Monday, April 20, 2026 - 8:30am - 4:00pm

ACHCA's 2026 Summit for Aspiring Health Leaders (formerly known as the National Emerging Leadership Summit, NELS) empowers rising professionals with a dynamic program for leadership development, valuable industry connections, and strategic tools on navigating the challenges and opportunities in health and aging services. Tailored for individuals with under ten years of experience, the summit features interactive learning, essential industry insights, and rich opportunities for collaboration—helping shape the future generation of aging services leaders.

Participants represent a diverse array of care settings nationwide and are celebrated as top performers within their organizations. The Summit for Aspiring Health Leaders is where ambitious professionals come together to learn, innovate, and lead the way in health and aging services.

Registration

Registration is now open for the 2026 ACHCA Summit for Aspiring Health Leaders to be held in Orlando, FL. To qualify for the member rate, each registrant must be a current ACHCA member. The Summit for Aspiring Health Leaders provides 5 CEU opportunities for qualifying individuals. You must have your NAB ID number to include in the registration form. Click here to sign up if you do not have that information before moving forward.

Fees

Early Bird

(ends January 16, 2026)

Regular

(January 17 – April 10, 2026)

Late/Onsite

Summit for Aspiring Health Leaders

(Member Only)

$750

$850

$875

Summit add-on to Full Convention Registration

$100

The online registration form must be completed in one sitting. You will not be able to save your progress to complete it at a later time. If you start the form and close your browser window without submitting, your information will be lost.

Schedule

Day/Time	Event
Mon, April 20, 2026
8:30am - 8:45am	Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45am - 10:00am	Session 1: Emerging Leaders in Action
	Break
10:15am - 11:30am	Session 2: Advocacy & Policy Impact
11:30am - 12:45pm	Lunch & Themed Discussion Tables
12:45pm - 2:00pm	Session 3: Designing the Future of Leadership
2:00pm - 3:45pm	Session 4: Leadership Lab - Real-World Challenges
3:45pm - 4:00pm	Closing Reflections & Next Steps
6:00pm - 7:30pm	Welcome Reception

Programming

Session 1: Emerging Leadership in Action

Panel Discussion + Q&A
Hear from dynamic young leaders in the field as they share their journeys, leadership challenges, and strategies for success. Incorporate information from pre-conference survey.

Session 2: Advocacy & Policy Impact

Interactive Workshop with Guest Legislators or Advocates
Learn how emerging leaders can influence aging policy at the local, state, and national levels. Provide practical advocacy information.

Lunch & Themed Discussion Tables

Join a table based on your interests (e.g., Innovation, Workforce Development, Technology, DEI, Mentoring) to share ideas and build connections.

Session 3: Designing the Future of Leadership

Facilitated Small Group Work
Collaboratively develop a vision for leadership in aging services. Groups will share ideas for what they need to lead successfully in the next decade.