Great Lakes Winter Roundtable 2026

Forty Great Lakes chapter executives filled the chapter's Chicago conference room to capacity on February 12, 2026, for the chapter's single-day winter roundtable, the cap the chapter has held since the roundtable's early years to keep the discussion close. Chapter chair Priya Ranganathan, in her second year in the role, opened the day.

Wendell Szymanski, executive director of the Great Lakes Maritime Shippers Association and a Winter Roundtable regular going back years, gave attendees a long-timer's view of how the roundtable's topics have shifted — from shared purchasing in its early years to staffing and dues questions now. Kenji Albrecht, CFO of the National Society of Water Utility Engineers, led a discussion on what associations should watch for as NANA's Dues Model Study moved toward its first results, due that July.

Moira Kavanagh-Pratt, general counsel at the Society of Rural Hospital Administrators, walked through the basics of lobbying disclosure compliance for association staff who file on their organization's behalf.

Rashida Kimbrough, newly seated on NANA's national board and chief membership officer at the Federation of Food Bank Networks, closed the day with a chapter business meeting and a welcome to the roundtable's newest attendees.

Attendees also compared notes on the chapter's other 2026 programming: the 12-month mentorship cohort opening for applications later that month, pairing staff new to association management with a seasoned peer, and the Detroit–Columbus Finance Officers Circle, which meets quarterly by video call for member organizations without a full finance staff of their own.

The roundtable met at the chapter's Wacker Drive conference room in Chicago, a short walk from the Merchandise Mart Brown and Purple Line stop. There was no registration fee, and the day carried 3 CAE credit hours.