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NACD 2026 Summer Meeting
Friday, July 17
 

9:00am EDT

NACD Executive Board Meeting
Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 3:00pm EDT
Business meeting of NACD's Executive Board members.
Friday July 17, 2026 9:00am - 3:00pm EDT
  Board Meetings

3:00pm EDT

Registration
Friday July 17, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Friday July 17, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
  Registration

4:30pm EDT

NACD Leadership Reception
Friday July 17, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Networking reception with light refreshments for NACD's Board of Directors and other attendees that have arrived.
Friday July 17, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
  Receptions
 
Saturday, July 18
 

8:00am EDT

Registration
Saturday July 18, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT

Saturday July 18, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
  Registration

9:00am EDT

NACD Board of Directors Meeting
Saturday July 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Business meeting of NACD's Board of Directors. Open to all attendees.
Saturday July 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
  Board Meetings

2:00pm EDT

NACD Committee Meetings
Saturday July 18, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Business meetings of NACD's Legislative, Natural Resources, and District & Partner Relations Committees. Open to all attendees.
Saturday July 18, 2026 2:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
  Region and Committee Meetings

4:00pm EDT

Social: Learn to Play Euchre
Saturday July 18, 2026 4:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Learn to play Euchre, a popular Michigan card game, with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts! Catch up with old and meet new colleagues while enjoying a favorite social activity from Michigan's annual state conference.
Saturday July 18, 2026 4:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
 
Sunday, July 19
 

8:00am EDT

Registration
Sunday July 19, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT

Sunday July 19, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
  Registration

9:00am EDT

NACD Region Meetings
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Business meetings of NACD's seven regions: North Central, Northeast, Northern Plains, Pacific, Southeast, South Central, and Southwest. Open to all attendees.
Sunday July 19, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
  Region and Committee Meetings

1:00pm EDT

NACD Board of Directors Meeting
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Business meeting of NACD's Board of Directors. Open to all attendees.
Sunday July 19, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
  Board Meetings

5:00pm EDT

Welcome Reception
Sunday July 19, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Networking reception with light refreshments to welcome all attendees.
Sunday July 19, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
  Receptions
 
Monday, July 20
 

7:00am EDT

Breakfast
Monday July 20, 2026 7:00am - 8:30am EDT
Buffet breakfast included in the cost of registration.
Monday July 20, 2026 7:00am - 8:30am EDT
  General Programming

7:00am EDT

Registration
Monday July 20, 2026 7:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Monday July 20, 2026 7:00am - 12:30pm EDT
  Registration

8:30am EDT

Conservation Forum
Monday July 20, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
Hear from local, state, and federal partners advancing conservation in Michigan.
Speakers
avatar for Al Vanderberg

Al Vanderberg

County Administrator/Controller, Kent County Government
Al Vanderberg currently serves as County Administrator/Controller of Kent County, Michigan. He has served in various government roles, in Kent and other counties, such as county administrator and city manager. Vanderberg served as President of the Michigan Municipal Executives (MME... Read More →
Monday July 20, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am EDT
  General Programming

10:30am EDT

Breakout Session - Finding Our Namesake: The 17-Year Quest to Restore the Grand Rapids
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
For over 17 years Grand Rapids Whitewater has been at the center of efforts to bring the namesake rapids back to Grand Rapids. The project has served as a catalyst for significant riverfront development that is reshaping the role the Grand River plays in our community. This presentation will take a deep dive into the original vision for the project, examine the history of the Grand River, discuss...
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Speakers
avatar for Matt Chapman

Matt Chapman

Executive Director, Grand Rapids Whitewater
Matt Chapman serves as the Executive Director for Grand Rapids Whitewater where he is passionately working with several local partners to restore the namesake rapids back to the Grand River. Matt has been with Grand Rapids Whitewater for 10 years and has 20 years of experience in... Read More →
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
  Breakout Sessions

10:30am EDT

Breakout Session - Turn Local Input Into Meaningful Action
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Join the National Conservation District Employees Association (NCDEA) to explore how to strengthen local working groups by connecting community feedback to clear priorities and strategic decisions. Learn practical approaches to guide discussions, improve participation, and ensure your district’s efforts reflect local needs and long-term goals.

Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
  Breakout Sessions

10:30am EDT

Breakout Session - Who Will Farm the Land? Farm Linking in Michigan & Illinois
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Across the United States, the farming population is aging rapidly, creating an urgent need to support the next generation of farmers while ensuring farmland remains in active agricultural use. Farm linking platforms have emerged as one promising solution. According to American Farmland Trust, there are currently more than 38 farm and land linking websites nationwide designed to connect farmland...
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Speakers
avatar for Nathan Aaberg

Nathan Aaberg

Director, Illinois Farm Link
Nathan joined The Land Connection in December 2022 after nine years as Liberty Prairie Foundation’s director of conservation and working lands. There he led the launch and growth of the Northeast Illinois FarmLink program, while also being a catalyst for conservation-oriented, farmland-owning... Read More →
avatar for Jill Dohner

Jill Dohner

Director, MIFarmLink
Since 2023, Jill Dohner has led the development and expansion of the MIFarmLink program. A dedicated advocate for the next generation of farmers, she brings more than a decade of experience as a farm owner. Jill works with agricultural partners across Michigan to connect farmland... Read More →
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
  Breakout Sessions

10:30am EDT

Breakout Session - Your Story Is Your Strategy: Diversifying District Funding Through Foundation Relationships
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
Foundation grants begin before the application ever does, by telling a compelling story. This session will cover strategic alignment, finding funders, making the ask, and sustaining partnerships over the long term. Rivka Hodgkinson, Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts, will blend real-world experience with a practical, replicable, and scalable framework,...
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Speakers
avatar for Rivka Hodgkinson

Rivka Hodgkinson

Executive Director, Michigan Association of Conservation Districts
Rivka Hodgkinson has served as the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts since January, 2024, and as a local board Director at Ottawa Conservation District since March 2022. Prior to that, she has an extensive background in digital marketing, strategic... Read More →
Monday July 20, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
  Breakout Sessions

12:00pm EDT

Luncheon
Monday July 20, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
Buffet luncheon included in the cost of registration.
Monday July 20, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT
  General Programming

1:30pm EDT

Host State Tour: Grand River Guided Walking Tour and Visit to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Monday July 20, 2026 1:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
This tour is included in the cost of registration. This tour will visit two sites in Grand Rapids: the Grand River and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park.Stop 1: The Grand River Explore the story of the Grand River as it winds through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. On this guided walking tour, you’ll experience the powerful connection between ecology and history along the banks...
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Monday July 20, 2026 1:30pm - 6:30pm EDT
  Tours
 
Tuesday, July 21
 

7:00am EDT

Breakfast
Tuesday July 21, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT

Tuesday July 21, 2026 7:00am - 8:00am EDT
  General Programming

8:00am EDT

Host State Tour: Michigan Conservation Tour
Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
This tour is included in the cost of registration. This full-day tour will take participants to five distinct locations for an up-close look at conservation in Michigan and includes lunch.Stop 1: Mast Young PlantsIn the morning, buses will depart the hotel at 8:00 a.m. for Mast Young Plants, a five-acre-plus commercial greenhouse that grows more than 1,500 varieties of annuals, perennials,...
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Tuesday July 21, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
  Tours
 

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