Featured Event
Fall Leaders Conference 2026
The 2026 Fall Leaders Conference brings together CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and growth-minded business leaders from across Virginia for an energizing afternoon of leadership development, executive networking, and actionable business insights. Hosted by VACEOs at the Jepson Alumni Center in Richmond, VA, this premier leadership conference features internationally recognized keynote speaker Dan Gingiss and practical strategies leaders can immediately apply within their organizations.
Registration is now LIVE for the 2026 Fall Leaders Conference with Dan Gingiss. We are looking forward to seeing you at The Jepson Alumni Center – October 1, 2026.
VACEOs 2026 Fall Leaders Conference Overview
Join VACEOs for an afternoon that will change how you think about your business. Fall Leaders Conference is open to all leaders; not just VACEOs members. This high-impact event blends a world-class keynote with meaningful peer connection, sending you back to your organization with a fresh lens and actionable ideas you can use immediately.
Venue Information
Jepson Alumni Center at The University of Richmond
442 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23229
What to Expect
- A world-class keynote from a nationally recognized customer experience expert
- Practical, immediately applicable tools for your business
- An energizing afternoon with fellow business leaders
- A networking reception to wrap the day
Thank you to Fall Leaders Conference Sponsors!
Sponsorship Opportunites Available
Connect with Scot for more information at smcroberts@vaceos.org
Who Should Attend?
This conference is designed for leaders at every level:
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CEOs, business owners, and entrepreneurs
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Senior leaders and executive teams
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High-potential managers and team leaders
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Anyone passionate about driving growth and culture in their organization
Keynote
REMARKABLE BY DESIGN: FROM FORGOTTEN TO UNFORGETTABLE
REMARKABLE BY DESIGN: FROM FORGOTTEN TO UNFORGETTABLE
Dan GingissWe’ve been taught for decades that the way to win in business is simple: lower your price, add new features, or outspend the competition on marketing. But what we’ve been taught is wrong.
In today’s marketplace, price wars are a race to the bottom, and product innovation gets copied almost instantly. The truth is, nearly every company is now selling a commodity — whether they admit it or not. So why do some brands still rise above the noise while others fade into irrelevance?
Because customers don’t talk about transactions. They talk about experiences. This keynote reveals why the last true differentiator left in business is the one your competitors can’t copy: how you make people feel.
Using the WISE framework, Dan reveals how to design interactions that are Witty, Immersive, Shareable, and Extraordinary — without massive budgets or technology overhauls.
You’ll hear about:
- The state that ranked 50th as a vacation destination — and turned it around by being Witty
- The entertainment powerhouse that used an Immersive experience to create generations of lifelong fans
- A restaurant that made its food utterly Shareable without changing the recipe
- Why a sparkler is always more Extraordinary than a candle
Attendees will leave knowing how to:
- Identify the types of experiences people share most often — and why
- Apply an easy, five-step framework for creating remarkable, shareable experiences
- Leverage practical, inexpensive ideas from companies across industries that are already winning
About Dan Gingiss
Dan Gingiss is an international keynote speaker and customer experience expert who spent 20 years in corporate marketing at companies including McDonald’s, Discover, and Humana. He is the author of The Experience Maker and Winning at Social Customer Care, and the host of The Experience This! Show podcast.
Dan helps companies understand that they don’t have to compete on price or product — because a remarkable experience is the one thing competitors can never truly copy.
Fall Leaders Conference Schedule
October 1, 2026
1:00 – 1:20 PM — Registration and Networking
1:20 – 1:30 PM — Welcome and Announcements
1:30 – 2:30 PM — Keynote Session 1
2:30 – 2:45 PM — Break
2:45 – 3:45 PM — Keynote Session 2
3:45 – 4:00 PM — Break
4:00 – 5:00 PM — Keynote Session 3
5:00 – 6:00 PM — Networking Reception
Thank you to Fall Leaders Conference Sponsors!
Frequently Asked Questions
Question not answered? Email us or call the VACEOs office at 804-360-2644
Is this event open to non-members?
Yes. The Fall Leaders Conference is open to all leaders; not just VACEOs members. CEOs, executives, managers, and their teams are all welcome to attend.
What does registration include?
Registration includes the afternoon keynote session and the networking reception that follows.
Is Lunch Provided?
While we will have snacks and refreshements available during the sessions, lunch is not provided.
Is there a dress code?
Not really. Let’s call it business casual. We want you to be comfortable. We recommend layers for fluctuating meeting room temperatures.
So, VACEOs is a “Safe Haven” for members. What does that really mean?
It means that when a member attends a VACEOs event, they are assured that they are entering a room full of peers who are instantly on a “first name” basis. Members expect to meet other members and sponsors they can trust, who are interested in sharing experiences and knowledge.
We are not a traditional networking organization. Relationships come first in VACEOs. If business opportunities arise as a result of these relationships, great! One member summed it up this way: “I don’t sell anything to other VACEOs members. Some of them buy from me because they know me and trust me.”
Still have questions?
Contact us to get more information.