ATRI has conferred 1,000 certifications since it’s first certification workshop in July 2017. We achieved this milestone on Friday, October 16, 2026.
This is deeply satisfying to us as the co-founders and creators of ATRI. What started as a response to a clear, glaring need in Southeast Asia, has blossomed into a regionally and globally attractive total rewards certification. Its content is universal. The time commitment, difficulty and out of pocket cost are feasible, not easy, but feasible, even for an aspiring C&B specialist in Dhaka, Bangladesh or in Cebu, Philippines.
We intentionally positioned ATRI to be more accessible than other global-standard total rewards certifications. We saw a need, met a need. The work actually began in 2014 when 100 HR and reward leaders attended a presentation in Manila on “The Complete Total Rewards Professional.” Following the presentation we surveyed and found that no one was certified in C&B or total rewards. Freddi and I looked at each other and said “we have to do something.” So we did. We were determined not to give up when local C&B leaders declined to come aboard the effort.
In 2018, HRD-Future called Tom Farmer asking if he had a total rewards certification. Timing was perfect. They were already offering HR certifications through HCI, following a 3-day format. Ours was a 3-day program with an exam. Perfect fit. Fees were set at under 1 month’s salary for the target participant, to make it affordable.
To date, the top most represented country remains the Philippines. Malaysia is a close second place, followed by Singapore, China/HK, Thailand and Bangladesh. Significant number from Vietnam, Indonesia and the middle east as well. We have certified people from Europe, Africa, North America and South America as well. Thirty-six countries are now represented.
On to the Next Generation
We are not done. But the next 1,000 certifications will require others to join as partners and facilitators. We call upon you—today’s total rewards leaders and aspiring professionals to take up the banner for our profession. We manage the company’s biggest expense, and it’s way more than making people happy, way more than administration and way more than following the herd. Our profession has tremendous potential to impact lives and bottom lines at the same time.
Contact Freddi, myself, or any of our Industry Panel members about stepping up to help lead our profession for decades to come. We need you to teach, to reach new markets, expand reach in existing locations and help keep our material fresh and up to date. We’ve reached 36 countries, why not 100?
To all CTRF and CTRP certification holders: why not help? Freddi and I have done our part. Now it’s your turn.
Starting in 2027. Dr. Fermin Diez and Wendy Lim will be teaching CTRS starting next year. I will continue to teach CTRP and special masterclasses. We need instructors for CTRS. Soon we will need facilitators for CTRP as well. Have a full-time job? Ask if you can teach anyway. It will reflect well on your company for you to teach ATRI courses. Practitioners only, please. Previous consulting or teaching experience is a plus, but you must currently be a practitioner and not a mainly a vendor. On career break or just corporate break? That’s fine too.
We are looking for regional partners (training and events marketers or HR associations) to offer ATRI certification beyond Asia.
Always wishing you great career and personal success.
Oh, and don’t forget to be awesome.

ATRI Co-Founders: Federico (Freddi) R. Marquez Jr. and Thomas (Tom) Allyn Farmer






Last week, I completed another virtual CTRP workshop with my fantastic event partner, HRD-Future over 4-6 August. They registered 18 people from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Thailand. Except for the person in Thailand, we were all in the same time zone, so running the event in three consecutive days was no issue. Had this been a physical class, it would not have happened since the numbers would be too small to justify the use of a hotel or for my travel costs. We were able to provide a discounted fee to participants due to these savings. But the quality was just as good, when you weight the advantages above against the disadvantages of not being able to see each other face to face.

