CONFERENCES

Register Today! - 2024 Annual ACI Conference

The 2024 ACI Conference will be held July 22-25, 2024, in Arlington, Virginia. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will host the annual conference at the Hyatt Centric Arlington, which is within walking distance of Georgetown and Arlington Cemetery, and only minutes away from D.C. tours! Mark your calendars to arrive Monday, July 22, and depart Friday, July 26. Register for the conference today!

Conference Registration

Full Conference Attendee: $365
(Changes to $385 after Monday, June 10, 2024)
Guest Registration: $165
Optional Offsite Event: $30
(Limited Spaces Available)

Arlington

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel by Monday July 8, 2024, you will be issued a full refund less a $50 administrative fee.

Hyatt Centric Arlington

Location & Lodging

 

Overnight accommodations are available at the Hyatt Centric Arlington (1325 Wilson Blvd., Arlington City, VA 22209) at a discounted group rate of $176.00 per night plus applicable taxes and service fees. Reserve your room by Monday, July 1, 2024.

To learn more about the conference site, the Hyatt Centric Arlington, visit their website here.

Transportation & Parking

 

– The nearest airport is Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is 4.5 miles away. Dulles International Airport (IAD) is 25 miles away.

– Please note, valet parking at the hotel is $45/day. Here are additional parking options in Rosslyn.

– Voted a Platinum Walking Friendly Community, Arlington is well connected by public transportation with 11 Metrorail stations, 16 bus routes, 109 Capital Bikeshare stations, 50+ miles of paved trails and 25+ miles of on-street bike lanes.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Platinum Level

Engel Entertainment

Gold Level

Aspira
Kalkomey
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
Brandt
National Deer Association
Yamaha Rightwaters
Gordon-Darby
PayIt Outdoors

Silver Level

DJ Case
National Bowhunter Education Foundation
Southwick Associates

Bronze Level

CD3
TSG - The Sourcing Group
NCLI MAT AFWA
Voss Signs
REGLINE

In-Kind

HAHA to AHA
Virginia is for Lovers

Interested in becoming a sponsor or an exhibitor at the ACI Conference? Click below. The Sponsor & Exhibitor registration is live!

Conference Agenda

Draft Agenda (Subject to Change)

Start TimeEnd TimeRoomEventSpeaker

Monday, July 22
2:00 PM5:00 PMSenate Ballroom FoyerRegistration Open
3:00 PM4:00 PMGallery BACI Board Meeting
(For Board Members Only)		Blake Podhajsky, ACI President
4:00 PM5:00 PMGallery BScholarship Meeting
(For Scholarship Recipients Only)		Joanne Martonik, RBFF
5:00 PM7:00 PMAwbrey & SonsWelcome Reception
(Cash bar and hors d'oeuvres available)
7:00 PMBeyondDinner on your own

Tuesday, July 23
8:00 AM5:00 PMSenate Ballroom FoyerRegistration Open
8:00 AM9:00 AMBreakfast on your own
9:00 AM9:30 AMSenate BallroomWelcome from Virginia Department of Wildlife ResourcesRyan Brown, Executive Director of Virginia DWR
9:30 AM10:30 AMSenate BallroomKeynote: Passion, Inspiration, and Excellence in Making the Outdoors Better Together!Dr. Mamie Parker, Commissioner of Virginia DWR
10:30 AM10:35 AMSenate BallroomWelcome to RosslynAlli Henry, Senior Director of Community Engagement of Rosslyn Business Improvement District
10:35 AM10:45 AMSenate Ballroom FoyerRefreshment Break
10:45 AM11:30 AMSenate BallroomInclusion in the OutdoorsShep Roeper, Beyond Boundaries
11:30 PM12:00 PMSenate BallroomDeveloping Strategic Partnerships: Amplifying Your Organization's ReachKelsey Steenburgh, Virginia DWR
12:00 PM12:05 PMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - AspiraDanny Spataro, Director of Sales with Aspira
12:05 PM1:30 PMSenate Ballroom/FoyerLunch Provided
1:30 PM2:15 PMSenate BallroomThe Outdoor Communicators Podcast Live - Episode 6Tim Akimoff, ODFW
Emily MacCabe, MDIFW
Jason Harmon, TWRA
2:15 PM3:00 PMSenate BallroomCrafting an Iconic Brand: The Success Story of 'Virginia is for Lovers'Lindsay Norment, VTC Brand Director
3:00 PM3:05 PMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - BrandtCaroline Wilson, Brandt
3:05 PM3:15 PMSenate Ballroom FoyerRefreshment Break
3:15 PM4:00 PMSenate BallroomUnveiling Virginia's Wildlife Wonders: The Impact of Virginia DWR's Wildlife Camera ProgramMeagan Thomas, Virginia DWR
4:00 PM4:30 PMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight: Television in Relation to Conservation with Engel EntertainmentBen Shank, Engel Entertainment
4:30 PM6:00 PMFree time
6:00 PM9:00 PMSenate Ballroom/FoyerAuction DinnerJason Harmon, TWRA

Wednesday, July 24
8:00 AM5:00 PMSenate Ballroom FoyerRegistration Open
8:00 AM9:00 AMBreakfast on your own
9:00 AM9:45 AMSenate BallroomTo Digitize or Not To Digitize: Panel DiscussionMolly Kirk, Virginia DWR
Smokey Solis, OKDWC
Emily McCabe, MDIFW
James Pitman, NMDGF
9:45 AM10:30 AMSenate BallroomDeveloping Firearm Ownership and Sport Shooting R3 Communications for Black AmericansGeorge Braxton (Virginia DWR) & Tom Beppler (Responsive Management)
10:30 AM10:35 AMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - KalkomeyShelby Crouch, Virginia DWR
10:35 AM10:45 AMSenate Ballroom FoyerRefreshment Break
10:45 AM11:30 AMSenate BallroomDWR's Explore the Wild: Connecting the Public with Outdoor RecreationMax Goldman, Virginia DWR
11:30 PM12:00 PMSenate BallroomYour Ultimate Guide To Master Content CreationAmie Cangelosi, Content Marketing Institute
12:00 PM12:05 PMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - YamahaJohn O'Keefe, Yamaha
12:05 PMBeyondFREE TIME - Explore Arlington & DC!
1:30 PM4:30 PMExcursion Group #1 - Sightseeing Boat Cruise Tour
4:30 PM7:15 PMExcursion Group #2 - Sightseeing Boat Cruise Tour

Thursday, July 25
8:00 AM5:00 PMSenate Ballroom FoyerRegistration Open
8:00 AM9:00 AMBreakfast on your own
9:00 AM10:00 AMSenate BallroomACI Business MeetingBlake Podhajsky, ACI President
10:00 AM10:30 AMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - Leveraging Resources and Research to Increase Participation in Fishing and Boating TogetherJoanne Martonik, RBFF
10:30 AM10:35 AMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - PayIt OutdoorsChris Willard, General Manager
10:35 AM10:45 AMSenate Ballroom FoyerRefreshment Break
10:45 AM11:30 AMSenate BallroomAn Improv Lens: Connection & CollaborationJames Wasilewski, Coach & Facilitator of HAHA to AHA
11:30 PM12:00 PMSenate BallroomUnveiling Key Advancements in Hunting and Shooting Sports R3Lance Cherry, CAHSS
12:00 PM12:05 PMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - Gordon DarbyShelby Crouch, Virginia DWR
12:05 PM1:30 PMSenate Ballroom/FoyerLunch Provided
1:30 PM2:30 PMSenate BallroomA Spoon Full of Sugar: Entertainment vs Education in Social Media Panel DiscussionShelby Crouch, Virginia DWR
Erin Huggins, USFWS
Matt Turner, NPS
Jessie Brown, Iowa DNR
2:30 PM3:00 PMSenate BallroomThe Psychology of Engagement: 10 Easy Ways You Can Use Consumer Behavior Triggers in Your MarketingSarah Marshall, Yes&
3:00 PM3:05 PMSenate BallroomSponsor Spotlight - National Deer AssociationJenifer Wisniewski, National Deer Association
3:05 PM3:15 PMSenate Ballroom FoyerRefreshment Break
3:15 PM4:15 AMSenate BallroomBetter Together BreakoutTim Tassitano and the Virginia DWR Outreach/Communications Team
4:30 PM6:00 PMSenate BallroomAwards Celebration
(Cash bar and hors d'oeuvres available)		Beth Quillian (ODFW) & Chris Martin (WGFD)
6:00 PMBeyondDinner on your own

Friday, July 26
Travel day