EdCon East 2026

Exhibitors:

We are excited to bring high quality educational sessions to Spokane for EdCon 2026.

Keynote Address:

Keynote: Letting Go as a Leadership Skill - Ryan Sawyer

• How to lead with calm during change and uncertainty.
• How to practice compassion to strengthen trust and team relationships.
• How to use curiosity to handle challenges with openness instead of reactivity.

Breakout Sessions:

Responding to Conflict with Confidence – Ryan Sawyer

• Stay grounded and calm in difficult conversations.
• Use a simple framework to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally during conflict.

Cultivating a Cohesive Team – Steven Womack & Letusha Quinn 

“Great housing operations aren’t built on systems alone — they’re built on how we choose to show up every day.”

• Maintenance & Office Communication
  Aligning Culture, Budget & Teamwork for Success

• Budget Knowledge

• Why Budget Knowledge Matters

• Bridging Budget & Communication

• Teaching Financial Awareness to Teams

• Resident Expectations vs Reality

• Teamwork – Success & Challenges

•  Practical Takeaways

“Great housing operations aren’t built on systems alone — they’re built on how we choose to show up every day.”

212°: The Extra Degree How to achieve results beyond your expectations – Sloane Cerbana & Jason Loughridge

At 211 degrees, water is hot...at 212 degrees it boils...with boiling water comes steam...with steam you can power a train. At 211 degrees, water is hot...at 212 degrees it boils...with boiling water comes steam...with steam you can power a train. Success in anything has one fundamental aspect - effort. To achieve exponential results requires additional effort. Success in anything has one fundamental aspect - effort. To achieve exponential results requires additional effort. The purpose of this session is to help attendees internally define and take ownership of achieving results beyond expectations. The purpose of this session is to help attendees internally define and take ownership of achieving results beyond expectations. You might be one degree away from your greatest accomplishments.

5 Star Internal Customer Service – Jason Loughridge

This highly engaging session challenges attendees to examine their customer service philosophy for the teams they work with This highly engaging session challenges attendees to examine their customer service philosophy for the teams they work with and how it impacts they way we treat our external customers. and how it impacts they way we treat our external customers. Class highlights

• Identifying WHO is our customer Identifying WHO is our customer
• Finding commonalities between what our internal and external customers need.
• Recognizing the characteristics of great external customer service and how it translates to internal customer service
• Creating WOW moments

Legislative Impacts for the Greater Spokane Area – Jake Mayson

Our WMFHA Government Affairs Team will share updates from the latest legislative session in Olympia, as well as other local initiatives, and how they will impact day to day operations in your market.

Who's Interviewing Whom? - Sloane Cerbana

This session will provide tips and tricks for taking control of the interview and the right questions to ask to get the best results

Successful Advocacy – How to Make Your Voice Heard – Libby Patton

Libby is a 2024 Emerging Leader graduate and a current member of the National Apartment Association’s Advocacy Academy. She will be sharing her experience from attending multiple trips to Olympia with WMFHA for Day on the Hill, writing letters and having meaningful conversations with legislators. The best practices she will share will give you confidence to get engaged in the process of advocating for balanced legislation.

AI in Multifamily Operations: Precision, Performance & Pitfalls - Avinash Belur & Narasimhan Vallur

 AI is transforming multifamily operations at a pace operators have never seen before — but the gap between hype and real‑world performance is massive. In this 50‑minute session, we break down how AI actually impacts marketing, leasing, and operations, where it delivers precision and speed, and where it quietly introduces risk, inconsistency, or operational chaos. 

Attendees will learn how to use AI tools with operator‑level discipline: from generating high‑performing marketing content to accelerated lead response, improving qualifications. We’ll also expose the hidden pitfalls — hallucinations, fair‑housing risks, compliance risks and bad data loops — that can derail a leasing operation if not handled with guardrails.

This session gives property managers a practical, no‑nonsense framework for using AI to increase marketing conversions, protect operations, and maintain brand and compliance integrity. You’ll walk away with a clear blueprint for precision‑driven AI adoption that boosts performance without creating new problems.

You Bet Your Assets! What You Need To Know About ESAs, HUD & FHA - Victoria Cowart

Service animal or support animal? HUD or DOJ?FHA or ADA? Understanding the differences is crucial for compliance and effective property management. In this session, Victoria Cowart, CPM, NAAEI Faculty will provide a comprehensive overview of assistance animals and accommodation requests, covering everything from the foundational basics to the key takeaways from the legislation and the Joint Statement of the Department of HUD and the DOJ. Designed for both on-site teams and regional managers, this session addresses one of HUD's most frequently cited complaint topics, equipping attendees with the knowledge to navigate these issues confidently and effectively.

Ruff Math Made Easy – Victoria Cowart

Property management is more than operations, it’s an investment strategy. When we approach our work with this mindset, we not only elevate residents’ experiences but also deliver stronger results for owners, investors, and our teams. This session equips attendees with a clear understanding of key performance metrics and financial calculations that drive success. Participants will learn to interpret and apply common terms, reports, and formulas to communicate effectively, align with organizational goals, and make data-driven decisions. Attendees will gain practical insight into occupancy metrics, the structure and purpose of operating and cash flow statements, and how day-to-day decisions impact both NOI and overall property value.

Fentanyl: How to keep Staff and Residents Safe - Ronell Bracy-Martin

The dangers of dealing with Fentanyl at the onsite level are increasingly more common. This session will share best practices on how to keep your team and residents safe through following the proper protocols.

Drain & Sewer Systems 101: What Every Property Should Know – Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan, General Manager of Affordable Drains, will be the featured speaker. Chris is a 43-year-old Army veteran, a native of the Spokane area, and a married father of four. He brings more than 16 years of hands-on experience in the drain cleaning industry, having served as a drain technician, technician manager, and general manager in field operations. Throughout his career, Chris has worked closely with plumbers, excavation contractors, and other industry professionals, giving him comprehensive expertise in both residential and commercial drain and sewer systems.

Drawing on this extensive experience, Chris will present an informative seminar covering:

• Foundational information about drain and sewer systems
• How to identify the root cause of drain issues and select the correct service the first time
• How multi-family drain systems function and how problems can affect an entire property
• Practical do’s and don’ts when dealing with drain issues
• How property owners and managers can avoid unnecessary or excessive service costs

This session is designed to provide practical, real-world guidance that attendees can apply immediately.

Minisplit Hands-on Workshop - Tony Dzick

Utilizing a mini-split cart, attendees will get real time hands-on training. We will cover the fundamentals and advanced methods for maintenance professionals.

Hands-On Appliance Training – Kurtis Converse

We will have 2 sessions of hands-on appliance training covering the most common issues related to refrigerators, oven, washers and dryers. You will learn best practices, preventative maintenance and when it’s time to call in an expert.