Rena Solum, MAHR, CCP

President

Rena leads global base pay and market strategies for PayPal. She has over 20 years of global experience in compensation strategy, program design, incentive compensation, and job architecture. Prior to becoming President, she served TCCN for three years as Secretary and one year as President-Elect. Rena also enjoys time outdoors, reading a good book, and spending time with friends and family.

Nick Swaggert, CCP

President-Elect

Nick likes to laugh and only occasionally dabble in Total Rewards strategies. He’s a Senior Compensation Manager at Mortenson and specializes in ambiguity, change management, and having fun. Nick’s career aspirations include being a good husband and father. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in policy analysis and is a Certified Compensation Professional. Nick lives in Excelsior with his wife, Amanda, daughter, Anna, and dog, Lucky. He enjoys being outside, making people smile and spending time with loved ones.

612-965-0071

Hazel I Francois, CCP

Secretary

Hazel has been in the compensation field for 20+ years. She is currently doing consulting, working on a variety of projects including broad-based and incentive plan design and administration, job architecture, and MADJVs. She has worked in a variety of industries like gaming and hospitality, financial services, manufacturing, health care, and commodity trading. Hazel has been a member of TCCN and has served as board secretary in the past. She lives in Shakopee with husband, Chris, three children (one in college) and a labradoodle named Brutus. She loves to snowshoe in the winter, paddleboard in the summer, run and do yoga year-round, and is a certifiable foodie.

Melissa Malinowski, MAIR, CCP

Treasurer

Melissa is current the Director of Executive Compensation and Incentive Programs at Amtrak with over 20 years of experience in all aspects of compensation. She has worked in diverse industries including transportation, healthcare, medical device and banking. She is experienced in executive compensation strategy and design, salary structure development, incentive plan design, and job architecture. Melissa lives in Mahtomedi with her two children and dog, Charlie. She enjoys running, biking, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Dan Arndt, CCP, GRP, HRIP

Communications Chair

Dan currently is the Principle Workday Consultant for Helios Consulting with primary focus supporting compensation. Dan brings 25 years of experience as a Human Resources Operations leader with global experience supporting more than 80 countries in Americas, EMEA, & APAC regions. He has strong knowledge of HR business processes within Core HR, Compensation, Benefits, Recruitment, and Talent Management. Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in IT Management from Concordia University, St. Paul, Minnesota.

651-269-2757

Jordan Benish, CPA, CCP

Education Chair

Jordan is a Senior Associate at Willis Towers Watson with seven years of compensation experience. She has extensive experience analyzing executive, broad-based, physician, and board of director pay, as well as creating peer groups, financial performance development and evaluation, balanced scorecards, and associated tools. For the last two years she has served as the Chair of the Education Committee, and prior to that she served as a member of the Education Committee for one year and as a member of the Membership Committee for two years. Jordan lives in Bloomington with her husband Nick. She enjoys baking, golfing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

612-677-5576

Lisa Grossman, PHR

Membership Chair

Lisa is a Director of Compensation and HR Operations at Pohlad Companies with over 15 years of compensation, benefits, and HRIS experience, in a variety of industries. Lisa’s work in total rewards includes broad-based and incentive compensation, recognition program design, health & welfare plan strategy and administration, along with HRIS strategy and implementation. Lisa lives in Wayzata with her husband and two children and their rescue dog Garrett. She enjoys travelling, cooking, running, and outdoor activities with her family.

612-718-4964

Teralyn Simmons, MBA

Membership Co-Chair

Teralyn is the Global Compensation and Benefits Manager for Miraclon Corporation, bringing over 10 years of experience in the compensation and benefits field. She currently supports 14 countries across the Americas, EAMER, and APR regions. With a diverse background in industries such as insurance, technology, and manufacturing, Teralyn brings a wealth of expertise to her role. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Kshitij Kashyap (KK)

Programs Chair

Kshitij brings over two decades of global HR leadership, specializing in talent acquisition, compensation, and overarching HR strategy. He currently serves as the Compensation Leader at UnitedHealth Group, specifically overseeing Pharmacy Care services at Optum Rx. His diverse experience encompasses several HR domains and notably includes the establishment of operations in the Philippines. With a knack for aligning HR strategies to meet business objectives, Kshitij is adept at optimizing talent management, fostering employee engagement, and propelling organizational effectiveness. Outside of work, Kshitij resides in Plymouth with his wife, Mansi, and their two children, Ranbir and Reyansh. He has a fondness for biking, travelling, and cherishing moments with family and friends.

347-698-7388

Tom Rocco, MBA

Sponsorship Chair

Tom is an accomplished Director of Compensation with over two decades of experience covering all areas of the function. Prior to his role at Allina Health, he held key leadership positions in compensation at prominent organizations, including Medtronic and Travelers Insurance. Tom is a graduate of Cornell University, holding a bachelor's degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. He also completed his MBA at the University of Saint Thomas. Beyond his professional pursuits, Tom is an avid entrepreneur who enjoys exploring new ventures, possesses a keen interest in global affairs, and enjoys spending quality time with his teenage son.

Josh Lemon, CCP, CSCP, PHR

Immediate Past President

Josh is the Sr Director of Global Total Rewards at Resideo and has over 10 years of compensation experience. He has worked in various industries including: manufacturing, banking, insurance, and professional services. His work in total rewards includes sales incentive design, broad-based compensation program support, recognition program design, health & welfare plan design, and supporting retirement plans. He has previously served TCCN as a member of the programs committee. He lives in Burnsville with his wife, Mary, his three kids, Alana, Elliott, and Iris, and dog, Taffy. He enjoys sailing, traveling, and spending time with his family.

612-845-8778