Education Sessions
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Wednesday, April 17
8:00 - 8:45 am Breakfast Meetup
CAE Curious?
Grab your coffee and join us for a practical look at the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. Whether you’re exploring certification for the first time or actively planning your path, you’ll gain clarity on what it takes to succeed in earning the CAE designation. You will walk through the application process and requirements, explore real insights, study strategies, and lessons learned from a newly minted CAE. Bring your questions and leave with a clear roadmap to determine if—and when—the CAE is right for you.
Megan Denhardt, CAE, Education Consultant, Associations West
9:00 - 10:00 am
Concurrent Learning Sessions
Behind the Curtain of Association Meetings
This session will take attendees behind the curtain of hotel contracting for association meetings, showing the process from RFP submission to final contract. Too often, planners see only the proposal without understanding the internal steps required for a hotel to evaluate and approve business. Panelists will explain how RFPs are received, assigned, and routed through sales, revenue, and leadership before a bid is issued. We will then explore the contract stage, where economic shifts, ownership structures, and management differences create wide variation in terms—even within the same brand. By including both hotel leaders and a third-party sourcing professional, the discussion will provide practical strategies to help associations protect themselves while strengthening partnerships.
Julie Shkolnik, VP Global Accounts, HPN Global
Non-Dues Revenue HACKATHON!
Get comfortable and bring your ideas—whether they're well-tested or completely new—to our relaxed non-dues revenue hackathon! We'll explore exciting and innovative ways to generate income beyond membership dues and events, ensuring your organization's financial stability for the future. Together, we'll dive into sponsorships, unique programs, and a variety of fresh concepts. With experienced hosts ready to share their insights and experiences, this interactive and gamified session promises to be enjoyable and engaging.
Even if you don't win a prize, you'll leave with plenty of new ideas to implement at your association. Join us for a laid-back session full of new perspectives and practical takeaways that you can apply right away. Let's push the boundaries and discover new avenues for financial success!
Laurel Nava, CAE, Deputy Executive Director, CITE (California IT in Education)
Peer-Powered Lab: Lessons, Insights & What’s Next
Before you head home, come together for a high-energy, peer-driven wrap-up that turns conference inspiration into action. In this interactive lab, you’ll reflect on key lessons and “aha” moments from the event, share what resonated most, and tap into the collective brainpower of the room. Bring your biggest takeaways, your lingering questions, and the next steps you’re eager to implement—then get real-time feedback, ideas, and guidance from fellow attendees. You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and a stronger plan to put what you’ve learned into practice.
Superfan Strategies: What Associations Can Learn from the Savannah Bananas
What does a wacky, rules-breaking baseball team in Savannah, Georgia have to teach us about membership engagement? A lot, it turns out. The Savannah Bananas are no ordinary ball club. They’ve sold out every game since 2016 by tossing tradition and creating an entertainment-first experience. From choreographed dances to on-field karaoke, they’ve built a fanbase that’s wildly loyal—and wildly engaged. This session explores how their fan-first philosophy can inspire associations to rethink engagement. Learn how one association adapted Bananas-style tactics to transform events and member value, and what results they saw. You’ll join interactive roundtables to brainstorm bold strategies with peers, then use a guided framework to build your own “Banana Plan” for your organization.
Leave with actionable ideas, fresh energy, and a strategic playbook to turn your members into superfans.
Monette Anderson, VP of Membership and Education, Washington Society of CPAs
10:30 - 11:30 am
Closing Keynote
From Cautious to Courageous: A Live Roller Skating Journey (that Will Move You)
From Cautious to Courageous is a dynamic keynote designed to spark creativity, confidence, and bold action in the face of uncertainty. Using a four-stage framework - Cautious, Curious, Courageous, and Audacious -Melissa teaches the audience how to move through their journey of personal growth, innovation, and real transformation. Roller skating choreography makes this an unforgettable experience. Through storytelling, humor, and tangible takeaways, this talk helps mission-driven professionals reconnect to their “big ideas” and rediscover the energy that brought them to the work in the first place. The program is as fun as it is deep, and serves as the perfect closing for a multi-day experience.
Melissa Boggs, Cautious to Courageous