Spring Conference - Association Executives of North Carolina

2026 AENC SPRING CONFERENCE

March 12-13, 2026
Hilton Durham Near Duke University | Durham, NC

REGISTRATION IS SOLD OUT! EMAIL AENC TEAM FOR WAITLIST.

AENC MOBILE APP IS TEMPORARILTY DOWN.***
Click below for items you might be looking for from KBYG.

LIVE Spring Conference Attendee Directory (You must log-in to view)

Beverages and Bites to expect during the event.

SNAPSIGHT INSIGHTS: AENC Conference Page | Snapsight

Click above to access LIVE insights during all General Sessions of the conference. You'll see options for closed captioning, language translation, cloud ideas, AI summaries, etc.

Schedule

Thursday

Executive Edge Workshop: Building High-Performing Boards and Leaders for Tomorrow (For Association Executives Only)
Location: Trustees I &II
Sponsored by: Pinehurst Resort

10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Closed Door Workshop with breaks and lunch that match the general conference schedule below.

General Conference Schedule:
All events are in University Ballroom unless noted.

10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.: Pre-Con Sessions (choose 1):

- AENC FUEL Young Professionals, Sponsored by Visit Raleigh: “Peer Me Out”
  - Location: Trinity Ballroom A
- Meeting Planners Roundtable, Sponsored by Visit Raleigh - Table Talk: Speed Mentoring for Meeting Planners
  - Location: Trinity Ballroom C
- LinkedIn Deep Dive: Networking with LinkedIn™: Building a Profile and Relationships That Lead to Business (+$25)
  - Location: Trinity Ballroom D

12:00 P.M. - 1:00 P.M. Registration, Light Lunch, Networking with Exhibitors

1:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M. General Session 1: Making it Without Losing It: The new rules for innovation— and motivation— that lasts

2:15 P.M. – 2:45 P.M. Networking Break with Exhibitors

2:45 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. General Session 2: NC Chamber “Leading Through Growth” & MyFutureNC “What’s New and What’s Next…”

3:45 P.M. – 4:15 P.M. Networking Break with Exhibitors

4:15 P.M. – 5:15 P.M. General Session 3: Lightning Hour: Three Voices in One Content-Rich Hour

5:15 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. Networking Social - Location: Empire Ballroom

Friday (Wear Jeans Day!)

8:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M. Early Bird Session: “Caregiving Can Make Life Crazy!”

9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Breakfast with Exhibitors

10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. General Session 4: “Don't Say the "S" Word”

11:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Networking Break with Exhibitors

11:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Lunch Buffet Service

12:00 P.M. - 1:15 P.M. AENC President Updates, Lunch + Meeting Planner Power Panel

Public Speaking R.O.P.E.S. Bootcamp

Thursday 1 P.M. - 5:15 P.M.

6.5 CEUs when combined with Friday's education sessions.

Public Speaking is the number ONE fear based on comprehensive surveys internationally. Yet much of business and even some life situations hinge on the ability to address a group comfortably in order to get your point across to any audience.

The Public Speaking R.O.P.E.S. are a codified set of rules and practical exercises to help you

Become comfortable on stage
Learn how to "own the room"
Project in a professional and poised manner
Engage your audience

Mitch Savoie Hill, CPC

CEO, Coach, Speaker, Author
SavHill Consulting LLC

Education

CEUs for CAE - pending approval for 6-8 CEUs

CEUs for CMP - Approved for 6 - 8 CEUs

Find out more about the Moderator: Lowell Aplebaum, FASAE, CAE, IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator, CEO, Vista Cova

General Conference - Thursday Pre-Con Sessions:

(Choose 1 of 3)

LinkedIn Deep Dive: Networking with LinkedIn™: Building a Profile and Relationships That Lead to Business (+$25)

This two-hour in-depth course provides the solutions for creating an All-Star profile on LinkedIn as well as learning to build lasting relationships that can forever change the way you do business.

LinkedIn Trainer & Coach:

Debra Mathias, Connect to Clients

AENC FUEL Young Professionals Sponsored by Visit Raleigh: "Peer Me Out"
(Must be under 40 to participate. Limited to 20.)

- The next generation of our “Helping Hands” model, with a fresh new vibe!
- Peer problem-solving lab and solutions forum in a highly collaborative format.
- Straight talk and unfiltered discussion, with all participants signing an NDA to ensure a true closed-door session.

Moderator: Kathryn Short, CMP, Visit Raleigh

Meeting Planner Roundtable Sponsored by Visit Raleigh: Table Talk: Speed Mentoring for Meeting Planners

(Must be an association, corporate, independent, education, sports, military, social, religious, or government planner to attend)

Grab a seat and get ready for fast, fun, and insightful chats! In this round table session, next-generation planners will spend a few minutes with experienced meeting professionals to ask anything—big or small—about the world of events. Walk away with practical advice, new connections, and maybe even a mentor who’ll stick with you long after the conference.

Mentor Table Leads to be chosen closer to event date.

(Are you a seasoned Meeting Planner and would like to be a Mentor for this session, reach out to madi@aencnet.org for details!)

General Sessions:

General Session 1 - Making it Without Losing It: The new rules for innovation— and motivation— that lasts

Let’s face it, there’s always a “what’s next?” Your ability to individually and collectively reach that next big milestone — without burning out– has to do with the answer to the following question:

How do we create motivation that lasts when we’re never done?

It turns out — While traditional leadership approaches focus on external rewards, the latest science shows us that the most flourishing contributors have a personal, internal connection to their work. That’s right; people with high intrinsic motivation experience lower rates of disengagement, higher levels of innovation and more fulfillment than those focused primarily on external factors.

Forbes Top Rated keynote speaker, Jess Ekstrom, uses modern research and her experiences starting two multi-million-dollar businesses to guide audiences to deeper engagement, fulfillment and lasting motivation in their role.

If you’re looking to infuse individuals at any level of your organization with unshakeable motivation through gripping storytelling and entertainment, it’s here.

Audience Takeaways:

How to wire yourself and your teams to become intrinsically motivated instead of externally validated
How intrinsic motivation leads to increased problem solving and fulfillment
The three psychological needs that inspire lasting motivation
Simple secrets to more powerfully create and innovate everyday
Three questions to lead yourself and others with a greater purpose in mind

Speaker:

Jess Ekstrom, Mic Drop Workshop®

General Session 2 – NC Chamber “Leading Through Growth” & MyFutureNC “What’s New and What’s Next…”

- 1^st 30 Minutes: NC Chamber - Leading Through Growth: A Business-Driven View of North Carolina’s Economic Future

This statewide, data-driven perspective on North Carolina’s economic and business climate will cover what’s working, what’s at risk, and where opportunity is growing. Drawing on the NC Chamber’s top priorities around workforce, infrastructure, and competitiveness, Archie will outline how business-led solutions are shaping the state’s next phase of economic growth.Meredith Archie, NC Chamber

- 2^nd 30 Minutes: MyFutureNC - What’s New—and What’s Next—for Education and Opportunity in North Carolina

In this session, Cecilia will share the latest updates from myFutureNC and what they mean for North Carolina’s residents, employers, and communities. She’ll highlight progress toward the goal of 2 million adults with a high-quality credential or degree by 2030 and discuss how associations can play a meaningful role in expanding opportunity and strengthening the state’s workforce. Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of where the state is headed—and how AENC members can help move the needle.

Cecilia Holden, MyFutureNC

General Session 3 – Lightning Hour: Three Voices in One Content-Rich Hour
Join us for a fast-paced Lightning Hour Session featuring three AENC member speakers, each delivering a dynamic and condensed keynote in 15 minutes. In this high-energy session, attendees will get excellent content, a taste of each speaker’s style, substance, and signature takeaways, all in quick, impactful bursts. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas, actionable insights you can use right away, and a clearer sense of which speaker might be the perfect fit for your upcoming event. It’s the ultimate opportunity to discover new talent, compare approaches, and get inspired in a short amount of time!

Shortened Keynotes (In Stage Order):
Ignored Stress, Real Consequences
Rita Garnto, Simple Self Care by Rita

CFCF - Four Pillars to Next Level Achievement
Anthony DeNino, CORe - Creating Our Reality, LLC

Where Gifts Become Culture
Deanna Jones, Deanna Jones Now

Early Bird Session – “Caregiving Can Make Life Crazy!”

Caregiving for family or friends, while a wonderfully caring and giving experience, can also be an extraordinarily stressful effort. Caregiving Can Make Life Crazy! offers practical suggestions and strategies for dealing with the experience in positive ways.

Speaker:
Mike Collins, The Perfect Workday Company

General Session 4 – Don't Say the "S" Word

What if “sales” wasn’t a dirty word, but a way to serve, connect, and create real value? In this session, participants learn how to influence with authenticity, build meaningful relationships, and confidently invite commitment without feeling pushy or transactional. They’ll leave with practical strategies to grow engagement and membership in a way that feels aligned, human, and effective.

Speaker:

Andora Hinton, Willow North Growth Partners

General Session 5 – Meeting Planner Power Panel
The Meeting Planner Power Panel brings seasoned meeting planners together for an honest, engaging closing session on the decisions, tradeoffs, and teamwork that shape successful meetings. From behind-the-scenes realities and rising costs to AI, alignment, and a few “you can’t make this up” stories, this energetic panel of planners offers real insight, practical takeaways, and a fresh perspective for planners, association executives, hotel partners, CVBs, and suppliers alike. Stay to the end for candid stories, quick-hit lessons, and ideas you’ll carry into your next event.