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VMAE at VLC

VMAE Membership Breakfast
Thursday, January 8, 2026
7:45-8:30 AM

We will hold a breakfast with networking and VMAE updates on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 7:45 – 8:30 AM. The VMAE membership breakfast will take place during the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference in Chicago at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.

This breakfast is for VMAE members and representatives of VMAE Strategic Initiative Partners only. Immediately after the breakfast, the “High Performing Boards” workshop will begin in a different meeting room, where we will meet our other leaders registered for the workshop. We sent VMAE members registration and other information about the workshop earlier today.

To make sure we have accurate counts please click here to indicate if you are able to attend or not attend the VMAE | VLC Membership Breakfast. Please respond before December 31st. We will confirm the exact room location when this information becomes available.

It’s our pleasure to announce the High Performing Boards, Organizational Performance, and Leading Practices in Veterinary Association Governance workshop taking place at the AVMA VLC on Thursday, January 8, 2026. This one-day workshop, previously titled “Critical Issues”, is designed to deepen alignment and expand effectiveness of key elected and staff leaders in your VMA. Here are a few key points about this program:

High Performing Boards, Organizational Performance, and Leading Practices in Governance
Thursday, January 8, 2026
8:30 AM-4:00 PM

This session is designed for Executive Directors and CEOs of veterinary medical associations to attend with 1-2 elected officers from their organizations.

Session requires additional registration with AVMA VLC registration

Description:

The greatest asset of any association is its volunteer board of directors and the partnership with staff. As with any asset of such importance, its care and feeding are paramount to the returns it produces. We will take you through an in-depth exploration of governance leading practices that have been validated in high­ performing boards. We will also focus specifically on the roles, responsibilities, and the important relationship between the board, the board chair, the executive director, and the staff.

Presenter and Facilitator:
Linda Caradine-Poinsett, PhD, MJ, MBA
Chief Strategy Officer for Association Management Center

  • Why did VMAE develop this program?
    VMAE members have expressed the need for cost-effective AND high-quality leadership development opportunities. Dr. Linda Caradine-Poinsett, Chief Strategy Officer for Association Management Center will take you through an in-depth exploration of governance leading practices that have been validated in high performing boards. We will also focus specifically on the roles, responsibilities, and the important relationship between the board, key officers, the executive director, and the staff.
  • When will it be held?
    Thanks to collaboration with AVMA, this program will be offered as part of the VLC on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, with a lunch break allowing attendees to attend the Conversation Circles Luncheon that day. The arrangement allows you and your team to leverage the travel dollars you’re already spending to get to Chicago.
  • What about registration?
    The workshop registration fee is lowered to $155 per person (down from $329 per person from previous years) and far less than similar programs offered in the association marketplace. As our colleague David Foley, CAE, says “You won’t find this kind of high-level training for your leaders anywhere at that price.” Registration includes the full day of program content and workshop exercises plus lunch.
  • How do I register my leadership partners?
    We simplified the process for this workshop greatly. Registration can be done on the AVMA website. You and the VMA leaders simply register for the conference and during the registration process, you each select the High Performing workshop. Please note that because of the specific design of this workshop, registration is available ONLY to VMA executive directors and two key officers, preferably the President and President-Elect. Those of you affiliated with VMAs represented in the AVMA House of Delegates should have received an email recently from the AVMA about partial travel expense reimbursements.
  • How often will this program be held?
    The program is intentionally designed for you and your current and incoming president in order to enhance continuity, communication and effectiveness through the succession of your elected leaders. In effect, this program sets you up for success over a two-year period. Accordingly, this program is not slated to be offered again until 2028.

A more detailed description of the workshop can be found if you click on the title of the session on the VLC website. If you have any questions about the workshop, please reach out and we would be happy to discuss what we know will be an exceptional learning experience.

Finally, VMAE wishes to thank AVMA for its collaboration on making this program possible. Both organizations share a commitment to helping you and your VMA thrive, and this offering underscores that commitment and reflects the spirit of partnership that VMAE and AVMA enjoy.