CalFest 30th Annual Convention.

Schedule of Events

8:00 am
Registration Open and Morning Coffee
30 minutes
Convention Foyer

8:30 am
Event Energizer: Shifting from Routine to Riveting
Ira Rosen MA, CFEE
60 minutes
Event producers are often focused on the questions of "What we are doing" and "How we are doing it." This hands-on session will explore the "why" we do events.
Workshop

Insurance 101 - Getting Back To the Basics
60 minutes
Room Location
Operations

9:45 am
Welcome and Opening Keynote: Future of the Industry Panel
Sonia Batres, Lucas Wilder, Ira Rosen MA, CFEE, Rich Sherman
75 minutes
Main Ballroom. Excited, scared, or a little of both, for the future of events? This panel of industry leaders will show you the roadmap to success!
Keynotes

11:10 am
Affinity Groups:
50 minutes
Round 1: Gov't, Private, Non-Profit, Vendors Round 2: Large 10k+ daily attendance, Medium 2-10k daily attendance, small events (under 2k)
Networking/Socials

12:00 pm
Networking Lunch & Trade Show Speed Networking
120 minutes
Calfest Member Meeting Location: Main Ballroom
General Assembly

2:15 pm
Crisis Communication
Jodi Buresh, CFE
75 minutes
How to prepare for and handle public relations and communication with key stakeholders in a crisis situation.
Marketing

One Question to Unlock Event Planner Client Success
Nicole Matthews
75 minutes
The Ultimate Event Planner’s Hack: One Question to Unlock Client Success
Operations

3:45 pm
Learnings from a First Year Festival
Steve Clayton
75 minutes
Unpack key takeaways from producing a 10,000 person one day music festival for a city in Texas!
Operations

Parade Operations In 2025
75 minutes
Breakout 1. This session looks at what it takes to stage a parade, from the planning process to step-off!
Operations

5:00 pm
Break for Gala Set Up (Volunteers Welcome!)
60 minutes

6:00 pm
"Gala" & Dinner
180 minutes
Main Ballroom
General Assembly

9:00 pm
Hospitality Suite Sponsored by Honey Bucket
120 minutes
Location: TBA
Networking/Socials