The 2026 APRA Annual Conference & Expo is right around the corner! From Monday, August 31st to Wednesday, September 2nd in Phoenix, Arizona, our team is looking forward to connecting with you and your peers in parks and recreation.  

If you're planning on attending the conference this year, you already know there is a full stack of sessions and educational workshops! To help, our team has put together a list of our top session recommendations.   

Read on to discover the 20 must-attend sessions for the APRA Annual Conference & Expo! 

Skip to APRA TEAM Roundtables (Monday, Aug 31) 

Skip to Day 2 of APRA Workshops (Tuesday, Sept 1) 

Skip to Day 3 of APRA Workshops (Wednesday, Sept 2) 

Connect with Your Peers at the APRA TEAM Roundtables 

Date: Monday, August 31 

Time: 1:00 – 4:30 PM 

Location: Phoenix Convention Center 

One of the best ways to kick off the conference is by participating in the APRA TEAM Roundtables. These interactive discussions bring together parks and recreation professionals with similar roles and interests to exchange ideas, discuss industry trends, and share practical solutions to common challenges. Whether you’re interested in technology, aquatics, special events, park maintenance, therapeutic recreation, or leadership, there’s a roundtable designed to help you connect with peers who understand your day-to-day work. 

Featured Roundtable Topics 

1:00 – 2:00 PM  

• Young Professionals TEAM 
• Technology TEAM 
• Athletics TEAM 
• Special Events TEAM 

2:15 – 3:15 PM  

• Outdoor Natural Resources TEAM 
• Senior & Active Adults TEAM 
• Therapeutic Recreation TEAM 
• Directors TEAM 

3:30 – 4:30 PM 

• DEI TEAM 
• Park & Facility Maintenance TEAM 
• Aquatics TEAM 
• Tribal TEAM

2026 APRA Workshops: Day 2 (Tuesday, September 1) 

Artificial Intelligence: Productivity, Pitfalls, and Organizational Readiness 

• Speaker: Ryan Hegreness 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Room: 164/165 

Hired for Fun, Promoted for Chaos: From Rec Leader to Executive Leadership 

• Speakers: Jason Hendrix, Gabby Vera 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Room: 154 

From Concept to Construction: Building a Community Park  

• Speaker: Skyler Roussel 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 1:30 – 2:30 PM 
• Room: 153 

Mastering the Art of Persuasion – From Team Huddle to Town Hall 

• Speaker: Dr. James Moore 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 1:30 – 2:30 PM 
• Room: 154 

Building Resilience Through Experience, Strategy, and Self-Leadership 

• Speaker: Anthony Robles 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 1:30 – 2:30 PM 
• Room:164/165 

Aquatic Management Academy: Top Gun for Aquatics 

• Speaker: Kristen Clark 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 2:45 – 3:45 PM 
• Room: 153 

Arizona's Water Reality: Sources, Use, and Conservation in Parks  

• Speakers: Amanda Lacey, Sarah Martin, Dennis Mueller, Steve Hamilton 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 2:45 – 3:45 PM 
• Room: 154 

Looking at Your Customers in a New Light  

• Speaker: Bobbi Nance 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM 
• Room: 164/165 

Seeing the Bigger Picture 

• Speakers: Keri Konold, John Kennedy, Ben Cserepes 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM 
• Room: 153 

Panic-Proof Planning: We Don't Wing It, We P.L.A.N 

• Speaker: Jason Chadock 
• Time: Tuesday, Sept. 1 • 4:00 – 5:00 PM 
• Room: 154 

2026 APRA Workshops: Day 3 (Wednesday, September 2) 

Play with Purpose 

• Speaker: Isabelle Flores 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Room: 150 

Park Maintenance to Park Leadership 

• Speaker: Kelby Mieras 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Room: 151 

Backing Up Your Passion with Proof 

• Speaker: Bobbi Nance 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Room: 152 

Future-Proofing Your Department – Succession Planning  

• Speaker: Janet Bartnik 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Room: 164/165 

Budgeting is a Team Sport: How to Play to Win! 

• Speakers: Rachael Goodwin, Kevin Snipes 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 9:15 – 10:15 AM 
• Room: 153 

Communication is a Tool, Not a Weapon 

• Speaker: Katie Groke 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 9:15 – 10:15 AM 
• Room: 164/165 

AI + TI + EI: When Technology is Smart – but Leadership Is Smarter 

• Speaker: Kristy Diaz-Trahan 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 10:30 – 11:30 AM 
• Room: 152 

Pickleball: How Does America's Fastest-Growing Sport Fit Your Parks? 

• Speakers: Steven Brinkerhoff, Michael Gonzales 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 1:45 – 2:45 PM 
• Room: 150 

Communicating Parks and Recreation Wins to Elected Officials and Decision Makers 

• Speaker: Kevin McKee 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 1:45 – 2:45 PM 
• Room: 152 

More Than ChatGPT: How Can AI Help Recreation Departments Deliver Exceptional Experiences? 

• Speaker: Robert Medrano 
• Time: Wednesday, Sept. 2 • 3:00 – 4:00 PM 
• Room: 166 

Don't Forget to Stop by Booth #92! 

While at the conference, be sure to come visit the Vermont Systems team at Booth #92! Other than the opportunity to connect with RecTrac experts, here are a few reasons to stop by:  

• Free, exclusive RecTrac swag. 
• An inside look at our industry-leading recreation management software. 
• A hands-on demo of the WebTrac App. 
• The chance to learn more and get the most out of your software! 

We hope you have a great time at APRA and leave with actionable insights and helpful tips to use at your department!