2 p.m. Registration Opens

3 p.m. General Session

Chamber 101: Designed for new chamber presidents, key chamber staff and first time conference attendees. Get fast tips right out of the gate that will set you up for success and help you get the most out of your conference.    

Anissa Starnes, IOM, YGM Total Resource Campaigns

3:30 p.m. NEW SPEAKER ADDED: 

Tim Wolfe, Executive Director, Colorado Tourism Office on Tourism as an Economic Driver

4:30 p.m. Transportation to Reception (shuttles will depart every 15 minutes)

5 p.m. Reception & Dine-Arounds Hosted by Visit Aurora

Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, libations and a tour of Stanley Marketplace, compliments of Visit Aurora, one of the top performing Destination Marketing Organizations in the state of Colorado. Hook-up with a small group to continue the fun and enjoy a meal together in one of the Stanley Marketplace’s award-winning eateries. This is a great chance to get to know new chamber pros and reconnect with old friends. Everyone will know someone by the time dessert is served!

6:15 p.m. Transportation shuttles will run on a continuous loop back to the Conference Hotel

Note: Each session is scheduled to be 45 minutes in length with 

15-minutes breaks between sessions 

During your breaks, take a sec to recharge with interactive activities designed by Acey Holmes,  founder of Boredless; and be sure to peruse and bid on Silent Auction items provided by your chamber peers from across the state. 

7:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8 a.m. Welcome & General Session: 

Demographic, Economic & Political Shifts Impacting Colorado

Elizabeth Garner, CO State Demographer

9:30 a.m. General Session Workforce Part I: Resources for Chambers & for Business

Cher Haavind,  Deputy Executive Director, Colorado Dept. of Labor & Employment

Katherine Keegan, Director of the Office of the Future of Work

Stephanie Mufic, Business Innovation and Strategy Unit Manager, Division of Employment and Training 

Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council

10 a.m. General Session: Workforce Part II:  How Chambers Are Taking Action

Mary Jo Coulehan, President & CEO, Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce

Kevin Hougen, President & CEO, Aurora Chamber of Commerce

Corine Waldau, Sr. Dir. of Economic Vitality, Boulder Chamber

Ben Gerig, Colorado Succeeds

11 a.m. General Session: Intentional Membership Growth

Shari Pash, Membership Growth Strategist

12 p.m. Lunch & Keynote:  Taking Care of Your Team, Your Volunteers & Yourself:  A practical guide to setting  boundaries, time-saving tech tips, out-of-the-box ideas for mental health support for chamber CEOs and  staff 

Anissa Starnes, IOM, YGM Total Resource Campaigns

1:15 p.m. Group Activity & Failure Awards

In the spirit of peer-to-peer learning, chamber pros enter this safe space with a sense of humor and humility to share some of our best ideas that worked, as well as a few of our foibles. 

Facilitated by Acey Holmes, Boredless

2:15 p.m. General Session: Don’t be Afraid of the A-Word: Providing Member Value Through Advocacy

Presented by MUSTER: Grassroots Advocacy Software

Monique Thierry, VP, Congressional & Public Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce & 

Loren Furman, CEO, Colorado Chamber  

3:30 p.m. Break Outs—Spend 20 minutes in small groups before rotating through to the next break-out to discuss and learn more on these topics: 

• Non-Dues Revenue, led by Chris Romer, CEO, Vail Valley Partnership
• Chamber Foundations, led by Pam Ridler, CEO, Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce
• Sign-ups for 15-minute one-on-one consultations on Membership Growth & Retention with Shari Pash. 

5 p.m. Reception (on-site at Hyatt Regency Aurora Conference Hotel)

6 p.m. Colorado Chamber Performance Awards Banquet

We're going to put on the dog and celebrate your top achievements. 

This will be your last opportunity to bid on Silent Auction items which will close after dessert.  

 Note: Each session is scheduled to be 45 minutes in length with 

15-minutes breaks between sessions 

8 a.m. General Session: Creating Member Experiences that Impact Member Engagement

Shari Pash, Membership Growth Strategist

9 a.m. General Session:  Telling Your Story: Communications Strategies That Win:

Chamber peers share campaigns that engage members and communicate value

Moderated by Cathy Lucas, APR, Principal, Lucas Narratives 

10 a.m. General Session: The ABCs of Chamber Success: What It Will Take for Chambers to Succeed in 2023 

Dave Kilby, President, Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.)

11 a.m. DEI Workshop: Breaking The Ice: Conversations that Impact Our Workplace 

Michelle Campbell, CEO, Diverse Talent & Founding Executive Director, Colorado REACH

12 p.m. Adjourn