Wednesday- Sept 2, 2026: 

Noon-4:00pm: Show Office and Registration Open – collect your badge, pick up your Summit bag, and get details on the Welcome Reception.  The event is located in the Lafayette Ballroom.  

4:30pm-6:00pm: Welcome Reception and Speed Publishing Networking Event  – Lafayette Ballroom.   SPONSORED BY PUBLICATION PRINTERS!
The Summit starts NOW with high-level executive networking and introductions! Grab a drink and meet your fellow attendees in Speed Publishing, a Niche event favorite led by Niche Events Owner Ryan Dohrn and Dave Sanchez from Publication Printers. This reception will give you quick peer intros and set you up for a successful Summit!

6:00pm: Group Dinners or dinner on your own.  Sponsors put together groups to take you to dinner!  
8:00pm-11:00pm: Join your fellow Publishing friends at the Lounge on-site for music and local brews.

Thursday- September 3, 2026: 

8:30am-4:00pm: Show Office and Registration Open.  Lafayette Ballroom

8:30am:  Coffee chat, Lafayette Ballroom:  Coffee and tea bar open.  NOTE:  BREAKFAST ON YOUR OWN.  

9:00am – 9:15am:  Opening Ceremonies Lafayette Ballroom. 
9:15am-10:00am:  Morning Power Keynote:  A.I. In Publishing, What is REALLY Working:  SPEAKER:  Scott Jamieson, CEO of Annex Business Media.  AI is moving fast, but what is actually working inside a real media company? Scott will share how his team is using AI to create revenue-driving products, understand niche audiences, improve client reporting, repurpose content, and make editorial work more accessible. He will also offer a sneak peek at new ideas already in motion.

10am – 10:30am: Coffee Break – Continue conversations and meet with attending sponsors for ideas and solutions chats.

10:30am-12pm – 3 Roundtable Sessions: Q&A and discussion with your peers within your market and job functions.  

Roundtable #1: B2B PUBLISHERS: Moderated by Eric Shanfelt.  Topics include: paid content, AI impact on Publishers, hiring/firing, finding salespeople, building an editorial board, new revenue ideas, and more. (The moderator will guide the actual topic selection and discussion.)  

Roundtable #2: CONSUMER PUBLISHERS: Moderated by Jon and Erin Westmand, Publishers- Coastal Style Magazine.  Topics include: AI impact on Publishers, Google’s new search release, paid content, hiring/firing, finding salespeople, launching ancillary products, new revenue ideas, and more. (The moderator will guide the actual topic selection and discussion.)   

Roundtable #3: SALES MANAGEMENT: Moderated by Nancy O’Brien, Aviation International News.  Topics include: AI impact on sales, sales comp plans, hiring/firing, finding salespeople, building an advertiser advisory board, new ad revenue ideas, and more.  (The moderator will guide the actual topic selection and discussion.)   

Lunch and Power Keynote:  SPONSORED BY MediaOS. Lafayette Ballroom
12pm-12:30pm: Lunch
12:30pm-1:15pm: KEYNOTE:  What 30 Years in Media Teaches You:  Ernesto Burden, President and CEO of Yankee Publishing, has seen what works, what fails, and what it takes to keep a trusted media brand moving forward. In this candid session, Ernesto will share his top 10 lessons learned, along with practical insights on leadership, growth, brand relevance, and the future of one of the nation’s most recognized media companies.

1:15pm – 2:15pm :  PUBLISHER POWER PANEL:  Over 200 years of publishing experience on stage as Ryan Dohrn asks the tough questions to this panel about lessons learned and the future of publishing.  Panel features: Publishers of the Year, Barb Krause, CEO & Publisher – NEI Turner Media, and Sonja Babich, CEO & Owner – Iron Diamond Media.  Also featuring Kevin Uhlenhaker, CEO & Publisher of Parking Today Media, and Brandon Foreman, Publisher, Family Resources Group.  

2:15pm-2:230pm: Coffee Break – Continue conversations and meet with attending sponsors for ideas and solutions chats.

2:30pm-4:00pm – Roundtable Sessions continue.  

Roundtable #1: B2B PUBLISHERS continue…

Roundtable #2: CONSUMER PUBLISHERS continue…

Roundtable #3: SALES MANAGEMENT continue…

4:00pm-4:30pm: Quick break to check email and freshen up for the networking event!

4:30pm-6:00pm: Networking Event – On-site at hotel.  SPONSORED BY MIKE & KEVIN FROM 032 OUTSOURCING. 

6:00pm: Dinner on your own, with new CEO friends, or ask a sponsor to take you to dinner!  
8:00pm-11:00pm: Join your fellow Publishing friends at the Lounge on-site for music and local brews.

Friday, September 4, 2026: 

8:00am-2:00pm: Show Office Open
8:00am-9:00am: Hot Breakfast / Morning Coffee Roundtables.  Pick up on yesterday’s conversations or dive into a new topic table with your colleagues.  

9am – Noon: Lafayette Ballroom.  Interactive Executive Learning POWER Sessions:  High-level executive briefing, live Q&A, bring your laptops for tactical and practical ideas you can run with right away!  Sponsored by EZ Solutions

Topic #1: 9am – 9:30am :  Digital Trends to Watch and Maybe Launch – Digital is moving fast, but not every trend is worth chasing. Eric Shanfelt of Nearview Media will share what is hot, what is not, and what media leaders should be watching next. From emerging tools to practical revenue opportunities, this session will help you spot the digital ideas that are worth testing, launching, or leaving behind.

Topic #2: 9:30am -10am :

Power Pivots in Publishing: 7 Strategies Every Media Company CEO Needs to Know.  Publishing is changing fast, and smart leaders know when to pivot. Kevin Uhlenhaker, CEO and Publisher of Parking Today Media, will share candid lessons from starting, selling, and operating tech and media companies. From AI and sales to tech stacks and fast decision-making, you will leave with seven actionable strategies you can use right away.

Topic #3: 10am – 10:30am :  The Great Compensation Debate. Hiring and keeping great salespeople is harder than ever, and compensation can make or break your recruiting success. Billion-dollar sales coach Ryan Dohrn will share practical comp and bonus plan ideas that media companies are using to attract better candidates, motivate stronger performance, and build a sales team that can grow revenue.

Topic #3: 10:30am – 11am:  Coffee Break 

Topic #4:  11am – Noon : Dr. David Walker – The Leadership Referee is an NCAA referee with a leadership comeback story like no other!  Leave the event PUMPED UP TO SLAM DUNK! 

Noon – 12:15pm:  Event wrap-up with Ryan Dohrn.  SEE YOU IN 2027.

The above schedule, topics, and speakers are subject to change