
Crystal Hicks, Business Outreach Coordinator at New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Alissa Horvitz, Member Attorney & Co-Founder at Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Anthony Kaylin, VP at American Society of Employers (ASE)
Craig Leen, Partner at K&L Gates LLP
Margaret Ling, Senior Manager, Partnerships at National Organization on Disability (NOD)
Jeremy Mancheski, Founder & Chief Executive Officer at OutSolve
Brian Marentette, Director, People Insights at Berkshire
Larry Markle, Director at The Gregory S. Fehribach Center at Eskenazi Health
Christina Myers, Executive Director, HR Compliance & Employee Relations at Vericast
David Parker, Program Manager for Research, Educational Outreach and Communications at The Gregory S. Fehribach Center at Eskenazi Health
Rob Pfaff, Chief Operating Officer at EmployReward Solutions, Inc. (ERS)
Biz Phuyal, Manager – Business and Workforce Development at Illinois Department of Human Services – Rehabilitation Services
Mikhil Raja, CEO & Co-founder at SonicJobs
Gauri Rege, Senior Human Capital Consultant at The American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Joshua Roffman, Managing Attorney and Co-Founder at Roffman Horvitz, PLC
Andrew Rogers, Administrator at Department of Labor, Wage & Hour Division (WHD)
PJ Rossi, Chief Advisor at Forté HR Advisors
Mickey Silberman, Founder & Shareholder at Silberman Law PC
Carlos Taylor Program Manager, at The Gregory S. Fehribach Center at Eskenazi Health
Krystal Welland, Lead Statistician at Silberman Law PC
James Winfrey, Director, Enterprise Partnerships at SonicJobs

Staff Speakers

Steven Apostolidis Manager of Client Success & Implementation at Recruit Rooster
Tom Eckhart, Managing Director/Board Advisor at DirectEmployers Association
Seth Flater VP of Client Success & Implementation at Recruit Rooster
Jeff Gill, Executive Director at DirectEmployers Association
Heather Hoffman CEO at Recruit Rooster
Michelle Krefft, Disability & Community Outreach Specialist at DirectEmployers Association
John Ritter Senior Talent Solutions Consultant at Recruit Rooster