Education

Opening Keynote

Erin Stafford
Peak Performance Without Burnout

Burn Bright Not Out: The Blueprint for Leaders and Teams to be Unstoppable 

Erin Stafford is a best-selling author, burnout survivor, high-performance strategist and Cambridge social psychologist.

From working with the world’s highest achievers throughout her 20+ year international career, being a life-long Type A poster child herself, as well as interviewing and surveying thousands of Olympians, Fortune 100 leaders, and celebrities, Erin has seen firsthand how hustle culture and
constant over-achievement are coveted in the world of business, yet can lead to debilitating burnout.

As the former head of marketing for the nation’s largest healthcare staffing company, where she helped drive 27x growth in six years, Erin is passionate about helping leaders and teams be more resilient in the face of change, sustain peak performance and thrive again both personally and professionally.

Keynote

David “DJ” Johnson, CAE, IOM, FASAE
Award-winning Nonprofit Volunteer Leader

The Connected Mindset: Leading People and Projects with Clarity, Empathy, and Purpose

David “DJ” Johnson, CAE, IOM, FASAE is a seasoned association engagement and volunteer development strategist with more than two decades of experience driving growth, engagement, and innovation across healthcare, design, communications, and nonprofit management associations.  He has assisted organizations design membership and engagement strategies that not only strengthen retention and revenue but also create inclusive, high-impact member experiences.
Currently the Senior Director of Governance Operations at the American Speech-language Hearing Association, DJ has also held senior leadership roles at organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and the Drug Information Association (DIA). In these roles, he has led initiatives that reversed membership declines, elevated retention rates above 80%, introduced new engagement models, and built DEI frameworks that became the national roadmaps at the associations he served.
Recognized as an ASAE Fellow—an honor awarded to fewer than 1% of association professionals—DJ brings a consultative approach that blends strategic foresight with practical implementation. He is known for helping associations align strategy, governance, and operations to deliver sustained value to members, volunteers, and staff.

Emcee & Closing Keynote

Melissa Boggs
Cautious to Courageous

From Cautious to Courageous: A Live Roller Skating Journey (that Will Move You)

Melissa Boggs is a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership coach, and former nonprofit CEO known for delivering memorable, high-impact experiences that
challenge and inspire audiences. With a career rooted in leadership, business transformation, and organizational culture, Melissa brings both credibility and charisma to the stage - along with a pair of roller skates. Her sessions are energizing, relatable, and deeply impactful, combining humor and authenticity with practical tools for personal and professional growth.

As a seasoned speaker, Melissa has inspired audiences around the world - from South Africa to San Diego - earning praise for her warm, motivational presence
and ability to connect with attendees at every level. She is the host of the Wild Hearts at Work podcast and has served in leadership roles on several nonprofit boards.

Melissa is a Certified Enterprise Coach (CEC), Certified Team Coach (CTC), Dare to Lead Trained (DTL), Training from the Back of the Room Trained (TBR), Certified LeSS Practitioner (CLP), Kanban Management Professional (KMP I), and a Project Management Professional (PMP). She holds an MBA in IT Management and a BS in Information Technology from Western Governors University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for both National Speakers Association Colorado and Meetings Industry Council of Colorado.