Association Executives of North Carolina

10/09/2026

🎉 New at the 2026 AENC Fall Conference: The Connection Challenge!

At check-in, you'll get a card full of prompts like "Has a hidden talent" and "Is attending their first AENC event." Find a different attendee for each square, fill your card, and you'll be entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card! 🎁

💡 Bonus: Bring a fellow industry professional and get one square for FREE! Invite a coworker, a peer from another association, or a friend who's been meaning to check out AENC to register! They can register in advance or even onsite!

📅 October 22–23 | Hilton Raleigh North Hills

🔗 Register at www.aencnet.org/fall-conference

We are pleased to extend an offer of financial assistance to any association member or meeting planner member who may need it. If you find yourself in a situation where a scholarship to cover your registration fee would be beneficial, we are here to support you. This initiative is our way of using t...

10/08/2026

Still need a reason to register for the Fall Conference?

Our closing session tackles the question every association pro has asked: why didn't more members show up? Lauren Ansley and Mary Elizabeth Murphy, CPCC, ORSCC of S.T.A.R. Resources will help you find where your messages stall and leave with a plan to fix it!

This isn't a sit-and-listen session. You'll roll up your sleeves with fellow association leaders to:
✅ Find exactly where your messages break down between awareness and follow-through
✅ Swap field-tested engagement tactics that actually work
✅ Walk out with a practical action plan you can use the very next day

It's the perfect way to close out the conference, and you won't want to miss it!

📅 Hilton Raleigh North Hills | October 22–23 (2 weeks away!)

👉 Register now: www.aencnet.org/fall-conference

10/07/2026

Check out today’s Success by Association Live, sponsored by Visit Greenville, NC. ‘Doing Everything Right and Still Losing Members’ was written by David Phillips with Faster Glass.

“On October 22, we will do the structured version of this work together at the AENC pre-conference workshop. You will map the full range of value your members expect, identify where erosion is already underway, and use a facilitated ideation method to surface practical next steps. Bring the questions your organization has been avoiding.”

Link to register to join David’s session at the AENC Fall Conference is in the comments below. Hope to see you there!

10/05/2026

Micro Moments, Major Impact ✨

Culture isn't built by mission statements. It's shaped in the everyday moments that tell people whether they're seen, valued, and empowered to contribute.

Join us for General Session 4 at the 2026 AENC Fall Conference on Friday, October 23, 10:00–11:00 a.m., as leadership consultant, best-selling author, and "Ambassador of Authenticity" Tanesha Cameron-Cole, MBA explores how small interactions have a profound impact on psychological safety, trust, and belonging.

You'll leave with practical strategies to strengthen authentic connection, boost engagement, improve retention, and turn everyday interactions into opportunities to lead with intention. Because the workplace you want starts with the moments you influence, and a culture of care is everyone's responsibility.

🎤 Tanesha Cameron-Cole, MBA
CEO, Authenticity Answers LLC | Founder, The Cameron Cole Collective

📍 Hilton Raleigh North Hills, or join us virtually. Your choice!

$95 members | $45 retired members | $110 non-members (Note: scholarships are available to meeting planners & association professionals!)

Register today 👉 www.aencnet.org/fall-conference

10/02/2026

October Member Spotlight: Claudette Fox and Dr. Lyndsey Zurawski, AE-MBA, QAS

in Action: Success Stories Worth Sharing!

From the Trade Show Floor to the Palm Beach Shore!

Claudette Fox (pictured on the left) and Lyndsey Zurawski (pictured on the right) first connected at the 2024 AENC December Trade Show, where Claudette joins AENC member The Palm Beaches for their exhibit each year.

That Trade Show connection turned into a booking, with Lyndsey choosing Hilton West Palm Beach for her 2026 FLASHA Annual Convention on July 9-11. This event had 450 people and 48 exhibitors, Lyndsey said it was seamless (thanks to Claudette & the CVB) and she is already booked to come back in June 2028!

Fast forward to the 2026 AENC Spring Conference, where we caught the two reconnecting and catching up and of course, had to snap a photo!

We love sharing these success stories. A big thank you to Lyndsey Zurawski with Sunshine Mountain Ventures (AMC) for shopping the AENC Trade Show floor and showcasing the true power of AENC connections!

(Have a story like this? Send it our way—we’d love to celebrate more of these win-wins!)

Don’t forget to book your Trade show booth today so this can be your story too!

10/01/2026

💜 Feeling a little nostalgic for this year’s Annual Meeting? We are! 🏁✨

It may have been a couple of months since we wrapped up our 2026 Annual Meeting in Cabarrus County (Explore Cabarrus), but there are still plenty of memories worth revisiting! 📸 Take a look back at some of our favorite moments, captured by the fabulous Spark Photo Booths team!

And if these photos have you thinking, “I need more AENC fun!”… we’ve got you covered. 😉

Join us at the 2026 AENC Fall Conference for more learning, networking, laughs, and opportunities to connect with your AENC crew!

📸 Check out the Annual Meeting photo recaps here: https://sparkphotobooths.pixieset.com/aencannualmeeting-1/conference/
(Password: AENC2026)

🍂 Ready for the next AENC adventure? Registration for Fall Conference is in the comments below!

09/29/2026

Don't wait to grab your spot, the 2026 AENC Fall Conference is filling up! And Thursday afternoon, you get to choose your own path:
🔹 Deep dive with North Carolina Professional Lobbyists Association ‘Turn Advocacy Into an Asset’: a two-part session on turning advocacy into real influence, retention, and revenue.
🔹 Or take in two general sessions: hear what professional speakers really notice from the front of the room with NSA Carolinas; then get a clear, nonpartisan read on 2026 elections with the NC FreeEnterprise Foundation.

Either way, you'll walk away with insights you can actually use, have real conversations that matter, and the kind of networking that turns into lasting connections!

Join us October 22–23 in Raleigh!

Registration link in comments below.

09/28/2026

A heartfelt thank you to The Sanderling Resort for hosting the AENC Board Retreat & FAM Tour on the Outer Banks! 🌊

From start to finish, every detail was thoughtfully planned. We kicked things off with a beautiful lunch on the Currituck Sound, generously sponsored by Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Thank you for such a warm welcome to the destination!

The afternoon brought relaxing spa appointments, time at the pool and beach, and an unforgettable Wild Horse Tour. 🐎 As the sun went down, we gathered on the Lifesaving Station deck for an Oyster & Cocktail Hour with Cousins Oysters and live music from Corey Pavlosky, followed by a delicious seafood boil celebrating the best of coastal cuisine. We capped off the night under the stars with local astronomer Rhana Paris, who led a truly inspiring stargazing experience. ✨

Thursday brought a productive Board meeting at The Event House, a fun watercolor class to spark creativity 🎨, and a lovely farewell lunch on the deck.

And the weather? Absolutely perfect. We're convinced The Sanderling team coordinated that too. 😉☀️

Thank you to everyone who made this retreat so memorable! We left with full hearts, full stomachs, and plenty of ideas for bringing groups back to the Outer Banks!

09/25/2026

What's Up, Doc? 🩺

Healthcare and health insurance are top of mind for your members, and probably for you too. Join us for General Session 1 at the 2026 AENC Fall Conference on Thursday, October 22, 1:00–2:15 p.m. for a panel discussion on the current state of North Carolina's healthcare marketplace.

Our panel of experts will help you better understand your own options as a health insurance consumer, and give you insights you can pass along to your members on a topic they care deeply about.

Panelists:
🔹 Senator Jim Burgin, NC State Senator, District 12 (Harnett, Lee, Sampson)
🔹 Kelly Calabria, Chief Communications, Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
🔹 David C. Smith JD, REBC, CHVA, Employee Benefits Market Lead for the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee, Risk Strategies Company, and Senior Vice President, eBen

Moderator: Joe Stewart, IIANC

📍 Hilton Raleigh North Hills, or join us virtually. Your choice!

💲 $95 members | $45 retired members | $110 non-members (Note: scholarships are available to meeting planners & association professionals!)

Register today 👉 https://www.aencnet.org/fall-conference

09/21/2026

Come early, learn more!

Kick off the 2026 AENC Fall Conference with a hands-on Pre-Con Session on Thursday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills, and earn 2 additional CEUs (pending final CAE/CMP approval).

Choose your track:
🔍 Winning the Fight for Relevance: Innovation Tools for Association Leaders
with David Phillips, Faster Glass
Find out where your value proposition is quietly eroding, and leave with sharper questions and a toolkit you can use right away.

🤖 AI Bootcamp: Build Your AI Communication Workflow
with Micah Ray, Zaiflow
Bring your laptop! Connect your scattered platforms into one AI-powered workflow, and walk out with a content calendar and a multi-platform message ready to use. No tech background needed.

Register today 👉 www.aencnet.org/fall-conference