This session will walk participants through practical examples and lessons learned around market positioning, internal equity, range placement, and performance differentiation, and how those decisions shape long-term compensation outcomes.

Catering provided by Demaris
Registration will close April 10th at 12 pm

Sommer Mason, CCP

With over 25 years of experience, Sommer is a dynamic Total Rewards leader passionate about helping organizations build competitive, high-impact HR strategies. Since joining Gallagher in 2016, she has been a trusted advisor, guiding clients through complex compensation, benefits, and talent challenges to drive business success. 

Her expertise spans industries—including Manufacturing, Healthcare, Wellness, Oil & Gas, Energy, and Construction—where she has led large-scale, high-stakes initiatives with significant financial impact. Certified as a Compensation Professional (CCP) and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Sommer combines data-driven insights with strategic vision to optimize Total Rewards programs that attract, retain, and engage top talent. 

In her role at Gallagher, Sommer guides clients, prospective clients, and internal teams through the Talent Consulting practice, ensuring they understand and access the right solutions. She focuses on aligning client needs with tailored strategies, fostering collaboration across Gallagher, and delivering measurable outcomes that accelerate organizational and employee performance.

Sommer holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Louisiana Tech University and resides near Baton Rouge, Louisiana with her husband. Whether navigating compensation structures, optimizing employer programs, or driving organizational change, she’s committed to delivering solutions that make a lasting impact.

Jason Rabalais, CECP

With nearly 30 years of human resources leadership experience, Jason Rabalais is a seasoned HR executive focused on building high performing organizations through strategic people practices. He currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources for H.J. Baker & Bro., LLC, where he leads global HR including corporate communications, payroll, and administration. As a member of the executive leadership team, Jason partners with business leaders and the Board of Directors to align human capital strategies with enterprise growth and performance.

Prior to joining H.J. Baker in 2022, Jason served as Regional Vice President of Human Resources Consulting with Gallagher, advising organizations across Texas on complex workforce, compensation, and benefits strategies. His earlier career includes more than a decade with Southwestern Energy as Head of Total Rewards and Human Resources Director, where he led all HR functions for a multi billion dollar domestic energy business including compensation, benefits, executive compensation, talent acquisition, HR services, and HRIS.

Jason’s experience spans a range of industries including energy, retail, and manufacturing. Earlier in his career he held leadership roles with Shell and The Home Depot, where he supported large scale operations and diverse employee populations. Throughout his career he has partnered with executive teams to develop and execute HR strategies that drive organizational effectiveness, strengthen leadership capability, and enhance employee value propositions that attract and retain top talent.

Jason holds extensive experience advising senior leadership and compensation committees on executive compensation, performance management, workforce planning, and organizational development. Known for combining strategic insight with practical execution, he focuses on helping organizations build sustainable people strategies that enable long term business success.

Jason is based in The Woodlands, Texas.



Mike Williams, CEBS

Mike Williams is a Lead Consultant for Gallagher's Employee Benefits Practice in Houston.

He engages directly with clients as a senior strategist to ensure that their benefit programs integrate and evolve with their total rewards strategies to drive business-focused HR results. With more than 25 years of hands-on experience in the employee benefits field, Mike’s consulting competencies include strategy development, corporate transactions, risk management, administration optimization and communication campaigns.

Mike holds a BBA, Finance, from The University of Texas at Austin and the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He has been recognized by the Risk & Insurance® trade publication as an Employee Benefits Power Broker®.

**The April Panel Discussion qualifies for recertification credit for the Certified Compensation Professional® (CCP®), Certified Benefits Professional® (CBP), Global Remuneration Professional (GRP®), Certified Sales Compensation Professional (CSCP)® and Certified Executive Compensation Professional (CECP)® designations granted by WorldatWork.  For more information on recertification, visit the WorldatWork recertification webpage at https://www.worldatwork.org/certification/recertification.