2027 CAI-IL Conference & Expo Speaker Application

CAI Illinois is now accepting presentation proposals for the 2027 Conference and Expo!

The CAI Illinois Manager Education & Development Committee and Homeowner Leader Education Committees are seeking speakers to present progressive and innovative sessions at the Conference & Expo February 26, 2027, in Rosemont, Illinois.

The Education Committees offer a broad range of programming hosted by industry professionals to help keep participants up-to-date. Attendees gain insight and knowledge to help them take their careers and communities to the next level, while gaining valuable credits toward earning and maintaining industry certifications and designations. If you have new information, a new way to solving challenges, unique approaches or forward thinking, the Committees would like to hear from you!  Based on attendee feedback, the Committees encourage presenters to think outside the box, engage the audience, and use real-world examples during their presentations.

What You Need to Know

-Your presentation may be selected as a virtual pre- or post-conference session or in-person at the event itself.

Presentations should be based on 45min or 60min sessions
-Presenters will likely be paired up to give attendees a diverse educational experience
-Presentations should be engaging and may include audience participation
-Presentations that are clearly intended to be a sales pitch for products and services will not be considered
-All presentations will be required to record and submit an Ed Talk for the CAI-IL YouTube channel OR an article for the CAI-IL magazine. Presenters may decide which is best for their topic. Both may be submitted, but at least one must be completed by December 31, 2026.
-All presenters will be graded according to the new Speaker Rating System, which includes ability to meet deadlines, communicate with CAI liaisons, and subjective feedback given by attendees of your session. More information regarding this rating system will be provided to selected presenters.

How Presentation Submissions Work
1. Call for Presentations goes out to our CAI Illinois Chapter Members
2. Manager Education & Development Committee and Homeowner Leader Education Committee will review all submissions.
3. The committees will pick their topics based on needs and wants of Community Association Managers and Homeowner Leaders and the schedule for the Conference and Expo.
5. Speaker applications must be completed by September 10, 2026.
4. The committee will reach out to accepted presentations by September 23, 2026.
5. Those presentations that are not accepted for Conference & Expo will be provided with a list of other presenting opportunities by September 23, 2026.

Timeline for Submissions & Approval
September 10th Submission Deadline
September 23rd Presentations will be confirmed, at which time a headshot & bio must be submitted for each presenter.
September 23rd Non-accepted presentations will be notified of other presenting opportunities
October 1st Virtual speaker training (2 will occur; each speaker must only attend 1)
October 6th Virtual speaker training (2 will occur; each speaker must only attend 1)
October 16th Course outline due
November 13th Finalized presentations due to Committee for review
November 20th Committee review notes returned to presenter for finalizing

The goal of the submission deadlines is to have all presentation planning completed before the holidays and return in January to check in and be ready to present in February.

 
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Presenter Information & Qualifiers
Please provide all information requested. Incomplete sections may result in the application being disregarded.

Yes
No

Please list your most recent speaking engagements.

Please list your presentation history for the past 3 years.  Please indicate if you have presented for CAI in any capacity in the past and what topics were covered.

Please select all that apply.

I am a CAI-IL Member
I have a minimum of 5 years of industry experience.
I am a manager with an AMS designation.
I am a Business Partner with an EBP designation.
I am an attorney with a CCAL designation.
I am a homeowner with a DCAL designation.

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Presentation Proposal

Please remember that your presentation must appeal to Community Association Managers and Homeowners in attendance.

Your presentation must include an interactive element. Please indicate below some options you plan to include in your presentation. (i.e. live polling, jeopardy/gameshow, rapid-fire questions, audience participation, skit, spinning a wheel, etc...) Please propose one or more interactive elements you would incorporate into your presentation. Please note: all sessions must have a Q&A element which is not considered a unique interactive element for your presentation.

Presentations are given either as a pre- or post-conference virtual webinar the week before and after the event and offered as recorded CE classes in CAI-IL's library in perpetuity OR as in-person sessions at the Conference & Expo event itself. The virtual sessions are included in Conference & Expo registration and historically have had 300+ attendees live. In-person sessions are not recorded. Please indicate your preference for your proposed session. Select all if you are open to any format.

Virtual pre-conference
Virtual post-conference
In-person at the event

Oftentimes, presenters of similar topics will be asked to collaborate on their presentation to maximize not only the schedule of the day and the information being provided to attendees, but also to include as many presenters from the application process as possible. Please indicate any other types of industry professionals you believe would pair well with your seminar.

Community Association Manager
Management Supervisor
Insurance Provider
Financial Professional (banking, reserves, accountant, etc...)
Attorney
Experienced Homeowner Board Member
Business Partner (landscaping, restoration, roofing, engineer, general contractor, HVAC, electrician, etc..)

Please upload your headshot & bio to be used if selected as a presenter for this event.

20MB max

Please note that all PowerPoint presentations will need to be formatted to the template provided upon selection.

20MB max

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Acknowledgements

 I understand I must register for the event as an attendee, which may include paying a registration fee.

Note: Business Partners who are presenting must have a booth in the expo hall in order to remain at the event. Those who present and do not have a booth to be in before and/or after must only come for their presentation and exit the event.

Details of this rating system will be supplied to you upon selection.