The Empire State Society of Association Executives

The ESSAE 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show isn’t just another conference—it’s a full-day experience intentionally designed around how association professionals actually learn, connect, and make decisions. Start your day in “conference mode” with high-impact education, peer exchange, and leadership insights that challenge your thinking and deliver real-world value. Then, without missing a beat, transition into a high-energy, highly curated trade show experience—built as a true one-stop marketplace to explore destinations, solutions, and partners that support your organization year-round.

What makes this different? Every element—from the timing to the flow to the built-in networking moments—is designed to maximize meaningful engagement, not just fill time. Think interactive experiences, intentional networking, and a seamless progression from trade show to reception and beyond—creating multiple opportunities for connection, discovery, and relationship-building throughout the afternoon and evening. This is where ideas turn into action, and conversations turn into partnerships. If you’re looking to get real value from your time away—not just attend, but truly engage—this is the event designed for you.

Our online conference program, courtesy of Map Dynamics has it all! https://homebase.map-dynamics.com/essaeannual2026/dashboard

Learn more & register here: https://www.essae.org/essaeannual

🎉 Association Meeting Planners: Don’t Miss Your Chance to Win $500!

If you’re an association (501(c)) or AMC meeting professional, be sure to check your 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐄 for your invitation to participate in our **Meeting Planner Outlook Survey**.

⏱️ The survey takes just 5–7 minutes to complete, and your feedback will help shape the future of meetings and events across New York State.

💰 Bonus: Complete the survey by Thursday, June 11 and you'll be entered for a chance to win $500!

Your insights help us better understand meeting planner priorities, challenges, and opportunities so we can continue creating valuable resources and connections for our community.

📧Didn't receive the email or have questions? Contact us 👉https://essae.org/ts2026 #/

🗓️ While you're planning ahead, don't forget to register for the ESSAE Annual Conference & Trade Show on June 18 in Saratoga Springs and connect with colleagues from across New York State 👉https://essae.org/essaeannual

🏌️‍♂️⛳ SOLD OUT! ⛳🏌️‍♀️

The response to the ESSAE & MPI Upstate New York Collaboration Cup has been incredible — and we’re excited to officially announce that the June 17 event at the Saratoga Spa Golf Course is completely SOLD OUT! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who registered to join us for an afternoon of golf, networking, cocktails, connections, and a little friendly competition before the ESSAE Annual Conference & Trade Show.

We can’t wait to bring together association professionals, meeting planners, hospitality partners, and industry leaders for a fun and memorable kickoff to conference week. 🍸🤝🏌️

Even if you missed out on golf, you can still join us for MPI Cocktails & Connections immediately following the tournament!

Register for Cocktails & Connections Here: https://www.mpi.org/chapters/upstate-new-york/education-events/chapter-events

Visit the Collaboration Cup event webpage for more information:
https://essae.memberclicks.net/collaboration-cup

Missed out this year? Stay tuned…this may just become a new ESSAE tradition. 😉

One Day. Real Connections.

Join association professionals, nonprofit leaders, and trusted industry partners from across New York State for the 47th Annual ESSAE Conference & Trade Show — a day intentionally designed for learning, connection, and practical ideas you can bring back to your organization.

Whether you work in healthcare, education, hospitality, construction, social impact, manufacturing, or another mission-driven sector, this event brings together the people, perspectives, and partners helping organizations thrive.

Here’s what to expect:

☀️ Morning: Learn & Lead
High-value education sessions, leadership insights, peer learning, and fresh ideas focused on helping organizations adapt, grow, and navigate change.

🤝 Afternoon: Connect & Discover
A high-energy trade show experience intentionally designed for meaningful conversations — connecting attendees with business and operational solutions, destinations, venues, technology, services, and strategic partners that support organizations year-round.

🎉 Networking That Continues Beyond the Session Room
Because some of the best conversations happen between sessions, over lunch, at receptions, and in the moments that turn introductions into lasting professional relationships.

Whether you are:
✔️ An association professional or nonprofit leader
✔️ A meeting planner or buyer exploring venues and partners
✔️ An industry supplier looking to build meaningful connections
✔️ A professional seeking fresh ideas and a strong peer network

This day is built for you.

📍 Saratoga Springs, NY
📅 June 18, 2026
🎟️ Learn more & register: https://www.essae.org/essaeannual

Our online program, courtesy of Map Dynamics has the schedule, speakers, sessions, exhibitors and more! https://homebase.map-dynamics.com/essaeannual2026/dashboard

Don't miss the fun the day before! https://www.essae.org/collaboration-cup

⏳ Now is the time to register for ESSAE’s Annual Conference & Trade Show before rates increase in June!

👉https://essae.org/essaeannual

Join association professionals from across New York State in Saratoga Springs for a day packed with education, networking, industry insights, and new ideas you can bring back to your organization. Registering now not only secures your spot—it also locks in the current pricing before the next rate increase takes effect.

✨One featured session you won’t want to miss is "Design Experiences, Not Agendas: The 5 Senses Approach", brought to you by MPI Upstate New York and led by professional meeting planners Colleen Earley, Debbie Goedeke, and Heidi Longton.

This interactive session explores how thoughtful sensory design can transform meetings from simply informative to truly memorable. Attendees will leave with practical, low-cost ideas to create more engaging and inclusive experiences for conference participants, sponsors, and partners alike. Check it out on our online program: https://homebase.map-dynamics.com/essaeannual2026/schedule/117597

🏨 Planning to stay overnight? Be sure to reserve your room at The Saratoga Hilton before the hotel block cutoff on May 19. Make your reservation here: https://book.passkey.com/gt/220807208?gtid=85cd041e9ea61d45cf174a530f8f8cae

Register early, save money, and start planning your conference experience now!

2026 ESSAE 47th Annual Conference & Tradeshow

Association Advocacy Day is always an important reminder that while meetings and memberships are central to what associations do, the impact associations have on industries, professions, and communities extends far beyond. Associations are also workforce developers, conveners, educators, leaders in industry best practices and standards of excellence, economic drivers, and trusted policy advisors and partners to government, local businesses, and stakeholders across New York State.

Yesterday, ESSAE was proud to represent both ESSAE and Metro New York Society of Association Executives - NYSAE at the NYS Capitol and help highlight the impact of associations across the Empire State.

A special thank you to:
• Michael Burridge — ESSAE Government Affairs Committee Chair
• Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, Esq. — ESSAE Board Member
• Zach Miller — Association Leadership Academy (ALA) Masters Graduate and new Government Affairs Committee member
• Carrie Laney — ESSAE Executive Director

Thank you to all of the legislative offices that welcomed us yesterday, including Assembly Member John T. McDonald III and Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, both pictured here. Your support is greatly valued and appreciated.

A particularly meaningful moment was reconnecting with Jan Dorman, Director of the Higher Education Committee, who played a role in the early conversations and planning efforts that helped lead to the formation of ESSAE in 1979 (learn more here https://www.essae.org/society-history ). Nearly five decades later, it was a great reminder of the longstanding role associations and association professionals continue to play in supporting industries, professions, workforce development, and communities throughout New York State.

Associations support nearly 20,000 jobs in New York State and contribute more than $1.3 billion in state and local taxes annually. Proud to help share that story.

Special thanks to ASAE The Center for Association Leadership's “Power of Associations is the Power of America” initiative for the research and economic impact data highlighted in our advocacy materials.

One of the best parts of Advocacy Day each year is that beyond the meetings themselves, participants get the opportunity to strengthen relationships, explore partnerships between organizations, discuss professional development, and yes… exchange a few entertaining “war stories” from past lives along the way. 😊

Interested in getting involved? Contact Michael Burridge or Carrie Laney to learn more about ESSAE’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC). We’ll be convening a GAC Zoom meeting this summer, and participation in GAC — or any ESSAE committee — is a wonderful way to deepen professional connections, expand peer-to-peer learning, and help shape the future of the association community in New York State.

Learn more and sign up here: https://essae.memberclicks.net/essae-committees-provide-new-opportunities

ESSAE Committees & Volunteer Opportunities

Stay tuned for government relations and advocacy-focused educational programming this fall — and join us next May for Association Advocacy Day 2027!