October 28, 2025
The Ritz Carlton | Philadelphia, PA

What to Expect

The Leave & Accommodations Leadership Summit brings together senior HR executives, benefits leaders, and industry consultants from large enterprises to explore evolving best practices in leave management and workplace accommodations. Hosted at the prestigious Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia, this exclusive, high-impact event empowers attendees with actionable strategies to elevate their leave and accommodations programs to best-in-class status.

Note: To ensure meaningful discussion and networking among senior professionals, all registration requests are subject to a qualification review process. Limited spots are available for this exclusive event.

Who Should Attend?

This summit is designed specifically for forward-thinking CHROs, VPs, directors, managers and industry leaders who are committed to shaping the future of workplace leave and accommodations.

Why Attend?
Network

Build valuable relationships with an exclusive community of senior HR leaders championing new approaches across diverse industries.

Innovate

Discover transformative approaches that position your organization at the forefront of workplace policy.

Learn

Gain cutting-edge insights from industry experts on measuring the ROI of leave programs, creating seamless employee experiences, and balancing compliance with compassion.

Agenda
  • 1:00-1:30 PM
    Arrival and Welcome
  • 1:30- 2:15 PM
    Starting Session: AI, Automation, and the Future of Leave and Accommodations

    For years, HR teams have managed complex leave and accommodations programs with a patchwork of spreadsheets, emails, outdated tools, and ad-hoc workarounds. AbsenceSoft has spent over a decade helping employers move from manual to modern processes, while simplifying compliance, improving consistency, and giving HR time back.

    Now, a new era is beginning. In this session, we will explore what’s ahead for leave and accommodations as automation and agentic AI reshape the landscape. They’ll share how technology is continuing to transform this next wave of innovation, building on a strong foundation of proven processes and trusted compliance support.

    We’ll take a clear look at:

    • How automation is already transforming HR workloads
    • What agentic AI could help improve even more to save HR even more time
    • The future role of AI in helping HR respond faster, stay consistent, and do more with limited resources
    • A look at how technology should innovate responsibly, with HR, empathy, and the employee experience at the center

    We’ll wrap with an open Q&A to hear questions, ideas, and what you’re hoping to see next.

  • 2:30-3:30 PM
    Breakout Sessions
    • Inside the Innovation Roadmap: What’s Next at AbsenceSoft (Consultants Only) Join AbsenceSoft’s executive and product leadership for a forward-looking session on where leave and accommodations technology is headed. AbsenceSoft leaders will walk through AbsenceSoft’s innovation roadmap, share what’s coming next, and discuss how the platform continues to evolve to meet the complex needs of employers across sectors and industries. Attendees will get an inside look at the future state of leave and accommodations, and how AbsenceSoft is leading the transformation.
    • From Metrics to Meaningful Impact: Strategically Optimizing Your Leave Program (Customers Only) Learn to identify key performance indicators that demonstrate program efficiency, maximize Insights for team management and optimization, implement return-to-work surveys with proven templates, and monitor metrics that define program success from an employee experience perspective. 
    • Transforming Your Leave Process with AI and Automation Join us for a hands-on session that examines every part of your current leave process, from intake to return to work, to look at where AI, automation, and systems can help. Our session will walk you through the many points of difference between a manual leave process and one that is strategic and streamlined. We’ll look at where technology can help but critical human oversight and personalization should remain. You will be encouraged to reflect on your own processes, ask questions, and understand how a modern leave program might look in your own organization.
  • 3:30-4:00 PM
    Snack Break
  • 4:00-5:00 PM
    Keynote Session: Tomorrow’s Leave Landscape: 2026 Trends Every HR Leader Should Know

    Leave and accommodations programs are evolving fast, shaped by growing complexity, rising employee expectations, and new pressures on HR. In this closing keynote, we will share exclusive first-look insights from the upcoming 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations Report. You’ll get a clear, data-backed view of where the field is headed, what’s working (and what isn’t), and how top HR teams are preparing for what comes next.

    We’ll explore:

    • New trends in leave volume, accommodations, and employee needs
    • How the federal and the state law landscape is shifting policies and expectations
    • Where HR teams are modernizing, and where they’re still stuck
    • What strategic leave programs will look like in 2026

    Then we’ll turn to our expert partners for a fast-paced panel conversation. These leaders from adjacent HR sectors will share what they’re seeing, what they’re building, and how leave fits into a broader vision of employee support.  Stay for the conversation, leave with a plan.

  • 5:00-6:30 PM
    Drinks and Dinner
Background
Speakers

Seth Turner

Founder & Senior Advisor at AbsenceSoft

Seth has over 20 years of experience helping clients solve their HR and absence management issues. As Founder and Senior Advisor, Seth is responsible for working with clients on strategic initiatives and evaluating partnerships and product opportunities. Before founding AbsenceSoft, Seth held leadership roles at Hewitt Associates, Mercer, and Reed Group, focusing on outsourcing and technology solutions for Leave of Absence and Employee Benefits. Seth has an MIS degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Northwestern University.

Luis Amadeo

Chief Agentic Officer

Jess Keeney

Chief Executive Officer

Jess Keeney is the Chief Executive Officer at AbsenceSoft, where she leads the company in transforming how organizations manage leave and accommodations. With nearly two decades of experience driving product innovation at leading HR tech and SaaS companies like UKG and ZoomInfo, Jess has a proven track record of scaling products and building high-performing teams. She is passionate about creating solutions that empower HR leaders, improve the employee experience, and deliver measurable business impact.

Kelly Wells

Chief Customer Officer

Kelly Wells is the Chief Customer Officer at AbsenceSoft, leading teams that help organizations elevate the leave and accommodations experience. With a background in software development and HR tech leadership, she is passionate about building strong relationships with customers and enabling their long-term success.

Laura Jackson

Sr. Director of Product

Laura Jackson is the Head of Product at AbsenceSoft, where she drives product strategy and innovation in leave and accommodations management. With over a decade of product leadership across multiple industries, she has a proven record of launching new products and scaling teams. Laura is passionate about advancing HR technology to empower HR leaders and improve the employee experience.

Theresa Roma

Head of Insurance Solutions at Wellthy

Theresa Roma joined Wellthy in 2025 as Head of Insurance Solutions, bringing over 17 years of experience in the employee benefits space across both the broker and carrier sides. In recent years, her work has centered on product strategy, with a particular focus on how caregiving intersects with disability and leave of absence programs. Theresa holds a doctoral degree, with her dissertation exploring the employer experience with paid family leave. She’s also a proud mom of three, which fuels her passion for supporting working families.

Dirk Doebler

Founder + CEO at Parento

Dirk Doebler, the founder and CEO of Parento, is on a mission to unlock exponential untapped global economic growth by transforming how companies support working parents. Since its founding, Parento has joined the portfolio of leading investors in the care economy, working to collectively build solutions for social infrastructure and the future of work.

Dr. Dori Steinberg

Director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research at Modern Health

Dr. Dori Steinberg is a public health researcher who specializes in data storytelling to show the value of mental health solutions. With nearly two decades of experience working in digital health research, she was previously VP of Research at Equip Health and Director of the Duke University Digital Health Science Center. Dr. Steinberg earned her M.S. in Public Health from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Public Health/Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Our Sponsors
Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Ritz Carlton Philadelphia

    10 Ave of The Arts, Philadelphia, PA 19102

  • Enjoy complimentary valet parking, courtesy of AbsenceSoft!

  • We do not have access to a room block or discounted stay for attendees.

  • Absolutely! Reach out to leavecommunity@absencesoft.com to connect with us on the best time to meet.

  • We’d love to learn more about your interest! Email leavecommunity@absencesoft.com and a member of our partnership team will reach out.

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