Association Executives of North Carolina

08/19/2026

Check out today’s Success by Association Live, sponsored by Marriott Winston-Salem and Benton Convention Center. ‘Dealing With the Stuff: Mastering The 30-Second Secret’ was written by Mike Collins with The Perfect Workday Company.

08/12/2026

Reminiscing over a wonderful 2026 AENC Annual Meeting & Golf Outing! Photos to come soon, but today we want to highlight the education at this year’s annual meeting. Special thanks to all our wonderful speakers! And thank you to Rozie Synopsis for creating the below recap.
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Leadership today demands more than just strategy. It requires cognitive resilience, ethical foresight, and active inclusion. These keynote sessions delivered actionable frameworks to elevate our professional impact.

Here are the strategic takeaways for modern decision-makers:

- Active Allyship: Sertrice Shipley, Founder & CEO of Plan To Action, challenged leaders to move from mentorship to sponsorship, proving that inclusion is a continuous action.

- Multigenerational Etiquette: Sharon Hill, President of Sharon Hill International, highlighted that modern professionalism relies on intention and awareness across diverse generations.

- Ethical AI: Elizabeth Ruf, President of Elizabeth Ruf Consulting, provided practical guardrails to adopt AI while protecting human curiosity and core values.

- Meaningful Impact: William Mangum, Professional Artist, revealed the A.R.T. (Awareness, Resourcefulness, Timing) of driving lasting community change.

- Cognitive Resilience: John F. Edwards, CSP, CEO of The Edwards Groups, LLC, shared neuroscience secrets to outsmart burnout and optimize our brain's alpha state for peak performance.

True leadership combines technological advancement with deep human intentionality!

08/07/2026

AUGUST MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: THE AENC 39TH ANNUAL GOLF OUTING WINNERS

Congratulations to all the teams below!

1st place team taking home The Burch “Commish” Sweeney Trophy: Mitchell Freeland, Dan Freeland, Billy Cease & William Cease

2nd place team: Phil Lucey, TJ Bugbee, and Daniel Wilson (not pictured: Aaron Royster)

3rd place team: Brian Hall, James McCorkle, Brad Speed, and Dan Holland

Huge thank you to our Golf Outing Trophy Sponsor: Fivestar Awards & Engraving!

See you all next year!

08/05/2026

Check out today’s Success by Association Live sponsored by Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. ‘Your Brain Called. It Wants a Raise.’ was written by John F. Edwards, CSP.

07/22/2026

We're counting down the days until the AENC 71st Annual Meeting!

Visit Smokies is heading to Concord to introduce you to the naturally wild side of Western North Carolina. From rushing rivers and scenic rail adventures to breathtaking mountain trails, the Smokies and Blue Ridge Mountains offer more than unforgettable experiences.

We're also excited to partner with Lake Junaluska, a stunning lakeside conference and retreat destination nestled in the mountains. Known for its peaceful waterfront setting, comfortable accommodations, scenic walking trails, and exceptional meeting facilities, Lake Junaluska has long been a place where groups gather to connect, collaborate, and be inspired.

Be sure to stop by the Visit Smokies booth and enter for your chance to win a 2-night getaway for two at Lake Junaluska, where you can experience the beauty, hospitality, and relaxation for yourself.

We can't wait to see you in Concord!

Don't wait to learn more follow Visit Smokies to take a peek at the Wild Side of WNC.

Explore the wonders of the North Carolina Smoky Mountains! From hiking trails & waterfalls to breathtaking views, your adventure awaits!

07/17/2026

ONLY 8 MORE DAYS!

Your Pit Stop for Education & Connections Awaits!

Click the video to hear from AENC President TJ Bugbee!

Register to join us: www.aencnet.org/annual-meeting-2026

07/16/2026

The Roboro team will be in Concord for their first AENC Annual Meeting, and they're looking forward to meeting everyone!

Roboro helps associations and government affairs teams stay on top of legislation with AI-powered insights that make it easier to understand what's changing and keep members informed.

If you're attending, stop by and say hello! And if you can't make it this year, you can still grab some time to see Roboro in action: https://scheduler.zoom.us/brooke-clark-e5kyn1/roboro-30-minute-discussion

Learn more about Roboro and how we can help you stay ahead of your advocacy efforts.

07/15/2026

Check out today’s Success by Association Live, sponsored by Winston-Salem Marriott and Benton Convention Center. ‘You May Never Know’ was written by William Mangum (Bill).

Hear more from Bill at the upcoming 2026 AENC Annual Meeting, 3:00PM, Monday, July, 27th, 2026, in Concord, NC.

07/13/2026

🏁 Race into an unforgettable Annual Meeting!

We're TWO WEEKS away from the AENC 71st Annual Meeting & 39th Annual Golf Outing in Cabarrus County!

Get ready for three days of:
🏎️ Inspiring education (5 CAE & CMP CEUs approved!)
🤝 Meaningful networking
🎉 Fun social events
⛳ Golf, great food, and unforgettable memories

Whether you're looking to grow professionally, reconnect with colleagues, or make new connections, this is the place to be.

📅 July 26–28, 2026
📍 Concord, NC

Association professionals and meeting planners receive 50% off registration, making it even easier to join us!

There's still time to register: www.aencnet.org/annual-meeting-2026

We can't wait to see you in Concord!

The annual golf outing is located at  Rocky River Golf Club in Concord . The format is Captain's Choice, all about networking and having a fun day on the golf course together!

07/10/2026

🏁 The countdown is on... just 15 more days until we gather in Cabarrus County for AENC’s 71st Annual Meeting & 39th Annual Golf Outing!

We're putting the finishing touches on three incredible days of education, networking, celebrations, and memorable experiences; and we can't wait to welcome you.

If you haven't registered yet, there's still time to join us. We hope to see you at the starting line!

📅 July 26–28, 2026
📍 Cabarrus County, NC

Register at the link in the comments below.