Where Leaders Build Community + Advance Their Associations
Executive Edge is not just a conference. It’s where you grow with your peers, so you can grow your organization.
This is where big ideas meet real-world strategy, and where bold, forward-thinking leaders gather to connect, challenge each other, and evolve. You’ll step out of the noise and into a space designed exclusively for CEO's, C-suite executives and senior leaders —where the conversations go deeper, the learning is more relevant, and the connections are lasting.
Leadership can be lonely—and Executive Edge changes that.
Join a community of forward-thinking leaders committed to shaping what’s next—for their organizations, their teams, and the industry.
AGENDA
Schedule updates in process
12:00 - 2:30pm | Pre-Function
Registration Opens
Registration and badge pickup will be available beginning at noon, ahead of the optional Pre-Conference Deep Dive Sessions from 12:30 – 2:30 PM.
Journals and pens sponsored by
Halo Branded Solutions
Badges sponsored by
Results at Hand
12:30 - 4:00pm | Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Optional Pre-Conference Activities
Arrive Sunday and make the most of it. Whether you want to dig into a focused working session before the conference begins or let the Mississippi River bluffs do the work, there's a good way to spend the day.
Pre-Conference Deep Dives | 12:30 – 4:00 PM
Two back-to-back sessions for leaders who want to hit the ground running.
Pre-conference registration includes both sessions.
12:30 – 2:00 PM | The Art + Science of Facilitation
Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Aaron Wolowiec, FASAE, CAE, CMP Fellow, Founder & President, Event Garde
The highest-stakes conversations in your organization don't fail because of bad strategy. They fail because no one designed the room. The board retreat that circled the same issues. The planning session that built consensus in the moment and resistance six months later. The difficult conversation that never got to the real thing.
Skilled facilitation is what separates those moments from ones that actually move your organization forward. And for most CEOs, it's the last thing on the list until it's the only thing that matters.
Aaron Wolowiec and Lowell Applebaum explore what great facilitation demands at the executive level, how to recognize when you need it, and how to decide whether to lead it or get out of the way.
2:30 – 4:00 PM | What's your Ice Cream Machine? Identifying & Fixing the 'Always Broken' Clogs in Your Association
Russ Webb, CAE, Executive Director, Bay Area Apartment Association
Your members are frustrated. Your staff is exhausted. And somewhere in your organization, there’s a broken machine everyone has quietly accepted as just… the way things are.
What’s Your Ice Cream Machine? is a hands-on leadership session that helps association executives identify the “always broken” clogs in their organizations — and fix them without a new budget, a new platform, or a board vote.
Through real case studies, a Shark Tank-style workshop, and a 30-day action plan, you’ll leave with a specific fix, a pitch that works, and a colleague to hold you accountable.
No consultants. No complexity. Just a wrench and the willingness to use it.
Or Set Your Own Pace & Explore the Area
This part of Minnesota does not ask much of you. Highway 61 hugs the river the whole way down, the bluffs are peak color in late September, and Treasure Island sits right on the Mississippi. Arrive early and let the setting work.
Recharge Onsite at Treasure Island
Wave Spa offers massages, facials, nail services, and a full salon. Book in advance — Sunday appointments go fast. Reserve at ticasino.com or call 1-888-867-7829. Plus, don't miss the lagoon!
Get Out on the Course
Mount Frontenac Golf Course — 18 holes carved into the bluffs. Book at mountfrontenac.com or call 1-800-488-5826. Mississippi National Golf Links — 36 holes in Red Wing. Book at golfredwing.com or call 651-388-1874.
Make the Drive Part of It
Cannon River Winery is a great spot for a wine tasting or tour! Red Wing — riverfront walk, historic downtown, and Hanisch Bakery and Coffee Shop for something worth the detour.
5:00 - 5:30pm | Treasure Island Resort & Casino | Tado Steakhouse
Sync Social
Invite-only happy hour for CEO Sync and SyncUp participants.
A chance to connect with your cohort, continue the conversation, and spend a little time with people who are navigating similar challenges. Drinks, good conversation, and a space that’s just for this group
Hosted by: Associations North Mission Partners
5:30 - 7:30pm | Treasure Island Resort & Casino | Tado Steakhouse
Arrival at the Island Welcome Reception
Join us Sunday evening at Tado Steakhouse to kick off Executive Edge.
Fantastic food, great drinks, and a fun start to the next two days. If you were there last year, you know we don’t do boring. This year, we’re leveling it up. We’re leaning into the setting—a little luck, a little energy, and a few things we’re not ready to share just yet.
More details (and a few surprises) coming soon
Dinner & Entertainment hosted by
Treasure Island Resort & Casino
7:30pm | Treasure Island Resort & Casino
The Edge After Party
Join us for a relaxed late-evening gathering to unwind, reconnect, and celebrate the start of Executive Edge with your fellow attendees. More information to come - you won't want to miss it!
6:15am - 7:00am | Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Early Risers Gather
Join fellow early risers for an activity prior to the start of the conference. More details to be confirmed.
6:15am - 7:00am
Executive Coffee Experience
Start the day in a smaller setting designed for real conversation. This isn’t a grab-and-go coffee line—it’s a moment to connect with peers before the day begins.
Mercury Creative Group hosts this exclusive Executive coffee experience, setting the tone for what Executive Edge does best: high-quality access, thoughtful dialogue, and space to think.
Executive Coffee sponsored by
Mercury Creative Group
7:15am - 8:00am
Breakfast, Coffee & Conversations
Start your day with breakfast, coffee, and easy conversation. This relaxed gathering is a simple way to connect with colleagues and get grounded before the program begins.
8:00am - 8:15am
Welcome & Kick-Off
Lowell Aplebaum, Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Angela Kisskeys, President, Associations North
Kick off Executive Edge with a welcome from Angela Kisskeys and Lowell Aplebaum, setting the tone for the days ahead. Together, they’ll frame the experience, highlight what matters most for this room of leaders, and get you grounded in how to show up for the conversations to come.
8:15am - 9:20am
Opening Session
Speaker to be announced
Opening session to be announced. Expect a high-energy start, fresh perspective, and time to engage directly with your peers following the session.
9:25am - 10:30 am
Build Your Next Revenue Engine
Christine Saunders, President & Founder of Halmyre
Most associations are sitting on more revenue potential than they realize.
Not because they're missing programs or ideas. But because the way they've defined and positioned what they offer hasn't kept pace with what the market will actually support — and the assumptions behind those decisions haven't been seriously examined in years.
That gap costs more than revenue. It shapes how your organization is perceived, what you're able to invest in, and how confidently you lead into the future.
Christine Saunders has spent years helping associations across North America find exactly where those gaps live and face the assumptions driving them. Her work isn't about pricing formulas. It's about helping leaders see their organization's value more clearly — and lead from that clarity.
This session is built around one question most associations haven't asked directly enough: Are we making revenue decisions from strategy — or from habit, comfort, and fear of pushback?
It's a harder question than it sounds. And the answers tend to surface conversations that are long overdue.
A morning snack break will be integrated into this session.
10:45am - 11:50 am
Show Me Your Strategy
Moderator: Jenn Norman, VP of Customer Growth, Novi AMS
Bob Stanke, Chief of Staff and Integrator, MRAA
Joel Crandell, President & CEO, Minnesota Technology Association
Jamie Nolan, CEO & President, National Speakers Association
Before each leader shares their story, you’ll get the same challenge they faced—stripped of context, outcomes, and hindsight. In small groups, you’ll decide what you would do. Then the real decision gets revealed.
Bob Stanke, Joel Crandell, and Jamie Nolan walk through what actually happened inside their organizations—what they chose, what they weighed, and what followed. Not a polished case study. The real version.
You’ll compare your thinking against theirs, pressure-test your instincts, and leave with sharper perspective on the decisions sitting in front of you right now.
11:55am - 12:40 pm
Lunch
Take a break, grab lunch, and keep the conversation going. This is time to step away from the sessions, connect with peers, and continue the discussions that don’t fit neatly into a schedule.
12:45pm - 1:50pm
The Leader’s Advantage: Generative Inquiry
Lowell Aplebaum, Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Cecil Smith, President & CEO, Minnesota Multi-Housing Association
Using generative thinking and inquiry to uncover what actually matters.
More details to come.
2:10pm -3:15 pm
Reality Check: C-Suite Research Meets Association Leadership
Tina Chapentier, Executive Vice President, Client Experience, Padilla
Panelists & Moderator to be announced
Session to be announced. Built for senior leaders, this session will tackle a timely challenge with practical insight and space for real conversation.
3:15pm -3:30 pm
Day 1 Wrap-Up
Lowell Aplebaum, Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Close out Day 1 with a brief, focused wrap-up to capture key takeaways, surface what’s sticking, and carry the right conversations forward into the evening and Day 2.
3:30 -5:00 pm
The Recharge Experience
Step away and recharge. Join an optional guided experience or use the time on your own—to walk, think, or have the conversations you haven’t gotten to yet.
Optional Guided Experiences:
Featured Coaching Pop-Up: Ask the CFO
Powered by CliftonLarsonAllen
If you want to use this time to work through something real, this is where to go. Join a small-group coaching conversation with CFO-level insight—focused on the financial questions leaders are actively navigating right now. No presentation. Just practical discussion and direct perspective.
5:00 - 5:30 pm | Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Transportation
Shuttle transportation to the marina docks will run between the resort and Treasure Island Marina, with continuous service leading up to the experience. The final shuttle will depart at 5:50 PM.
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Vision on the Water
Step outside and shift the pace aboard the Spirit of the Water for a cruise on the Mississippi River. Scenic views, good conversation, and insight from the National Eagle Center. Your first drink on the boat is courtesy of Cragun’s.
First Drink on the Boat sponsored by Cragun's Resort
Spirit of the Water & National Eagle Center presentation hosted by Treasure Island Resort & Casino
7:00 - 8:30pm
Under the Canopy Dinner
After returning from the boat cruise, we'll gather under the canopy at Paradise Cove for an evening of food, drinks, music, and maybe even a few surprises along the way. Transportation will be provided back to the main resort.
More details to come!
Dinner hosted by Treasure Island Resort & Casino
9:00pm
The After Party-Unfiltered
Keep the night going with a more relaxed, unstructured way to connect. Details to come.
7:00am - 7:30am
Early Risers Activity
Join fellow early risers for an activity prior to the start of the final day of the conference. More details to be confirmed.
7:45am - 8:30am
Breakfast, Coffee & Conversations
Start your morning with breakfast, coffee, and conversation. A chance to reconnect, compare notes from day one, and ease into the final day together.
8:30am - 8:45am
Final Day Open & Reflections
Lowell Aplebaum, Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Start the final day with a moment to reconnect, reflect, and reset. We’ll look back on key themes from day one, surface takeaways from the room, and set the tone for the conversations still ahead.
8:50am - 9:55am
AI Session To Be Announced
Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, Owner of Dennison & Associations
Kick off day two with a forward-looking conversation on AI and what it means for association leadership. Vanessa will explore how AI is reshaping strategy, operations, and member value—along with what leaders should be paying attention to right now.
More details to come as we continue shaping this session.
10:15am - 11:20am
Reverse Panel: What Does Good Governance Actually Look Like?
Moderator: to be announced
Russell Webb, CAE, Executive Director, Bay Area Apartment Association
Eric Ewald, CAE, MBA, Chief Experience Officer, Ewald Consulting
3rd Panelist: to be announced
This reverse panel flips the format. You bring the real governance challenges—board dynamics, decision-making tension, accountability, what’s working and what’s not—and the panel responds in real time. No filtering. No theory without context.
With decades of experience at the table, this group brings perspective you don’t often hear out loud. Expect honest answers, practical insight, and a conversation that gets into the gray areas most sessions avoid.
Come ready to ask. Come ready to challenge. Come ready to rethink what “good” actually looks like.
More details to come as we continue shaping this session.
11:30am - 12:00pm
The 90-Day Commitment
Lowell Aplebaum, Lowell Aplebaum, EdD, FASAE, CAE, CPF, CEO of Vista Cova
Before you head out, take a few minutes to define what happens next. This closing moment is designed to help you turn insight into action—identifying one or two priorities you’ll commit to over the next 90 days, and how you’ll follow through once you’re back in the day-to-day.
12:00pm - 12:15pm
A word from your 2027 Host
Hear a quick preview from our 2027 host destination before heading out. On your way, pick up a curated snack box hosted by our 2027 destination—designed to carry a bit of the journey with you on the road home.
2026 Executive Edge Host
Situated along the Mississippi River, Treasure Island Resort & Casino provides a premier setting for Executive Edge. With expansive meeting spaces, modern amenities, and a serene natural backdrop, the venue offers the ideal environment for focused dialogue, strategic collaboration, and meaningful connection among association leaders.
Treasure Island Resort + Casino
5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch, MN 55089
(800) 222-7077
Rate: $129/night (single/double)
- $10 triple | + $20 quad
- 12.875% tax + $10/night resort fee
Dates:
Sunday, September 27
Monday, September 28
Deadline:
Book by August 28, 2026 to receive hotel block
Room Types:
King | Double Queen | Executive Suites
(First-come, first-served)
Book Your Room:
Call 1-800-222-7077
Reference Executive Edge for the group rate
Details:
Valid credit card + photo ID required
Check-in: 4:00 PM | Check-out: 11:00 AM
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is the primary airport to use. It’s approximately 40 miles (about a 55-minute drive) from MSP to Treasure Island Resort & Casino.
Associations North Partners
Executive Edge Speakers
Lowell Aplebaum
Vista Cova
Master Synthesizer
Lowell Aplebaum
Vista Cova
Master Synthesizer & Thought Leader
Lowell Aplebaum is the CEO of Vista Cova, where he partners with organizations on strategic visioning, stakeholder engagement, and reimagining member value. An IAF Certified Professional Facilitator with more than a decade inside associations, he brings an experiential approach that gets volunteers, members, and staff genuinely involved.
Lowell serves on the ASAE Research Committee, is a past Chair of the CAE credential commission, and chaired ASAE's Task Force on CEO Pathways. He created Through the CEO Lens and Association Charrette, and co-edited ASAE's Component Relations Handbook. His work spans five continents, all 50 states, and hundreds of volunteer groups.
Tina Chapentier
Padilla
Thought Leader
Tina Chapentier
Padilla
Thought Leader
Tina Charpentier is Executive Vice President of Client Experience at Padilla, where she works across the agency's brands, sectors, and practices to build the right teams for the right work. With nearly 18 years at Padilla, she brings a deep understanding of how organizations communicate, connect, and lead through complexity.
At Executive Edge, Tina will share findings from Padilla's 2025 C-Suite Perspectives study — and what the data reveals about where senior leaders are focused, what's slowing them down, and what they're actually doing differently.
Joel Crandall
Minnesota Technology Association
Panelist
Joel Crandall
Minnesota Technology Association
Panelist
Joel Crandall leads the overall management and strategic direction of the Minnesota Technology Association, with a focus on enhancing member value and driving community impact. Joel brings a wealth of experience in technology and leadership, having previously worked with Genesys Works and U.S. Bank. Known for his deep care, community-building skills, and commitment to talent development, Joel is dedicated to advancing MnTech’s mission. Outside of work, Joel enjoys investing in his family, church, and community in North Minneapolis, savoring a good cup of coffee, and rewatching his episode of Wheel of Fortune.
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Opening Session
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Keynote
More information to come
Vanessa Dennison
Dennison and Associates
Thought Leader
Vanessa Dennison
Dennison and Associates
Thought Leader
Vanessa Dennison, CAE, CBAP, owner of Dennison & Associates, is a Certified Association Executive and Certified Business Analyst Professional. She has more than 20 years’ experience working with dozens of trade and professional associations and unions, both as a staff member and an industry vendor. She applies proven expertise, industry best practices, and a deep commitment to each client to deliver superior results.
Vanessa leads a growing team of leading association consultants with a variety of skills. Together, we share a singular focus on serving our clients and delivering value no matter your size, budget, or needs.
Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn
Eric Ewald
Ewald Consulting
Panelist
Jamie Nolan
National Speakers Association
Panelist
Jamie Nolan, CAE
National Speakers Association
Panelist
Jamie Nolan is the CEO and President of NSA, where she translates board vision into strategy and leads the organization's team and member relationships.
Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn
Christine Saunders
Halmyre
Thought Leader
Christine Saunders
Halmyre
Thought Leader
Christine Saunders is the President of Halmyre and a growth strategy consultant specializing in North American professional and trade associations. She brings a sharp, practical lens to how associations think about revenue, value, and what it actually takes to grow.
Connect with Christine on LinkedIn
Angela Kisskeys
Associations North
President
Angela Kisskeys
Associations North
President
Angela Kisskeys is President of Associations North, leading the organization’s strategic vision, operations, and efforts to advance association leadership and industry impact across the region. She assumed the presidency in 2022 after serving in leadership roles within the organization and is known for leveraging strong industry relationships, embracing innovation, and driving organizational growth. Angela is motivated by fresh ideas and future possibilities that strengthen the association community and member value, and she champions connection, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions that support associations and their professionals.
Jennifer Norman
Novi AMS
Moderator
Jenn Norman, CAE
Novi AMS
Moderator
Cecil Smith
MN Multi-Housing Association
Thought Leader
Cecil Smith
Minnesota Multi Housing Association
Thought Leader
Cecil Smith is President and CEO of the MN Multi Housing Association, representing 2,300 members with over 300,000 units. He has served since February 2020 and previously served as Board Chair of the Association from 2017 to 2018. He is also the principal and co-founder of a rental property investment and management company. He is currently a member of the City of Minneapolis Advisory Committee on Housing. Cecil is a licensed real estate broker and a graduate of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics. He also pursued doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota in Computer Science.
Connect with Cecil on LinkedIn
Bob Stanke
MRAA
Panelist
Bob Stanke
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
Panelist
Bob Stanke is the Chief of Staff and Integrator at the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), where he brings more than 25 years of experience in strategic marketing, communications, and leadership. His background spans technology, retail, sports and entertainment, and real estate — with deep expertise in demand generation, brand strategy, content, and executive communications.
Connect with Bob on LinkedIn
Russ Webb
Bay Area Apartment Association
Pre-Conf Thought Leader & Panelist
Russ Webb, QAS, CAE
Bay Area Apartment Association
Pre-Conference Thought Leader & Panelist
Russ Webb is the Executive Director of the Bay Area Apartment Association, with more than 25 years of leading associations. A tech junkie and speaker extraordinaire. For more than two decades Russ has taken on the challenge of a constituency of more than 2000 member companies, and is passionate about helping other organizations reach their potential. He is a teacher at heart and the originator of edu-tainment – making people laugh while learning.
Connect with Russ on LinkedIn
Aaron Wolowiec
Event Garde
Pre-Conference Thought Leader
Katie Imholte Gabriel
Korn Ferry
Roundtable leader
Aaron Wolowiec is a nationally recognized meeting strategist, facilitator, and learning designer with more than two decades of association experience. As the founder and president of Event Garde, he specializes in creating engaging, multisensory learning and networking experiences. A certified Technology of Participation (ToP) facilitator and mentor trainer, Aaron prioritizes participatory and equitable approaches to consensus building and strategic planning. His work with boards, learners, staff, and volunteers fosters meaningful connections, skill development, and practical application in the workplace. Beyond the boardroom, Aaron finds joy in celebrity autobiographies, true crime podcasts, traveling with his husband, Trevor, and walking their Mini Goldendoodle, Luca.
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