Cara Woodson Welch

Cara Woodson Welch is Vice President of Policy and Public Affairs for WorldatWork and is responsible for anticipating and addressing regulations and legislation that could affect total rewards and human resource professionals in the United States. Welch has nearly 20 years of experience in public policy and government affairs and is a member of the DC Bar. Prior to joining WorldatWork, she served as general counsel and vice president of advocacy at the Design-Build Institute of America in Washington, D.C.

Welch’s extensive experience includes advocacy at the local, state and federal level. Early in her career, she received a fellowship with the Human Resources division of the Social Security Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She also has worked in the state legislature and the state executive branch. She has an excellent grasp of the federal legislative and regulatory process and understands how federal law and regulations impact employers.

Welch previously held executive positions with American Society of Landscape Architects, National Association of Realtors, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Welch is a frequent speaker and writer on the impact of federal legislation and regulations on total rewards. She has been quoted in The Washington Post, Workforce Management, Employee Benefit News, and the Wall Street Journal. Welch has a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in international studies and French with a minor in political science from Macalester College.