AE Symposium
AE Symposium 2026
The Colorado Association of REALTORS® is thrilled to host the 2026 AE Symposium from July 21-23 in beautiful Glenwood Springs, CO! This year’s event will feature dynamic speakers, fun-filled activities, and best of all – networking with your fellow AEs. Register now for the AE Symposium! (This event is for AEs/Association Staff/MLS Execs only.)
What: 2026 AE Symposium
When: July 21-23, 2026
Cost: Registration Fee is $135/person
Where: Hotel Colorado
JULY 21 – Welcome Reception:
The Welcome Reception will be held from 4:30pm-6:00pm
JULY 21 – Dinner Dates with your AE Colleagues
Enjoy some great food and fun while connecting with other AEs! Whether you’re new to the industry, want to expand your network, or just need dinner – this is a great way to connect with other AEs! CAR will make reservations for parties up to 8 people at various restaurants within a 10-minute walk from the hotel, offering an expansive selection of foods and price points for you to choose from.
Here’s How It Works:
These special reservations are only available to those who pre-register for this additional networking event during the registration check-out process.
After you RSVP for the Dinner Dates event, you will receive an email after July 4th asking you to select the restaurant reservation you’d like to join, along with the meet-up location and time. Don’t leave your AE colleagues in a lurch-they want to meet you. If you need to cancel, please do so in writing no later than Friday, July 17 to avoid the dreaded “table for one.”
JULY 22 – Off-site Dinner – Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park (optional):
We will meet in the lobby at 4:30 sharp for a short 10 minute walk to the base of the gondola. We will then enjoy food, fun and friendship at the top for dinner. Last Gondola ride down is 7pm.
Crisis Management for Association Executives
How do you respond to a crisis you did not see coming? Have a communication plan to mitigate the situation. Can you come out better on the other side? Only if you act swift, address the crisis and share your truth. Content will look at the trends in “association in crisis”, how to determine where your association is most vulnerable, and the elements of a good communication plan.
Elizabeth Mendenhall: Elizabeth Mendenhall, a REALTOR® from Columbia, Missouri, was the 2018 President of the National Association of REALTORS®. A sixth-generation REALTOR®, Elizabeth is the CEO for RE/MAX Boone Realty and has been in the business for more than 20 years.
As the 2018 President, Elizabeth helped drive bold innovation, specifically aimed at heightening NAR’s communications, technology and advocacy strategies. Accomplishments include amplifying real-time member communications, championing fair housing, and positioning REALTORS® as technology advocates to further emphasize the critical nature of the role REALTORS® provide in the industry. An accomplished speaker, Elizabeth represents the association and NAR’s Leadership Team, presenting to REALTOR® and industry audiences, nationwide and abroad.
Strong Boards, Smart Boundaries: Keeping Volunteer Leadership on Track
Volunteer leaders are essential, but without clear structure and boundaries, even the most well-intentioned boards can drift into micromanagement, blurred roles, and decision-making chaos. This session is designed to help Association Executives confidently navigate board governance while maintaining productive, respectful relationships with volunteer leaders.
You’ll gain practical strategies to define roles, set expectations, and establish governance best practices that keep your board focused on strategy, not operations. We’ll cover how to handle overstepping, redirect difficult dynamics, and create systems that support accountability without creating conflict.
Bill Charney: Bill Charney is widely recognized as one of North America’s foremost authorities on board leadership and Policy Governance, helping boards clarify expectations, roles, and accountability while proactively establishing performance standards. A highly engaging speaker and experienced consultant, he brings decades of leadership—from founding CEO of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival to serving on and chairing diverse boards—to help organizations worldwide improve governance and effectiveness.
Tom Keyse: Tom Keyse joined Bill Charney as a Consulting Associate in 2018, became Senior Consultant in 2021, and was named Partner in 2025, bringing extensive experience serving nonprofit, faith-based, arts, and trade organizations as a board member and chair with deep expertise in governance, fiduciary responsibilities, and Policy Governance® training. A former attorney with three decades in corporate law, Tom combines his legal background, governance certifications, and recognized community leadership to help boards clarify roles, expectations, and accountability while strengthening organizational effectiveness.
AI in Action: Hands-On Tools to Run Your Association Smarter
Ready to move beyond the buzz and actually use AI in your day-to-day work? This interactive, hands-on session is designed specifically for Association Executives who want practical ways to save time, improve member engagement, and streamline operations using AI.
You’ll learn how to apply AI to real association tasks like drafting communications, analyzing member data, creating marketing content, planning events, and more. Bring your laptop and charger this is a working session where you’ll actively build, experiment, and walk away with AI-powered solutions tailored to your organization.
Dan Streeter: Dan Streeter is the CEO of Mission Fuel, which is committed to reshaping how associations, from small to large scales use cutting-edge AI technologies to improve their daily workflow and improve work-life balance.
THANK YOU TOP SPONSORS
