VAPPA 2026 Conference Schedule
VAPPA 2026 offers a diverse selection of session organized into educational tracks to cater to your specific needs.
Watch for updates for more VAPPA Conference updates.
Agenda is subject to change.
Stay Connected with the VAPPA Conference App!
Customize your Experience
The app makes it easy to navigate your conference experience; access local attractions, Wi-Fi details, your registrant bag, and even track your progress on the leaderboard. Everything you need to plan ahead and get the most out of your time is right at your fingertips.
Build your Schedule
Customize your agenda by browsing sessions, selecting topics that matter most to you, and keeping track of times and locations in one place. The app helps eliminate guesswork and ensures you don’t miss the sessions that will benefit you most.
Connect with Speakers & Attendees
Use the app to browse speaker bios, join the social timeline, message other attendees, and explore exhibitors. It’s your all-in-one networking tool, designed to help you connect with peers, experts, and vendors long after the sessions end.
We’re making it easier than ever to navigate, engage, and maximize your VAPPA 2025 experience with our all-new VAPPA Conference App! Whether you’re looking for session details, networking opportunities, or real-time updates, everything you need is at your fingertips.
What You Can Do with the App:
View the Full Conference Agenda – Stay up to date with session times, speakers, and locations. Build Your Personalized Schedule – Plan your day and set reminders for must-attend sessions. Connect & Network – Chat with fellow attendees, speakers, and exhibitors right from the app. Access Speaker & Presentation Details – Get bios, presentation slides, and key takeaways. Stay Informed with Live Updates – Receive real-time announcements, room changes, and special event reminders. Explore the Interactive Exhibit Hall – Find exhibitors, view booth locations, and access exclusive resources. Engage with Live Polls & Q&A – Participate in sessions with interactive tools designed to enhance
Educational Schedule
Thursday, March 19
Morning Breakout Sessions
| Topic | Speaker | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting your Maintenance & Capital Plan with AI | Rachael Buchanan – Chief Marketing Officer OperationsHERO |
Archer |
| Pressure Independent Control Valve Technology (1 PDH) | Stephen Rybka – Bray | Colston |
| So you hired a young person: Practical Ways to Support and Retain the Next Generation of Facilities Professionals | Molly Ledbetter – Horticulturist Matthew Woodward – Carpenter Hampden-Sydney College |
Randolph |
| Seeing What Matters: Technology-Enabled Maintenance and Problem-Solving for Facility Management (1 PDH / AIA CEU) | Rachel Palisin – Managing Director Walter P Moore and Associates Inc. |
Tazwell |
| From Crisis Repair to Strategic Care: Protecting the Past Through Responsible Campus Maintenance | Morgan Abele – MBA – Director of Subsurface Utility Locating SAS Geospacial Grace Moyer – Director, Jackson House Museum VMI |
Wareham |
| Roundtable: Closing the Trades Gap | Round table discussion facilitated by a VAPPA Board Member | Whittaker |
Plenary (Morning)
Plenary (Afternoon)
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
| Topic | Speaker | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture Management in Tiled Showers (1.0 AIA HSW) | Steve Brasington – Higher Ed. Services Manager Schluter Systems L.P |
Archer |
| Optimizing the Heart of Campus Cooling: Chiller Plant Performance for Higher Ed Sustainability & Resilience | Robin Seabolt - Sr.Energy Engineer/Project Developer Speectrum Energy Tom Dugan - Comprehensive Sales & Controls Havtech |
Colston |
| Facility Asset Management – What You Can Do While You’re Waiting for AI to Take Over | Christopher Hodges – Retired Senior Consultant FEA |
Randolph |
| From Anecdotes to Evidence: Real-Time Space Occupancy using Existing Wi-Fi at Hampden-Sydney College | James Ireland – Senior Account Executive CampusIQ Kevin Miller – Executive Director of Facilities & Capital Projects Hampden-Sydney College |
Tazwell |
| Zero Trust Architecture: Securing University Campuses at the Intersection of Building Systems, Commissioning & OT Cybersecurity | Bill McMullen – Director of Technical Services Chinook Systems |
Wareham |
| Roundtable: Innovation at the Edge | Open discussion facilitated by a VAPPA Board Member & Benjamin Byboth | Whittaker |
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
| Topic | Speaker | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bertha Air Handlers: When it Makes Sense to Restore Aging Chilled Water Units (1.0 AIA HSW) | James Fotia – Regional Sales Specialist Tremco Pure Air |
Archer |
| Leading with Emotional Intelligence in an AI-Augmented Workplace | Fred Gatty – Organizational Development Consultant Gatts Consulting |
Colston |
| How VCU uses AIM to track Inventory | Tom Gates – Director of Support Services Jason Fortney – Director of Business Applications and Integration Services Virginia Commonwealth University |
Randolph |
| The Human Algorithm: Emotional Intelligence as Your Competitive Edge | Kim Harris & Liz Brooks Positive Professionals |
Tazwell |
| Creating A New Normal In Your Hydronic Systems (1.0 CEU Mechanical) | Jamie Ambeau - Regional Manager
Spirotherm |
Wareham |
| Total Campus Oversight: Redefining Fault Detection with Neural Networks | Sam Voisin - Senior Machine Learning Software Engineer Daniel Jordan - CEM Machine Learning & Analytics Engineer Optimum Energy |
Whittaker |
Friday, March 20
Morning Breakout Sessions
| Topic | Speaker | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Putting Utility Data on the Map: Improving Campus Safety at Hampden-Sydney College | Rhett Teller – Facilities Market Segment Leader GPRS David Giles – Assistant Director of Buildings & Systems Hampden-Sydney College |
Archer |
| Harnessing Vehicle Telematics for a Safer and More Sustainable University Community | Brian Park – Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Systems & Information engineering University of Virginia |
Colston |
| From Reactive to Predictive: AI in HVAC | Alec Carlson – Vice President of Sales & Marketing Air Mechanical Solutions |
Randolph |
| The knowledge We can’t afford to Lose: When Experience Walks out the Door | Randolph Campbell McCormick Road Zone Manager University of Virginia |
Tazwell |
| Utility Rates are up 27% Now What? Choosing the Right First Step to protect your facilities budget (1.0 PDH Engineering) | Kevin Day PE CEM CCP Vice President, Facility Performance Service Leader MBP |
Wareham |
| Hidden Capacity:ReallocatingCustodial Resources to Strengthen Operations and Experience | Terry Maynard, PIMP, CEFP Housing Facilities Zone Manager University of Virginia |
Whittaker |