GENERAL SESSIONS

Some people enter a room for networking and jump in, eager to meet dozens of new friends and colleagues. Others walk in gingerly, hoping they don't look as awkward as they feel. Others hate networking events and activities so much, they don't even come in the door. Be prepared to ease into this session with a little bit of information and then move to create a lot of connections through structured (and NOT embarrassing) activities. We will not hold hands, nor sing songs. We will not trust fall into the arms of strangers. We WILL move, interact, and prepare for a conference full of new colleagues.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

General Session - Check back soon

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Becoming Invaluable
Presenters: Megan Kyte, AMR Management Services and Ashleigh Roche, MBA, Association & Conference Group

It takes a unique combination of skills, knowledge and abilities to be successful and build a career in an AMC, and it may feel impossible to juggle the workload and build new skills or capacities to help grow in your career. Well, we've got the secret to becoming invaluable to your AMC and charting your growth path. This session will reveal some of the most important characteristics that AMC owners and leaders need from their teams to keep their businesses thriving and tips and ideas for embodying those characteristics no matter what role you currently have. Join the session and become invaluable to your AMC today!

Key Topics:

• Top ten (ish) characteristics that owners need/want to see from their AMC team members.
• Ways to demonstrate leadership and aptitude in these areas from a variety of seats within an AMC (Director, Account Exec, specialist seat – marketing, events, membership – Program/Project Coordinator, etc.)
• Tips and suggestions from those that have grown in AMC roles.

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Closing Session: Managing Associations in an Ever-Changing World
Presenter: Bennett Napier, M.S., CAE, Partners in Association Management

In this interactive panel, AMC leaders will share real world strategies for managing associations amid constant change. The session begins with brief introductions, giving attendees insight into each panelist's background, including years in the profession, AMC size, and the scope of clients they serve.

The conversation will explore practical tools and approaches AMC teams use to stay agile and effective, with moderated questions guiding the discussion across several core areas:

• Volunteer Management, Communication, and Transparency: Platforms like Basecamp, Asana, and other tools that support clarity and collaboration.
• Financial Strength and Stability: Key KPIs, dashboards, ratios, reserve targets, cash flow management, and forecasting practices that help ensure organizational health.
• Workflow and Capacity Management: How AMCs balance scope, team bandwidth, and operational efficiency using modern workflow tools.

If time allows, the panel will close with forward looking insights, including "crystal ball" perspectives on the AMC landscape or one strategic tip each panelist would offer to AMC client/account executives.

Designed for professionals seeking practical, immediately applicable guidance, this session offers a candid look at how AMC leaders navigate complexity, support their teams, and deliver consistent value to the associations they manage.