3:00-4:15 p.m.

A World Café: Peer Insights for Planning International Events by Region

CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Facilitators: Brittany Fiore, Senior Planner, Commonwealth Financial Network; Susan Kuilder, Director, Experiential Marketing, MarshBerry; Julie Norman, Manager, Strategic Event Planning, Thrivent

Hosting international events presents a distinct set of strategic considerations that influence everything from operational logistics to the overall attendee experience. In this facilitated roundtable session, participants will examine critical questions and contextual factors to address both before and during the planning lifecycle of global events. Participants will experience a world café format where they will rotate among tables dedicated to specific international markets, enabling peer-driven dialogue, the exchange of real-world experiences and the sharing of actionable insights from professionals who have successfully delivered events across diverse regions and cultures.

Now Build It: Putting Shared Values To Work for Your Next Event

CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Speaker: David Allison, Founder, The Valuegraphics Research Co., Represented by Speakers Spotlight

Getting people to show up is only getting harder. Workforces under pressure have shorter attention spans, tighter calendars and less patience for events that feel like an obligation. This workshop takes the values data from the keynote and turns it into a practical design challenge: how do you make an event that the financial and insurance workforce genuinely does not want to miss?

In small groups, attendees will work through a values-based event audit, examining every touchpoint of the attendee journey through the lens of what this workforce actually cares about. From the invitation and the pre-event communications all the way through to what happens in the room and what people take home. Hospitality partners will apply the same lens to how they tell the story of their property or destination to a values-informed audience.

The Transformational AI Playbook for Event Professionals

CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Speaker: James Spellos, President, Meeting U.

Generative AI can support the full spectrum of meeting and event management, from site selection and contract negotiation to travel planning, banquet event order (BEO) development and run of show design. This session gives event professionals the framework to use the readily available AI tools with confidence and intention.
 
This interactive session moves beyond surface-level AI to explore where technology can drive meaningful efficiencies across the event lifecycle and make better event decisions. Participants will examine proven approaches for applying AI to core planning tasks, uncover the critical questions event professionals should be asking and leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately, all while keeping an AI-savvy human firmly in the loop.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

A Look Ahead: The Economic Outlook for the Financial Services and Insurance Industry

CMP-IS Domain A: Strategic Planning

Speaker: Dr. Tyler J. De Haan CFP, Director, Advanced Sales, Sammons Institutional Group

This session examines the implications of current U.S. economic conditions for the financial services and insurance sectors. Participants will explore the most pressing risks and opportunities shaping stakeholder priorities, including the forces that are influencing confidence, capital allocation and long-term planning. Through this lens, the session will analyze how economic trends, technological advancement and administrative policies intersect to inform executive decision-making. The presenter will share a forward-looking outlook and outline practical strategies for anticipating volatility and mitigating financial risk.

Smarter Sourcing Conversations: Improving RFP Outcomes With Third Parties

CMP-IS Domain I: Site Management

Facilitators: Jason Cohen, Executive Director, Global Sales, Accor; Sarah Gippin, Market Executive Director, Hello! Destination Management; Rebecca Hochhaus, CMP, Event Planner, Specialist, Vanguard

Join your peers for an engaging discussion focused on how third parties shape venue sourcing and request for proposal (RFP) outcomes. The conversation will explore the strategic role third parties play in decision making, effective ways to engage and align with them and the leadership actions that drive clearer communication, stronger proposals, and better sourcing results.

Your Voice, Your Influence: Communicating With Clarity in Executive Conversations

CMP-IS Domain G: Stakeholder Management

Speaker: Mthabisi Mhlanga, CEO and Founder, Speak Up Consulting

The moments that define your career aren't the easy ones; they're the board meeting where you need to land your idea quickly, the room full of stakeholders where everyone is watching, or the pitch you've been preparing for that suddenly feels very real. In these moments, clarity, confidence and executive presence are essential.

This hands-on session focuses on how leaders can communicate decisively under pressure, especially when time is limited and expectations are high. Participants will explore why nerves are not the true barrier to effective communication and learn a practical, repeatable approach for organizing thoughts, delivering key messages and speaking with confidence when it matters most.

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Crafting Unforgettable Moments: The Art and Science of Event Impact 

CMP-IS Domain H: Event Design

Speaker: EJ Corporan, Director, Growth and Marketing, Ansera

They came, they participated, they left and by Tuesday… they remembered nothing. Most events are executed flawlessly and forgotten just as fast. In this session, we explore why that happens and what separates events that fade from those that truly stick. Blending behavioral science, psychology and real-world event strategy, this session challenges planners to move beyond logistics-first thinking and intentionally design for emotional impact. Participants will learn how memory is actually formed during live experiences, which moments disproportionately shape perception and how early alignment across stakeholders transforms “another successful event” into one that drives meaning, clarity and action. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks they can immediately apply to design events that are not only well-run, but genuinely unforgettable.

Navigating Rising Costs in Today's Events Landscape

CMP-IS Domain E: Financial Management

Facilitators: Tracey Svenningsen, Senior Manager, National Accounts, MC&A; Gian Walker, CMP, Marketing Event Manager, Glatfelter Insurance Group

Escalating costs are reshaping how meetings and events are planned, sourced and delivered across the industry. In this large group discussion, participants will exchange real world experiences and peer insights on budget pressures, pricing models and attendee expectations. Together, the group will share approaches for aligning stakeholders, strengthening sourcing strategies and making data-driven decisions that protect both business outcomes and attendee experience in a high-cost environment.

Negotiating Balanced and Strategic Agreements in Today’s Meetings Environment

CMP-IS Domain G: Stakeholder Management

Speaker: Lisa McArthur, Meeting and Events Planner, Baird

In this expert-led session, participants will gain deeper insight into the forces reshaping today’s contract and negotiation landscape. Through the examination of real-world scenarios and evolving risk considerations, attendees will learn how to approach negotiations with greater strategic intent, confidence and clarity. The discussion will surface practical techniques and best practices designed to balance risk, strengthen partnerships and drive mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties involved.