Full Rooms, Full Hearts: What Milwaukee Taught Us About Why We Gather

Tina Wehmeir, CMP-Fellow, CAE, President & CEO, AMC Institute

Last month, more AMC professionals than ever descended upon Milwaukee for AMCs Engaged, our summer meeting, and set new attendance records! This alone would have made for a great few days, but that wasn’t what truly impacted me. What stayed with me was the energy in the room, the kind you can only get when our community gathers to share their experience and knowledge with each other all in one place, all at the same time.

The AMCI Annual Meeting returns to Miami this winter, and the program is being built right now, with room for your voice in it. Whether you are a seasoned expert or an emerging executive, this is your invitation to help shape the conversations that move the AMC community forward.

AMCI 2027 Annual Meeting
February 17–19, 2027 | Miami, Florida
Submission Deadline: September 10, 2026

Registration has been open for a few weeks now, and the anticipation is already building.

The energy from our 2025 Regional Meeting carried real weight, and it continues to shape how AMCI delivers AMC-specific education and meaningful networking opportunities directly to our emerging executives. We're thrilled to keep that momentum going as we look ahead to our next stop:

If IMEX America has been on your radar, this is the moment to step in. AMCI is bringing together a select group of AMC meeting professionals as Hosted Buyers October 13–15 at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas — and it’s the only event this year designed specifically for AMC planners to connect, learn, and experience IMEX together.

What makes this unique is the group itself. You’ll move through the show alongside peers who understand the AMC model, your clients’ expectations, and the realities of delivering exceptional meetings across diverse industries. This experience is organized exclusively by AMCI and available nowhere else.

In this feature, Sarah Timm, CAE, CMP-HC, AMCI Board Chair, walks through the strategic plan that's shaping the association's future. With four connected domains at its core, AMCI is committed to empowering professionals and firms to make confident decisions. Learn how AMCI's vision connects professionals, firms, associations, and partners around a shared mission—and why it matters to your organization.  

The excitement from our 2025 Regional Meeting has only reinforced AMCI’s commitment to delivering AMC-specific education and meaningful networking opportunities directly to our emerging executives. We’re thrilled to keep that momentum going as we look ahead to our next stop:

This two-day program brings national-level content to the regional stage, offering high-impact learning, leadership development, and peer connection — all within driving distance for many of our members.

AMCs Engaged 2026 in Milwaukee challenged attendees to become true "Architects of What's Next," equipping association management professionals with the mindset, strategies, and connections needed to lead through an increasingly complex and rapidly changing environment. The conference opened with an inspiring keynote from TEDx speaker and Certified Speaking Professional Rachel Druckenmiller, whose Reflect. Reframe. Recalibrate. framework encouraged attendees to pause, gain perspective, and lead with intention rather than reaction. Her message reinforced that resilience, adaptability, and effective leadership begin with self-awareness and a willingness to embrace change. 

Presentations: AMCI 2027 Annual Meeting
Dates: February 17–19, 2027 | Miami, Florida
Submission Deadline: September 10, 2026

SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS – Association Management Center (AMC), a leading association management company that helps organizations Achieve What You Believe, has been selected as the new management partner for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

Founded in 1992, CAATE serves the public and the profession by establishing accreditation standards and ensuring compliance to strengthen athletic training education. The organization advances this work through its commissioners, committees, and reviewers, who set standards and develop resources for achieving and maintaining accreditation.

INDIANAPOLIS — Raybourn Group International (RGI) is proud to announce that its full-service association management client, the International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX), has received a 2026 Power of Associations Summit Award from ASAE. Nicole Brandt, CAE, HMCC, serves as ISSX's executive director.

ISSX is a leading global scientific society dedicated to advancing understanding of how chemicals are metabolized and transported within biological systems. The organization received the award for its ISSX Africa initiative, designed to expand access to education, professional connections, and research collaboration for scientists working in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics across Africa.

There's something special about a Regional Meeting — smaller rooms, deeper conversations, and connections that last. After a successful return in Indianapolis, we're excited to bring the 2026 Regional Meeting to Atlanta, Georgia, on September 22–23.

Join AMC professionals from across the region for two days of focused learning, practical insights, and meaningful networking. The program is designed with rising executives and newer managers in mind, but every AMC professional will find value in the conversations and community this meeting creates.

We can’t wait to honor the winners of AMCI’s 2026 Awards of Excellence at the stunning Baird Center in Milwaukee. Since its launch in 2023, this program has celebrated the AMC firms and professionals whose leadership, creativity, and impact are shaping the future of our industry, and this year’s honorees truly embody excellence.

Industry Partners: Strengthening Connections Across the AMC Community

Partnerships are vital to the success of all AMCs. Through strong, trusted relationships, AMCs can demonstrate to their clients why the AMC model works—and why their AMC is the right partner to help them grow.

AMCI’s Industry Partners play a central role in this ecosystem. Their sponsorships, expertise, and active participation in AMCI programs not only strengthen our events—they deepen their understanding of the AMC model, build lasting relationships with AMC leaders, and serve as ambassadors for AMCs globally.

AMCI is excited to announce a new member benefit developed in partnership with Stellis AI, led by this year’s Annual Meeting keynote speaker, Trent Gillespie. Over the past year, Trent and his team have worked closely with AMCI to build a comprehensive AI roadmap for our association — and now, through this partnership, Stellis.AI is ready to equip AMC leaders with the framework, tools, and resources needed to implement AI inside your own firms.

This partnership marks a major step forward in helping AMCs adopt AI intentionally, strategically, and in ways that create measurable value for both your business and the associations you manage.

If IMEX America has been on your radar, here's your opening. AMCI is hosting a select group of AMC meeting planners as Hosted Buyers this October 13-15 at Mandalay Bay.

What sets this apart is the group. You'll experience the show alongside a dedicated circle of AMC peers who understand exactly what your clients need, organized exclusively by AMCI and available nowhere else.As a hosted buyer, you’ll gain:

As an AMCI member, you have access to a special summer promotion from our Gold Strategic Partner, Encore—a limited-time offer created exclusively for AMCI.

Summer Promotion

This summer only, AMCI members can receive 30% off Encore-owned equipment at hotel and meeting venues where Encore is not the in-house event production provider. To qualify, services must be booked through Beth Surtin by September 1, 2026, and the event must take place in 2026.

Every fall, the meetings industry gathers in Las Vegas for IMEX America, and this year we want you there with us. AMCI is bringing together a select group of AMC meeting planners to attend as our Hosted Buyers at IMEX America 2026, taking place October 13-15 at Mandalay Bay.

What makes this special is the group itself. You will experience the show alongside a dedicated circle of AMC peers, an experience organized exclusively by AMCI and available nowhere else.

Your Room at The Pfister is Waiting

The countdown is on for AMCs Engaged, and the deadline to book your room at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee is July 6, 2026.

Once your room is secured, get ready to step into your role as an Architect of What's Next. This year's program, designed by your AMC peers to address the real challenges and opportunities we're all facing, gives you the blueprints, tools, and connections to build what's next for your team, your clients, and your business.

 Menomonee Falls, WI – Association Acumen, an award-winning full-service accredited association management firm based in Menomonee Falls, WI celebrated its 20^th anniversary July 1. Founded in 2006, Acumen provides full-service management for state, national and international professional associations. Its first client, the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS), joined Acumen in 2006, followed by the Society for Mucosal Immunology (SMI) in 2008, the Automotive Fleet & Leasing Association (AFLA) in 2012, and the National Vehicle Leasing Association (NVLA) in 2014. Other current clients include the New York State Society of Physician Associates (NYSSPA), the Michigan Academy of Physician Associates (MAPA), and QRCA.

“We are proud of the strong and long-term partnerships that we have forged with our clients over the years, relationships strengthened through our belief in a shared mission, a commitment to growth through best practices, and a determination to consistently go above and beyond to achieve superior results,” Betsy Smith, CPA, MST, Acumen’s President, said.

AMCI is proud to launch our Member Excellence Spotlight series by recognizing Oak Ridge Association Management Company, a firm whose commitment to service, leadership, and community reflects the very best of the AMC model.