IREM® Tri-State Conference & Expo 2026 Agenda

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

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2:00-5:00 p.m. | Registration & Exhibitor Setup

Location: The Borgata 2nd Floor Event Center Registration Desk
Exhibitors can get a jump start on the following day by registering early and getting their exhibit space set up.
Welcome Gift Sponsor: Balsam Construction
Lanyard Sponsor: BMS CAT of Pennsylvania

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5:30-7:30 p.m. | Opening Night Cocktail Reception

Location: Overlook Room
Kick off the 2026 conference 32 floors above sea level with cocktails, appetizers, and panoramic views of Atlantic City. Enjoy an evening of conversation, connection, and celebration with industry professionals.
Sponsored by: Apex Air Duct Cleaning & Chimney Services, CALECO, Clean & Polish Building Solutions, & Republic Services

Thursday, February 19, 2026

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7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Registration

Location: The Borgata 2nd Floor Event Center Registration Desk
Visit the registration desk to check in and pick up your name badge, program, and other materials to help you make the most of the conference.

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8:00-11 a.m. | Exhibitor Set Up

Location: The Borgata 2nd Floor Event Center
If you missed the Wednesday night set up, now is the time to set up before the Expo Hall opens.

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8:00-8:45 a.m. | IREM® Awards Opening Breakfast

Location: Salon C
Kick off the morning with a breakfast buffet and a celebration of this year’s most distinguished IREM® chapters.
Sponsored by: Advanced Disaster Recovery & Oliver Fire Protection & Security

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8:50-9:30 a.m. | Intergenerational Discussion Panel

Panelists:
Fred Buehler, President, Robson Goldberg Real Estate
Ishea Shepherd, Vice President, AMC Delancey
Cory Sipos, Senior Acquisitions Associate, Berger Investments
Eileen Wirth, President & CEO, MEND, Inc.

Location: Salon C
Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z come together for a candid conversation on leadership, workplace culture, and innovation in property management—bridging generations to build stronger teams.

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9:45-10:30 a.m. | Three Concurrent Education Sessions

① Driving Impact: Strengthening Advocacy at the Federal and State Levels
Speaker: Ted Thurn, Senior Director of Government Affairs, IREM

Location: Studio 1
This session provides participants with a comprehensive overview of advocacy efforts at both the federal and state levels, highlighting key strategies for influencing policy and driving meaningful change. Attendees will explore the current legislative landscape, learn best practices for engaging policymakers, and discuss how coordinated advocacy can amplify organizational and community impact. Through practical examples and discussion, participants will leave equipped with tools to strengthen their advocacy efforts and advance their priorities effectively across government levels.
Sponsored by: Pest Share

② Enhancing the Resident Experience: Elevating Amenities for Robust Community Life
Speakers: Tammie Fitzpatrick, Chief Operating Officer, and Jaime Shillady, Director of Property Management, HDC MidAtlantic

Location: Studio 2
This session explores how purposeful partnerships between property management and resident services can transform housing communities into places where tenants become neighbors and neighbors support one another. Even with tight budgets, managers and service coordinators can create trauma-informed, resident-centered amenities that enhance satisfaction, safety and belonging. Participants will learn creative cost-effective strategies to activate shared spaces, strengthen resident engagement, and align amenities with operational and property goals. Ideal for affordable and conventional managers alike, this session offers practical inspiration to elevate community life at any property.
Sponsored by: Bargold Storage Systems

③ Beyond the Basics: Leveraging Excel for Property Analytics
Speaker: Andy Reithel, Founder & President, Konjo Solutions

Location: Studio 3
Take your Excel skills to the next level with advanced tools tailored for property management. This session explores pivot tables, conditional formatting, and dashboard creation to help you visualize key metrics like occupancy, delinquencies, and maintenance trends. Learn how to transform your raw data into actionable insights that can drive better performance across your portfolio.
Sponsored by: Corbett Exterminating

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10:30-10:45 a.m. | Snack Break

Location: Pre-Function
In between sessions make sure to recharge with a cup of coffee, water or other beverage.
Sponsored by: Axis Insurance Services, Dorothy Gale Roofing Company and National Maintenance Supply

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10:45-11:30 a.m. | Three Concurrent Education Sessions

① From Firefighting to Forecasting: Shifting from Crisis to Confidence
Speaker: Ishea Shepherd, Vice President, AMC Delancey

Location: Studio 1
Property management teams can easily get consumed by daily emergencies, leaving little time for planning, strategy, or growth. This session helps leaders move from reactive chaos to confident control by building forecasting habits that prevent problems before they arise. Attendees will learn how to replace constant stress with structure, empowering both managers and teams to focus on high-impact work.
Sponsored by: Precision Power Wash

② Building Safety and Security
Speaker: AnnMarie McMahon, Founder, Core Consulting Services

Location: Studio 3
From everyday risks to unexpected emergencies, this session takes a practical look at how to keep properties — and the people in them — safe. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in facility management, law enforcement, and design, AnnMarie McMahon will share real-world examples of safety and security challenges she’s encountered and the strategies that worked. Learn how to identify vulnerabilities, implement smart building modifications, and adopt operational best practices that strengthen your property’s overall security.
Sponsored by: Multi-Housing Depot

③ Asset Preservation - Built for Better: Strategies for Increasing Wellness and Comfort Through Asset Repositioning
Speakers: James Trynosky, Executive Vice President, and Briana Arvay, Executive Vice President, The Falcon Group

Location: Studio 2
This session will explore opportunities to improve wellness in the built environment when tackling larger restoration and asset repositioning projects. Speakers will cover opportunities to improve indoor comfort, ventilation, lighting, while taking stock of available real estate and optimizing existing configurations to create inviting, attractive and accommodating spaces.
Sponsored By: The Falcon Group

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11:30-11:45 a.m. | Snack Break

Location: Pre-Function
In between sessions make sure to recharge with a snack and a cup of coffee, water or other beverage.
Sponsored by: Axis Insurance Services, Dorothy Gale Roofing Company and National Maintenance Supply

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11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Three Concurrent Education Sessions

① AI in Property Management: Practical Insights and Strategic Adoption
Speaker: America Lucid, Vice President of Technology, CCI

Location: Studio 1
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, and property management is no exception. This session explores how AI can streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and reduce risk—without the jargon or unrealistic promises. We’ll cover the current AI landscape, practical use cases relevant to real estate and property management, and a strategic approach to adoption.
Sponsored by: BluSky Restoration

② Avoiding Construction Nightmares: What Every Property Manager Should Know About Contractor Disputes
Speaker: Andrew J. Podolski, Esq., Shareholder, Construction Law Group, Stark & Stark, P.C.

Location: Studio 3
Mr. Podolski, an experienced construction attorney, will focus on common pitfalls in managing construction and repair projects on residential/commercial properties. Topics we will cover: understanding contract basics (scope, change orders, dispute clauses, etc.); licensing and insurance verification; documentation discipline (daily logs, correspondence, and photo evidence that can sink or save a claim); handling defective work; and dispute resolution options.
Sponsored by: Stark & Stark, P.C.

③ NSPIRE Standards — Updates & Inspection Readiness
Speaker: Erin Devlin, Vice President of Property Management Training & Compliance, California Commercial Investment Group

Location: Studio 2
This education session provides an overview of the latest NSPIRE standards, highlighting recent updates and their impact on scoring and compliance. The session focuses on practical strategies to support effective preparation for inspections, including understanding scoring frameworks, evidencing compliance, and maintaining consistent standards in day-to-day practice. Key areas include roles and responsibilities, documentation requirements, common inspection themes, and learning from previous outcomes. Attendees will gain clear guidance and actionable tools to improve readiness, promote continuous improvement, and support successful NSPIRE inspections.
Sponsored by: Lowes Pro Supply

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12-12:30 p.m. | Lunch for Exhibitors and Sponsors in Expo

Location: Event Center Expo Hall

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12:30-1:30 p.m. | Networking Lunch with Exhibitors and Sponsors (Expo Hall Open)

Location: Event Center Expo Hall
Enjoy a networking lunch with our exhibitors and sponsors outside the Expo Hall. The Expo will be open during lunch, so head inside to start networking and find the right vendor for whatever needs your property might have. From pest control to software to pressure washing to painting, you can find the right company for the job.
Sponsored by: Cooper Roofing and Office Beacon

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12:30-4:00 p.m. | Expo Hall Open

Location: Event Center Expo Hall
Expo Boardwalk Arcade Games Sponsored by: Liberty Elevator
Relaxation Station Sponsored by: Whitman

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3:00-4:00 p.m. | Expo Hall Open with Cocktail Reception
Master of Ceremonies: Michael Barkann, Philadelphia Sports Personality