2022 Signature Awards - Events and Workshops

Some think that “if you build it, they will come” – but plan sponsors know it takes more. Entries in this category described actions to maximize participation/attendance at a live or virtual meeting, event, webinar, benefit fair, etc. along with results of the event in retirement plan metrics, participant behaviors, or any other measurement used to evaluate the impact and success of the program.

1st Place – University of Texas at Dallas with Lincoln Financial Group 
The University of Texas at Dallas is a rising public research powerhouse with more than 28,000 students in eight schools and more than 140 academic degrees. The university provides benefits to more than 6,800 employees. Each year UT Dallas holds a benefits fair. However, in 2020 they had to pivot and hold the fair virtually. They achieved great success that year with their creative approach, including winning a 1^st Place Signature Award in 2020.  In 2021 UT Dallas chose to continue with a virtual offering. They once again developed a fun theme and method for their employees to connect with their benefits. For 2021 a puzzle theme with recognizable campus imagery was used with a goal to make the fair as engaging, interactive, and easy to access as possible. UT Dallas worked with 30 vendors so that all benefits were represented. The campaign used the following to get the message across: emails, interactive map, live and recorded meetings, websites, live games and talent show, mobile app, welcome and closing videos, prizes for collecting puzzle pieces with a status bar to track collection progress, and a virtual benefits bag to collect pdf materials to "take home" to review later. QR codes were included to provide easy access. The results indicate that the creative, thorough approach was well received. Time spent at the fair increased 300 percent over the prior year. Engagement with each benefit section increased from 2020. Mobile app usage was up 95.3 percent over the prior year. The feedback received was positive with 96 percent rating the fair as good or excellent. For the second year in a row UT Dallas wins 1^st Place in this category with a fun, creative, and engaging event to reach employees. What a great way to showcase all the benefits offerings!

Polaris Inc. with Compass Financial Partners A Marsh McLennan Agency LLC Company
Polaris Inc., the global leader in powersports, is a pioneer of product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have led people to experience the joy of being outdoors since its founding in 1954. They have 6,700 employees. In 2021 Polaris Inc. wanted to increase the retirement readiness of its employees and promote the match and ESOP contribution. They also wanted to retain their skilled workforce and chose to try different communication methods to determine future strategies. They held live presentations, offered recorded presentations, sent emails, and used flyers and posters to promote attendance. To reach people whose jobs are not at computers they provided QR codes on the materials. Polaris product images were included in presentation materials to make employees feel they were represented. As a result of the presentations the participation rate increased 2.24 percent in less than a year and the average deferral rate went up 0.34 percent in the same time frame. In addition, participants maximizing the match increased 4 percent since the end of the preceding year. Polaris won this award for their well-planned campaign that had engaging graphics and an effective strong call to action. The presentations were clear and concise and educational for their participants.

The Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) administers retirement programs for Michigan's state employees, public school employees, judges, state police, and National Guard members. ORS serves more than 550,000 active and retired people representing approximately one out of every nine Michigan households. In 2021 ORS chose to engage with all Michigan participants during National Retirement Security Month using an "It’s your future, retire well" campaign. They wanted employees to learn about their provider’s new website and to complete a one-on-one account review with the provider’s representatives. To accomplish these objectives they used emails, an online scavenger hunt, information on the website’s landing page, a live and recorded webinar and virtual individual meetings. The email campaign elicited 22-25 percent open rates. Registrations for one-on-one account reviews increased by 214 percent with attendance up by 365 percent compared to 2020. The Michigan ORS, a previous Signature Award winner, won this year’s award for the many different ways employees were given to engage, and for the use of diverse and engaging graphics. The materials had a clear call to action in each piece. The scavenger hunt was a creative and fun way for employees to learn how to navigate the new web site.