Manage HR Magazine: Awards Ranking
Manage HR Magazine proudly presents the Top 10 Directors of Total Rewards 2026, recognizing leaders who are redefining how organizations attract and retain talent through thoughtful compensation and benefits strategies. These professionals design total rewards programs that align employee expectations with business objectives while supporting workforce engagement across diverse organizational settings. Their leadership helps companies strengthen talent retention and respond to evolving workforce needs, enabling organizations to build a more committed workforce while supporting long-term business performance.
Top 10 Directors of Total Rewards - 2026
Rachel Mumford
Director of Total Rewards & HR, Miami Dade College
Rachel Mumford is Director of Total Rewards & HRIS at Miami Dade College, where she leads compensation, benefits and HR technology initiatives. A certified payroll professional, she brings extensive experience in payroll, benefits administration and employee rewards, with a focus on evolving HR practices.
Chris Mervin
Director of Total Rewards, PACCAR
Chris Mervin serves as Director of Total Rewards at PACCAR, where he leads compensation, benefits and rewards programs within a global manufacturing organization. His career at PACCAR spans more than a decade across compensation, retirement benefits, health and welfare programs and human resources operations. His work reflects a sustained focus on connecting employee experience with business requirements.
Christopher Forbeck
Director of Total Rewards, NorthWestern Energy
Christopher Forbeck is Director of Total Rewards at NorthWestern Energy, where he has spent five years leading compensation, benefits and workforce strategy. His path into human resources was a deliberate pivot made more than a decade ago and it proved to be the right one. Since then, he has built deep expertise across total rewards design, organizational transformation, labor relations and enterprise HR systems. His approach to leadership centers on a straightforward conviction: employee needs and business objectives are not in conflict and the strongest programs serve both at once. At NorthWestern Energy, he has translated that belief into initiatives that drive workforce engagement, support long-term growth and strengthen operational effectiveness across the organization.
Jessica Koval
Director, Total Rewards, Build-A-Bear Workshop
Jessica Koval, SPHR, is a strategic human resources executive specializing in total rewards, compensation, benefits strategy and employee relations. She has led people operations initiatives, supported organizational acquisitions and workforce integration, and developed programs that strengthen employee engagement. Her approach combines strategic HR leadership, compliance expertise and a focus on aligning talent with business goals.
Daniel Harding
Director, Global Total Rewards, Plug Power
Daniel Harding is an experienced human resources leader associated with Plug Power, with expertise in total rewards, employee benefits and organizational well-being. His is also known fot enterprise wellness initiatives, professional speaking engagements and strategic HR leadership.
Amanda Baker
Senior Director, Total Rewards, LKQ Corporation
Amanda Baker, PHR, SHRM-CP, is a human resources leader at LKQ Corporation with over 20 years of experience in HR. She specializes in total rewards, employee benefits, compensation strategy and workforce well-being. Her work emphasizes developing competitive benefits programs, advancing employee wellness initiatives and aligning HR strategies with organizational objectives.
Eric Galstad
Director, Global Total Rewards, Tennant Company
Eric Galstad is a global total rewards leader and Director of Global Total Rewards at Tennant Company. He brings extensive experience in compensation and benefits leadership, with expertise in global rewards strategy, compensation management and benefits programs. His professional credentials include Certified Compensation Professional and Global Remuneration Professional certifications.
Sergio Serva
Director Total Rewards, Americas, Donaldson Company
Sergio Serva is a strategic total rewards professional at Donaldson with over 10 years of experience in compensation and benefits. His expertise spans global rewards strategy, incentive design, salary structures and employee benefits across Latin America. He combines regional knowledge with a strategic business perspective to develop competitive, cost-effective compensation programs.
Scott Butler
Sr Director Total Rewards, AtriCure
Scott Butler is a human resources professional at AtriCure, Inc., with extensive experience in total rewards programs. His expertise includes compensation strategy, benefits management and designing equitable compensation structures aligned with organizational goals. He brings a strategic approach to rewards management, emphasizing transparency, fairness and collaboration to support employee engagement and talent retention.
Laura Kruth
Director Total Rewards, Piper Sandler Companies
Laura Kruth is a compensation and benefits professional at Piper Sandler, where she has developed expertise in compensation management and employee benefits. Her experience includes supporting HR initiatives, sharing professional opportunities and contributing to talent development. She is recognized for her collaborative approach, dedication to her work and willingness to support colleagues.
