2026 Education Conference & Trade Show - Apartment Association of Metro Denver

Back to Events

Thursday, May 14, 2026

to Friday, May 15, 2026

Colorado Convention Center

700 14th Street Denver, CO 80202-3213

* Registration open until 5/1/26 at 11:59 PM (MDT)

Category: Signature Event

The Greatest Show in Multifamily!

TWO DAYS - May 14 AND May 15

Don't miss the largest Multifamily Housing conference in the Rocky Mountain region with a wide range of education programs for all levels, inspiring keynote address, and trade show floor of fun and networking.

AGENDA

Thursday, May 14

9:00am - 4:30pm: Exhibitor Set UP

11:00am - 12:00pm: Attendee Registration Opens

12:00pm - 2:30pm: 2026 New Laws Seminar

2:45pm - 3:45pm: Concurrent Education Sessions

_{*Education sessions included with your ticket}

Friday, May 15

7:15am - 3:00pm: Registration & Check In
(if you already have your namebadge, no need to check in)

8:00am - 11:15am: Trade Show Floor is Open

8:15am - 9:00am: Education Session A

9:15am - 10:15am: Education Session B

10:30am - 11:00am: Rapid Fire Education Session

11:15am - 1:00pm: Keynote Luncheon with Jon Dorenbos
(All Access Admission Only, Trade Show Floor is Closed)

1:00pm - 4:00pm: Trade Show Reception
(Open to ALL Attendees, includes cash drawings, appetizers, beverages, networking, prizes and more!)

All Access Admission

	Credits	Price
All-Access Admission (Regular Pricing) All-Access Admission includes Conference Kickoff (Morning General Session), all education seminars on May 14 AND May 15, access to the trade show floor and the Keynote Luncheon. Registration Ends 3/31/26 at 11:59 PM MDT	3.00	$275.00 See QTY Discounts

Non-Member Admission

	Credits	Price
General Admission (Non-Member Price) General Admission tickets are only available to owner/management companies, not suppliers or vendor companies. If you are an owner/management company representative looking to purchase a ticket, please e-mail events@aamdhq.org for more information. Registration Ends 5/1/26 at 11:59 PM MDT		$400.00
All-Access Admission (Non-Member Price) All Access Admission tickets are only available to owner/management companies, not suppliers or vendor companies. If you are an owner/management company representative looking to purchase a ticket, please e-mail events@aamdhq.org for more information.		$600.00

Agenda

May 14
11:00 AM - 3:45 PM	Registration
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM	New Laws
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM	Precon Sessions
May 15
7:15 AM - 4:00 PM	Registration
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM	Education Session A
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM	Education Session B
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM	Rapid Fire Sessions
11:15 AM - 1:00 PM	Keynote Lunch
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM	Trade Show Reception

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Jon Dorenbos

Author, 2 Time NFL Pro-Bowler and America's Got Talent Finalist

Life is Magic
An Inspiring Journey from Tragedy to Self-Discovery

What if the most unimaginable adversity could become the foundation for an extraordinary life? In Life Is Magic, Jon Dorenbos delivers a keynote that is equal parts powerful storytelling, unforgettable inspiration, and jaw-dropping magic.

With grace, grit, and heart, Jon shares his journey from childhood tragedy and foster care to a 14-year NFL career, a finalist spot on America’s Got Talent, and stages around the world inspiring Fortune 500 audiences. After losing his mother in an unthinkable act of violence, Jon found healing through football, magic, and a choice to live with purpose.

Seamlessly blending world-class magic with deeply human storytelling, Jon creates a keynote experience that captivates, motivates, and leaves audiences aligned, energized, and ready to take action.

Jon's Keynote Luncheon will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026

CLICK BELOW TO SEE JON IN ACTION

May 14: Pre-Conference Sessions

May 14: 1:00pm-2:30pm

2026 NEW LAWS

Speakers: Pete Muccio and Jonathon Carlson

Management, Leadership, Operations.

May 14: 2:45pm-3:45pm

Why Can't I Keep Good People?

Speaker: Beth Smith

Beth Smith, former restaurateur, is the Founder and President of A-list Interviews and has managed teams of up to 50 people. She has been around the block a few times when it comes to retaining employees, and she shares those tips and tricks in her open- hearted and fun exchange with her audience. As a participant, you will receive 5 tips that you can immediately integrate into your business. Excellent program for CEO’s, hiring managers and human resources professionals.

Say What You Mean (Without Making It Weird)

Speaker: Mindy Price

Communication in our industry isn’t just about answering emails and posting notices. It’s about navigating personalities, resolving conflict, giving feedback that doesn’t spark a walkout, and building trust with every word. Whether you lead one site or multiple teams, your words set the tone and the direction. This session goes beyond “use your words” and dives into how to own your message, tailor it to different audiences, and say the hard stuff without hesitation or regret. You’ll leave with the tools to speak with clarity, listen with purpose, and influence outcomes without losing your cool (or your team). Message Mastey: Learn how to craft and deliver message that are clear, direct, and audience aware. No more over explaining or being misunderstood. Confidence in Conflict: Tools to navigate hard conversations with poise, empathy, and follow through. Build a Culture of Communication: How consistent, intentional communication leads to fewer assumptions, stronger accountability, and better team cohesion.

May 15 Sessions

Specialty Sessions (8:15am-9:00am)

Executive Communication: Influencing Owners, Investors, and Teams

Speaker: Ishea Shepherd

Effective leaders know how to communicate across every level, from the boardroom to the leasing office. This session explores strategies for tailoring communication to owners, investors, and front-line staff. Attendees will learn how to align priorities, deliver updates with impact, and build credibility through clear messaging.

Maintenance Panel

Speakers: Codey Smiley (More panelists to be announced soon)

Description Coming Soon

The Other Move-In: Team Onboarding Through the Resident Lens

Speaker: Steve Wunch

In multifamily, we roll out the red carpet for new residents—welcome emails, curated checklists, and smiling faces at the front door. But when it comes to new team members, that same thoughtful energy often disappears, replaced by paperwork, passwords, and a “figure it out” mindset.

It’s time to re-imagine onboarding and offboarding through the lens we know best: the resident journey. In this high-impact, interactive session, you’ll discover how to mirror the magic of move-in day to create unforgettable first impressions for new hires—and lasting loyalty when they leave.

We’ll explore the three most critical (and often overlooked) touchpoints in the employee life cycle—pre-boarding, onboarding, and offboarding—and give you practical strategies to transform each. You’ll walk away with tools to build culture from Day One, reduce early-stage turnover, and turn former employees into future advocates.

Whether you’re in the leasing office, managing properties, or leading corporate teams, this session will change the way you welcome—and say farewell—to your people.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Design a Pre-Boarding Experience that mirrors the multifamily resident move-in journey using personal, tech-enabled touchpoints.
• Transform Onboarding into a Culture-Building Celebration that fosters early confidence, connection, and competency.
• Leverage Offboarding as a Retention & Recruitment Strategy through intentional exit experiences and alumni engagement.

Next Generation: What the Z's Want from Employers

Speakers: Brett Frank and Faith Mendoza

What does Gen Z want from employers? What motivates them? How can you recruit and retain them in today’s competitive job market? Join two experts from Gen Z to discuss recruitment, training, and leadership to discover what matters most to this generation. This interactive

The Human Advantage - When AI Steals the Spotlight, Real Leaders Still Run the Show

Speaker: Mindy Price

AI is having a moment. It’s fast, impressive, and reshaping how we communicate with residents, manage teams and measure performance. It might even seem like the new rock star on the team. While AI can generate data, it can’t build trust. It can draft a message, but it can’t walk into a tough meeting and bring people back together. It definitely can’t rally a team around bold goals when things have gone off course.

This session is for leaders at all levels who want to sharpen the skills AI can’t touch; presence, clarity, influence, and the ability to lead in the moments that matter most. You will walk away with tools to steady the room, connect across roles, and lead with purpose when the pressure is real.

In a world chasing speed and scale, the real edge isn’t just being efficient, it’s being human.

Tax Credit Applications and Recertifications: Best Practices

Speaker: CHFA

Description Coming Soon

Executive Leadership Panel

Speakers: Carol Nelson, Naomi Marquez, Charlie Hogan

Description Coming Soon

Catching Fraud Before It Costs You

Speaker: Desiree Romero (More panelists to be announced soon)

Description Coming Soon

Game Changers (9:15am-10:15am)

From Firefighting to Forecasting: Proactive Time Management for Property Teams

Speakers: Ishea Shepherd

Property management teams often find themselves constantly reacting to problems instead of preventing them. This session teaches leaders how to move from firefighting to forecasting, building systems that anticipate needs and reduce emergencies. Attendees will leave with practical methods for scheduling, delegation, and planning that save time and improve outcomes.

Resilience Under Pressure: Lessons from the NFL

Speaker: Brandon Stokley

Description Coming Soon

Disrupt, Delight, Deliver: Igniting Creative Confidence in Multifamily Teams

Speaker: Steve Wunch

In an industry built on process and policy, it’s easy to default to what’s always been done. But in today’s ultra-competitive multifamily landscape, standing out requires something more: bold creativity with purpose. This energizing keynote challenges leasing professionals, property managers, and corporate leaders to reimagine how they engage residents, support teams, and shape their communities.

Discover how small but powerful acts of innovation can disrupt the mundane, delight residents in meaningful ways, and deliver a culture where creativity isn’t just allowed—it’s expected. Through real-world examples, leadership insights, and subtle storytelling tools like personalized video messaging, you’ll leave inspired to build a brand—and a community—no one can copy.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• A new lens on creativity as a business strategy, not a buzzword
• Proven ideas to spark engagement and emotional connection
• A road map to build a culture where innovation thrives—from leasing office to leadership
If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not the creative one,” this session was made for you. Let’s unlock what’s possible when people feel empowered to create.

You’re Not Selling the Apartment. You’re Selling the Decision

Speaker: Lisa Trosien

Renters already know the layout, the rent, and what the apartment looks like. What they’re still unsure about is whether they’re making the right choice. That’s where you come in. This session is all about shifting your approach. Less selling, more guiding. Less pressure, more clarity. We’ll dig into what today’s renter actually needs from you to move forward and how to confidently lead them there.
Learning Objectives:
Learning how to shift from selling the space to guiding the decision
Recognizing renter hesitation and responding with confidence
Replacing small talk with clarity that builds trust
Creating momentum without sounding pushy or scripted.

Helping Leaders Build a Strong, More Resilient Mindset

Speaker: Hollie Jo Helpler

Pressure is inevitable burnout doesn’t have to be. In this high-energy session, Hollie Jo Hepler of Master Your Mindset LLC shows leaders how to take control of stress reset their mindset and turn pressure into fuel for peak performance. Walk away with practical tools to build resilience lead with clarity and stay strong through constant change.

Objectives
Participants will learn how to:

Spot when stress is running the show
Reset their mindset in real time
Build daily habits that fight burnout and boost resilience
Turn pressure into momentum
Lead themselves and others with confidence through change

Why Can't I Hire Good People?

Speaker: Beth Smith

Beth Smith is the Founder and President of A-list Interviews and the Response Analysis System ™. Beth, author of “Why Can’t I Hire Good People?”, “Power Hire” and “Hire Power” takes a deeper look into this common question as she shares a hiring mistake that landed her business on national news. During her lighthearted and practical look into today’s interview process, the audience will gain insight into her 7 Step process, designed to identify employees who will perform at a high level and fit culturally. This process has a 91% retention rate for employees after a year. Excellent program for CEOs, executive retreats, hiring managers and human resource professionals.

The Wicked Truth About Mental Health

Speaker: Marci French

Take a magical journey through the Land of Oz as we explore what the characters
from Wicked can teach leaders about supporting mental health in their teams and
communities. Through familiar characters and relatable moments, we’ll uncover
practical ways to lead with clarity, compassion, and balance — all while
strengthening your own well‑being along the way.