2026 Michigan YMCA Leaders Conference
Tentative Conference Agenda
The one-day conference schedule is filled with three rounds of Breakout Sessions, Panel Discussions and Networking Opportunities.
| TIME | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| 8:00–8:40 am | Registration Starts |
| 8:40–9:30 am | Opening Remarks |
| 9:45–10:30 am | YMCA Professional Networks |
| 10:40–11:40 am | Breakout 1 |
| 11:50–12:55 am | Lunch & Youth Speaker |
| 1:05–2:05 pm | Breakout 2 |
| 2:15–3:15 pm | Breakout 3 |
| 3:25–3:45 pm | Closing Remarks and Prizes |
Conference Breakout Sessions
YMCA Learning Hub: Exploring the YMCA Learning Ecosystem – Bobby Mandell(YUSA)
The YMCA Learning Hub is more than a new learning platform. It is the gateway to the YMCA Learning Ecosystem, connecting staff and volunteers to learning, leadership development, certifications, resources, trainers, and peers across the Movement. Designed with a modern, mobile-first experience, the Learning Hub makes it easier than ever to discover learning opportunities, follow personalized learning plans, track progress, and access development resources anytime, anywhere.
In this interactive workshop session, participants will explore how the Learning Hub and broader Learning Ecosystem work together to support individual growth, strengthen talent pipelines, and create a culture where learning is part of the job. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for leveraging these tools and resources to develop staff, engage learners, and build stronger Ys.
Understanding Your YMCA Retirement Fund Benefit – Matt Servedio(YMCA Retirement)
This session is designed for those ready to learn more about saving for retirement. You’ll learn how to make the most of the 401(a) Retirement Plan and the 403(b) Savings Plan while working. The session will also address key topics such as:
- How much experts recommend you should save during your working years to meet income replacement needs in retirement.
- How you can achieve lifetime income in retirement.
- Some of the similarities and differences between the Tax-Deferred Account and the new Roth
From Surviving to Nourishing Connections: Meals, Belonging & Community Impact – Stacey McDaniel(YUSA) & Amanda Schmitz(Monroe YMCA)
Food is more than nutrition. It can be a powerful way to strengthen relationships, foster belonging, and support community well-being.
Many Ys are already connecting children and families to meals, snacks, and resources through programs they offer every day. Join Stacey McDaniel of YMCA of the USA and Amanda Schmitz of the Monroe Family YMCA for an introduction to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Learn how these programs can build on the strengths of your existing work, create pathways to sustainable funding and reimbursement, and expand your impact.
Whether your Y is already serving snack and meals, or exploring new opportunities to support families, you’ll leave with practical resources, fresh ideas, and next steps for creating meaningful connections through food.
Mental Health Community Care: Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Each Other – Sarah Johnson(The Joy Labs)
Y Leaders at all levels are invited to join Sarah Johnson of The Joy Labs for an interactive introduction to the Y’s Mental Health Community Care (MHCC) model—and a sneak peek at our brand-new, full-day MHCC experience! Explore how connection, resilience, practical skills, and caring for ourselves can help us better care for one another. Come ready to connect, participate, and get a taste of what MHCC is all about—because stronger communities of care start with us. ✨
Accreditation Unpacked: The Good, The Hard, and The Helpful – Becca Gutwirth(Praesidium), Carri Burgjohann(YUSA) & Kyandé Sanders(AAY)
Join us for a panel discussion with YUSA, Praesidium, and Kyande Sanders from recently accredited Ann Arbor YMCA to hear the ins and outs of Praesidium Accreditation. Topics will include timelines, meeting cadence, and the support and resources provided. The discussion will include the potential costs a YMCA might occur as a result of the process, as well as the standards that may prove more challenging to meet. We’ll also dispel some of the myths of accreditation and provide plenty of time for questions. You’ll leave the session having a better understanding of the process and things you can do ahead of time to prepare.
AI – Governed, Managed, and Secured – Damian Walters(Damian Walters & Associates, LLC)
- Understand how AI is currently being used in cybersecurity operations and security tooling
- Recognize how threat actors use AI to increase attack speed, scale, and sophistication
- Identify operational risks introduced by AI‑enabled automation and AI‑driven decision‑making
- Establish governance and policy expectations for AI use across the organization
- Align AI usage with existing cybersecurity, vendor management, and risk management frameworks
- Understand common regulatory and examiner themes related to AI, data usage, and model risk
- Evaluate third‑party and vendor AI claims from a risk, control, and evidence‑based perspective
- Distinguish between acceptable efficiency gains and unacceptable control gaps
- Define appropriate management and board oversight without requiring deep technical expertise
- Equip leadership teams to ask informed, risk‑based questions before and during AI adoption
Too Old for This, Too Young for That – Engaging Tweens & Teens at the Y: Nicole Richard(Michigan Alliance) & Tamara Custard(Kalamazoo)
What happens when kids outgrow traditional youth programming—but aren’t quite ready for what comes next? This session explores how Ys can intentionally engage, support, and create belonging for tweens and teens, with special attention to the often-overlooked 8–12-year-old age group. Come ready to explore what young people need, share what’s working, and think differently about how we keep them connected to the Y as they grow.
From “Im Bored” to “Can we do that Again” – Andaiye Spencer(The Henry Ford) & Katie Dallos(The Henry Ford)
Experience invention education in action. Participants will work through a condensed Invention Convention build process, using hands-on challenges and playful learning to develop creative solutions. Designed for OST and YMCA audiences, this session highlights practical strategies for engaging youth through problem based learning and real-world problem solving.
Growing Connections: Creative Solutions for Community Well-Being – Stacey McDaniel(YUSA) & Amanda Schmitz(Monroe YMCA)
Every Y has unique strengths, partnerships, and assets that can help children and families thrive. The key is finding approaches that fit your community.
Join Stacey McDaniel of YMCA of the USA and a panel of stellar YMCA leaders from across Michigan for an interactive conversation on innovative strategies that strengthen access to nutritious food, foster belonging, and support community well being. Through real-world examples, panelists will share how they’re building partnerships, engaging community voices, leveraging resident camps, overcoming operational challenges, and creating solutions that work in communities for Ys of all sizes.
Whether you’re looking to expand food access efforts, strengthen partnerships, or spark new ideas, you’ll leave with practical strategies, lessons learned, and inspiration to help your Y create a healthier, more connected community.
Skills Lab: Real Challenges, Shared Wisdom, Practical Solutions – Scott Fahrney(YUSA)
Every Y leader faces challenges that do not come with a playbook. In this facilitated peer-learning experience, YMCA leaders will explore real organizational challenges, share promising practices, and leverage the collective expertise of the room to develop actionable solutions. Through structured dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, participants will strengthen their leadership capacity while building the connections that help leaders thrive and organizations excel.
From “Im Bored” to “Can we do that Again” – Andaiye Spencer(The Henry Ford) & Katie Dallos(The Henry Ford)
Experience invention education in action. Participants will work through a condensed Invention Convention build process, using hands-on challenges and playful learning to develop creative solutions. Designed for OST and YMCA audiences, this session highlights practical strategies for engaging youth through problem based learning and real-world problem solving.
The Y’s Why: Building a Culture of Mental Health & Well-Being – Sarah Johnson(The Joy Labs)
Y Leaders who oversee and support staff are invited to join Sarah Johnson of The Joy Labs for an interactive conversation exploring the Y’s unique opportunity to support mental health and well-being.
Together, we’ll explore what informal mental health support can look like in a YMCA setting, why this work matters, and help you uncover YOUR Y’s “why” for making mental health and well-being part of how you care for your staff and community.
The Future of Membership – Joe Kovalchek(YUSA)
The future of membership will not be determined by facilities, amenities, or pricing alone. It will be shaped by how well each YMCA understands its community and intentionally designs membership to meet the needs of the people it is uniquely positioned to serve.
In this interactive 60-minute workshop, participants will move beyond theory and begin the practical work of building a local membership strategy. Using Y-USA’s Community Insights platform, attendees will learn how to access and interpret community data, identify priority populations and emerging needs, and translate those insights into strategic membership commitments. Along the way, participants will explore how Achievement, Relationships, and Belonging can serve as the foundation for a more intentional and transformational membership experience.
Participants will leave with:
- An understanding of how to access and use Y-USA’s Community Insights data.
- A framework for identifying priority community groups and unmet needs.
- Draft member segments grounded in local realities rather than assumptions.
- Initial strategic membership commitments that can guide future decisions around experience, engagement, access, and growth.
- A roadmap for continuing the process with their leadership team after the conference.
Recommended Preparation: Attendees are encouraged to obtain Insights Plus access through their local MOYP administrator before the session to maximize participation and leave with the most complete set of workshop outputs.
From Surviving to Thriving: A Leadership Reset – Mia Copes(GTBY)
YMCA leaders spend much of their time caring for staff, members, families, and communities, often while managing competing priorities, difficult conversations, and constant demands on their time and energy. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore practical strategies for building resiliency, managing stress, and becoming more intentional in how they respond under pressure. Using the framework Pause. Wonder. Choose., participants will learn how to recognize their own energy and stress responses, pause before reacting, challenge the assumptions and perceptions influencing their thinking, and focus their energy on what they can control and influence. Leaders will also explore common energy traps such as perfectionism, over functioning, judging, and getting stuck in concerns outside of their control. Participants will leave with simple, practical tools they can use immediately in their own leadership practice and bring back to their teams to encourage greater self-awareness, connection, resilience, and intentional leadership.
What’s Next? The Future of Learning at the Y – Scott Fahrney(YUSA) & Bobby Mandell(YUSA)
YMCA learning is evolving—and there’s a LOT happening behind the scenes! Join Bobby and Scott from Y-USA for a look at what’s new, what’s coming, and what it all means for your Y. From updates to programs and new learning ideas to the evolving training ecosystem and how we develop staff at every level, this session will give you a peek at where YMCA learning is headed. Come hear what’s being built, ask questions, share what your Y needs, and help imagine what’s next for learning across the Movement.
Networking Groups
Our Network Gatherings give conference attendees dedicated time to connect with their cohorts from across the state to discuss best practices, trends, and challenges.
Conference Location: Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Address
Eastern Michigan University
900 Oakwood St.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Parking
Parking will be available in the Student Center Lot and provided as part of your conference registration.
2026 Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Conference Sponsors
The Michigan YMCA Leaders Conference relies on the generous sponsorship of local businesses and individual leaders to present the highest quality conference for Y professionals and volunteers. Our sponsors will be in attendance at the conference, so if you have the opportunity, please give them your consideration and recognize their contributions.
Please contact Becca Schnetzer, [email protected], if you are interested in sponsoring our 2026 conference.
Sponsorship Details2026 SPONSORS
