AMC Owner's Retreat

9:30 - 10:00 AM
Registration & Networking (Gramercy Ballroom Foyer)
Grab your badge and start the day with casual networking with your fellow AMC colleagues.

10:00 - 10:30 AM
Welcome, Retreat Goals & Framing the Conversation (Gramercy Ballroom 1)
Kick off the retreat with a warm welcome and an overview of the goals and outcomes for the two days ahead. This opening session will set the tone for open dialogue and collaboration while helping participants connect with one another through a brief interactive icebreaker.

10:30 – 11:45 AM
Macro Trends & “What Keeps Us Up at Night”
Explore the major forces shaping the association and AMC landscape—from economic pressures to workforce shifts and evolving client expectations. Participants will engage in candid discussion about the biggest risks, uncertainties, and challenges keeping leaders up at night.

11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch (Gramercy Garden)
Enjoy a relaxed lunch while continuing conversations sparked during the morning sessions. This informal time allows participants to build connections, exchange experiences, and learn from peers facing similar opportunities and challenges.

1:00 – 2:15 PM
Client Contracts, Liability & Risk Management
Dive into the legal and operational considerations that can significantly impact an AMC’s stability and reputation. This session will explore common contract pitfalls, liability considerations, and practical strategies to protect both your firm and your clients.

Molly K. Alcorn, Attorney at Law, Alcorn Law Corporation

2:15 – 2:30 PM
Break (Gramercy Ballroom Foyer)
Take a short break to recharge before the afternoon sessions. This is a great opportunity to continue conversations, check in with colleagues, or reflect on key takeaways so far.

2:30 – 3:45 PM
The Impact of AI on AMC Operations & Profitability
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how organizations operate—and AMCs are no exception. This session will explore practical applications of AI, opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery, and the potential impact on business models and profitability.

Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Principal, Dennison & Associates

3:45 – 4:00 PM
Afternoon Beverage & Snack Break (Gramercy Ballroom Foyer)
Pause for refreshments and informal networking before the final session of the day. Use this time to recharge and continue conversations sparked throughout the afternoon.

4:00 – 4:45 PM
Succession Planning, Financial Guardrails & Business Sustainability
Long-term success requires thoughtful planning and strong financial foundations. This discussion will focus on preparing for leadership transitions, establishing financial guardrails, and ensuring the sustainability and resilience of your business.

Katrina Franklin, CAAS Controller, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Sarkis Yevrenyan, CPA, Manager, Assurance, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

4:45 – 5:00 PM
Day 1 Wrap-Up & Reflections
Close out the day by reflecting on key insights and themes that emerged throughout the sessions. Participants will have an opportunity to share takeaways and identify ideas worth carrying forward into Day 2.

5:00 – 5:30 PM
Hotel Site Tour

6:30 – 10:00 PM
Group Dinner and Karaoke (Openaire Restaurant + Break Room 86)
Join fellow participants for an evening dinner designed to deepen relationships and continue meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting. This social gathering provides an opportunity to strengthen connections within the AMC leadership community.

8:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast (Gramercy Garden)
Start the morning with breakfast and informal networking. This is a chance to reconnect with fellow participants and continue conversations from the previous day.

9:00 – 9:15 AM
Day 2 Kickoff & Key Takeaways from Day 1 (Gramercy Ballroom 1)
Begin the second day with a brief recap of insights and themes from Day 1. This session will help frame the day’s discussions and connect strategic ideas to practical application.

9:15 – 10:30 AM
Educating & Managing Teams Effectively
Strong teams are at the heart of successful AMCs. This session will explore strategies for onboarding, training, communication, and performance management that help teams thrive in complex, multi-client environments.

10:30 – 10:45 AM
Morning Break (Gramercy Ballroom Foyer)
Take a short break to recharge and reflect before the final sessions of the retreat. Use this time to connect with peers or capture ideas sparked during the morning discussion.

10:45 – 11:45 AM
Client, Member & Volunteer Relationship Management
Balancing the expectations of clients, members, and volunteers can be complex. This session will explore strategies for building trust, managing relationships effectively, and navigating the dynamics that shape successful partnerships.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Retreat Synthesis & Action Planning
Bring together the key ideas and insights from the retreat and translate them into practical next steps. Participants will identify priorities and actions they can take back to their organizations.

12:00 – 1:00 PM
Closing Lunch & Networking (Gramercy Garden)
Wrap up the retreat with a final lunch and an opportunity to strengthen connections made over the two days. Participants will leave with new insights, practical ideas, and a stronger network of peers.

Molly K. Alcorn, Owner and Lead Attorney, Alcorn Law Corporation

Molly is the owner and lead attorney at Alcorn Law Corporation. Molly's practice focuses on advocacy and guidance for nonprofit associations on a wide range of business matters. Her expertise covers everything from initial filings with state and federal agencies to tax applications, mergers, and dissolutions. She also provides legal counsel in areas such as contract drafting and negotiations, intellectual property registration, management, and enforcement, and property leasing and acquisition.

Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP,  Principal, Dennison & Associates

Vanessa Dennison, owner of Dennison & Associates, is a Certified Association  Executive and Certified Business Analyst Professional. She has more than 20 years’ experience working with dozens of trade and professional associations and unions, both as a staff member and an industry vendor. She applies proven expertise, industry best practices, and a deep commitment to each client to deliver superior results. Vanessa leads a growing team of leading association consultants with a variety of skills.  Together, we share a singular focus on serving our clients and delivering value no matter your size, budget, or needs.

Katrina Franklin, Controller, Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS), CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)

Katrina joined CLA in 2024 and brings over 15 years of experience in charter school and nonprofit finance. For the past decade, she has provided Chief Business Officer services to Odyssey Charter Schools, one of the first schools authorized by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. During her tenure, she supported the organization’s growth from a single campus serving approximately 400 students with 45 staff members to a two-campus model serving more than 800 students with a workforce exceeding 110 employees.

Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, and organizational leadership. Katrina possesses extensive human resources experience, including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee retention, leave administration, and benefits management.

Katrina delivers both project-based and recurring client services. Her project work includes developing accounting policies and procedures, evaluating system configurations and integrations, streamlining chart of accounts structures, and supporting interim and compliance reporting. Her ongoing services encompass billing, account reconciliations, month-end close processes, financial dashboard reporting, budget and forecast development, preparation of financial statements and unaudited actuals, board meeting presentations, and compliance oversight.

Sarkis Yevrenyan, CPA, Manager, Assurance, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP)

Sarkis is a Manager who works in assurance department of CLA's Pasadena, California office. He has experience working with clients in educational institutions including independent K-12 schools, higher education, religious organizations and non-profit social service organizations.

Please see PPT Materials below from our invited speakers:

Hidden Legalities: Considerations for Association managers - Molly Alcorn

Succession Planning, Financial Guardrails & Business Sustainability

The Evolution of Membership Models - LinkedIn Article

The Impact of AI on AMC Operations & Profitability - Takeaway

The Impact of AI on AMC Operations & Profitability - PPT Deck