Discover how a Minnesota lake resort set a new benchmark for inclusive hospitality by investing time and care into training their staff to thoughtfully engage with a visiting group of students that are blind and low vision. Throughout the weekend, employees learned practical strategies for clear communication, safe guidance, and creating an environment where every guest felt confident and welcomed.

This session highlights how meeting the accessibility needs of all guests not only enhances individual experiences but also strengthens a resort’s overall service culture. Attendees will learn how intentional staff preparation can deepen guest trust, elevate hospitality standards, and build a reputation for genuinely inclusive, memorable service.

Master the essential documentation and administrative workflows required for smooth, compliant government travel. Designed for government meeting professionals, this course breaks down the critical paperwork side of official travel—from securing pre-travel authorizations and personal vehicle approvals to assembling an airtight travel folder. Participants will learn how to properly process hotel credit card authorization forms, navigate tricky expense reporting nuances like personally paid parking on hotel folios, and eliminate the common documentation gaps that delay reimbursement. While drawn from practical state-level examples, the core principles align with both state and federal travel regulations (including GSA guidelines), equipping attendees from any jurisdiction with actionable strategies to ensure error-free travel processing.

In a speech at Colombia University, William Buffett offered to pay graduates 50% more for their services if they took a course to improve their communication skills. Ponder that for a moment — the world’s smartest investor will pay you 50% more if you simply take a course to improve your communication skills. And that’s not all. Research from Risely shows that good communication skills result in better morale, greater productivity, and an increase in profits. Additional research from Pollack shows that conflict resolution training reduces stress, improves performance, and reduces attrition. The bottom line: Employees who are trained in communication skills are more productive, engaged, and satisfied with their jobs. In this fun, engaging, science-based session, Jamie Turner will guide people through a step-by-step process designed to help people improve their communication skills. Here’s just some of what you’ll learn:

• The Connection Code: Using Jamie's Connection Code system, attendees will be able to improve communication and persuasion skills
• Emotional Intelligence: How to manage emotions in challenging situations
• Mentoring Others: How to find win-win solutions and create positive outcomes for both mentors and mentees
• Managing Difficult Conversations: How to handle difficult conversations with empathy and professionalism
• Creating a Positive Culture: How to create a positive culture where differences of opinion are seen as opportunities for growth and improvement
• Active Listening: How to understand the underlying issues and emotions involved in a conflict

A session for government meeting professionals covering the paperwork side of official travel: getting a travel authorization approved (including personal vehicle use), assembling a complete travel folder, understanding a hotel credit card authorization form, and correctly reporting travel expenses, with a close look at the parking-on-the-folio-but-paid-personally rule. While the examples loosely draw on Louisiana's state travel regulations, the underlying principles apply across state and federal travel policy, including the GSA, helping attendees from any jurisdiction avoid the documentation gaps that most often delay reimbursement.

Government meeting professionals know that uncertainty comes with the job. Budgets shift. Speakers cancel. Priorities change. Unexpected challenges seem to have a way of showing up at the worst possible moment.

The question isn't whether you'll face uncertainty. It's how you'll respond when you do.

Through unforgettable storytelling and practical strategies, Erin Mark shares the CALM Framework, helping attendees stop wasting energy on what they can't control and start focusing on what they can. Attendees will leave with practical tools to navigate uncertainty, make better decisions under pressure, and move forward when plans unexpectedly change.

The CALM Framework is rooted in one unexpected realization: everything Erin Mark learned about living, she learned from dying.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize what can and cannot be controlled, and how to redirect energy toward what matters most.
• Identify common mistakes people make when facing unexpected change and how to avoid them.
• Apply the CALM Framework to respond more effectively to setbacks, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and maintain forward momentum.

Joint Leadership Meeting May 2026

In today’s professional landscape, true leadership extends far beyond positional authority—it is built on a foundation of trust, integrity, and strong interpersonal connections. Join internationally recognized speaker, relationship coach, and author Dr. Janice Fortman for an insightful session that explores the intersection of leadership dynamics and ethical communication.

Drawing from over 20 years of experience and deep psychological insights, "Dr. Jan" will share practical strategies to help you transform your professional relationships. Attendees will learn how to nurture empathy, foster deep understanding, and cultivate an environment of mutual respect. Whether you are looking to inspire a team or strengthen stakeholder partnerships, this session will equip you with the essential tools to lead with authentic influence and uphold the highest ethical standards.

In this energizing presentation, comedian and TEDx speaker Rory Gardiner shows leaders and teams how to transform everyday stress into sustainable performance and become more comfortable in the uncomfortable while navigating constant change. Blending real-world corporate experience with award-winning comedy and music, Gardiner delivers practical strategies to stay resilient, adaptable under pressure, and embrace uncertainty with confidence. Through humor, storytelling, and actionable insights, this session helps teams bridge generational divides, strengthen collaboration, and build a culture that is more agile, engaged, and ready for whatever comes next.

The session is designed for senior government meeting professionals with an interactive session focusing on strategic decision-making, risk mitigation, and high-level planner–supplier collaboration. Rather than reviewing foundational practices, participants will engage in peer-driven discussions and real-world scenarios that reflect the complexity and accountability of government meetings.

Key Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to: 
• Evaluate complex event management decisions through a strategic and compliance-focused lens 
• Strengthen planner–supplier collaboration at a leadership level 
• Anticipate and mitigate operational, financial, and reputational risk
• Build meaningful peer connections within the SGMP community

Step inside the real world of cybercriminals and discover how government agencies become targets. In this eye-opening, fast-paced session, cybersecurity expert Jeremiah Baker reveals the exact tactics hackers use to break into systems, manipulate employees, and exploit everyday vulnerabilities. Through real attack stories and clear, actionable insights, Jeremiah shows government meeting professionals how to strengthen digital safety, spot red flags, and protect their teams—without fear tactics or technical jargon. Perfect for anyone responsible for safeguarding information, people, or public trust.