
Mark your calendars and save the date!
DFWAE's Association Day 2025 is set for April 14th at the Sheraton Downtown Fort Worth. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Keynote speaker Meg Poag, CEO and Founder of Mission Squared, is a visionary and proven leader known for driving fast-paced growth in multiple companies. Meg is passionate about empowering other leaders to drive change, achieve better results, and tackle the most insidious dysfunctions facing teams.
New this year for *non-members, your registration includes a year of DFWAE membership. Be sure to join us for this incredible day of learning and networking.
Registration Fees: Early Bird rates $159 for members and $279 for non-members (early bird prices are valid through Feb. 14, 2025.) Regular registration rates ($169 for members) and $289 for non-members. (Rates effective 02/15/2025.) **New this year for *non-members, your registration includes a year of DFWAE membership
Sponsor opportunities can be found here!
Ready to sponsor? Complete the A-Day Sponsorship Commitment form here.
We look forward to seeing you at DFWAE's premier event for association professionals in North Texas!

FEATURING OUR 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Leveraging Neuroscience and Emotional Intelligence to Hack Adversity

MEG POAG CEO and Founder of Mission Squared Meg is a best-selling author, renowned speaker, and skilled facilitator with a distinguished track record in leadership transformation. As the architect behind the M2 Leadership Framework, she harnesses the power of neuroscience and behavioral psychology to revolutionize the way leaders think and act. Meg's leadership prowess is further exemplified by her tenure as a CEO, where she spearheaded the growth of a company from a modest team of 2 to an impressive 95-strong workforce. Her firm, Mission Squared, specializes in fast, effective transformation of dysfunction and disengagement with its client companies and leaders.
Speaker Sessions:
DFWAE Association Day 2025: Mark your calendars and save the date! The Dallas-Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE) is excited to announce that Association Day 2025 will take place on April 14, 2025, at the Sheraton Downtown Fort Worth.
Thank you for your submissions, the submission portal is now closed. Selected speakers will be notified by February 28, 2025.
Join us for a day of learning, networking, and professional growth. We look forward to your contributions to make Association Day 2025 a success!
Why Attend?
Connect with association leaders dedicated to advancing their professional development and touching thousands of collective association members by utilizing your products and showcasing your destinations!
DFWAE attendees come seeking professional development, as well as, new opportunities to extend and strengthen the reach and power of association connections.
DFWAE provides a unique opportunity for conference sponsors and partners to enhance their brand recognition, engage with attendees about their services and provide collateral for continued post-conference engagement.
Let’s grow professionally and connect with DFWAE colleagues!
Hotel Booking:
Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel for 175.00 USD - Last Day to Book : March 30, 2025
Book your group rate for DFWAE Association Day
Monday, April 14, 2025
Sheraton Downtown Fort Worth, 1701 Commerce Street, Fort Worth 76102
Schedule of Events
8:00am - 8:45am Networking Breakfast
8:45am - 9:45am Welcome / Keynote
9:45am - 10:15am Exhibit Hall/Silent Auction
9:45am - 10:15am DFWAEngage LIVE
10:15am - 11:15am Education Breakouts
11:15am - 11:45am Exhibit Hall/Silent Auction
11:15am - 11:45am DFWAEngage LIVE
11:45am - 12:45pm Awards Luncheon
1:00pm - 2:00pm Education Breakouts
2:00pm - 2:30pm Exhibit Hall/Silent Auction
2:30pm - 3:15pm Table Topics
3:15pm - 4:00pm Happy Hour Education Panel Session
Education Sessions:
10:15 am - 11:15 am Lights, Camera, Financial Action: Navigating Financial Reporting Speakers: Amanda Feil, CAE, Director of Operations, enSYNC Josh Kozinski, CiSE, enSYNC Take a cinematic journey that blends financial reporting tips with the timeless charm of classic movies. This session uses iconic films as thematic backdrops to explore key financial concepts, from integrity in reporting to decoding complex statements. Participants will gain practical insights and strategies in an engaging and entertaining way. Track: Association Operations/Innovation
10:15 am - 11:15 am Why Nonprofit Boards are Failing Us and How to Fix Them Speaker: TD Smyers, Captain, US Navy (ret), CEO, BoardBuild The method by which we populate our nonprofit boards makes it difficult or impossible to grow diverse, strong governance leadership. A holistic way to reach a candidate base beyond the spheres of influence of current staff and board members is required to break the cycle. Track: CEO/Executive/Senior Management
10:15 am - 11:15 am Unleashing the Power of E-Learning for Member Engagement Corporate Development Speaker: Kellie Tinnin, MA, Owner and President, Kellie Tinnin & Associates, LLC Seeking strategies to improve member benefits and boost your association's non-dues revenue? Discover the potential of self-paced eLearning courses to generate passive income for associations, while simultaneously boosting member engagement and fostering corporate development. Leave this session armed with powerful strategies to elevate member engagement through your e-learning offerings igniting praise while diversifying income streams. Track: Education/Events
10:15 am - 11:15 am Beyond the Business Card: Modern Networking Tips for Introverts and Extroverts Speakers: Cathey Wise, CAE Asha Desai, CAE Networking is crucial for our careers yet mastering it can be challenging. We've got you covered! Join us as we share invaluable tips for both introverts and extroverts and engage in real-life networking. Whether you're looking to connect with members, sponsors, leaders or other association professionals, you'll walk away with practical strategies that you can implement immediately. Track: Marketing/Communications
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Life After Launch Speaker: Rebecca Achurch, PgMP, PMP, CSM, CAE, Founder and CEO, Achurch Consulting Go-live of your new AMS is just the beginning. To keep the momentum going and ensure your AMS is working for you, you need continuous engagement. Often, organizations rush past go-live, moving quickly to the "next thing" without exploring all the capabilities of their new AMS. We'll show you how to plan for success in the "life after launch" phase. We'll share strategies to drive long-term adoption, boost ROI, and ensure that your AMS continues to support your mission for years to come. Track: Association Operations/Innovation
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Bridging the Gap: Mastering the Role of a Senior Leader Speaker:Greta Zeimetz, CAE, SHRM-SCP, American Mensa Stepping into the role of a senior leader is both a challenge and an opportunity to make a lasting impact. This session offers a practical roadmap for individuals aspiring to excel in unique leadership positions. Drawing on firsthand experience, Dr. Greta Zeimetz will explore three key phases of the senior leader journey: preparation, execution, and career development. Track: CEO/Executive/Senior Management
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm The Ultimate Assist: Working with CVBs/DMOs from Site Selection to Closing Survey Speakers: Lisa Bethea, CTA, CTIS, Director of Destination Services, Visit Frisco Lacy Lange, CMP, Visit Fort Worth Paola Bowman, CMP, CMM, Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau Heather Walker, CMP, Vice President of Client Services, Visit Dallas Discover the untapped potential of collaborating with your local Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) or Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). This panel discussion will delve into the invaluable resources and support these organizations offer, empowering you to:-Streamline site selection and logistics-Enhance attendee experience through destination expertise and services-Access cost-saving benefits and exclusive deals. Track: Education/Events
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm You're Invited to Play the Feud! Speaker: Scott Robertson, IOM, Director of Strategic Accounts, GrowthZone Get ready to strategize and shout out your answers because GrowthZone's session is inspired by the iconic TV show Family Feud. Put your thinking caps on as we dive into industry trends, member insights, non-dues revenue, and association dynamics. In addition, Scott Robertson, IOM, will ask some of the most popular survey questions from the hit game show "Family Feud" as contestants face off to give the top answers. Track: Marketing/Communications

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