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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260510T143000
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SUMMARY:PCMA NCC L.E.A.P. 2026
DESCRIPTION:L.E.A.P. is a day of advanced-level learning comprised of high-impact sessions that provide attendees the opportunity to Learn\, Engage\, Act and Participate through creative outlets under the guidance of thought leaders. \nOur theme this year is Advocacy in Action: Empowering Yourself and the Meetings Industry. Attendees will learn practical tools and strategies to advocate effectively and foster empowerment within themselves\, their teams and the industry. \nAttention Suppliers!\nInterested in showcasing your products or services to attendees throughout the event? Email us to learn all of the benefits of becoming a Table Sponsor. \nWhy Sponsor – Click Here \nVenue/Hotel Information\nCaesars Republic Lake Tahoe\n18 US-50 Stateline\nLake Tahoe\, NV 89449\n775-588-6611 \nRoom Block Details – PCMA NCC LEAP 2026 \n \nTransportation\nNeed Help Getting There? We Have Options! \nSunday\, 5/1012:00pm – San Francisco – Market Street between Steuart and Spear Street2:00pm – Sacramento Arden Fair Mall – Bus stop along Arden Way4:00pm – Approximate arrival at Caesar’s \nTuesday\, 5/121:00pm – Departure from Caesar’s Republic \n*Register for your ride through the registration system \nKeynotes\n \nPrincess Castleberry \nAI-Ready Leadership©: Leading with Discipline in the Age of Intelligent Systems \nThe meetings and events industry is being reshaped by AI — and the professionals who thrive will be the ones who can walk into a room with their CTO\, their legal team\, or their procurement director and advocate for how AI gets deployed\, governed\, and used at scale. \nThis isn’t a session about whether AI belongs in your workflow. It’s already there. This keynote helps event professionals build the strategic literacy to lead that conversation—inside their organizations and across their industry. \nGenerative\, predictive\, and agentic systems each operate differently\, produce different outcomes\, and carry different risks. Knowing the distinction is no longer optional for leaders who design experiences\, manage vendors\, drive ROI\, and protect organizational trust at enterprise scale. When deployed with discipline\, AI doesn’t just accelerate execution — it absorbs the operational load that depletes your team’s capacity and fuels burnout. \nThe differentiator is no longer access to AI. It is leadership discipline — knowing which system to deploy\, when human judgment must take the lead\, and how to build workflows your teams can execute with confidence. \nActionable Takeaways \n\nDistinguish between Generative\, Predictive\, and Agentic AI — including major models\, platforms\, and high-impact use cases most relevant to event professionals\nIdentify where each AI type creates the greatest leverage in event design\, stakeholder communication\, vendor management\, and post-event analytics\nWalk away with the language and framework to advocate for AI-integrated workflows with internal stakeholders — including IT\, Legal\, Risk\, and Finance\nLeave with a decision lens for evaluating which AI tools belong in your team’s workflow and which ones introduce risk you aren’t ready to govern\n\n\n\nTiffany Rose Goodyear\n\nEvent Design for all 5 Senses \nDesigning events through the lens of all five senses—sight\, sound\, touch\, taste\, and smell—creates immersive\, emotionally resonant experiences that leave a lasting impression. Our bodies take in the world through these sensory receptors\, yet traditional event design often neglects one or more of them. By intentionally engaging each sense\, we can create environments that are not only more memorable and meaningful\, but also more inclusive of different bodies and ways of experiencing the world. \nThis session invites you to rethink how the body interacts with space. You’ll explore what sensory design really means\, why it matters\, and how to practically apply it—starting with the emotional tone you want your guests to feel. From visual storytelling and ambient soundscapes to textural details\, food and beverage\, and scent as a powerful emotional anchor\, you’ll learn how to elevate your events and experiences with intention. \nTakeaways: \n\nUnderstand the importance of designing for all five senses and how it shapes memory and connection.\nLearn how the body processes sensory input in events\, and how to design with the body in mind.\nExplore how each sense contributes to emotional tone and attendee engagement:\n\nSight through lighting\, color\, and layout\nSound via music\, ambient noise\, or live elements\nTouch through texture\, material\, and physical comfort\nTaste via curated food and drink that ties into the experience\nSmell as a subtle but powerful trigger for emotion and memory\n\n\nStart with emotion: Identify how you want guests to feel and use the senses to build that emotional arc.\nGain practical tips and low-barrier ideas to start designing more inclusive\, multi-sensory events.\nExperience it live: Participate in a shared scent moment to deepen your understanding of olfaction’s impact\n\n\nMory Fontanez  \nLEADING WITHOUT SELF-ABANDONMENT \nSelf-trust in high-pressure\, service-first cultures. \nAfter two decades advising Fortune 500 executives\, founders\, and public figures through high-stakes decisions\, reputational crises\, and leadership transitions\, Mory Fontanez has seen the same pattern repeat: the greatest failures rarely come from a lack of strategy. They come from people ignoring what they already know. \nFor decades\, service professionals have been taught that excellence means endless availability\, emotional labor\, and silence around misalignment. This mindset creates high performers who are deeply disconnected from themselves. Mory reframes service as something far more powerful: personal authority\, honest leadership\, and trust in the part of you that already knows. The strongest leadership is not built through self-abandonment. It is built through self-trust. \nActionable Takeaways \n\nYour fear voice is not the answer. Learn to discern fear-based decision making from intuitive wisdom.\\nStop confusing accommodation with leadership. Pleasing everyone is not strategy\, it’s often fear dressed up as professionalism.\nReplace performance with personal authority. The strongest client relationships are built on honesty\, standards\, and trust\, not over-functioning and over-explaining.\nTrust the part of you that already knows.  Learn how to turn those small gut feelings into decisive action.\n\nAgenda\n\n\n\n\nTime\nEvent\n\n\nSunday \nMay 10\n12:00pm\nDepart from San Francisco (Near Ferry Building) and drops off at Caesars Republic\n\n\n2:00pm\nDepart from Sacramento (Arden Mall) and drops off at Caesars Republic\n\n\n12:00-3:00pm\nSponsor setup\n\n\n12:00-5:00pm\nRegistration\n\n\n4:00-5:00pm\nHosted Buyer Tour\n\n\n5:00-6:30pm\nWelcome Reception at Wolf by Vanderpump\n\n\n9:00-11:00pm\nKaraoke After-Party\n\n\n  \n \n\n\n\nMondayMay 11\n7:00-7:45am\nBODY PUMP \nStart your day with an energizing full‑body strength workout designed to build endurance and boost your mood. This Body Pump session uses simple\, repetitive movements set to upbeat pacing to target all major muscle groups in a safe\, accessible way. It’s a great option for all fitness levels and a refreshing way to kick off the conference with focus and momentum.\n\n\n8:00-9:00am\nBreakfast\n\n\n8:00-9:00am\nRegistration\n\n\nAll Day\nACT – Community Service:Donate Journals & Pens for Tahoe Family Solutions.\n\n\nAll Day\nWork Zone\n\n\n9:00-9:15AM\nOpening remarks\n\n\n9:15-10:30am\nLEARN: Opening Keynote AI-Ready Leadership©: Leading with Discipline in the Age of Intelligent Systems | Princess Castleberry\n\n\n10:30-11:00am\nWellness Break\n\n\n11:00-11:45am\nBreakout #1: \nEDUCATE – AI Won’t Replace You. Bad Process Will | Anna Sun \nThe real threat to event professionals isn’t AI. It’s the 8-hour sourcing days\, the 50-page proposals no one has time to read\, and the meeting spend that never makes it into a single report.In this session\, Anna Sun – MIT computer science graduate and co-founder of Nowadays\, which has supported corporate events for clients like Amazon\, Google\, and BlackRock – cuts through the hype and gets specific: where AI is already replacing the worst parts of planning\, where it’s making planners dramatically more effective\, and where human judgment still wins every time.What you’ll walk away with: \n\nReal-world prompts Anna uses in her own work – from space planning to communications\, research\, scheduling\, and more\nWorkflow demonstrations showing where AI naturally fits into the planning cycle before\, during\, and after an event\nA practical breakdown of AI platforms and which tools actually align with your role\, team\, or organization\nA mindset shift: how to redesign your processes so AI becomes a strategic advantage rather than an overwhelming new technology\nReal examples from enterprise meeting programs on savings\, speed\, and visibility – with cross-industry takeaways for planners\, suppliers\, and partners alike\n\nBuilt for professionals who want to work smarter\, reduce friction\, and future-proof their approach – without losing the human expertise that makes events exceptional.\n\n\n11:00-11:45am\nBreakout #2:\nMeetings That Matter: Destination Stewardship and the Future of Events atLake Tahoe | Nettie PardueWhen your conference comes to Lake Tahoe\, you’re not just booking a venue — you’restepping into one of the most beloved and ecologically fragile destinations in North America.And with that privilege comes responsibility.This session introduces meeting and event professionals to the growing movement ofdestination stewardship\, and why it matters deeply to the future of the meetings industry. UsingLake Tahoe as a living case study\, Nettie Pardue — Managing Director of the Lake TahoeDestination Stewardship Council — will walk attendees through the regions collaborative\,community-driven Destination Stewardship Plan: a framework built around four strategic pillarsdesigned to ensure that tourism and recreation strengthen\, rather than strain\, the places welove to gather.The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a reckoning already underway. As visitor pressure surgedat iconic destinations\, communities pushed back — demanding that tourism dollars\, eventfootprints\, and visitor behaviors align with local values and environmental realities. For PCMAmembers\, this is both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity to lead. Meeting planners\,CVBs\, and hospitality professionals are uniquely positioned to shape how groups show up in adestination: before\, during\, and after an event. \nAttendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what destination stewardship means inpractice\, how the Lake Tahoe model can inform their own planning processes\, and concretestrategies for making their events part of the solution — from procurement and transportation toattendee engagement and community investment. \nLearning Objectives \nBy the end of this session\, participants will be able to:● Define destination stewardship and articulate why it is becoming a core competency formeeting professionals● Describe the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan and its four strategic pillars● Identify at least three actionable ways to integrate stewardship principles into their eventplanning and site selection processes● Understand how meeting professionals can serve as destination champions andambassadors for the communities that host them\n\n\n11:00-11:45am\nBreakout #3:\nPARTICIPATE – Crafting Flavor With a Bay Area Legend \nDiscover the art and creativity behind modern beverage design in this intimate\, hands‑on breakout led by Caesars Entertainment’s in‑house master bartender\, a 20‑year industry veteran whose career has shaped some of the Bay Area’s most celebrated hospitality spots. \nIn this small‑group session (limited to just 10 participants per class)\, attendees will explore how professional mixologists think about balance\, flavor\, and presentation while creating two signature\, event‑ready drinks. It’s an engaging\, sensory experience designed to spark inspiration\, deepen appreciation for the craft\, and offer a memorable break from traditional conference learning. \nPerfect for anyone who loves great hospitality\, wants a behind‑the‑scenes look at expert technique\, or simply enjoys a creative\, social session with fellow attendees. \n\n\n\n11:00-11:45am\nBreakout #4:\nPARTICIPATE – Sound BathStep away from the pace of the conference and settle into 45 minutes of deep\, restorative calm. Divine Rest is a guided experience that blends gentle body relaxation with immersive sound designed to quiet the mind and reset the nervous system. Participants will be invited to settle comfortably\, release tension\, and allow waves of sound to create a sense of spaciousness and ease.This session is ideal for anyone needing a mental reset\, a moment of grounding\, or a peaceful pause between a full day of learning and connection.\n\n\n12:00-1:00pm\nNetworking Lunch\n\n\n1:00-1:45pm\nBreakout #1: \nEDUCATE – AI Won’t Replace You. Bad Process Will | Anna Sun \nThe real threat to event professionals isn’t AI. It’s the 8-hour sourcing days\, the 50-page proposals no one has time to read\, and the meeting spend that never makes it into a single report. \nIn this session\, Anna Sun – MIT computer science graduate and co-founder of Nowadays\, which has supported corporate events for clients like Amazon\, Google\, and BlackRock – cuts through the hype and gets specific: where AI is already replacing the worst parts of planning\, where it’s making planners dramatically more effective\, and where human judgment still wins every time. \nWhat you’ll walk away with: \n\nReal-world prompts Anna uses in her own work – from space planning to communications\, research\, scheduling\, and more\nWorkflow demonstrations showing where AI naturally fits into the planning cycle before\, during\, and after an event\nA practical breakdown of AI platforms and which tools actually align with your role\, team\, or organization\nA mindset shift: how to redesign your processes so AI becomes a strategic advantage rather than an overwhelming new technology\nReal examples from enterprise meeting programs on savings\, speed\, and visibility – with cross-industry takeaways for planners\, suppliers\, and partners alike\n\nBuilt for professionals who want to work smarter\, reduce friction\, and future-proof their approach – without losing the human expertise that makes events exceptional. \n\n\n\n1:00-1:45pm\nBreakout #2:\nMeetings That Matter: Destination Stewardship and the Future of Events atLake Tahoe | Nettie PardueWhen your conference comes to Lake Tahoe\, you’re not just booking a venue — you’restepping into one of the most beloved and ecologically fragile destinations in North America.And with that privilege comes responsibility.This session introduces meeting and event professionals to the growing movement ofdestination stewardship\, and why it matters deeply to the future of the meetings industry. UsingLake Tahoe as a living case study\, Nettie Pardue — Managing Director of the Lake TahoeDestination Stewardship Council — will walk attendees through the regions collaborative\,community-driven Destination Stewardship Plan: a framework built around four strategic pillarsdesigned to ensure that tourism and recreation strengthen\, rather than strain\, the places welove to gather.The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a reckoning already underway. As visitor pressure surgedat iconic destinations\, communities pushed back — demanding that tourism dollars\, eventfootprints\, and visitor behaviors align with local values and environmental realities. For PCMAmembers\, this is both a challenge and an extraordinary opportunity to lead. Meeting planners\,CVBs\, and hospitality professionals are uniquely positioned to shape how groups show up in adestination: before\, during\, and after an event. \nAttendees will leave with a clearer understanding of what destination stewardship means inpractice\, how the Lake Tahoe model can inform their own planning processes\, and concretestrategies for making their events part of the solution — from procurement and transportation toattendee engagement and community investment. \nLearning Objectives \nBy the end of this session\, participants will be able to:● Define destination stewardship and articulate why it is becoming a core competency formeeting professionals● Describe the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan and its four strategic pillars● Identify at least three actionable ways to integrate stewardship principles into their eventplanning and site selection processes● Understand how meeting professionals can serve as destination champions andambassadors for the communities that host them\n\n\n1:00-1:45pm\nBreakout #3:\nPARTICIPATE – Crafting Flavor With a Bay Area Legend \nDiscover the art and creativity behind modern beverage design in this intimate\, hands‑on breakout led by Caesars Entertainment’s in‑house master bartender\, a 20‑year industry veteran whose career has shaped some of the Bay Area’s most celebrated hospitality spots. \nIn this small‑group session (limited to just 10 participants per class)\, attendees will explore how professional mixologists think about balance\, flavor\, and presentation while creating two signature\, event‑ready drinks. It’s an engaging\, sensory experience designed to spark inspiration\, deepen appreciation for the craft\, and offer a memorable break from traditional conference learning. \nPerfect for anyone who loves great hospitality\, wants a behind‑the‑scenes look at expert technique\, or simply enjoys a creative\, social session with fellow attendees. \n\n\n\n1:00-1:45pm\nBreakout #4:\nPARTICIPATE – Yoga AsanaAfter hours of sitting in sessions\, this 45‑minute yoga asana practice offers a welcome chance to move\, stretch\, and re‑energize. Designed for all levels\, the class focuses on gentle\, accessible postures that support circulation\, aid digestion after lunch\, and help release the stiffness that builds up during long conference days.Participants will leave feeling refreshed\, centered\, and ready to re‑engage with the afternoon programming with renewed clarity and comfort.\n\n\n1:45-2:00pm\nWellness Break\n\n\n2:00-2:50pm\nLEARN – Event Design for Five Senses | Tiffany Rose Goodyear\n\n\n3:00-4:00pm\nPARTICIPATE – Industry Crossroads: What’s Now and What’s Next for Meetings & Events \nModerated by David Stevens\nSara McGinness | EventWorks Informa\nKarie Hall | Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe\nAnna Sun | Nowadays\nHasaan Azam | Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority \nThe meetings and events industry is transforming faster than ever\, and no single sector can navigate that change alone. This session brings together four influential voices—from hotels\, event planning\, travel\, and AI—to explore how shifting attendee expectations\, technology advancements\, and travel patterns are reshaping the way we design and deliver events. \nAs a special highlight\, attendees will also hear firsthand insights from Karie Hall\, SVP & General Manager of Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe\, who will share the behind‑the‑scenes story of the property’s recent rebranding and the transformation from Harveys Lake Tahoe to Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe. \nPanelists will share real‑world observations\, challenges\, and predictions\, offering a 360‑degree view of where the industry is headed and how to stay ahead of the curve.\n\n\n4:00-4:10pm\nClosing Remarks\n\n\n4:00-5:00pm\nFlex Time\n\n\n5:00-9:00pm\nReception & Dinner at Tahoe Blue Event Center\n\n\n\n  \n \n\n\n\nTuesday \nMay 12\n7:00-7:45am\nSunrise Walk\n\n\nAll Day\nACT – Community Service: \nDonate Journals & Pens for Tahoe Family Solutions.\n\n\n8:30-9:30am\nWorking Breakfast\n\n\n9:00-10:00am\nLEARN – Closing Keynote\nLeading Without Self-Abandonment | Mory Fontanez \n\n\n10:00-10:30am\nClosing Remarks/Farewell\n\n\n10:30-12:00pm\nPARTICIPATE – Destination Site Visits:\n1) Coachman\n2) Golden Nugget\n3) Margaritaville\n\n\n1:00pm\nDeparting Shuttle from Caesar’s Republic back to SF/Sacramento\n\n\n\nFees\nPCMA/CEMA Planner Member: $125\nPCMA/CEMA Planner Non-Member: $175\nPCMA/CEMA Partner Member: $150\nPCMA/CEMA Partner Non-Member: $225\nPCMA/CEMA Student: $75
URL:https://northerncalifornia.pcma.org/event/pcma-ncc-l-e-a-p-2026-5-10/
LOCATION:Caesars Republic\, 18 US-50 Stateline\, Lake Tahoe\, NV\, 89449\, United States
CATEGORIES:Chapters,Education,Featured,Industry Calendar,Networking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://northerncalifornia.pcma.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2026/02/cr_rendering.jpg
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