2023 Conference Slated for February 13-15

Whitney Driver-McEvoy

Plans are well underway for the association’s 2023 conference in Sacramento, CA.

“You shared; we listened. The W.A.C.E. 2023 Conference Program Committee is excited to bring some creative features and changes to the 2023 Annual Conference in Sacramento on February 13–15, said Conference Chair Whitney Diver-McEvoy, president/CEO of the Yountville (CA) Chamber. “Save the date on your calendars, so you won’t miss the best chamber professional development and networking event in the West!”

More Breakout Sessions

Among the many changes will be offering more breakout sessions. Plans are to have 30 breakouts and to group them into five tracks (titles below may change):

• The track on Chamber Programs will have breakouts on economic development, business retention and expansion, workforce development, government affairs, political action and talent pipeline management.

• The Membership and Finances track is slated to have sessions on sponsorship ideas, chamber foundations, rethinking fundraising, monetizing workforce development, membership sales and membership on-boarding.

• The Issues track is scheduled to include: diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), child care, housing, leading on difficult community issues, and positive work culture.

• The track on Chamber Development will cover strategic planning, changing from a 3P to a 3C chamber, ambassador programs, maximizing communications and marketing, and young professionals.

• The Wild Card track is a catch-all category and will include W.A.C.E. tips and resources, survival tips for new CEOs, a CEO-only breakout, the path to being a CEO, and an “ask me anything” session.

General Session Speakers

Another component will be the reduction of our number of general session speakers to three. Currently confirmed are author/leadership coach Justin Patton and economist Chris Thornberg.

Based on feedback from the 2022 attendees, plans do, however, include doing a “Fireside Chat” interview and closing the conference with the very popular “Ted Talk” presentations from W.A.C.E. members.

The Sacramento conference, which originally was supposed to happen in 2021, has a few additional tweaks. It will take place Monday–Wednesday instead of the normal Wednesday–Friday pattern.

Sunday, February 12 just happens to be Super Bowl Sunday. For those who come in early that day, a Super Bowl Party is on the agenda — details are still being worked out.

And, with February 14 being Valentine’s Day, the Committee is planning a group dinner that evening with the Foundation’s auction and possibly including entertainment.

Save the dates — February 13–15 in Sacramento. Registration information should be available in November.