In this episode, Tray sits down with Nurdes Gomez, Director of People Operations at eMed, a GLP-1 weight management program based in Miami. With 17 years in healthcare and HR, Nurdes has seen it all, from leading people at Baptist Health South Florida (one of the largest non-profits in the region with 5,000+ employees) to being employee #77 at a fast-moving startup where she has personally onboarded nearly the entire team.

Nurdes returns again and again to a simple but powerful idea: we're whole people. Work takes 80% of our time, but our employees show up carrying everything else too, including kids, parents, health, finances, and all the in-between. She shares how she creates an environment where team members feel safe asking for help, why a $1 handwritten card can outlast any branded swag (some of her team members still have the chocolate-and-card notes she made years ago), and how mental health resources like eMed's zero-copay therapy benefit have become non-negotiable infrastructure.

For HR leaders who are a team of one and balancing recruiting, onboarding, ops, and everything in between, Nurdes offers a refreshing reminder that resourcefulness and personalization will always beat budget. The smallest gestures, when they're genuine, are the ones employees remember years later.

You'll learn:

• Why treating employees as whole people is the engagement strategy that scales at any company size
• How to build the infrastructure that makes employees comfortable asking for help
• Why personalization beats generic recognition every time
• The mindset shift that helps HR teams of one make a big impact without a big budget
• How Nurdes refills her own bucket as an HR team of one (hint: she walks 100+ miles a month)

If you're an HR or People leader looking for human-first ways to make your team feel seen, this one is packed with wisdom and practical takeaways.

Connect with Nurdes on LinkedIn, and check out her work as a SHRM National Mentor.

They dig into authentic manager-employee relationships, how to make remote employees feel included (Joe shares a great story involving astronaut ice cream), the power of tangible gifts that families notice, and why giving employees the "why" behind their work is one of the biggest shifts of the last decade.

If you're an HR or People leader looking for practical, human-first ways to recognize your team, this one is packed with wisdom from someone who has seen it all.

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn.

In this session, Tray Ross, VP of Growth at Corporate Traditions, walks HR leaders and business owners through a common but costly problem: employee recognition programs that start with great intentions and slowly collapse under the weight of manual work, missed milestones, and admin chaos.

What happens when seven birthdays a month turns into seventeen? When "just grab signatures" becomes a full-day project? When the personal touch you wanted to give becomes another fire to put out?

Tray shares how organizations of all sizes — from small businesses to brands like Pepsi, Kohler, and Chobani — are solving this with a simple, scalable system that takes about five minutes to set up, requires no contracts or down payments, and lets employees choose exactly what they want.

You'll hear a live walkthrough of the Corporate Traditions platform, including how to bulk upload employee birthdays and anniversaries, schedule gift cards to go out automatically, and give every employee a personalized experience — without the chaos.

This episode was originally recorded as a live webinar on January 21, 2026 — we're sharing it here so you don't miss out on the conversation.

If employee recognition has been on your to-do list longer than you'd like to admit, this one's worth a listen.

Check out Corporate Traditions at www.corporatetraditions.com

In this episode, Tray sits down with Summer Boyd, VP of Talent and Engagement at a national healthcare company that grew from 30 to over 1,000 employees in just five years. Summer shares how her team keeps engagement high not through swag and gift cards alone, but through intentional leadership, knowing how individuals want to receive praise, and building a culture of trust and flexibility. From mentorship programs and pulse surveys to promoting 100% from within, Summer breaks down the people-first philosophy that has made her organization one people actually want to grow with.

You'll learn:

• How to use tools like 15Five to personalize recognition at scale
• Why flexibility is one of your most powerful (and free) retention tools
• The difference between managers and leaders — and why it matters
• How Summer scaled her engagement strategy from a team of one to a certified team of specialists

Connect with Summer on LinkedIn

They delve into the nuances of employee recognition and appreciation, exploring how personalized gestures can significantly impact workplace culture.

Laura shares her journey in HR, the importance of understanding individual employee preferences, and the challenges faced in healthcare settings.

The conversation highlights the power of choice, communication, and compassion in fostering a supportive work environment.

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn and get to know Carla the Cow.

Connect with Hannah:

LinkedIn: Hanna Bologna

Email: saltandlightconsultingllc@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Employee Recognition

03:00 Understanding Employee Preferences

05:58 Best Practices for Employee Engagement

08:51 Innovative Recognition Strategies

12:05 Low-Budget Recognition Ideas

14:58 The Importance of Genuine Connections

17:53 Real-Life Impact of Recognition

21:07 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

Ben shares his career journey, highlighting his experiences in various HR roles from Fortune 500 to SMB and the significance of building trust and relationships within teams.

The conversation delves into the evolving values of employees, emphasizing that recognition and development have become more important than monetary compensation.

Ben discusses effective strategies for recognizing employees, including accountability and creating memorable experiences, and concludes with insights on fostering a positive workplace culture.

Connect with Ben:

LinkedIn: Ben Zander

Email: b.zander@zanderteam.com

Website: https://www.zanderteam.com/

In this short conversation, benefits broker Riley Schleifer and Tray Ross break down how companies can help employees stretch their budgets, feed their families, and still feel seen and supported during a tough season.

We discuss:

• Why employee hardship is rising and how it’s showing up across industries
• Tax-free, high-impact gifting options companies can use today
• How Grocery Vouchers (like turkeys, holiday meals, everyday groceries) support families without adding admin burden
• Why Gift Card+ and GiftYouPick are not cash equivalents—and why that matters
• How leaders can give employees the full value of the gift with no contracts, no minimums, and no extra fees

If you’re a benefits broker, HR leader, or employer looking for a simple, meaningful way to help employees this season—this conversation will be worth 10 minutes of your time.