Kate Scherkenbach, SPHR, CEBS

Vice President, Total Rewards Manager - Benefits

Baird

With more than 200 offices in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, Baird serves as a trusted financial partner to individuals, corporations, and institutions around the world. Kate Scherkenbach is the Total Rewards Manager for Baird responsible for health/wellness, welfare, recognition, leave, and retirement programs. She seeks to provide the firm with innovative solutions to support associates in the pursuit of well-being and financial security; strengthening Baird’s position as a great place to work. Kate earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, Master of Industrial and Labor Relations degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and has over 20 years of experience in the benefits industry. She holds the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation through the International Society of Employee Benefit Specialists and is active in local professional associations in the southeastern Wisconsin Business Healthcare Group

Jake Flaitz

Director, Benefits & Well-being

Paychex

Jake Flaitz is Director of Benefits & Well-being at Paychex, Inc. the leading provider of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing services for small-to medium-sized businesses. Jake has been in his position since January 2006 and is responsible for the strategic direction and management of all corporate benefits including health and group, retirement, wellness, food services, and employee programs. Prior to Paychex, Jake was the director of national accounts for a regional healthcare plan (1.5 million members), and before that a principal/senior consultant at one of the largest international employee benefits consulting firms. Jake is active in health care issues, nationally and locally. He is a board member for the Business Group on Health’s Institute on Innovations in Workforce Wellbeing board, and The Business Group on Health's Innovations Forum board. He has been both a board member and chairperson for two Rochester-based health care organizations, the Community Technology Assessment Advisory Board, and Common Ground Health (formerly the Finger Lakes Health System Agency). Jake is also on the board of the Rochester RHIO (Health Information Exchange). Jake has a bachelor's degree in Political Science & Public Administration from Alfred University and earned his Master's in Health Serivices Administration from Arizona State.