Annual Conferences

 FACP hosts two conferences per year -- the Annual Conference in September and the Annual Spring Conference in May. 

The 2021 Annual Spring Conference will be held on  May 6-7, 2021 at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Viera Conference Center, 

We know 2020 has been challenging, so we not only planned (and held, despite Hurricane Sally!) a information-packed 2020 Annual Conference, but we planned some networking in between the learning for those who joined us.  

Topics included:
  • Why Chambers are in a Unique Position to Transform Their Communities  - attendees also received a free copy of the book Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change is Reshaping America, by Quint Studer, who presented the session. 
  • Chamber Executives’ Thoughts in Troubled Times - What do chamber executives think about what they have faced in the era of COVID?  How do they feel about government management (federal, state, and local), their members, and their chamber?  A survey was conducted on July 31 through August 7, 2020 to get a snapshot of chamber leaders’ opinions in this extraordinary period.  Siena College, pollster for The New York Times, conducted the nationwide survey.  The results tell us a lot about chamber executives and about the unsettling times they live in.  Chris Mead, who initiated the poll and brought in Siena College as a partner, interpreted the poll’s major findings and answer questions. 
  • Stop and Give Me 20 - this session focused on how to reclaim up to 80% of your calendar by focusing your energy on only the 20% of your activity that generates the vast majority of your Results, and was presented by Jay Handler, of Membership 180
  • The Legal Issues of COVID-19 - Charles Caulkins, a partner at Fisher Phillips in Fort Lauderdale and the Chair of The Florida Chamber, discussed the legal issues that have arisen as a result of COVID, including visioning for future events; securing effective legislative relief to protect employers, chambers and others from COVID-related claims; and handling situations in which employees become infected or event attendees report they may have exposed others.
  • Human Potential: A State of Mind - Hear Colonel Ed Hubbard, USAF (Retired), who survived 2,420 days as a POW during the Vietnam War, related the valuable lessons learned in the captivity to the real world
    where we must live and work every day. 
  • Is Your Chamber Compliant? - this session addressed current labor laws to assist in ensuring that your chamber is compliant and was presented by Robert Vaden, Community Outreach & Resource Planning Specialist, U.S. Department of Labor.
  • How to Build Your Community: Driving Non-Dues Revenue Through Engagement - Attendees learned how others are using their online presence to not only grow memberships, but also use increased engagement to drive more non-dues revenue to their organization, presented by Eric Meisel, CEO of Tradewing.
  • Amendment2HurtsYou - Should Florida have a $15/hour minimum wage? Ballot Amendment 2 on the November ballot is giving voters the choice.  Carol Dover, CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association,  explained how the $15 minimum wage has worked out in other states, and see how this progressive dream policy will alter Florida's economy.
  • 60 Questions in 60 Minutes: The Impacts of COVID on Chambers and How We Are Coping - attendees shared struggles and ideas with their peers during this open dialogue session
  • CEO and Staff Roundtables - these are always one of the most popular sessions at our conferences and didn't disappoint this year.



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