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Speakers and Sessions
The 2026 National Education Conference (NEC) will take place June 9-11, 2025 at the Colonial Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia. Session information for our 2026 NEC will be available in November 2025.
Submit your proposal for an education session at the NEC! Proposals are due by November 21, 2025 at 5pm EST.
Keynote Sessions
- Industry Keynote - Wednesday, June 10, 2026 @ 8:00 am
- State of the Industry Panel - Thursday, June 11, 2026 @ 12:30 pm
Learning Labs
Rooted Events: Collaborating with Local Community & CVBs for Meaningful Impact @ The Bray School
(25 people max)
0.5 mile walk from hotel
The Williamsburg Bray School was one of the earliest institutions dedicated to Black education in North America. From 1760 to 1774, teacher Ann Wager likely taught hundreds of students between the ages of three and 10. Learn how the past helps us plan better events for the future.
Core Competency: SGMP Cares
Rooted Events: Collaborating with Local Community & CVBs for Meaningful Impact @ First Baptist Church
(25 people max)
1.0 mile walk from hotel
The First Baptist Church of Williamsburg was organized in 1776, with a quest by a group of courageous slaves and free blacks who wanted to worship God in their own way. First led by Rev. Moses, a free black itinerant preacher, they built a brush arbor* at Green Spring Plantation, a few miles from town, to gather secretly in song and prayer. Understand how the local community shapes today’s events.
Core Competency: SGMP Cares
Sustainable Infrastructure & Local Suppliers: Building Resilient Event Operations with Regional Partners
(15 people max)
Shuttle to the Sports Center provided; walking tour of facility; closed-toed shoes required; hard hats provided, if needed
Discover how to identify reliable local vendors, integrate sustainability into your event operations, and build strong contingency and quality-assurance plans. This session highlights how to support regional suppliers while managing risk, maintaining quality, and boosting the local economy.
Core Competency: Facilities and Services
Curating Connections: Planning Government Meetings in Unconventional Spaces
(25 people max)
1.0 mile walk from hotel
Join us at the stunning Muscarelle Museum of Art for a hands-on Learning Lab where we explore how to design and execute government meetings in nontraditional venues. In this session, you’ll learn how to leverage the unique character, aesthetics, and spatial dynamics of an art museum to create a memorable event that serves both mission and logistics. We’ll examine best practices for site selection, programming, contract negotiation, risk management, and attendee experience.
Core Competency: Logistics
Historic Jurisdiction & Modern Protocol: Managing Permits, Compliance, & Stakeholder Relations in Heritage Settings
(25 people max)
0.5 – 1.0 mile walk from the hotel
Learn how to successfully plan events in historically significant spaces. This session covers required local, state, and federal permits; best practices for coordinating with preservation boards, city officials, and community groups; and strategies for balancing logistics, accessibility, and safety with the protection of heritage sites.
Core Competency: Facilities & Services
Breakout Sessions
SGMP 2026 National Education Conference will feature twenty-one (21) breakout sessions on Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11.
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