Where New England's Equity Community Comes Together
Smithfield, Rhode Island | June 4-5, 2025
Fresh Insights and New Connections in One Powerful Day
Join us at this event for a valuable opportunity to enhance your knowledge, connect with peers, earn continuing education credits, and engage with our partners. Our annual gathering typically draws nearly 150 attendees, and we look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces this year!
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Agenda | Speakers | Rates | Accommodations | Sponsors | Continuing Ed
Agenda Overview

Evening Networking Reception
Smithfield, RI 02917
Wed, June 4, 2025
Evening Networking Reception
5:00 - 9:00 PM
Food & Drinks!
Tavola da Siena Restaurant | 400 Putnam Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917
Thurs, June 5, 2025
NASPP New England Summit
8:00 - 8:55 AM
Registration, Networking, and Breakfast
8:55 - 9:20 AM
Welcome & Introductions
9:20 - 10:20 AM
General Session 1
Equity Compensation in 2025: Adapting to a New Era
Three years ago, in the wake of the COVID pandemic, we shared our thoughts and predictions on the evolving landscape of equity compensation with the New England NASPP Summit. Little did we know how much could change in such a short time. This year, with the arrival of a new presidential administration, it’s time to reassess the equity compensation landscape. Market volatility and other macroeconomic and social factors continue to influence equity incentives. Technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital assets are advancing rapidly, though their implications for our beloved industry aren’t always clear.
In this dynamic and sometimes chaotic environment, compensation professionals have been tasked with construction of new disclosures like pay vs. performance and are now forced to prepare for disaggregation of the income statement, which will dramatically impact the way compensation is presented in the company’s financials in years to come. In this rapidly changing landscape, staying informed about court cases, SEC comment letters, rulemaking and enforcement actions is even more crucial than before.
Learning Objectives:
Understand and explore the impact of recent political, legal, and regulatory changes on equity compensation.
Speakers:
- Zachary Doyle, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
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Wells Miller, Akin
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Nathan O'Connor, Equity Methods
1.2 continuing professional education credits for CPAs
10:20 - 10:50 AM
Break
10:50 - 11:40 AM
Break-Out Session 2A
Data-Driven Education: Personalizing Learning for Increased Equity Plan Participant Engagement
When planning your equity plan communications and education roadmap, do you take into consideration how those communications will be received? This presentation will provide insight into using participant behavior and demographic metrics to determine the best way to capture their attention and participation.
Learning Objectives:
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Engagement:
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Which participants respond to invites and then actually attend sessions
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Using surveys to understand session impact
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Invited participants attendance vs pre-registered participants
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Behaviors of participants on support channels and tailored education surrounding those behaviors
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Switching Strategies:
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Different types of engagement for scheduled sessions based on audience receiving invite/registration
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What days of the week work best to send invites, hold sessions. Time of day?
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Multi-Channel approaches - Intranet vs communication partners
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Experiment with content - How to catch their eye
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Speakers:
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Brooke Anderson, CEP, Charles Schwab
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Jennifer Francis, CEP, Aon
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Rees Franklin lll, Affirm
1 continuing professional education credit for CPAs
Break-Out Session 2B
Break-Out Session 2B
Sophisticated Settlement Approaches for Executive 10b5-1s
Dive into sophisticated settlement techniques for executive 10b5-1 plans with our expert panel, including a quantitative trading specialist who will share valuable analytics on the market impact of trades by reporting persons. This practical session delivers actionable frameworks for implementing settlement strategies that protect shareholder value while meeting company and individual objectives. We will offer perspective on liquidity patterns and optimal windows often overlooked in traditional 10b5-1 trade execution.
Learning Objectives:
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Learning new ways to execute on Rule 10b5-1 Plans
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Protecting Shareholder value
Speakers:
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Chen Chen, Candor
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Adam Crawford, Candor
1 continuing professional education credit for CPAs
11:40 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
12:30 - 1:20 PM
Break-Out Session 3A
A Guide to Health Checking Your Equity Administration
Efficient administration of your organization’s equity plan is crucial if you want to foster employee engagement, comply with regulations, optimize your resource allocation, and prioritize data security. This session will address five key questions that all administrators should be asking themselves on a regular basis in order to ensure their programs are in tip-top shape, in addition to a number of strategies on how to enhance the effectiveness of your stock plan administration and optimize the efficiency of related processes.
Learning Objectives:
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Provide audience members with actionable items to check their own plan health status
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Provide strategies for optimizing plan procedures
Speakers:
- Liz Stoudt, Infinite Equity
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Michelle Tomasetti, Infinite Equity
1 continuing professional education credit for CPAs
Break-Out Session 3B
Break-Out Session 3B
Harboring Success: Fractional Shares and Stock Splits for Equity Awards
Set sail with us as we explore how a fractional share approach can benefit everyone, regardless of stock price. From participants and plan sponsors to ambitious corporate goals, these small fractions can be a lighthouse guiding your way. Fractional shares can streamline tax withholding procedures, enhance your vesting process, precisely target value delivery in grants, and elevate your ESPP.
Our panelists will navigate you through the steps to implement a fractional share program for various equity awards (RSUs, ESPP, options), the necessary administrative adjustments, and changes to plan documentation to facilitate fractional share issuances. We'll also cover the rights of fractional shareholders and the resulting tax implications. Additionally, our experts will chart the impact of stock splits on share plans and discuss alternative approaches for adjusting equity programs in response to share price fluctuations.
Receive insights from issuers and administrators, along with legal and tax analysis, to help you make the most of your equity awards, no matter where your stock price sails!
Learning Objectives:
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Steps to implement a fractional share program for various equity awards
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Review the administrative adjustments and changes to plan documentation required to facilitate fractional share issuances
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Outline the rights of fractional shareholders and the resulting tax implications
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Analyze the impact of stock splits on share plans and alternative approaches for adjusting equity programs in response to share price fluctuations
Speakers:
- Joe Magner, Fidelity Investments
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Lindsay Minnis, Baker McKenzie
1 continuing professional education credit for CPAs
1:20 - 1:30 PM
Quick Session Change
1:30 - 2:30 PM
Break-Out Session 4A
Maximizing Mobility Tracking for Effective Employee Share Plans
In an increasingly global workforce, effective mobility tracking is critical for ensuring compliance, optimizing tax and equity reporting for mobile employees. This session will explore best practices for tracking mobility data and the essential role it plays in administering employee share plans. With a focus on global mobility, we’ll differentiate between expats and business travelers, addressing unique challenges and implications for each group. This session is designed for HR and mobility professionals who manage global talent and equity plans.
Learning Objectives:
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Best practices for tracking mobility data
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Breaking down the difference between expat and business travelers
Speaker:
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Charles Russo, Computershare
1.2 continuing professional education credit for CPAs
Break-Out Session 4B
Break-Out Session 4B
Equity Design Strategies to Drive Employee Ownership
Employers everywhere are challenged with unengaged and disengaged employees. Employee ownership through equity compensation can be a key differentiator in driving engagement for your workforce. This session explores different strategies companies have taken with their equity programs to deliver the power of employee ownership. First, we’ll explore the growing interest in equity-for-all and equity-for-more programs, and discuss considerations for companies who are considering driving their equity programs deeper into their population. Next, we’ll dig into equity choice and compensation choice, and discuss how this new twist on employer rewards can help improve engagement and outcomes for participants. And finally, we’ll review employee stock purchase plan trends, why ESPPs are on the rise, and outline next steps and considerations for companies who are considering adding or improving an ESPP.
Learning Objectives:
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Create a plan to engage your disengaged employees
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Communicate measurable tactics to increase employee ownership
Speakers:
- Megan Anatole, Toast
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Jeremy Boraks, Fidelity Investments
- Noone Janjigian, Thermo Fisher Scientific
1.2 continuing professional education credit for CPAs
2:30 - 3:00 PM
Ice Cream Social
3:00 - 3:35 PM
Power Session 5
NASPP Presents: Regional and Industry Trends in Equity Plan Design
Getting the right long-term incentive program in place can be crucial for companies to motivate, retain and attract employees; knowing how your company stacks up against regional and industry peers is critical to this process. This informative session will compare trends in stock plan design for east-coast companies to national data for technology and life science companies vs. other sectors. We'll compare everything from the types of equity awards granted and award eligibility to vesting and termination provisions.
Learning Objectives:
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What are the most common equity granting practices by region and industry and which regions and sectors are most likely to offer broad-based equity awards?
- What types of vesting schedules are used for new-hire, ongoing, and retention awards and how do vesting schedules differ by region and industry?
Speakers:
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Barbara Baksa, CEP, NASPP
- Gregory Kopp, Deloitte Tax LLP
3:35 - 3:40 PM
Quick Session Change
3:40 - 4:40 PM
General Session 6
The Equity Games: The Global Stock Plan Showdown
Ready for a fresh take on the ever-evolving world of global stock plan administration? Join us for an interactive session that blends valuable learning with fast-paced fun and a little friendly competition. This is your chance to explore the latest updates and trends in global equity—while putting your knowledge to the test in a lively trivia challenge against fellow equity professionals.
Throughout the session, you'll tackle real-world scenarios, answer thought-provoking questions, and gain deeper insights into topics ranging from global mobility strategies and ESPP secrets to 10b5-1 planning, Section 16 & Rule 144 filings, tax withholding, payroll optimization, 409A valuations, and financial reporting best practices. It's an engaging, game-based format designed to sharpen your skills and boost your confidence in handling complex global equity topics.
Whether you're here to stay ahead of industry changes, fine-tune your strategy, or just show off your expertise, you'll leave more informed—and maybe even with a prize in hand. And, of course, there are bragging rights for the trivia champs. Don't miss this chance to learn, compete, and connect with your peers in a high-energy, supportive environment. Let the games begin!
Learning Objectives:
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Stay Current: Explore new global equity trends, regulatory updates, and industry best practices.
- Strengthen Technical Know-How: Deepen your understanding of advanced compliance and administration topics.
- Put Knowledge into Practice: Apply what you've learned in a fast-paced, interactive trivia competition that reinforces real-time learning.
Speakers:
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John Hammond, CEP, Aon
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Dave Lanka, CEP, Bank of America
1.2 continuing professional education credits for CPAs
4:40 - 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks & Drawings
Speakers
General Session 1
Equity Compensation in 2025: Adapting to a New Era
Zachary Doyle, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Wells Miller, Akin
Nathan O'Connor, Equity Methods
Break-Out Session 2A
Data-Driven Education: Personalizing Learning
for Increased Equity Plan Participant Engagement
Brooke Anderson, CEP, Charles Schwab
Jennifer Francis, CEP, Aon
Rees Franklin lll, Affirm
Break-Out Session 2B
Sophisticated Settlement Approaches
for Executive 10b5-1s
Chen Chen, Candor
Adam Crawford, CEP, Candor
Break-Out Session 3A
Guide to Health Checking Your
Equity Administration
Liz Stoudt, CEP, Infinite Equity
Michelle Tomasetti, CEP, Infinite Equity
Break-Out Session 3B
Harboring Success:
Fractional Shares and Stock Splits for Equity Awards
Joe Magner, Fidelity Investments
Lindsay Minnis, Baker McKenzie
Break-Out Session 4A
Maximizing Mobility Tracking for Effective Employee Share Plans
Charles Russo, Computershare
Break-Out Session 4B
Equity Design Strategies to Drive Employee Ownership
Megan Anatole, Toast
Jeremy Boraks, Fidelity Investments
Noone Janjigian, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Power Session 5
NASPP Presents: Regional and Industry Trends in Equity Plan Design
Barbara Baksa, CEP, NASPP
Greg Kopp, Deloitte Tax LLP
Greg combines his experiences in consulting and corporate human resources to provide strategic, practical, and implementable solutions. He works with companies across industry to evaluate, design, and implement compensation programs that align the organization’s business strategy with the management team that is tasked with executing the strategy.
His recent projects have emphasized his experience in IPOs, helping HR teams to drive value and manage enterprise risk through IPO workforce planning and costing, executive and equity plan design, stock plan administration implementation, and employee communications.
General Session 6
The Equity Games: The Global Stock Plan Showdown
John Hammond, CEP, Aon
John has been a speaker at a variety of meetings and conferences on a wide range of issues surrounding equity compensation, communication, administration, and reporting requirements. John has been an active member of NASPP since 1999. John has also been a member of GEO since shortly after its formation in 1999, attending its first international conference in 2000 and having been a speaker at international events on 3 continents.
John has served in a variety of industry leadership roles including NASPP officer roles and president of both the Philadelphia and Carolina chapters. John served as a member of the NASPP Executive Advisory Committee for 6 years and received a NASPP 10-year service award in 2017 and an Individual Achievement Award in 2018. Additionally, John earned his Certified Equity Professional (CEP) designation in 2000 and served on the CEP Advisory Board from 2010 – 2017 and chaired the board from 2013 – 2014. John became a Fellow of Global Equity in 2020, recognized for his high level of experience, significant industry knowledge and ability, and for his positive impact on the global share ownership community.
Dave Lanka, CEP, Bank of America
Dave holds a BA in Economics with a concentration in Finance from Rutgers University, and in 2003, he earned the Certified Equity Professional (CEP) designation. In addition, he holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations. Dave voluntarily served on the Technical Oversight Board for multiple GPS: Guidance | Procedures | Systems research projects conducted by the Certified Equity Professional Institute (CEPI) on topics including Global Stock Plans, Performance Awards, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and Participant Education and Communication. He also is a member of the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP) New York/New Jersey chapter board.
Dave resides in New Jersey with his wife and his two sons, and when he is not working, Dave enjoys coaching youth sports, teaching both typical and special needs individuals.
Registration Rates
NASPP Members: FREE | Non-Members: $25
To cancel your registration, cancel through the registration site or submit written notice to connecticut@naspp.com. If a non-member fee was applied you must cancel through the registration site to obtain a refund, if applicable. Cancellations are no longer allowed within five (5) days of the Summit.
For more information regarding refund, cancellation policies, and concerns, contact connecticut@naspp.com.
Accommodations

Smithfield Providence
“New England NASPP Summit.”
Accommodations


Smithfield Providence
Continuing Education
Certified Equity Professionals (CEPs) may earn continuing education credit for attendance. CEPs must keep their own records of their attendance, including the specific sessions attended, so they can report this information to the CEP Institute when required.
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits are available for those who attend this conference. Requirements to obtain these credits will be announced at the event’s opening. These credits would fall under the “Group-Live” delivery type under the “Specialized Knowledge” field of study. The maximum number of credits that can be earned at this event is Six (6).
Credit Eligible Sessions
Sessions | Time (min.) |
Program Level | Pre-Requisites and Advanced Preparation | Eligible Credits(s) |
General Session 1 Equity Compensation in 2025: Adapting to a New Era |
60 | Basic | None | 1.2 |
Break-Out Session 2A Data-Driven Education: Personalizing Learning for Increased Equity Plan Participant Engagement |
50 | 1.0 | ||
Break-Out Session 2B Sophisticated Settlement Approaches for Executive 10b5-1s |
||||
Break-Out Session 3A A Guide to Health Checking Your Equity Administration |
||||
Break-Out Session 3B Harboring Success: Fractional Shares and Stock Splits for Equity Awards |
||||
Break-Out Session 4A Maximizing Mobility Tracking for Effective Employee Share Plans |
60 | 1.2 | ||
Break-Out Session 4B Equity Design Strategies to Drive Employee Ownership |
||||
Power Session 5 NASPP Presents: Regional and Industry Trends in Equity Plan Design |
35 | N/A | ||
General Session 6 The Equity Games: The Global Stock Plan Showdown |
60 | Basic | None | 1.2 |
The National Association of Stock Plan Professionals (NASPP) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org.
In addition to CPE Credits (for CPAs), there will also be CE credits available for those with the CEP or ECA designation.
Thanks to Our Chapter Officers
The Boston and Connecticut chapter presidents would like to thank our officers for all their hard work and dedication that makes this event possible and successful each year. Thank you!