Schedule for the 2026 Industry Conference presented by haku in St. Louis, MO is below. All sessions will take place at the Union Station Hotel. Register here. (Running USA members should reach out to membership@runningusa.org for their custom discount codes.)
Saturday, 1/31
9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Industry Safety Day (requires preregistration), Midwest Suites 5
Sunday, 2/1
8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Expo vendor move-in, Midway West
12:00 pm – 6:30 pm – Expo and Registration Opens, Midway West and Depot Registration Desk
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Innovation Showcase (30-minute slots), Regency C
• 1-1:30: Orbiter
• 2-2:30: EB Systems
• 2:30-3: Recover Brands
• 3-3:30: haku: The Next Chapter in Event Tech: Built to Accelerate and Automate
Jaclyn Levi, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, haku
4:00 – 5:00 pm – Speed Networking Session, Regency C
5:00 – 6:30 pm – Opening Reception in Expo, Midway West
Monday, 2/2
7:00 am – Morning Run: timing by Laurel Innovations, swag by Leslie Jordan, alternative start method by Start Without a Shot.
8:00 – 8:45 am – Breakfast, Midway West
8:00 am – 6:00 pm – Expo Hours, Midway West
8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Registration Open, Depot Registration Desk
9:00 am – 9:45 am – President and Executive Director remarks, Grand Ballroom DEF
9:45 – 10:45 am – Keynote Speaker, Dawn Harper Nelson, Grand Ballroom DEF
11:00 – 11:30 am – Awards Presentation
11:30 – 12:30 pm – General Session, Grand Ballroom DEF
12:30 – 1:30 pm – Networking Lunch, Grand Hall
1:30 – 2:15 pm – Round Table Sessions (time for individuals in unique sectors of the industry to meet, network, and share ideas, challenges, and support) on the following topics:
The Future of Sponsorship: Value, Measurement & Retention (Grand A)
Moderator: Steve Fleck
Sustainability at Scale: Making Events of All Sizes More Sustainable (Regency B)
Moderator: Tina Muir
Utilizing AI Throughout the Event Lifecycle (Grand B)
Moderator: Samira Shah
Operational Efficiencies: Staffing, Volunteers, and Rising Costs (Grand A)
Moderator: Jarod Matheney
Reaching New Participants (Grand C)
Moderator: Marc Goldman
2:15 – 2:45 pm – Energy Break in the Expo, presented by Red Bull
2:45 – 3:30 pm – Breakout Sessions
Open Track (Regency B)
Sam Browne and Lucy Miller of Let’s Do This present “How to Use AI to Grow Your Event”
Event Management & Operations (Regency A)
Jamie Stremming, 500 Festival: Running Toward Community: Linking Youth Fitness Programs to Your Existing Races
Business Development & Partnerships (Grand A)
Dr. Thomas Aicher and Dr. Bri Newland, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs: Mile Markers & Milestones: Leveraging Business Partnerships for Economic Impact
Marketing & Communications (Grand C)
Jenn Savedge, BibRave; Beyond the Boost: Winning Paid Social Strategies for The Running Industry
Customer Experience & Relations (Grand B)
Hawi Keflezighi, Hawi Management: Elevating Your Event with Elite Athletes and Race Ambassadors
3:45 – 4:30 pm – Breakout Sessions
Open Track (Regency B)
Dan Strang, Coopah, Training Plans Suck: Why Event Organizers Are the Missing Link in Runner Performance
Event Management & Operations (Regency A)
Scott Wilson, Twin Cities in Motion: Operationalizing Event Sponsorships
Business Development & Partnerships (Grand A)
Jennifer Edwards, Big Sur Marathon Foundation: Running Together: Navigating Board and Staff Roles in Nonprofit Race Management
Marketing & Communications (Grand C)
Doug Olberding, PigWorks: Beyond the Finish Line: Pig Works’ Blueprint for Engaging Gen Z
Customer Experience & Relations (Grand B)
Tes Marshall, runningnerds: Building Community with Culture & Movement
4:30 – 6:00 pm – Puppy Happy Hour in the Expo, presented by TicketSocket, Midway West
Tuesday, 2/3
7:00 am – Morning Run, swag by Leslie Jordan.
7-8 am – Morning Run Coffee Truck sponsored by Runna.
8:00 – 8:45 am – Breakfast, Midway West
8:00 am – 1:00 pm – Expo Hours, Midway West
9:00 – 10:00 am – General Session, Grand Ballroom DEF: State of the Sport panel
10:00 – 10:30 am – Refreshment break in expo presented by Hawi Management, Midway West
10:30 am – 11:00 am – Awards Presentations
11:00 am – 12:00 pm – General Session, Grand Ballroom DEF: Cardiac Arrests During Long Distance Events: Response, Tracking and Prevention
12:00 – 1:00 pm – Networking Lunch, Grand Hall
1:00 – 1:45 pm Breakout Sessions
Open Track (Regency B)
Jaclyn Levi, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, haku: Rethinking Registration Pricing: Beyond Dates and Tiers
Event Management & Operations (Regency A)
Virginia Brophy Achman, VPrepared: Tabletops, Training & Teamwork: Integrating Medical Into Race Planning Early
Business Development & Partnerships (Grand A)
Maria Vargas and Mary Arnold, SPARC: Beyond Race Day: A Practical Framework for Year-Round Partnership Success
Marketing & Communications (Grand C)
James Bryan, J&A Racing: No BS Marketing: How We Sold Out Nine Events in One Year
Customer Experience & Relations (Grand B)
Panel, Why Charity Runners Are Essential to Endurance Events
2:00 – 2:45 pm – Breakout Sessions
Open Track (Regency B)
Johanna Goode, RunSignup: AI Solutions to Everyday Challenges
Event Management & Operations (Regency A)
Doug Thurston, Thurston Event Solutions: Keep Your Race Out of the Headlines: Course Accuracy and Operations Tips
Business Development & Partnerships (Grand A)
Alexa Squillaro, Boulderthon: From Rivian to Uber: How Boulderthon Landed Some of the Biggest Non-Endemic Sponsors in the Space
Marketing & Communications (Grand C)
Beth Salinger, Run Madtown: Student Power: How Partnering with a University Marketing Club Sparked Growth, Innovation & Leadership
Customer Experience & Relations (Grand B)
Josh Oppenheim, Runna: Trends in the Running Industry, Focusing on the Runners
3:00 – 4:00 pm – General Session, Grand Ballroom DEF: Creating and Maintaining an Inclusive Volunteer Program
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Closing Reception presented by ACTIVE Network