Professional Development Conference 2026 Schedule
Sunday, September 27 5:30pm
Early Arrivals Event - Book Talk with Loren & Paige
Meet in the Hampton Inn Lobby
Book Talk with Loren & Paige- Love to read? Join Loren Gibson and Paige Hutto for a fun, relaxed happy hour to talk books. Bring your GoodReads, your list of favorites, and your TBR and we will bring the wine.
8:00am -12:00pm GrowthZone Regional Meetup (ROOM A)
Chambers are invited to this in-person Regional Meetup, all local GrowthZone users are welcome to attend (you do not have to be registered for the conference to attend this event). This complimentary event offers local GrowthZone customers the opportunity to connect, learn and participate in open discussion sessions with their team. Their Customer Success team will be on hand to share helpful tips and tricks for getting the most out of your database. Please note that all training and discussion during this event will be focused exclusively on the GrowthZone platform. Please register if you plan to attend this event: Click Here to Register
9:00am Vendor Set-Up (EXHIBIT HALL)
10:30am Board of Directors Meeting & Lunch (ROOM B)
11:30am Registration Opens (FOYER)
1:00pm Welcome & Team Building (EXHIBIT HALL)
1:45pm - 2:30pm Conference Opening Session (EXHIBIT HALL)
Beach Chair Chat: Brewing Success, Building Community
Chrissy Clay & Loren Gibson
Kick off the conference with an inspiring conversation featuring Chrissy Clay, founder of Beach Girl Coffee and Beach Girl Home, and Loren Gibson of The Fund. In this relaxed "Beach Chair Chat," they'll explore Chrissy's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful business, and her passion for empowering women-owned businesses. Together, they'll discuss the vital role community plays in business success, why investing in local relationships matters, and how chamber professionals can champion entrepreneurs while strengthening their communities. Filled with practical insights, encouragement, and authentic conversation, this keynote will leave you energized and ready to lead with purpose throughout the conference.
2:30pm - 3:00pm The Ice Cream Truck! Break Sponsored by Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund
Enjoy an afternoon sweet treat just outside the front doors courtesy of Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fun before visiting with our exhibitors and checking out the silent auction.
3:00pm - 4:00pm BREAK OUT SESSIONS 1
Breakout A - The Psychology & Science Behind Events: Creating an Emotional Connection (ROOM A)
Cally D'Angelo, IOM
Emotion—it's more than a feeling; people act on it. In this engaging workshop, we'll explore the relationship between emotion and memory and how it influences the event experience. Although we will touch on the softer side, this session will not be full of sentiment. Understanding the science behind emotional memory will enable your Chamber to curate events that elicit engagement.
Breakout B - Data Centers: What to Expect & How to Prepare (ROOM B)
Cisha Adams, Blair King, Trevor Sutton, and Jefferson Traywick
Join industry leaders and community experts for a discussion on what chambers and local leaders need to know about attracting, supporting, and preparing for data center development. Learn about the opportunities, challenges, community impacts, and practical steps your community can take to be ready for this rapidly growing sector.
Breakout C- Retain.Engage.Thrive: Building A Dynamic Chamber Culture (ROOM C)
Ali Rauch, CCE, IOM
In today's competitive workforce, culture can be your greatest advantage. Learn how chamber leaders can cultivate an energized, collaborative workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent, in both employees and volunteers, while strengthening organizational performance and mission impact.
4:00pm - 4:15pm Break - Visit Our Exhibitors, Silent Auction Open
4:15pm - 5:00pm Small Group Discussions - Look for your Team Mascot! (ROOMS A - C)
One of the greatest resources in the chamber profession is each other. Join your assigned small-group team for a lively, facilitated discussion focused on the real-world opportunities and challenges facing chambers today. Guided by a common set of discussion questions, each group will explore what's working, what isn't, the "must-haves" every chamber should consider, lessons learned from missteps, and the issues that are keeping chamber professionals awake at night.
Whether you're looking for fresh ideas, practical solutions, or simply reassurance that others are facing similar challenges, these collaborative conversations are designed to encourage honest dialogue, shared experiences, and actionable takeaways. Come ready to listen, contribute, and leave with new connections and ideas you can put to work in your own community.
5:00pm Day 1 Concludes
6:30pm Jubilee Jam! Cocktails, Connections & Chow (Manci's Antique Club 1715 Main Street, Daphne, AL)
Relax and join us in Olde Town Daphne for a fun evening at Manci’s Antique Club. This almost 100 year old restaurant is the perfect spot for good conversation, cold drinks and delicious food. Transportation will not be provided. Carpool from the hotel and we will see you there.
6:00am - 8:30am Breakfast at Hampton Inn for hotel guests
8:00am - 8:30am Coffee & Connections Networking at Daphne Civic Center presented by The Fund (EXHIBIT HALL)
Local Daphne coffee shop, Gather & Grind on-site until 11:00am
8:30am - 9:30am Leading with Service, Empathy and an Enduring Commitment to Community (EXHIBIT HALL)
Chris Stallings
Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery, will deliver an inspiring keynote on leading with service, empathy, and an enduring commitment to community. A seasoned public-safety and emergency-management leader, Chris brings firsthand experience guiding communities through disruption and recovery—from leading Georgia’s emergency-response efforts to advancing the SBA’s mission to improve disaster-recovery outcomes and economic resilience.
Centered on servant leadership, the keynote will challenge chamber professionals to bring purpose, compassion, and decisive action to their work every day—not only in moments of crisis. Attendees will leave energized and equipped with tools and resources to support their communities before, during, and after a disaster. This keynote is a call to meaningful action—helping Alabama’s small businesses prepare, recover, and remain resilient through whatever comes next.
9:30am - 9:45am Break - Visit Exhibitors, Silent Auction Open (EXHIBIT HALL)
9:45am - 10:45am Sponsor Spotlight Session (EXHIBIT HALL)
We all know that sponsors are a lifeline for organizations. This session is a great chance to learn more about our exhibitors and sponsors and the products and services they offer. This fast paced, quick moving session offers a great introduction to those who help make our conference possible. This is a great chance to get those sponsor punch cards done!
10:45am - 11:00am Break - Visit Exhibitors, Silent Auction Open (EXHIBIT HALL)
11:00am - 12:00pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS 2
Breakout A - Inside Your Event: Review. Refine. Retire. Reimagine. (ROOM A)
Cally D'Angelo, IOM
Excellent events don't happen by accident—they evolve with intention. Explore a strategic framework for evaluating your event portfolio through the lens of purpose, people, performance, and profitability. Leave with a proven process to strengthen existing programs, refine what works, retire what doesn't, and reimagine experiences that advance your chamber's mission.
Breakout B - Beyond the Press Release: Building Strong Media Partnerships (ROOM B)
Lenzi Womack
Today's media landscape is constantly evolving, but relationships still matter. Explore practical ways to connect with traditional and digital media, pitch stories that get attention, navigate interviews with confidence, and build credibility that benefits your chamber and your members.
Breakout C - Advocacy Essentials: Who? What? When? Why? (ROOM C)
Joey Orr & Ryleigh Solomon
Advocacy is one of the most important roles a chamber of commerce plays—but it doesn't have to be intimidating. Whether you're new to advocacy or looking to strengthen your chamber's efforts, this session will cover the fundamentals every chamber professional should know. Learn who should be involved, what issues chambers can advocate for, when to engage elected officials, and why advocacy is essential to advancing your business community. You'll leave with practical tips, a clearer understanding of your role, and the confidence to build stronger relationships and become a more effective voice for your members.
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch Topic Roundtables (LOBBY)
- Leadership Programs
- Membership Recruit/Retain
- Non-Dues Revenue
- Chamber Foundations
- Chamber Operations
- Board Relations
- Workforce Development
- Open Discussion (Tables 8-14)
Grab your lunch from Rouxsters and find a table of your choice. Facilitators will get the conversation going, but this is your chance to discuss one of the many topics our chambers are talking about. Just need a break or want to catch up with a sponsor, grab a seat at one of the open discussion tables.
1:00pm - 1:30pm Distinguished Service Recognitions & 90th Anniversary Announcement (EXHIBIT HALL)
1:30pm - 2:30pm Powering the Member Pipeline: Leveraging Events for Recruitment and Retention (EXHIBIT HALL)
Cally D'Angelo, IOM
Events are often the first touchpoint for potential members and an essential engagement tool for existing ones. Explore innovative approaches to integrating recruitment strategies and retention tactics into your event planning. Walk away with actionable ideas to elevate your event strategy and strengthen your membership base.
2:30pm - 3:30pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS 3
Breakout A - Beyond the Basics: Using Canva to Tell Your Chamber's Story (ROOM A)
Carly Rager, IOM
Your chamber's story is more than ribbon cuttings, event flyers, and social media posts—it's the heartbeat of your community. Learn how to use Canva to create meaningful, branded content that celebrates your members, promotes your events, and communicates your mission in a way that inspires engagement. This interactive session will cover practical design strategies, time-saving workflows, and Canva features that help you create professional marketing pieces without needing a graphic design background.
Breakout B - Breaking Down Silos: Creating a Unified Community Team (ROOM B)
Connie Bainbridge & Jim Byard
Strong communities aren't built by organizations working in isolation—they're built through collaboration. Through real-world examples and candid discussion, this panel will explore strategies for building trust, aligning priorities, navigating challenges, and turning collaboration into action.
Breakout C - Volunteers with Purpose: Building a Culture of Engagement (ROOM C)
Paige Hutto, IOM
Volunteers are the heart of every successful chamber, but meaningful engagement doesn't happen by chance. Learn how to recruit the right people, align their talents with purposeful opportunities, set clear expectations, and create an environment where volunteers feel valued and motivated to serve. Whether you're building a new volunteer program or strengthening an existing one, this session will provide practical strategies for improving recruitment, increasing retention, and cultivating a culture of engagement that benefits your chamber, your volunteers, and your community.
3:30pm - 4:00pm It's a Grazing Table! Sponsored by Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce (EXHIBIT HALL)
Grab some goodies from the grazing table before visiting with our exhibitors and checking out the silent auction.
4:00pm - 4:45pm Steal This Idea! 12 Chambers! 10 Big Ideas (EXHIBIT HALL)
Get ready for one of the fastest-paced and most idea-filled sessions of the conference! Ten ideas, five minutes each- to showcase an innovative program, event, membership initiative, fundraising success, partnership, or creative solution that's making an impact in their community. No panels, no lengthy presentations—just practical ideas you can take home and adapt for your own chamber. Whether you're looking for fresh programming, new revenue opportunities, volunteer engagement strategies, or creative ways to serve your members, you'll leave with a notebook full of inspiration and at least a few ideas you'll want to "steal" for your own organization.
4:15pm Day 2 Concludes - Dinner on Your Own
6:00am - 8:30am Breakfast at Hampton Inn for hotel guests
8:00am - 8:30am Coffee & Connections Networking at Daphne Civic Center presented by THE FUND (EXHIBIT HALL)
Local Daphne coffee shop, Gather & Grind on-site until 11am
8:30am - 9:30am Law, Leadership & Liability: What Every Alabama Chamber Should Know (EXHIBIT HALL)
Robert S. Ellerbrock, III
From board governance and bylaws to employment practices, advocacy, public funding, and regulatory compliance, chamber leaders navigate complex legal responsibilities every day. Led by an Alabama attorney, this practical session will examine the legal issues most likely to affect chambers and associations, clarify the responsibilities of board members and staff, and identify common mistakes that can put an organization at risk. Attendees will leave with practical guidance and a clearer understanding of the policies, procedures, and safeguards every chamber should regularly review.
9:30am - 9:45am Break - Visit Exhibitors, Silent Auction ENDS (EXHIBIT HALL)
9:45am - 10:45am Smarter Marketing: Making AI Tools Work for You (EXHIBIT HALL)
Carly Rager, IOM
AI isn't here to replace the relationships that make chambers successful, it's here to help you spend more time building them. Discover practical AI tools that simplify content creation, organize ideas, improve productivity, and help you tell your chamber's story more effectively. From writing newsletters and social media captions to brainstorming campaigns and planning events, you'll leave with real-world tools and prompts you can put to work immediately.
10:45am - 11:00am Break, Pick Up Silent Auction Items (EXHIBIT HALL)
11:00am - 11:45am BREAKOUT SESSIONS 4
Breakout A - Invest in You: Navigating Your Professional Development Journey (ROOM A)
Paige Hutto, IOM
Your greatest investment is in yourself. Whether you're new to the chamber profession or a seasoned executive, there are countless opportunities to grow your knowledge, expand your network, and advance your career. This session will provide an overview of the industry's premier professional development pathways, including Institute for Organization Management (IOM), the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation, and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential. Learn what each program offers, who it's designed for, and how these opportunities can strengthen both your leadership and your chamber. Leave with a clearer roadmap for your professional growth and the confidence to take the next step in your development journey.
Breakout B - Building a Stronger Chamber: The Road to Organizational Excellence (ROOM B)
Erin Grantham, AACE & Laura Strickland, IOM, AACE
A strong chamber starts with a strong foundation. Whether you're looking to improve governance, strengthen operations, or benchmark your organization against recognized standards, this session will introduce two powerful organizational development programs: the Alabama Accredited Chamber of Commerce (AACC) program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation program. Learn how each program can help your chamber evaluate best practices, identify opportunities for growth, enhance credibility, and demonstrate excellence to members and stakeholders. Whether accreditation is in your immediate future or simply a long-term goal, you'll leave with a clear understanding of the process, benefits, and practical steps to begin building a stronger, more resilient chamber.
11:45am Conference Conclusion & Team Awards & Grand Prize Drawing