2026 ASAE Annual Convention
LIVE in Rogers, Arkansas

July 13–14, 2026
Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas Hotel, Spa & Convention Center
Music. Connections. Learning. Experiences.

ASAE LIVE 2026 is SOLD OUT!
ASAE LIVE 2026 is officially sold out! Thank you for making this year's convention such a success before the doors even open. We can't wait to welcome everyone to Rogers for an incredible LIVE experience. 
If you'd like to be added to a waitlist in the event of a cancellation, please contact Leigh.

GUEST LIST LINEUP TO DATE!

Schedule is subject to change.
Check back often for updates as we prepare for a sold-out ASAE LIVE experience!

Sessions, lunch and banquet will be held in the Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas ballroom on the lobby level

Business casual or polished casual attire is appropriate for educational sessions. For the LIVE Welcome Reception, most attendees will opt for polished casual. Comfortable casual attire is perfect for the off-site experiences (closed-toe shoes are required for K1 Speed). The Tuesday evening Awards Banquet is semi-formal/cocktail attire.

SUNDAY, JULY 12

ASAE Board Dinner
Hosted by Hospitality America
Hotel Avail – Rogers, Arkansas
Board members will gather for an evening of conversation, networking, and dinner at one of Rogers’ newest boutique properties.

MONDAY, JULY 13

1:00 PM
ASAE Board Meeting
Trammel Boardroom - 1st Floor

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Convention Registration 
Pinnacle Ballroom Registration
Pick up materials, reconnect with colleagues, and get settled in before the convention officially kicks off.

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM 
Your Members Don't Need Another Email. They Need Each Other
Pinnacle Ballroom 5 - 8 
Kick off ASAE LIVE with a fun and engaging session with Lydia Fletcher. Lydia will share her passion for community building and explore how organizations can create meaningful connections that bring people together.  

Lydia Fletcher is a public relations strategist helping organizations communicate with clarity during periods of growth, change, and opportunity. As founder of Fletcher Media Consulting, she partners with businesses, nonprofits, associations, and community organizations to develop messaging that strengthens engagement, builds trust, and supports organizational goals.

Before launching Fletcher Media Consulting in 2024, Lydia spent more than eight years as a journalist covering business, economic development, and regional growth across the South and Midwest. Her reporting has appeared in POLITICO, Tulsa World, Hill Magazine, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, most recently at the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, where she specialized in stories that helped audiences understand complex issues and the forces shaping their communities.

Today, Lydia brings that same audience-first approach to strategic communications, helping organizations tell their stories more effectively, connect with stakeholders, and communicate their value with confidence. Her work spans media relations, content strategy, thought leadership, and messaging development, with a focus on making complex ideas accessible and actionable.

5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Executive Members: Tour of Hotel Vin
Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of Northwest Arkansas’ newest hospitality projects with guided tours and insider updates.
Limited attendance - additional details coming soon!

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
LIVE Welcome Reception
Ruth’s Chris Steak House Rogers
Join us at the newest Ruth’s Chris location - and the largest Ruth’s Chris Steak House in the world - for an evening of networking, food, drinks, and reconnecting with association colleagues and partners from across the state.

It's just an easy 5-minute walk from the hotel to the reception, and Team Visit Rogers will be on hand to lead us. You're also welcome to drive if you prefer. Parking is available, but walking will likely be the easiest option.

Post-Reception Hospitality Area
Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas
Sponsored by Visit Tunica

TUESDAY, JULY 14

8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Registration Open

6:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Embassy Suites Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy breakfast at your leisure in the Embassy Suites atrium, then make your way to the Rockstar Coffee Bar before the morning's opening session. A reserved seating area will be available for ASAE attendees. Open from 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM.

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Rockstar Coffee Bar
Pinnacle Ballroom Hallway
Create your perfect morning hit with specialty liqueurs, flavored syrups, whipped cream, and all the extras before taking your seat for the day's first headliner.
Sponsored by Discover Fort Smith and Fort Smith Convention Center

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
LIVE from the Front Row: Executive Presence in Action
Pinnacle Ballroom 5 - 8 
Whether you're leading a staff team, presenting to a board, managing volunteers, or navigating challenging conversations, executive presence can influence how your message is received and your leadership is perceived. Through discussion and interactive elements, Christie Martin will help us explore the key elements of executive presence and help you strengthen your ability to communicate with clarity, confidence, and credibility. 

11:00 AM
Networking Break
Pinnacle Ballroom Hallway

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
LIVE Leadership: Building Organizations People Want to Belong To
Pinnacle Ballroom 5 - 8 
Association leaders are being asked to do more than manage programs, meetings and membership. They are being asked to create organizations that feel alive — relevant, connected, adaptive and deeply meaningful to the people they serve. In this session, Blake Woolsey will explore how intentional leadership can help associations strengthen engagement, develop volunteer leaders, navigate change and build organizations that continue to matter in a fast-moving world. Through practical insights, reflective questions and real-world examples, participants will leave with a renewed sense of purpose and a framework for helping their organizations not just operate but be alive.

Blake Warren Woolsey serves as Chief Strategy and Communications Officer at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, where she leads strategic planning, national visibility and partnership development during the college's centennial year.

Blake's career in public relations and strategic communications spans more than two decades. She began her professional journey at the UA's College of Business Administration, where she contributed to securing a $50 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation — the largest gift ever made to an American business school at the time. She later served as Executive Vice President at Mitchell Communications Group, leading its Center for Business, Training, and Leadership Excellence, before founding Blake Communications Inc. in 2018. She was the Chief Communications and Development Officer at Heartland Forward before transitioning into her new role at the University in January.

A recognized leader in the region, Blake was named to the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's inaugural Forty Under 40 class and has served as the first chairwoman of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport board, where she continues to serve as a representative of Fayetteville. She is a past president of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas, which was founded during her presidency, and a recipient of the Sarah Jessie Young Award from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Circle of Life Foundation Board.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Pinnacle Ballroom 1 - 4
Lunch

1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
LIVE: Creating Something Worth Showing Up For
Pinnacle Ballroom 5 - 8 
Andrea Allen of Onyx Coffee Lab shares insights on building community, creating meaningful experiences, and cultivating the kind of connection that keeps people coming back.

2:30 PM – 5:00 PM
LIVE Local Experiences
Hosted by Destination Rogers

Attendees can select from two uniquely Rogers experiences.  Shuttles will leave from the Embassy Suites at 2:30 PM and from the offsites at 5:00 PM.  If you chose to drive, please let us know.  

Option 1: K1 Speed
Experience high-speed indoor electric kart racing and team competition at one of Rogers’ newest entertainment destinations.
Limited to 25 attendees.  Sign up on site beginning at 8AM on Tuesday, July 14th.

Option 2: Honeycomb Kitchen Shop
Enjoy a curated culinary and local flavor experience featuring one of Northwest Arkansas’ favorite gathering spots.
Limited to 25 attendees.  Sign up on site beginning at 8AM on Tuesday, July 14th.

6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Evening Reception
Pinnacle Ballroom 5 - 8 
Sponsored by Visit Bentonville

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
ASAE Awards & Installation Banquet
Pinnacle Ballroom Hallway
Celebrate the accomplishments of Arkansas association professionals as we recognize award winners and install the 2026–2027 ASAE Board of Directors.
Sponsored by Visit Hot Springs and Oaklawn Racing Casino Hotel

Post-Celebration Hospitality Area
Sponsored by Visit Tunica

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

Embassy Suites Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy one final morning of networking and conversation before departing Northwest Arkansas.  Open from 6:30 AM - 9:00 AM.