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Architecting Serendipity: Designing Events That Spark Lasting Connections - Powered by Velvet Chainsaw

Networking shouldn’t be left to chance. In an era where members crave deeper, more meaningful interactions, intentional design is the key to turning small talk into strong ties. This session unpacks the formula for creating purposeful moments that transform passive attendees into an active, loyal community. Discover how to design experiences that don’t just fill the agenda but create lasting value and keep people returning to your events year after year.

Sarah Michel, CSP, VP Professional Connexity, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

Breathing New Life Into Association Programs

Legacy programs often shape who we are as associations. This session will look at how new initiatives can be inspired by those programs and how you can build on them to enhance your member engagement. We’ll talk about ways to engage members through storytelling, recognition, and community-building efforts that feel fresh without having to reinvent the wheel. You’ll leave with ideas for launching programs that are easy to get off the ground, meaningful to your members, and built to resonate across different roles, generations, and experience levels.       

Jesse Geremia, Executive Vice President, California Hotel & Lodging Association

Resilient Leadership 2.0: Navigating Backlash with the SCARF Framework    

Leadership transitions often expose deep-rooted organizational problems that require bold decisions—sometimes triggering public criticism, social media storms, or member backlash. Learn what to do when the pressure is on - by diving into real-world stories of leaders navigating staff turnover, outdated systems, and outside scrutiny. Along the way, discover how the SCARF framework (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness) explains why backlash happens and how to respond in ways that rebuild trust. Through case studies and interactive discussion, you’ll get the chance to swap insights with your fellow attendees—so come ready to engage, share, and learn together.

Christine Feenstra, Executive Director, CALIE

Unleashing Your HI (human intelligence) on AI

Stop treating AI like a fancy typewriter! Most professionals are barely scratching the surface of what artificial intelligence can do for their daily work. The real power lies in combining your unique human intelligence (HI) with AI's capabilities. This interactive session will transform how you think about and use AI. Explore prompting "recipes" that turn basic requests into strategic tools for research, creative problem-solving, and analysis. Through peer collaboration and hands-on practice, you'll discover which AI tools work best for different association challenges and learn to craft prompts that deliver what you need. Forget generic AI advice. This session is specifically designed for anyone who wants to move beyond the basics and start using AI as a strategic partner in their daily work.

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

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Beyond the Booth: Reimagining Your Expo as the Ultimate Connection Hub - Powered by Velvet Chainsaw

The days of static booths and transactional exchanges are over. Today’s attendees expect more: meaningful connections, learning opportunities, and solutions they can trust. This session shows how to transform your trade show floor into a high-energy networking and learning destination. Learn how to shift exhibitors from a “pitching” to a “partnering” mindset—so they not only drive business but also create value-rich experiences that keep attendees engaged and coming back.

Sarah Michel, CSP, VP Professional Connexity, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

MPISSN – Joint Session 

MPISSN and Associations West come together at Seasonal Spectacular to present a joint session designed for association professionals, meeting planners, and industry partners. This collaborative program highlights shared perspectives across the meetings and association communities, offering fresh insights, practical strategies, and opportunities to strengthen connections. Attendees will leave with new ideas, actionable takeaways, and a deeper understanding of how to work together to advance the profession.

Build Loyalty Through Ceremony: Transform Moments into Meaningful Member Bonds

This session explores how ceremony—both formal and informal—can build deeper member loyalty and engagement. Participants will examine how shared experiences, symbolic actions, and meaningful traditions create a sense of identity and belonging within organizations. Supporting themes include the psychology of ceremony, the role of storytelling, and the impact of symbolic gestures and physical tokens. Through real-world examples and guided exercises, attendees will identify opportunities to elevate existing ceremonies and design new ones that make key moments—like onboarding, recognition, or annual events—more memorable and emotionally resonant. Participants will leave with practical tools to strengthen member connection and retention through the power of ceremony.   

Jordan Yelinek, Director of Membership and Programs, Masons of California
Emily Limon, Chief Communications Officer, Masons of California

Work (and Lead) to A Different Beat   

In today’s fast-paced world, many association leaders find themselves running on autopilot—managing tasks and meetings but missing the rhythm that makes work meaningful. This session invites you to pause, reset, and lead with intention, energy, and sustainability.
At the heart of the session is the 3 Rhythm Model™, which focuses on Perspective (how you choose to see things), Task (what you choose to do), and Relationship (who you choose to connect with). These rhythms shape how leaders show up daily and, when applied with intentionality, can transform both individual performance and organizational culture.
Through humor, storytelling, and interactive exercises, you will learn to shift your leadership perspective Hear how to boost engagement, foster ownership and connection, and create meaningful momentum through small but powerful steps. Walk away not just motivated, but prepared with actionable strategies to work differently, lead intentionally, and create lasting impact.

Justin Jones-Fosu, CEO, Work. Meaningful.