2026 SCHEDULE
The Rising Leaders Summit blends inspiration, education, and connection to help the next generation of industry leaders rise with confidence.
Day 1 begins with check-in and an opening reception—your first chance to meet peers, ease into the Summit environment, and start forming the relationships that carry through the week.
Day 2 delivers a full lineup of keynotes, panels, small-group workshops, hands-on learning, and our popular Dine-Around experience. It’s a fast-paced day designed to spark ideas and build momentum.
Day 3 shifts into customizable learning with two focused tracks. Track 1 dives into industry insights and business-focused content, while Track 2 explores communication, personal branding, and leadership skills you can apply immediately. You’re free to switch between tracks as you go.
Everyone then comes back together for a closing lunch, wrapping up the Summit with shared insights, reflection, and one final opportunity to connect.
| DAY | TIME | SESSION | TRACK | SPEAKERS / NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/23 • Monday | 4:00 – 6:00 PM |
Registration Open
|
All Attendees | Pick up your badge and materials |
| 2/23 • Monday | 7:00 – 9:00 PM |
Opening Reception
Kickoff the Summit with food, drinks, and first connections.
|
All Attendees | Hosted networking reception |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 7:30 – 9:00 AM |
Sunrise Social: Breakfast, Registration, Leadership Lab
|
All Attendees | Grab breakfast, check in, and connect before sessions begin |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 9:00 – 9:10 AM |
Welcome
|
General Session | Event welcome and overview |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 9:10 – 10:00 AM |
The Energy Instinct: Tap Into Your Natural Power for Transformative Leadership
|
General Session |
Opening Keynote: Erin King
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 10:00 – 10:45 AM |
Industry Legends Panel
|
General Session |
Speaker: Neil McMullin
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 10:45 – 11:15 AM |
Break
|
All Attendees | Refreshments and networking |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 11:15 – 12:00 PM |
The People Side of Events: Emotional Intelligence, Communication, and Buy In
|
General Session |
Speaker: Gabriella Robuccio
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 12:00 – 12:30 PM |
Leadership Through Accountability
|
General Session |
Speaker: Rich Curran
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 12:30 – 1:30 PM |
Lunch
|
All Attendees | Buffet lunch and networking |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 1:30 – 2:15 PM |
Build Confidence as a Negotiator
|
General Session |
Speaker: Therese Jardine
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 2:15 – 2:45 PM |
Capitol Impact: Making Advocacy Part of Your Leadership Journey
|
General Session |
Speaker: Tommy Goodwin
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 2:45 – 3:30 PM |
Your Career, Your Way: How Industry Leaders Built Their Roadmaps
|
General Session |
Panel: Traci Boyer, Russ Callahan, Laure Chachere, Bob Ryley
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 3:30 – 4:30 PM |
Executive Speed Dating
|
Networking | Rapid-fire conversations with industry executives |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 3:30 – 5:00 PM |
Leadership Lab: Soft Skills Workshops
Hands-on workshop focused on core leadership and soft skills
|
Workshop | Interactive small-group format |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 4:30 – 5:00 PM |
Convention Center Tour
|
Experiential |
Guided Tour of the Convention Center
|
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 5:30 – 8:00 PM |
Dine-Around Networking
|
Networking | Dine around Houston with small groups of Rising Leaders |
| 2/24 • Tuesday | 8:00 PM |
Sip & Socialize
|
Networking | Unstructured time to keep the conversations going |
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 7:30 – 8:30 AM |
Sunrise Social: Breakfast, Registration, Headshots
|
All Attendees | Breakfast plus professional headshots |
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 8:30 – 9:15 AM |
Leadership Lab: A Fireside Chat on Leadership Growth
|
Track 1 |
Speakers: Katherine O'Hare (Baize), Kevin Small
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 8:30 – 9:15 AM |
The Communication Spark Plug: How to Connect, Influence, and Have Fun Doing It
|
Track 2 |
Speaker: Stephan Cote
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 9:15 – 9:20 AM |
Select your track and head to your next session
|
All Attendees | Move between tracks and rooms |
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 9:20 – 10:00 AM |
The Power of Successful Engagements
|
Track 1 |
Speaker: Bob Caldwell
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 9:20 – 10:00 AM |
Build Your Brand, Build Your Future: How Rising Stars Get Seen and Sought After
|
Track 2 |
Speaker: Andrea Christopherson
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 10:00 – 10:30 AM |
Break
|
All Attendees | Refreshments and networking |
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 10:30 – 11:10 AM |
What Matters Most: Insights From Venues, Organizers, and Contractors
|
Track 1 |
Panel: Lori Jenks, Anthony Lopez
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 10:30 – 11:10 AM |
AI You Can Use Tomorrow: 10 Tasks That Save Hours From Estimate to Show Floor
|
Track 2 |
Speaker: Marc Ghafoori
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 11:15 – 11:35 AM |
Leveraging CEIR Research: Insights for Growth & Success
|
Track 1 |
Speaker: Natali Tsalikis
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 11:15 – 11:35 AM |
The AI Revolution in Customer Service
|
Track 2 |
Speaker: Tom Himmer
|
| 2/25 • Wednesday | 12:00 – 12:45 PM |
Unshakeable Resilience
Closing Lunch
|
All Attendees |
Speaker: Rory Gardiner
Wrap-up, reflections, and final networking
|
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