The Innovation Showcase

Behind every great idea is a pilot, a pivot, and a lesson learned.

Agenda at a Glance 

EmceeLakisha Barclay, CAE, Executive Director & CEO, Rubber Division, American Chemical Society The Innovation Showcase is a live, immersive experience where five finalist associations share the real story behind a pilot: the challenge that prompted it, what they tried, what they learned, the impact they’re seeing, and where the idea could go next. These aren’t polished success stories—they’re honest looks at experimentation, course corrections, and ideas other association leaders can put to work. 

Drawing on the ASAE Research Foundation’s Association Innovation Impact Study, we define innovation as addressing a meaningful problem in a meaningfully different way—and measure it by the real difference it makes for members, stakeholders, the organization, or the profession. Every pilot on this stage was selected because it does both. 

Each finalist takes the stage for a fast-paced presentation followed by live Q&A from our judges. Then it’s your turn: stick around for all five, because you’ll help decide the winner. The $1,000 prize and Excellence in Innovation Award is given based on a combination of judges’ scoring and live audience vote. 

Meet the 2026 Finalists 

California Association of School Business Officials

Million-Dollar Micro-Credentials to Advance the Profession of School Business

Tracy L. Petrillo, EdD, CAE

Chief Learning Officer

Association for Intelligent Information Management

Rethinking Association Community: From Passive Forums to Facilitated, AI-Enabled Cohorts

Tori Miller Liu, CAE

President and CEO

PositiveAge, the LeadingAge Virginia Foundation

Developing Tomorrow’s Long-Term Care Leaders: Inside Virginia’s Innovative Virtual AIT Model

Dana Parsons

Vice President & Legislative Counsel

Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education

Paraeducator Bootcamp: A Statewide Workforce Stabilization & Quality Initiative

Cheryl-Marie Manson

Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives

Construction Specifications Institute

From Static Standards to Dynamic Data: CSI Dynamic Standards + MasterProduct Pilot

Mark N. Dorsey, FASAE, CAE

Chief Executive Officer

Fail Fest: Stories of Failing Forward 

Innovation isn’t only about what works. After the finalist presentations, The Showcase turns to a candid panel discussion on failing—the lessons that come from ideas that fail, evolve, or produce unexpected results. It’s an honest conversation about innovation, resilience, and continuous improvement, and about creating a culture that makes experimentation possible. 

Meet the Fail Fest Participants 

Lakisha Barclay, CAE

Innovation Showcase Emcee & Fail Fest Panelist

Executive Director & CEO
Rubber Division, American Chemical Society

Tara Puckey, MBA, FASAE, CAE, CMP

President & CEO
Radio Television Digital News Association

Gina Woodall

Moderator

Vice President, Client Services
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