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2026 Annual Meeting Sessions
November 18-19, 2026
Register Today!
Opening Keynote: The Cost of Culture - Level Up Your LeadershipNora Burns | Founder & Chief Curiosity Officer | Workplace Researcher & Keynote Speaker Breakout #1: Politics 101: Why Your Association Should Be Politically AwareBill Elliott, CAE | President & CEO | Wisconsin Hotels & Lodging Association Strong advocacy starts with understanding the landscape. Join Bill Elliott, CAE, and a panel of experienced government affairs professionals as they explore why political awareness is essential for associations of every size. Attendees will gain practical insights into monitoring legislative activity, building relationships with policymakers, and leveling up their organization's ability to anticipate and respond to issues that impact members.
Breakout #2: Your CAE Roadmap: Navigating the Path to CertificationMonica Goeke, CAE | Vice President | Wisconsin Hotels & Lodging Association Think earning your CAE feels overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be. Join this practical breakout to demystify the certification process, learn how earning the CAE opens doors to expanded leadership, and walk away with a clear roadmap to empower yourself—or your team—to take the leap.
General Session Keynote: The Trust Imperative: Leading Ethically in an AI-Powered WorldTom Beckman | Adjunct Instructor | Owner, 28 Power Communications Artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of business, but is your organization ready for the leadership challenges it creates? Explore why trust, transparency, and accountability have become the defining competitive advantages in the age of AI. Learn how forward-thinking leaders are building confidence with employees, customers, and stakeholders while navigating unprecedented change. If trust is your organization's greatest asset, this is a session you can't afford to miss.
Breakout #3: Industry Partner Insights PanelModerator: Andrew Heidtke | Membership Coordinator | ACEC-WI Strong partnerships are built through clear communication, mutual understanding, and shared goals. Join a panel of experienced industry partners representing a variety of sectors as they share practical insights on what helps associations build productive, long-term relationships with vendors and service providers.
Breakout #4: Strategic Planning: Tips, Tricks and Lessons LearnedModerator: Kristin Adler, M.Ed | Association Professional | Executive Director, Inc There is no one-size-fits-all approach to strategic planning. Through the perspectives of association leaders representing organizations of different sizes and management models, including an association management company, organizations using consultants, and those implementing plans internally, this panel will explore practical tips, common challenges, and lessons learned from the planning process.
Bonus Breakout for Industry Partners: Level Up with WSAE’s Star Sponsorship Program*Not Eligible for CAE Credit Ready to level up your company's visibility and engagement with WSAE? Join David Schade and Marin Medema, CMP, Co-Chairs of WSAE's Industry Partner Committee, along with WSAE's Executive Director, Jennifer Rzepka, CAE, for an interactive discussion on the Star Sponsorship Program. Details will be shared about how the packages are structured, the benefits they provide, and strategies for maximizing your return on investment by upgrading your membership to a sponsorship!
ALA Panel: Work Smarter: Level Up with AIModerator: Beth McVeigh | Senior Coordinator | Association Resource Center, Inc (ARC) Artificial intelligence is transforming the way association professionals work, and its potential goes far beyond drafting emails! Explore practical, real-world examples of how AI can help troubleshoot technology challenges, support strategic planning, accelerate research, expand expertise, and improve day-to-day efficiency. Through case studies and demonstrations, attendees will discover actionable ways to level up their productivity and make AI a valuable member of their professional toolkit.
Opening Keynote (Day 2): The Self as Asset: You are the Most Valuable ResourceCecilia Sepp, CAE, ACNP, LPEC | Principal & Founder | Rogue Tulips Consulting To have a successful organization, we need successful teams which means an investment in our people. Instilling a commitment to personal evolution through increased knowledge, skills building, and new experiences increases the value of our most precious asset: our team. By supporting ongoing personal development in our teams, we make our organizations stronger by building a self-renewing human infrastructure. Associations that invest in their people have better outcomes and are more likely to innovate and take risks. A culture of innovation and managed risks creates an inquiry mindset that leads to better understanding of our members, their needs, and what we need to let go of to embrace what’s next. In an era of constant evolution and metamorphosis, we need to think differently so our actions support the needs of our members. Individuals that are better prepared to accept the current status quo – which is no status quo – will find success for their organizations and build a stronger association management profession.
General Session (Day 2): Pain Point SolutionsAndrew Heidtke | Membership Coordinator | ACEC-WI Based on attendee-submitted responses collected during registration, this interactive session will tackle some of the most common pain points facing association professionals today. Facilitated by Annual Summit Chair Andrew Heidtke, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from their peers, share solutions, and leave with new ideas and strategies to help level up their organization's success.
Closing Keynote: People Do Business with PeoplePeggy Williams-Smith | CEO | Visit Milwaukee Session description coming soon. |
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