Featured Speakers

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 nETWORKING 

MSAE is pleased to bring together some of our industry's finest thought leaders, subject matter experts, and practitioners to stimulate your thinking and explore the latest issues and trends in association management.  

Tuesday AM   Tuesday PM   Wednesday    

WARREN CALL   TRACY KING   SARAH SLADEK

Modernizing for Impact: Innovation, Relationships, and the Future of Associations

^{Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 8:30 - 9:45 AM}

As the leader of Traverse Connect, Warren Call has guided his association through a period of profound transformation—modernizing operations, innovating in programming, and strengthening vital relationships with members and partners. In this keynote, Warren will share candid lessons learned along the way: what worked, what didn’t, and how to balance innovation with the enduring importance of trust and connection. Attendees will leave inspired and equipped with practical insights to reimagine their own associations, foster meaningful relationships, and embrace innovation to stay relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

^{Warren Call} 

^{Warren Call is President & CEO of Traverse Connect, where he leads the region’s business and economic development strategy with a focus on innovation and growth. Since 2019, he has championed collaboration among local, state, and national partners while representing northern Michigan on a global stage. Warren’s career spans leadership roles in finance, business development, and client relations, equipping him with a strong record of revenue growth and strategic leadership. A proud Spartan and community advocate, Warren lives in Traverse City with his family and enjoys skiing, fly fishing, and tending his family’s vineyard.}

 ^{Read his full bio at https://traverseconnect.com/ and connect with Warren on LinkedIn. (Back to top.)} 

Learning That Pays: Delivering Education Members Value-and Invest In!

^{Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 12:35 - 2:25 PM}

The professional development landscape has been commoditized, with countless providers offering similar courses and certifications. Yet association leaders who understand the shift to skills-based career advancement are discovering something remarkable: their organizations possess an unmatched asset for delivering the connected, contextual learning experiences today's professionals desperately need.

This keynote reveals how forward-thinking associations are transforming isolated education offerings and standalone events into integrated learning portfolios that drive measurable career outcomes. You'll explore why your association's unique combination of industry expertise, peer networks, and member trust creates an unfair advantage in the skills-first economy. Discover three strategic moves that will position your learning portfolio as the competitive edge your members—and their employers—can't afford to miss.

^{Tracy King, CAE}

^{Tracy King, CAE, is CEO of InspirEd and award-winning author of "Competitive Advantage." As an international learning strategist with 20+ years in workforce development, they transform education programs from cost centers into profit drivers. Their expertise spans AI readiness consulting, accessible and neuroinclusive learning design, and comprehensive event management. Featured on NBC, ABC, Forbes, and US News, Tracy leads a team of 11+ learning strategists serving mission-driven organizations globally.}

 Read her full bio and connect with Tracy on LinkedIn or visit InspirEd  (Back to top.) 

Member Shift: Why Members Leave and the Strategies to Bring Them Back

^{Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM}

Membership organizations are reporting higher levels of disengagement and decline than ever before. That’s a fact. It’s also a fact no one really knows how to solve the problem.  If they did, the decline would have reversed long ago.

Think about it. Membership is not a recognized subject of expertise. There are no degrees, defined requirements, career paths, or educational tracks. Membership organizations employ millions and generate billions in revenue, and not a single person has been certifiably or definitively trained in the subject of membership.

This means the strategies essential to member engagement and growth have remained largely unknown, overlooked, guessed, or left to chance. It also means associations have continued to borrow best practices from business and non-profit models or relied on the traditions of the past.

A new membership strategy is urgently needed, and Sarah Sladek has discovered it.

^{Sarah L. Sladek}

^{Sarah Sladek has been referred to as a social equity expert and recognized as both a Global Leader in Strategy and a Talent Economy Influencer. Organizations worldwide have relied on her insights to plan their futures, foster cultures of relevance and belonging, and realize growth. Leaders who seek Sarah’s expertise tend to want a different outlook for their organizations, but they aren’t sure how to make it happen. They feel stuck. Overwhelmed by change, turnover, conflict, and decline. Sarah has the solutions to these challenges and more.}

 ^{Read her full bio and connect with Sarah on LinkedIn or visit xyzuniversity.com  (Back to top.)}