
The 2025 ACI Conference will be held July 21-24, 2024, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The New Jersey DEP Fish and Wildlife will host the annual conference. Mark your calendars to arrive Monday, July 21, and depart Friday, July 25. Registration will open soon!
Conference Registration
Full Conference Attendee: Early Bird Rate- $430
(Changes to $475 after early bird deadline. Deadline TBD)
Guest Registration: $150

Cancellation Policy: TBD

Location & Lodging
Overnight accommodations are available at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel at a discounted group rate of $107.00 per night plus applicable taxes and service fees. Reserve your room by June 25, 2025.
To learn more about the conference site, the Sheraton Atlantic City, visit their website here.
Transportation & Parking
Info coming soon!
Thank You to Our 2024 ACI Conference Sponsors
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Thank you to our 2024 ACI Conference sponsors!
2024 ACI Conference Agenda- 2025 Agenda will be posted soon!
Start Time | End Time | Room | Event | Speaker |
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Monday, July 22 |
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2:00 PM | 5:00 PM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Registration Open | |
3:00 PM | 4:00 PM | Gallery B | ACI Board Meeting (For Board Members Only) | Blake Podhajsky, ACI President |
4:00 PM | 5:00 PM | Gallery B | Scholarship Meeting (For Scholarship Recipients Only) | Joanne Martonik, RBFF |
5:00 PM | 7:00 PM | Awbrey & Sons | Welcome Reception (Cash bar and hors d'oeuvres available) | |
7:00 PM | Beyond | Dinner on your own | ||
Tuesday, July 23 |
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8:00 AM | 5:00 PM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Registration Open | |
8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Breakfast on your own | ||
9:00 AM | 9:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | Welcome from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources | Ryan Brown, Executive Director of Virginia DWR |
9:30 AM | 10:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | Keynote: Passion, Inspiration, and Excellence in Making the Outdoors Better Together! | Dr. Mamie Parker, Commissioner of Virginia DWR |
10:30 AM | 10:35 AM | Senate Ballroom | Welcome to Rosslyn | Alli Henry, Senior Director of Community Engagement of Rosslyn Business Improvement District |
10:35 AM | 10:45 AM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Refreshment Break | |
10:45 AM | 11:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | Inclusion in the Outdoors | Shep Roeper, Beyond Boundaries |
11:30 PM | 12:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | Developing Strategic Partnerships: Amplifying Your Organization's Reach | Kelsey Steenburgh, Virginia DWR |
12:00 PM | 12:05 PM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - Aspira | Danny Spataro, Director of Sales with Aspira |
12:05 PM | 1:30 PM | Senate Ballroom/Foyer | Lunch Provided | |
1:30 PM | 2:15 PM | Senate Ballroom | The Outdoor Communicators Podcast Live - Episode 6 | Tim Akimoff, ODFW Emily MacCabe, MDIFW Jason Harmon, TWRA |
2:15 PM | 3:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | Crafting an Iconic Brand: The Success Story of 'Virginia is for Lovers' | Lindsay Norment, VTC Brand Director |
3:00 PM | 3:05 PM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - Brandt | Caroline Wilson, Brandt |
3:05 PM | 3:15 PM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Refreshment Break | |
3:15 PM | 4:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | Unveiling Virginia's Wildlife Wonders: The Impact of Virginia DWR's Wildlife Camera Program | Meagan Thomas, Virginia DWR |
4:00 PM | 4:30 PM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight: Television in Relation to Conservation with Engel Entertainment | Ben Shank, Engel Entertainment |
4:30 PM | 6:00 PM | Free time | ||
6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | Senate Ballroom/Foyer | Auction Dinner | Jason Harmon, TWRA |
Wednesday, July 24 |
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8:00 AM | 5:00 PM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Registration Open | |
8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Breakfast on your own | ||
9:00 AM | 9:45 AM | Senate Ballroom | To Digitize or Not To Digitize: Panel Discussion | Molly Kirk, Virginia DWR Smokey Solis, OKDWC Emily McCabe, MDIFW James Pitman, NMDGF |
9:45 AM | 10:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | Developing Firearm Ownership and Sport Shooting R3 Communications for Black Americans | George Braxton (Virginia DWR) & Tom Beppler (Responsive Management) |
10:30 AM | 10:35 AM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - Kalkomey | Shelby Crouch, Virginia DWR |
10:35 AM | 10:45 AM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Refreshment Break | |
10:45 AM | 11:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | DWR's Explore the Wild: Connecting the Public with Outdoor Recreation | Max Goldman, Virginia DWR |
11:30 PM | 12:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | Your Ultimate Guide To Master Content Creation | Amie Cangelosi, Content Marketing Institute |
12:00 PM | 12:05 PM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - Yamaha | John O'Keefe, Yamaha |
12:05 PM | Beyond | FREE TIME - Explore Arlington & DC! | ||
1:30 PM | 4:30 PM | Excursion Group #1 - Sightseeing Boat Cruise Tour | ||
4:30 PM | 7:15 PM | Excursion Group #2 - Sightseeing Boat Cruise Tour | ||
Thursday, July 25 |
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8:00 AM | 5:00 PM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Registration Open | |
8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Breakfast on your own | ||
9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Senate Ballroom | ACI Business Meeting | Blake Podhajsky, ACI President |
10:00 AM | 10:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - Leveraging Resources and Research to Increase Participation in Fishing and Boating Together | Joanne Martonik, RBFF |
10:30 AM | 10:35 AM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - PayIt Outdoors | Chris Willard, General Manager |
10:35 AM | 10:45 AM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Refreshment Break | |
10:45 AM | 11:30 AM | Senate Ballroom | An Improv Lens: Connection & Collaboration | James Wasilewski, Coach & Facilitator of HAHA to AHA |
11:30 PM | 12:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | Unveiling Key Advancements in Hunting and Shooting Sports R3 | Lance Cherry, CAHSS |
12:00 PM | 12:05 PM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - Gordon Darby | Shelby Crouch, Virginia DWR |
12:05 PM | 1:30 PM | Senate Ballroom/Foyer | Lunch Provided | |
1:30 PM | 2:30 PM | Senate Ballroom | A Spoon Full of Sugar: Entertainment vs Education in Social Media Panel Discussion | Shelby Crouch, Virginia DWR Erin Huggins, USFWS Matt Turner, NPS Jessie Brown, Iowa DNR |
2:30 PM | 3:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | The Psychology of Engagement: 10 Easy Ways You Can Use Consumer Behavior Triggers in Your Marketing | Sarah Marshall, Yes& |
3:00 PM | 3:05 PM | Senate Ballroom | Sponsor Spotlight - National Deer Association | Jenifer Wisniewski, National Deer Association |
3:05 PM | 3:15 PM | Senate Ballroom Foyer | Refreshment Break | |
3:15 PM | 4:15 AM | Senate Ballroom | Better Together Breakout | Tim Tassitano and the Virginia DWR Outreach/Communications Team |
4:30 PM | 6:00 PM | Senate Ballroom | Awards Celebration (Cash bar and hors d'oeuvres available) | Beth Quillian (ODFW) & Chris Martin (WGFD) |
6:00 PM | Beyond | Dinner on your own | ||
Friday, July 26 |
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Travel day |
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